New Zealand’s Whakaata Māori and Canada’s APTN have unveiled an international co-production partnership on “Māui & Elvis,” an adventure sci-fi comedy series for children and families spanning Aotearoa New Zealand and Canada. The two broadcasters unveiled the deal during the World Indigenous Broadcasters Network (WIBN) Conference, held this year in Sápmi, Norway. The series follows two best friends, Māori character Māui from Aotearoa and Métis character Elvis from Canada, who set out to save Māui’s grandmother after an alien bent on world destruction takes over her body.
It is set primarily in New Zealand’s South Island, with additional scenes in Vancouver, and draws on the Canterbury region’s landscapes and the Kaikōura Lights phenomenon. Te reo Māori, the Māori language, will make up at least 30% of the series’ dialogue, with the production designed to keep tikanga Māori, or Māori cultural values and practices, integral to the story. Métis/Cree series co-producer Camille Beaudoin said the project reflects shared Indigenous values.
Whakaata Māori and APTN are both members of WIBN, founded in 2008 to build collaboration among Indigenous broadcasters worldwide. Shane Taurima, chair of WIBN and chief executive of Whakaata Māori, said the partnership demonstrates the value of Indigenous broadcasters working together. Monika Ille, chief executive officer of APTN, which launched in Canada in 1999 as the first broadcaster of its kind dedicated to national Indigenous programming, said the project moves beyond content exchange into full collaboration.
Lead producers Morrell-Gunn and Beaudoin first connected at the 2024 WIFT NZ/Canada Co-Production Summit. On the Canadian side, backers include Telefilm Canada, Canadian Heritage, Creative BC, the Canadian Media Producers Association, the Canada Media Fund, the Indigenous Screen Office and APTN, with Blue Ant International attached as distributor. Casting is underway in New Zealand and Canada, with production set to start in November 2026 ahead of a planned 2027 premiere.
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