“Moana 2” is making history as the first Disney animated feature to release an Indigenous-language version alongside its English counterpart. The film, accompanied by “Moana 2 Reo Māori,” will premiere globally on Wednesday with a special release in New Zealand featuring voiceovers in the indigenous Polynesian language. The movie reunites Moana with Maui for a new seafaring adventure, incorporating Tairāwhiti, a Māori dialect. Director Tweedie Waititi, who is from the same coastal tribe, emphasized the importance of accurately representing the Māori culture in the film, including a ceremonial haka dance. The Māori people have been working to revitalize their language, which remains endangered.
Disney’s creative team collaborated with Pacific Islander cultural experts to ensure cultural authenticity in the film, acknowledging the global impact of showcasing cultural elements like the haka. The Māori language, te reo Māori, has been featured in several Disney films, marking a major milestone for the revitalization of the language. Matewa Media producers Chelsea Winstanley and Mia Henry-Teirney described the inclusion of te reo Māori in cinema as a culmination of efforts to normalize the language.
The Māori language petition in 1972, which advocated for the integration of Māori language and culture in schools, was a crucial step towards the current recognition and promotion of the language. The translated versions of Disney films into te reo Māori, including “Moana 2 Reo Māori,” demonstrate a commitment to honoring Māori storytelling and language preservation. Director Tweedie Waititi expressed pride in the progress made in showcasing the Māori language on cinema screens, acknowledging the ongoing efforts to protect and promote the language for future generations.
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