“Moana 2 Reo Māori” will become the first Indigenous-language Disney animated feature in the world to premiere alongside the English version.
The original Maori cast from the first “Moana” film will return for the sequel, with the dubbing being locally produced in New Zealand by Matewa Media.
Tweedie Waititi, producer and director of the Maori dub of “Moana 2” and cousin — as well as adoptive sister — of film director Taika Waititi, said:
Starting with the first film, we now steer te reo Māori toward a new future in global entertainment. Our work aims to honor the legacy of those who fought tirelessly for the survival of our language.
While producers Chelsea Winstanley and Mia Henry-Teirney said releasing the Maori dub on the same day as the English version was a “full-circle moment,” part of their “dream to see te reo Māori normalized on cinema screens alongside English”:
We’re thrilled that Walt Disney Animation Studios recognizes the importance of making te reo Māori visible and accessible in cinemas, at home and everywhere.
Check out the Reo Maori trailer below.
