Renaissance
A great many of the settlers of New Zealand from the early 1800's were Celtic... people from Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Subsequent intermarriage has meant that many Maori today have a significant amount of Celtic ancestry. Many of our prominent musicians have these two bloodlines.
The use and celebration of the traditional instruments of the Maori, the Taonga Puoro, will be a special feature of the music of this film. The relatively recent resurrecting of the use of these instruments was the life work of the late Hirini Melbourne, and these beautiful instruments are being recognised as having a unique ability to capture and project the soul of Aotearoa.
The interaction between modern Irish music, developing as it has from traditional roots, and the Polynesian influenced music of the Kiwis will inevitably create considerable international interest.
An important foundation of this project is recognizing the significance of music’s integral part of the renaissance and restoration of Irelands' and New Zealand’s culture.

Producer-Bronwen Christanos
Kaumatua/Advisor-Joe Malcom
Company Manager-Beth Christianos