In new international co-production recently announced at World Indigenous Broadcasters Network Conferencein Sápmi
AOTEAROA New Zealand — September 3, 2026 — Māori broadcaster Whakaata Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand and Canada's APTN, the world’s first national Indigenous broadcaster, have announced a new international Indigenous co-production partnership to bring Māui & Elvis, an adventure sci-fi comedy series for children and families, to audiences in Aotearoa,Canada and around the world.
The announcement was made at the WorldIndigenous Broadcasters Network (WIBN) Conference in Sápmi, Norway,demonstrating the opportunities that emerge when Indigenous broadcasters workacross borders to create ambitious, culturally authentic content for globalaudiences.
Māui & Elvis is a collaboration betweenMāori and Métis/Cree storytellers, producers and broadcasters across AotearoaNew Zealand and Canada. It demonstrates what becomes possible when Indigenousbroadcasters and creatives work together to develop, finance and bringIndigenous stories to audiences beyond their own shores.
Created for children and families(tamariki and whānau) in Aotearoa, Indigenous Canada and internationally, Māui& Elvis follows two best friends - Māori Māui from Aotearoa and MétisElvis from Canada - who must save Māui's beloved Nan after an evil,salt-lusting alien bent on destroying the world takes up residence in her body.
Set primarily in the South Island ofAotearoa New Zealand, as well as Vancouver, Māui & Elvis featuresthe extraordinary Canterbury landscapes where mountains meet the sea, whalesrise close to shore and the famous mystery of the Kaikōura Lights provides afitting backdrop for this adventure.
Métis/Cree Series Co-Producer CamilleBeaudoin says the series draws on the shared values and humour of itsIndigenous characters and communities; "At its heart, Māui & Elvisis a story that celebrates the power of friendship, culture and found familythrough our shared values and sense of humour. Our two young leads demonstratethe courage, resilience and ingenuity of their Indigenous ancestors as theyprotect their loved ones from an extra-terrestrial threat."
Indigenous languages at theheart of the story
For Whakaata Māori, the series is anopportunity to create ambitious and entertaining family content where te reoMāori (the Māori language) and tikanga Māori (Māori cultural values andpractices) are integral to the story and the world inhabited by its characters.At least 30% of the dialogue in Māui & Elvis will be in te reoMāori, ensuring the language is heard naturally throughout the series and iscentral to the characters, humour and storytelling.
Maria Barlow, Kaiurungi Pāpāho | Directorof Content and Audience Engagement at Whakaata Māori, says; "For Māorifamilies, seeing and hearing te reo Māori in the stories they love matters. Wewant our tamariki to see themselves, hear their language and see their culturereflected in bold, imaginative and world-class storytelling. Māui & Elvisis exactly the kind of distinctive, reo-rich content we want to bring to ouraudiences, while creating opportunities for Māori stories and talent to reachaudiences internationally."
Mike Omelus, Executive Director of Content and ProgrammingStrategy at APTN, says the series demonstrates the creative possibilities thatemerge when Indigenous storytellers from different nations work together.“Whatmakes Māui & Elvis so exciting is that it never asks young audiences tochoose between entertainment and culture. It's a big, funny, imaginativeadventure filled with aliens, friendship and heart, but it's also deeplygrounded in Māori and Métis ways of seeing the world. The series creates spacefor Indigenous kids to see themselves as the heroes of an epic story whileinviting audiences everywhere to come along for the ride.”
Aotearoa Series Co-Producer JanineMorrell-Gunn (Ngāti Kahungunu) says the kaupapa (purpose) is to create aseries that families can enjoy together. "Our kaupapa is to produce awhānau viewing series where te reo Māori, tikanga Māori and Métis culture flownaturally, the voices of our tamariki and rangatahi are amplified, and ouraudiences are inspired and entertained."
Indigenous broadcasterscreating together
The partnership between WhakaataMāori and APTN, both members of the World Indigenous Broadcasters Network, iscentral to the project.
