A portrait of Albert Wendt, the trailblazing Samoan novelist whose work redefined New Zealand as a Pacific nation and ignited a cultural renaissance.
Shirley Horrocks’ The New Oceania traces the remarkable journey of Albert Wendt, from a Samoan scholarship boy to one of the Pacific’s greatest literary voices. Through interviews, dramatisations, and archival footage, the film explores Wendt’s influence on New Zealand’s cultural identity and his call for Pacific peoples to embrace change, creativity, and dissent.
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Rialto Recommends: The New Oceania A deeply engaging portrait of Sir Albert Wendt — poet, novelist, and cultural pioneer. Shirley Horrocks captures the energy of a writer who reshaped how New Zealand sees itself within the Pacific. Featuring insights from Witi Ihimaera, Sima Urale, John Pule, and Black Grace, The New Oceania celebrates a legacy that still challenges and inspires.
Cast
Albert Wendt (Self), Witi Ihimaera (Self), Sima Urale (Self), John Pule (Self), Neil Ieremia (Self), Tha Feelstyle (Self), James K. Baxter (Self)
Director
Language
English
Country
New Zealand
Studio
Point of View Productions