Newshub
While the narrative itself needed a little more shape, Dame Whina's story is an important four-star slice of history.
Full review
Whina
Rena Owen (Once Were Warriors), Miriama McDowell (Coming Home in the Dark) and Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne (Cousins) play cherished Māori activist Dame Whina Cooper throughout the years in this biopic directed by James Napier Robertson (The Dark Horse) and Paula Whetu Jones (Waru).
The story of Dame Whina Cooper, the beloved Māori matriarch who worked tirelessly to improve the rights of her people, especially women. Flawed yet resilient, Whina tells the story of a woman formed by tradition, compelled by innovation, and guided by an instinct for equality and justice whose legacy as the Te Whaea o te Motu (Mother of the Nation) was an inspiration to an entire country.
Less2022Rating: PG, Violence112 minsNew ZealandNew Zealand Film Commission
DramaTrue Story & Biography
Whina | Reviews
Soaring, heartful telling of the life of Dame Whina Cooper, Te Whāea-o-te-Motu, is a triumph. A powerful portrait of the woman at its heart, it’s also a breathtaking picture of social history in Aotearoa.
Whina | News & Opinion
reviews
A soaring and heartful telling of Dame Whina Cooper’s life, Whina is a triumph
A powerful portrait and also a breathtaking picture of nearly a century of social history.
news
How to watch the film on cherished activist Dame Whina Cooper in New Zealand
Three actors play Te Whaea o te Motu (Mother of the Nation) in different stages of her life.
Whina | Release Details
Whina is now playing in 107 cinemas in New Zealand.