A new Maori drama series centred around Rotorua is to launch this week on Maori Television.
The brainchild of Hollywood-powerhouse Cliff Curtis, This is Piki is a first-of-its kind Maori drama. The eight-episode series stars 18-year-old Hinerauwhiri Paki from Turangi debuts as Piki - a young woman on the brink of adulthood struggling to find her place in the world.
![Rotorua's Temuera Morrison is Bill Mercer.](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/CW5H3GYUT5I6PN2MBSDNODMCBQ.jpg?auth=d0cf15b2e86d1a17dce4a8b07d117b19d54e4c0ebb9ce62bcacadf15bc08df16&width=16&height=24&quality=70&smart=true)
Produced by the team behind recent action hit Kairakau (Velvet Stone Media from Rotorua) and Find Me a Maori Bride (Brown Sugar Apple Grunt from Auckland), This is Piki features a winning combination of love, drama and comedy to entertain and capture hearts.
The series sees some of Aotearoa's most well-known talents including Rotorua's Temuera Morrison and Calvin Tuteao star alongside and mentor a new generation of actors, including Tia Maipi, recent lead in Born to Dance.