Haere, e te taonga o te mate haere. E te Rangatira kei te rere nga mihi mou i nga topito katoa o te motu; kei te heke te hupe, kei te maringi nga roimata, kinikini, haehae, aue taukuri e. Ko koe tena kua wehe atu i te ao o mamae, kua huri koe ki tona karanga. Ko koe tena kua tae atu ki te paepae o makariri. Na reira moe mai i te moe o makariri i te po, takoto ake. The Maori Party today shared with mourners throughout the land, the sad passing of veteran Maori actor and film-maker, Don Selwyn. Don will be laid to rest at Taumarunui Cemetery, tomorrow, Tuesday 17 April. “The peoples of Ngati Kuri and Te Aupouri gave birth to the incredible talent of one of this nation's most outstanding television and film producers and directors” said Dr Sharples. “Don brought the world of Maori onto national and international screens through his distinctive acting roles in Mortimers Patch, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie and Pukemana, and later through his expertise as a casting director on Once Were Warriors, What Becomes of the Broken Hearted and Crooked Earth , and producer and director of classics like Maui Potiki and Tohunga ”. “But what made the world really take notice, was his masterpiece, Te Tangata Whai Rawa o Weniti,” said Dr Sharples. The Maori Merchant of Venice was the first Maori language feature film with English sub-titles. “Don was a source of huge inspiration to tangata whenua” said Dr Sharples. “His artistic talents, his outstanding legacy in Maori film, his masterful presence in drama and broadcasting provided the foundation for a thriving Maori arts community”. “Don was someone who has invested so much in supporting the development and success of Maori and Pasifika people in film and television” said Mrs Turia. “Because of this work, we know his presence will be with us through film, theatre, television and drama for many years to come” said Mrs Turia. “As Whanganui iwi, we owe much to Don in encouraging many of our people to take to the Big Screen” said Mrs Turia. “Many of our families got a chance to be involved in the film industry who may never have otherwise. He saw their potential, and created the opportunity for their talents to be realised”. “Over twenty years ago, he established a training course to mentor Maori and Pasifika artists (He Taonga i Tawhiti), and indeed, his production company, He Taonga Films, was set up to nurture indigenous talent in film and theatre”. Don was a foundation member of the New Zealand Maori Theatre Trust. “It is fitting that the Arts Foundation will be honouring Don's legendary talents with an Icon award” said Mrs Turia. “He inspired us, he moved us, he brought our stories to the screen, and he consistently gave life to the Maori voice, from Cannon's Creek School where he once taught to the national stage as a member of the Maori cast of Porgy and Bess led by the late Inia Te Wiata, and performing as a member of the New Zealand Opera Company's presentation of Don Giovanni and II Trovatore ”. “Our thoughts are with Shirley, his children, mokopuna and whanau as we farewell a great man” ended Mrs Turia. “Ma Te Atua koe e Manaaki i to haerenga ki tua o te arai”. |
Dr. Pita Sharples and Tariana Turia, Co-leaders, Maori Party |
Denver, April 14, 2007. Don Selwyn died yesterday in North Shore Hospital, after a long illness. He was 71.
We first met Don Selwyn in late February 2005 at the He Taonga Films offices in Auckland. The Indigenous Film Festival was just a year old at that time and we were feeling our way around the world of film and filmmaking. We knew we wanted to screen good films by native filmmakers and we knew we wanted our festival to be about something more than just screening films. However, we were not quite sure of what that something more should be.
Before we headed to Aotearoa to connect with the New Zealand Film Commission and Film Archives, we called Trevor Moeke to ask who else we should be seeing for advice on Maori film and on how we should be shaping the festival. His emphatic response was: "You have to see Don Selwyn, he's the Godfather of Maori film." He said he'd arrange the meeting, pick us up at our hotel and drive us to Don's offices--an offer we couldn't refuse.
We will forever be in Trevor's debt for his insistence that we meet Don Selwyn.
