Screen return for Land Wars classic

Te Arawa kaumatua Te Poroa (Joe) Malcolm (pictured at Tapuaeharuru Marae) was the cultural advisor on the 1984 film Utu which will be re-released this month. Photo / File

A Te Arawa kaumatua who played an important role in one of New Zealand's iconic films, is looking forward to its return to the big screen.

Te Poroa (Joe) Malcolm, of Ngati Tarawhai and Ngati Pikiao descent, was the cultural advisor for the 1984 movie, Utu.

Described as a 'Maori Western', the film was based in the 1870s during the Maori Land Wars. It starred Anzac Wallace, who played Te Wheke, a warrior who takes revenge (utu) after British forces killed his people.

It was reputed to have had one of the largest budgets for a New Zealand film at that time.

Directed and co-written by Geoff Murphy, the movie has been digitally enhanced and restored, and will be re-released as Utu Redux this month.

Mr Malcolm has worked with the Ministry of Culture and Heritage's History Unit to translate into Maori the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography.

He was also a project manager at Te Papa Museum, played a role in Te Arawa's settlement claims and received the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2009.

The 80-year-old said the movie had been his only experience of being on a film set.

"I was living in Wellington at the time and someone tracked me down, I can't remember who, but I was recommended as somebody who knew about Maori protocol and customary practice," he said.

"It was about bringing a cultural dimension to the film-making, advising on where tikanga Maori was absent and where it needed to be incorporated. I knew that Maori would be watching this, so it was important it was correct."

Utu was filmed in the ranges between Rangitaiki and Napier. Mr Malcolm was on set for months in his advisory role. He also appeared on-screen.

"It was just something that happened. I was asked if I would go on and then all of a sudden I was plonked in front of the cameras," he said.

"I recall myself having to recite a prayer and bless the church."

Utu screened at the Cannes Film Festival and at that time became the second most successful local movie released in New Zealand. It also received positive reviews in the United States.

"I didn't realise at the time how big it would be," Mr Malcolm said. "It wasn't until later on that you look back and you really appreciate it. The fact that some of these issues in the movie made great sense and that it historically fitted. As far as I know it was the first movie of its kind to have a cultural advisor, I didn't know of any other film like Utu before then."

Work was begun on Utu Redux three years ago by Murphy, producer Graeme Cowley and editor Mike Horton. Mr Malcolm said he was invited to go to Wellington during the process of digitally revising it. He also saw the finished cut at its launch at the New Zealand International Film Festival in July.

"I absolutely enjoyed seeing it again and you really saw the difference in quality since it's been digitally printed," Mr Malcolm said.

"I was just pleased and very appreciative that I was able to have a hand in it."

Utu Redux will be released in cinemas on November 21.