Through WIBN, Indigenous broadcastersare increasingly exploring how their relationships can extend beyond knowledgeand content exchange into co-development, co-production and new internationalpathways for Indigenous stories, talent and languages.
Māui & Elvis is an example of thatopportunity in action. Māori and Métis/Cree perspectives, languages, humour andcultural values are embedded throughout the creative process, whilecollaboration between broadcasters and production partners provides a pathwayfor the series to reach audiences across Indigenous territories andinternationally.
Shane Taurima, Chair of the WorldIndigenous Broadcasters Network and Chief Executive of Whakaata Māori, says; "Atthe heart of WIBN is a belief that we are stronger when we work together. Māui& Elvis shows what that can look like in practice - Māori and Métis/Creestorytellers, producers and broadcasters bringing our languages, cultures andcreativity together to create something for our children and families.It isexciting to think about what more we can create together and where Indigenousstories can travel when we combine our strengths."
Monika Ille, Chief Executive Officer of APTN, says the projectdemonstrates the power of Indigenous broadcasters moving beyond contentexchange to true international collaboration.“Māui & Elvisrepresents exactly the kind of collaboration we envisioned when Indigenousbroadcasters came together through the World Indigenous Broadcasters Network.This project demonstrates that Indigenous stories are not confined by borders.By partnering with Whakaata Māori, we're connecting cultures, languages andcreative talent across oceans to build something larger than any onebroadcaster could achieve alone. It's a powerful example of Indigenous-ledstorytelling that is rooted in community, driven by authenticity and createdwith global audiences in mind.”
An international productionpartnership
Māui & Elvis brings together Aotearoa NewZealand production company Whitebait Media and Canadian production companyMosaic Entertainment. Lead producers Janine Morrell-Gunn and Camille Beaudoinfirst connected through the WIFT NZ/Canada Co-Production Summit in 2024.
Morrell-Gunn says the collaborationhas created an opportunity to bring together Indigenous creatives, broadcastersand audiences across both countries. “We are extremely grateful for thecommitment from our broadcasters Whakaata Māori and APTN. This partnershipallows us to celebrate Māori and Métis lands, storytelling, humour and culture,and build a bridge between Indigenous storytellers, content makers,broadcasters and audiences across Aotearoa and Indigenous Canada."
The production is supported inAotearoa New Zealand by NZ On Air, the New Zealand Film Commission, ScreenCanterbury and Whakaata Māori, with Canadian partners and supporters includingAPTN, the Indigenous Screen Office, Creative BC, Telefilm Canada, CanadianHeritage, the Canada Media Fund, the Canadian Media Producers Association andBlue Ant International as Distributors.
Casting is underway in Aotearoa New Zealand and Canada, with production scheduled to begin in November 2026 aheadof the series' planned premiere in 2027.
About Whakaata Māori
WhakaataMāori is the national indigenous media organisation of Aotearoa. We are thewaka carrying the Māori language and Māori storytelling forward, strengtheningidentity, belonging and cultural confidence.
MĀORI+ is the digital gateway to the Māori world ofstorytelling, connecting families with language rich storytelling, news, kapahaka and entertainment across devices.
For more visit whakaatamaori.co.nz.
About APTN
APTN,launched in Canada in 1999, is the first national Indigenous broadcaster in theworld. The network is a global leader in programming that celebrates the richdiversity of Indigenous Peoples at home and abroad. A respected non-profitmedia company, APTN inspires audiences by sharing bold and authentic stories.APTN’s programming is available across multiple platforms: APTN (English andFrench channel), APTN Languages (Indigenous language channel), APTN+ (streamingservice), APTN Beyond (FAST channel) and the APTN YouTube channel. For more,visit APTN.org.
About WIBN
Establishedin 2008, the World Indigenous Broadcasters Network brings together Indigenousbroadcasters and media organisations from around the world to strengthencollaboration, share knowledge and advance Indigenous voices, languages andstorytelling.