Back then we didn't know about Don. We had yet to learn of his illustrious career in film, theater, and the arts. The modest offices of He Taonga Films are obviously a workplace. There were no polished wood and glass cases lined with trophies, plaques, and other emblems of success there. If there was any indication of Don's lifetime achievement award presented at the 2003 Film and Television Awards or evidence of his nomination as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, we didn't see it and Don certainly didn't mention it. Nor did he speak of the many actors and filmmakers he mentored.
What we saw, what we heard, what we experienced during two hours of wide-ranging conversation was Don's passion and his pride. He was passionate about film, about filmmaking, about filmmakers, and especially about creating the institutions and encouraging the teachers who could help Maori and other indigenous youth learn the craft of filmmaking. More importantly, he wanted them to learn to create films that were a manifestation and celebration of their pride in who they were--Maori, Kanaka Maoli, or Oglala Sioux. Today, what our Indigenous Film & Arts Festival looks like, what it does and with whom, is based in no small part on that two-hour conversation.
Don must have seen some potential in our fledgling festival because, at his own expense, he came to Denver later that year to screen his magnificent Te Tangata Whai Rawa o Weniti, The Maori Merchant of Venice and to lend his not inconsiderable prestige to our festival. He came to every event. He spoke with the students in our school program. He was the wise uncle proffering advice and counsel to young native filmmakers. He was the key participant in our roundtable on Imagery and Identity.
Don recently accepted an Arts Foundation Icon Award for his work as an actor, film-maker, producer, casting director and educator. He is an icon, but for us, he was also a friend. We'll miss him.
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| Jeanne Rubin, Don Selwyn, and Trevor Moeke at the He Taonga Films offices in Auckland in February 2005. |
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| Don and Merv Tano at a screening at the Second Annual Indigenous Film & Arts Festival at the Starz FilmCenter. |
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| Trevor Moeke and Don Selwyn at the International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management's Second Annual Indigenous Film & Arts Festival. |
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Jeanne Rubin, IIIRM film festival director, Don Selwyn; William K. Wallace, director of the Jonathan Napela Center for Hawaiian Language and Cultural Studies at the Brigham Young University-Hawai'i; and Natasha Keating, filmmaker at He Taonga Films take a break from the IIIRM Roundtable |
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| Jeanne Rubin, Natasha Keating, and Don Selwyn at the Denver International Airport. |
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| Don Selwyn and Morris Te Whiti Love, a director of the International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management at the Second Indigenous Film & Arts Festival. |
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I am sorry to hear of Don's passing and feel blessed to have had the chance to meet and fellowship with him at your wonderful film festival. Thank you for sending this to me and for the wonderful tribute you created. I send my condolences to you who were fortunate to call him a friend and to his loved ones. Steven Alvarez, Native American Film Producer |
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| I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Don Selwyn. He was a terrific human being and I was delighted to have met him in Denver.
Brian Baguck Wescott, Native Alaskan Film Maker |
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| Though I only met Don briefly he had a very deep impact on me as a film maker and more importantly, as an indigenous man . RJ Joseph, Cree Film Maker |
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| This is a very fine tribute to Don - such a pity we didn't have more
time with him.
Ka nui te aroha kia koe, korua, koutou. Morris Te Whiti Love, Director |
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'Auwe! 'Auwe! tears of sadness for this great loss of our friend, and tears of happiness that he has passed on to the world of 'aumakua, where he will forever be with us. Mahalo e ke hoa 'o Don for sharing with us your great talent and gifts. Me ke aloha pumehana 'o Ku'umeaaloha ame ko'u 'ohana. Ku'umeaaloha Gomes, Director |
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| I met Don Selwyn in February 2005 as well. We were at his marae styled office in Auckland. He was indeed a gifted man. We have just completed a 1 hour documentary, The Maori Voice, that features our interview with him. Jeff Bear,
aboriginal producer/director/writer
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