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Home / Rotorua Daily Post

Maori-speaking Indonesian lands acting debut in Muru

By Peata Melbourne
Other·
30 Jul, 2022 03:28 AM2 mins to read

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Photo / Supplied

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Indonesian Cinzia Jonathan has been learning the Māori language so she and her husband Mike can raise their daughter in Māori.

Her fluency is so good that she landed a part in a film, predominantly in the Māori language, called Muru, which is in theatres next month.

Filmed through the eyes of the Tūhoe community, Muru is an action-drama based on the October 2007 event known as the 'Tūhoe Raids', when the New Zealand police conducted anti-terrorism raids on the Tūhoe community in an event that sparked nationwide controversy.

Jonathan was cast as Dr Foon – a foreigner living amongst the people of Tūhoe who was their community doctor.

"Dr Foon moved there from overseas and has been living in the area for a while, and over time, has picked up on the language. I was initially drawn to speak the local dialect but then realised that Foon isn't from the area, and actually picked the language up in Rotorua, so I thought, it's better if I carry on as I am," Jonathan says.

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Produced by Reikura Morgan-Kahi and directed by her husband Te Arepa, the duo describes Muru as a story that weaves the deep past and the recent present together, rather than a recreation of one historic day.

The cast includes some heavy-hitters of the country's acting pool, including Cliff Curtis, Jay Ryan and Troy Kingi. Nevertheless, that did not dissuade Jonathan from making her acting debut in the film; and all in te reo Māori, no less.

"I was a bit worried about my acting skills but a lot of people have helped me out like Hori Ahipene. He really helped me to grasp my character," she says.

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Jonathan and her husband are no newbies to the industry. Mike Jonathan is the founder and owner of Haka Boy Films and has been a cameraman/director for almost three decades, winning many awards, and family is what began Cinzia's journey learning the Māori language.

"The reason I pursued te reo Māori was to fulfill my promise to my mother-in-law to learn te reo Māori. I also wanted to broaden my knowledge of the Māori culture. The best way to immerse yourself into the Māori culture is by speaking te reo Māori."

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