By PETER CALDER
The child star of Whale Rider wasn't in town, so last night was her young co-star's chance to shine.
Mana Taumaunu, who plays Hemi, the buddy of Paikea (Keisha Castle-Hughes), in the New Zealand film which has captured hearts from Sydney to Stockholm, was named best juvenile performer in the New Zealand Film Awards.
Castle-Hughes, who won the best actress award, is in the United States with the film's director, Niki Caro, drumming up the film's profile in the early stages of an Oscar campaign.
So Taumaunu, at 14, was the youngest of those who took awards on the night for the contribution to the year's most successful indigenous film.
The young actor arrived at the awards ceremony in Auckland accompanied by his grandfather, Hone - the film's kaumatua - and parents Ingrid and Hemi.
The family live in Whangara, the achingly beautiful seaside settlement north of Gisborne where the story was set and the movie was shot, and all were beaming with pride.
Taumaunu was not the only East Coaster to have a big night.
Rangi Ngamoki, from Omaio, near Opotiki, took the award for best performance in a short film. The film, Two Cars, One Night, earned a best script award for its maker, Taika Waititi.
Young Rangi's mother, Lorraine Smith, had asked organisers to send his invitation to the local store. "There are three other Rangi Ngamokis in the area," she wrote, "and I wouldn't like the invitation to go to the wrong Rangi."
As expected, it was Whale Rider's night: the film took nine awards, including best picture, best director and screenplay (Caro), best supporting actress (Vicky Haughton), best supporting actor (Cliff Curtis), costume design (Kirsty Cameron) and music (Lisa Gerrard).
Of the major prizes only best actor eluded it; that went to Waihoroi Shortland, who made a volcanic and tormented Hairoka (Shylock) in Don Selwyn's magnificent Maori-language Merchant of Venice, He Tangata Whai Rawa o Weniti.
In a year when The Lord of the Rings trilogy reached its climax and Whale Rider became the most successful local film after Once Were Warriors, the awards almost did not happen.
The financially troubled Academy of Film and Television Arts had announced it could not raise sufficient sponsorship.
Industry players eventually came up with the money to stage the ceremony.
Herald Feature: Whale Rider
Mana's turn to shine
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