AUCKLAND: The highly thought provoking TV series “Are you my Tribe?” is a finalist in the Aotearoa Film and Television Awards. The series follows Mikey Havoc as he tries to learn where he fits in as a white New Zealander in New Zealand. Mickey visits three iwi (tribes); the wealthy, business astute South island tribe Ngai Tahu, the first language speaking Ngai Tuhoe from the central North Island and the largest tribe, the former ferocious war mongers from Northland, Nga Puhi. Havoc concentrated throughout the series to draw out subjects of debate such as bicultural relations. Havoc was asked questions such as, “we've learned your (European) culture, why haven't you made any effort toward learning ours?” Producer Claudette Hauiti from Front of the Box Productions says Havoc's interactions throughout the series shone a light on the complexity of culture and biculturalism in New Zealand. “Mikey being a very urban-based Pakeha 30-something, there is an engrained and entrenched type of culture here and we're not talking ethnicity, but a socialisation process that somebody of that age group and social standing goes through and it would take an epiphany for someone like him to realize their place in Te Ao Maori,” says Hauiti. The awards ceremonies will be held on November 10 and 12. BM
