Elizabeth Anne Hakaraia is a New Zealand film producer, director, and author.
Biography Hakaraia was raised in Lower Hutt and started her broadcasting career at Radio Waikato when she was 17 years old. When she was 20, she moved to Radio Aotearoa and later to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. After some time living and working in Europe she returned to New Zealand and worked on National Radio’s Māori magazine show Whenua.
In the later 1990s Hakaraia began researching, producing, writing and directing documentaries and television series. In 2004 she founded her own production company, Blue Bach Productions.
In 2014 Hakaraia established the Māoriland Film Festival; two years later the Māoriland Charitable Trust opened a cinema and arts space which Hakaraia manages.
Hakaraia has been a jury member at ImagineNATIVE, the world’s largest indigenous film festival, and an executive member of Screen Production and Development Association and Ngā Aho Whakaari.
In the early 2000s Hakaraia wrote a book for adult readers and another for children about Matariki, a Māori celebration of the new year.
In the 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours, Hakaraia was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the film and media industries.
Filmography +YearTitleMediumRoleNotes2021CousinsFeature filmProducer2018The Gravedigger of KapuShort filmDirector and writer2017My Party Song (first episode)Television series episodeCo-director and producer2016Ra'satsteShort filmExecutive producer2016Hautoa Mā! The Rise of Māori CinemaTelevision documentaryDirector and sound recordist2013–2015My Country SongTelevision seriesProducer2013The ProphetsTelevision documentaryDirector2012Requiem for CharlieTelevision documentaryProducer2010The Scotsman and the MāoriTelevision documentaryWriter, co-director and producer2009MakeretiTelevision documentaryDirector2009KehuaShort filmProducer2008The Lawnmower Men of KapuShort filmDirector and writerWinner, People's Choice Award: Wairoa Māori Film Festival, 20122006Fat Freddy's Drop – Based on a True StoryTelevision documentaryProducer and director2006New Brighton RoadTelevision documentaryProducer2005–2011Tātai HonoTelevision seriesProducer2005Manhattan MāoriTelevision documentaryDirector2005Whangai – Who Gets Baby?TelevisionProducer and director2004Rediscovering the Lost Songs of Sir Apirana NgataTelevision documentaryProducer and director2003Gang KidsTelevision filmDirectorWinner, TV/Film Award: Media Peace Awards, 20042002Chinks, Coconuts and Curry-munchersTelevision documentaryDirector2001–2003Mercury LaneTelevision seriesDirector2001Ihi FrenzyTelevision documentaryDirector2001Trip of a LifetimeTelevisionDirector1999TaumataTelevisionProducer1999Hell for LeatherTelevision documentaryWriter
Publications
Hakaraia, L. (2008). Matariki: The Māori New Year. North Shore, N.Z: Raupo. Hakaraia, L., & Urlich, C. W. (2008). Te kahui o Matariki: Contemporary Māori art for Matariki. North Shore City, N.Z: Raupo. Hakaraia, L. (2004). Matariki. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed.
Personal life Hakaraia's iwi are Ngāti Kapumanawawhiti, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Te Āti Awa. Her partner is film producer Tainui Stevens.
References