# Libby Hakaraia

Elizabeth Anne Hakaraia MNZM is a New Zealand film producer and director.

## Biography

Hakaraia was raised in Lower Hutt and started her broadcasting career at Radio Waikato when she was 17 years old. When she was 20, she moved to Radio Aotearoa and later to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. After some time living and working in Europe she returned to New Zealand and worked on National Radio’s Māori magazine show Whenua.
In the later 1990s Hakaraia began researching, producing, writing and directing documentaries and television series. In 2004 she founded her own production company, Blue Bach Productions.
In 2014 Hakaraia established the Māoriland Film Festival; two years later the Māoriland Charitable Trust opened a cinema and arts space which Hakaraia manages.
Hakaraia has been a jury member at ImagineNATIVE, the world’s largest indigenous film festival, and an executive member of Screen Production and Development Association and Ngā Aho Whakaari.
In the early 2000s Hakaraia wrote a book for adult readers and another for children about Matariki, a Māori celebration of the new year.
In the 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours, Hakaraia was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the film and media industries.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Medium | Role | Notes |
| 2021 | Cousins | Feature film | Producer | |
| 2018 | The Gravedigger of Kapu | Short film | Director and writer | |
| 2017 | My Party Song (first episode) | Television series episode | Co-director and producer | |
| 2016 | Ra'satste | Short film | Executive producer | |
| 2016 | Hautoa Mā! The Rise of Māori Cinema | Television documentary | Director and sound recordist | |
| 2013–2015 | My Country Song | Television series | Producer | |
| 2013 | The Prophets | Television documentary | Director | |
| 2012 | Requiem for Charlie | Television documentary | Producer | |
| 2010 | The Scotsman and the Māori | Television documentary | Writer, co-director and producer | |
| 2009 | Makereti | Television documentary | Director | [7] [12] |
| 2009 | Kehua | Short film | Producer | |
| 2008 | The Lawnmower Men of Kapu | Short film | Director and writer | Winner, People's Choice Award: Wairoa Māori Film Festival, 2012 |
| 2006 | Fat Freddy's Drop – Based on a True Story | Television documentary | Producer and director | |
| 2006 | New Brighton Road | Television documentary | Producer | |
| 2005–2011 | Tātai Hono | Television series | Producer | |
| 2005 | Manhattan Māori | Television documentary | Director | |
| 2005 | Whangai – Who Gets Baby? | Television | Producer and director | [7] [18] |
| 2004 | Rediscovering the Lost Songs of Sir Apirana Ngata | Television documentary | Producer and director | |
| 2003 | Gang Kids | Television film | Director | Winner, TV/Film Award: Media Peace Awards, 2004 |
| 2002 | Chinks, Coconuts and Curry-munchers | Television documentary | Director | |
| 2001–2003 | Mercury Lane | Television series | Director | |
| 2001 | Ihi Frenzy | Television documentary | Director | |
| 2001 | Trip of a Lifetime | Television | Director | |
| 1999 | Taumata | Television | Producer | |
| 1999 | Hell for Leather | Television documentary | Writer | |

## Publications

* Hakaraia, L. (2008). Matariki: The Māori New Year. North Shore, N.Z: Raupo.
* Hakaraia, L., & Urlich, C. W. (2008). Te kahui o Matariki: Contemporary Māori art for Matariki. North Shore City, N.Z: Raupo.
* Hakaraia, L. (2004). Matariki. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed.

## Personal life

Hakaraia's iwi are Ngāti Kapumanawawhiti, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Te Āti Awa. Her partner is film producer Tainui Stevens .