Whina
“The mother of the nation.”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2022-02-05
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Rena Owen
Older Whina Cooper
James Rolleston
Gabriel
Wayne Hapi
Heremia Te Wake
Erroll Shand
Father Mulder
Vinnie Bennett
William Cooper
Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne
Teenage Whina Cooper
Jayden Daniels
Cyril
Miriama McDowell
Younger Whina Cooper
Kali Kopae
Mira Szászy
Sarah Valentine
Elaine
Briar Rose
Stacey
Awa Puna
Pattie
Kasina Campbell
Heretute Te Wake
Richard Te Are
Richard Gilbert
Matu Ngaropo
Apirana Ngata
Āwhina-Rose Henare Ashby
Awhina
James Tito
Pita Ti Wake
Marshayla Christie
Kare
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- James Napier Robertson, Paula Whetu Jones
- Screenplay & Story
- James Lucas, Paula Whetu Jones, James Napier Robertson
- Original Score
- Dana Lund
- Original Title
- Whina
- Country of Origin
- New Zealand
- Spoken Languages
- English, Maori
- Runtime
- 1h 52m
- Production Studios
- GFC Films, Ingenious Media, Rakija Films, WestMark Productions, Te Māngai Pāho
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
James Napier Robertson, Paula Whetu Jones
James Lucas, Paula Whetu Jones, James Napier Robertson
Dana Lund
Leon Narbey
John Gilbert, Chris Plummer
Alison Thompson, Daniel Negret, James Napier Robertson, Mark Gooder, Peter Touche
Department Leadership Roster
John Gilbert
Editor
James Lucas
Writer
Paula Whetu Jones
Writer
Matthew Metcalfe
Producer
Chris Plummer
Editor
James Napier Robertson
Director
Paula Whetu Jones
Director
Tainui Stephens
Producer
James Napier Robertson
Writer
Dana Lund
Original Music Composer
Leon Narbey
Director of Photography
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Whina.
Featured In Curated Collections
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MNR
New HD (Popular)
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Frequently Asked Questions About Whina
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Whina about?
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.
Who directed Whina?
Whina was directed by James Napier Robertson, Paula Whetu Jones.
Who stars in Whina?
The principal cast of Whina includes Rena Owen, James Rolleston, Wayne Hapi, Erroll Shand, Vinnie Bennett.
When was Whina released and how long is it?
Whina was released in 2022 with a total runtime of 1h 52m.
Who composed the musical score for Whina?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Whina was composed by Dana Lund.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Whina?
Whina holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.).