A powerful, heartfelt new comedy-drama series draws on the realities faced by many New Zealand families struggling to hold onto the places, traditions and relationships that bind them.
THIS IS HOME premieres at 8.30PM on Wednesday 26 August on Whakaata Māori with the first three episodes streaming on MĀORI+ on the same day and time.
Director Awanui Simich-Pene says at its core This Is Home is about the power of whānau Māori when we decide to meet hardship together.
“It’s not a story about hardship. It’s a gentle story sharing insights into the daily rhythms of a whānau Māori living here in Tāmaki Makaurau. Yes, it’s a fictional piece, dramatised for entertainment, but we have been intentional in keeping it grounded in the authenticity of our lived experiences.”
“It’s not a fast paced, action packed, ‘in your face’ type series (although it has its moments!), but rather, it is a ‘slow down and connect’ kinda watch.”
“We hope audiences enjoy it. Maybe see themselves in it. And most of all, we hope they feel proud to be Māori after watching it.”
The series marks the first time sisters Mia Henry-Teirney, Putiputi Rā Simich-Pene and Awanui Simich-Pene have joined forces on the same production, ensuring that whānau-centric perspectives were represented in front of as well as behind the camera.
An outstanding ensemble cast including Miriama McDowell, Keporah Torrance, Jim Moriarty, Dominic On Ariki, Tatum Warren Ngata, Makea Upu, Ariel Hansen, Naatana Mika, Scotty Cotter, Troy Kingi and Paolo Rotondo bring the stories to life and make for compelling viewing.
Set in an urban Māori homestead in Tāmaki Makaurau – not far from where the sisters grew up – This is Home follows sisters Kara and Nina, forced to live under the same roof for the first time since their teenage years.
As financial pressures mount, personal challenges intensify and long-buried family tensions resurface, the sisters find themselves navigating the messy realities of modern whānau life.
Packed into their beloved family home, Kara and Nina must confront some difficult truths.
Beyond the family drama lie stories that speak to contemporary Aotearoa – the impact of gentrification, Auckland's changing landscape, the housing crisis and the growing cost-of-living pressures facing families across New Zealand.
At the centre of that story is a 45-year-old family homestead, one of the last remaining homes of its kind in the neighbourhood. Threatened by mounting financial pressures and relentless development, it stands as a symbol of a way of life that is increasingly disappearing from Auckland.
While tackling timely social issues, This Is Home remains grounded in optimism, humour and heart. Ultimately, it is a story of resilience, connection and the enduring power of whānau.
Funded by Te Māngai Pāho and NZ On Air.
COMING UP ON THIS IS HOME:
EPISODE 1: 26 August 8.30PM - Kara holds a secret that could tear her whānau apart, and she's running out of time to keep it buried.
EPISODE 2: 2 September 8.30PM – While Kara spirals under mounting debt, Nina and Sam prepare for another daunting IVF journey.
EPISODE 3: 9 September 8.30PM – A special guest returns home unexpectedly with exciting news, and Kara's secrets unravel at a whānau celebration.
EPISODE 4: 16 September 8.30PM – As love, guilt and shame ripple through the household, a disappearance pushes the whānau to band together, ending in a devastating loss.
EPISODE 5: 23 September 8.30PM – In the shadow of grief, new life is welcomed. The whānau come together showing strength in unity, despite the looming mortgagee sale.
EPISODE 6: 30 September 8.30PM – With time running out, the whānau face an impossible choice: sell or lose everything. Kara's final gamble results in a shocking return that will change the family forever.
