The stories of Maori figures painted by the artist Gottfried Lindauer are explored in a new series of Behind the Brush.
Starting last night on Maori Television, the weekly programme will show personal stories of 21 characters in New Zealand's history through interviews with their descendants.
"This second season of Behind the Brush has been challenging as we aim to create something that is not just a television show but also a work of art itself," director and executive producer Julian Arahanga, of Awa Films said.
"We all feel that with this work comes a huge responsibility to uphold the mana and wairua (spirit) of our tipuna (ancestors). Each day we go to work we are so grateful to have been given the honour to bring these stories to the world."
The series further traces the life of Gottfried Lindauer, from his early life in the Czech town of Pilsen to the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts. His granddaughter Rebe Mason, from Hamilton, also features throughout the series.
