Te ArawaTupuna
April 23, 2026
Digital Natives Academy
April 24, 2026 Ngā Rangatira
Client : Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Manawa
2D Animation, Storyboarding, Asset Development, Video Editing, Reo Māori, Illustration, Project Management
Brief
Native Industries worked with Ngāti Manawa to design and deliver a rich, image and video based website that showcased the iwi’s history, narratives, and identity through modern digital storytelling. This large-scale project required end-to-end project management, coordination across multiple creative teams, and the weaving together of traditional narratives with digital innovation. We worked closely with Ngāti Manawa kaumātua, historians, and iwi representatives to ensure the integrity of the kōrero, carefully translating ancestral knowledge into compelling online formats while maintaining cultural accuracy and respect. This approach ensured the project not only looked visually striking but also served as a living digital archive for current and future generations.
Project
As part of the mahi, we developed 14 full animations of Ngā Taniwha o Ngāti Manawa (with full sound in te reo Māori and te reo Pākehā) to bring traditional stories to life in an engaging and visually powerful way. We also created 10 animated GIFs of Ngā Ariki o Ngāti Manawa, based on their ancestors, ensuring these narratives could be shared in both formal and everyday online spaces. In addition, we produced the full content for the website, aligning storytelling, imagery, and design into a coherent and culturally grounded digital presence.
By combining design, animation, illustration, and content development, Native Industries provided Ngāti Manawa with an innovative digital platform that both honours their whakapapa and connects with audiences across Aotearoa and beyond. The outcome is Te Hekenga o Tangiharuru, a visually striking, whānau-friendly resource that positions Ngāti Manawa at the forefront of iwi-led digital storytelling.
