Rotorua Daily Post
  • Rotorua Daily Post home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport

Locations

  • Tauranga
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales

Weather

  • Rotorua
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Rotorua Daily Post

Morrisons to feature in kapa haka documentary

Kelly Makiha
Kelly Makiha
Multimedia Journalist·Rotorua Daily Post·
29 Aug, 2016 04:10 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
GENES: The Maxwell family are born performers (from left) Inia Maxwell, Kahurangi Maxwell and Trevor Maxwell with moko (from left) Kahu-Tarena, 4, and Atareta, 6. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

GENES: The Maxwell family are born performers (from left) Inia Maxwell, Kahurangi Maxwell and Trevor Maxwell with moko (from left) Kahu-Tarena, 4, and Atareta, 6. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Rotorua's Morrison whanau will feature in a new documentary that highlights their contribution to kapa haka.

Kapa Haka Whanau is a new series starting on Maori Television on Saturday and for the first time the descendants of Temuera and Kahu Gertrude Morrison are telling their kapa haka stories in their own words.

Actor and direct descendant Tem Morrison takes the role of guide in a half-hour documentary story that traces the Morrisons' competitive kapa haka journey from Ngati Rangiwewehi to Te Matarae I O Rehu to Nga Uri O te Whanoa.

The episode kicks off an eight-part series that looks into the head, hearts and homes of some the country's most dedicated kapa haka whanau.

This story features senior members of the Morrison whanau who are children of Temuera and Kahu Gertrude- the late Sir Howard Morrison and his sister Judith Tapsell and Rene (Buncie) Mitchell.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The documentary also features an interview with Sir Howard's widow Lady Kuia Morrison and their brother-in-law Trevor Maxwell, who married another sister, the late Atareta Maxwell.

Mr Maxwell, a kapa haka stalwart who was the long-time leader of Ngati Rangiwewehi, told the Rotorua Daily Post he couldn't wait to see the documentary and was honoured to be asked to be involved.

"I was very blessed, and I expressed this in the documentary, that I became a member of the Morrison family. While that was through marriage with my late wife Atareta, that link to the Morrisons goes right through now with my children Inia and Kahurangi and my moko.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"I was very proud that the strong Morrison relationship saw many of them become members of our group Ngati Rangiwewehi."

Mr Maxwell said through kapa haka the Morrison whanau travelled the country and the world performing.

"It just became a way of life for us."

He said the Morrisons were talented entertainers because it was in their genes.

"They come from a wonderful Scottish and Maori mix. Kahu was a matriarch and was an outstanding singer herself. She sang and entertained for many people around the world whether it be for tourists in hotels or in shows throughout New Zealand. It started from there and filtered down through her children.

"They all were involved in singing and performing and tourism played its part. Atareta and I continued that on with all our nieces and nephews, such as Tem, Howie (Morrison Junior), Kahu and Inia, and that's how they got their opportunities. So it was a lovely stepping stone."

The series is produced by Fantail Media Ltd, a new Tauranga-based company.

Fantail Media producer/director Debra Reweti said there would be memorable performances from the past and present and overdue recognition of the special contribution the Morrison whanau had made to the world of kapa haka.

Kapa Haka Whanau will screen on Maori Television at 6pm.

Save
    Share this article

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

Sport

'Very sad': Why Moana Pasifika can't host Chiefs clash in Tonga

23 Feb 03:10 AM
Rotorua Daily Post

'Humble hero' cop saves two deaf women from rising floodwaters

23 Feb 03:05 AM
Rotorua Daily Post

Cruise among big-ticket prizes boosting Supper Club fundraiser for family retreats

23 Feb 01:50 AM

Sponsored

Backing locals, every day

22 Feb 11:00 AM
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

'Very sad': Why Moana Pasifika can't host Chiefs clash in Tonga
Sport

'Very sad': Why Moana Pasifika can't host Chiefs clash in Tonga

The round nine fixture will instead take place in Pukekohe or Rotorua.

23 Feb 03:10 AM
'Humble hero' cop saves two deaf women from rising floodwaters
Rotorua Daily Post

'Humble hero' cop saves two deaf women from rising floodwaters

23 Feb 03:05 AM
Cruise among big-ticket prizes boosting Supper Club fundraiser for family retreats
Rotorua Daily Post

Cruise among big-ticket prizes boosting Supper Club fundraiser for family retreats

23 Feb 01:50 AM


Backing locals, every day
Sponsored

Backing locals, every day

22 Feb 11:00 AM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Rotorua Daily Post e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Rotorua Daily Post
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • NZME Digital Performance Marketing
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2026 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP