The new sci-fi comedy series 'Maui & Elvis' unites New Zealand's Whakaata Māori and Canada's APTN in a groundbreaking co-production.
New Zealand's Whakaata Māori and Canada’s APTN have officially announced their collaboration on Māui & Elvis, an adventure sci-fi comedy series for children and families. This partnership was revealed during the World Indigenous Broadcasters Network (WIBN) Conference in Sápmi, Norway. The series aims to blend storytelling from Māori and Métis/Cree perspectives, enhancing cultural representation within the genre.
The show focuses on two best friends: Māui, a Māori character from Aotearoa, and Elvis, a Métis character from Canada. Together, they embark on a humorous adventure to rescue Māui's grandmother, whose body has been taken over by an extraterrestrial entity intent on world destruction. Māui & Elvis is set in New Zealand, particularly showcasing landscapes from the South Island and the Kaikōura Lights phenomenon, with additional scenes filmed in Vancouver.
The series will feature culturally rich dialogue, with at least 30% of the dialogue presented in te reo Māori. This commitment showcases a dedication to maintaining Māori cultural values and practices, which are integral to the narrative.
Camille Beaudoin, co-producer from the Métis/Cree community, stated that the project embodies solidarity between different Indigenous cultures. She expressed, "At its heart, Māui & Elvis is a story that celebrates the power of friendship, culture, and found family through our shared values and sense of humor." This sentiment is echoed throughout the series, emphasizing the courage and resilience of Indigenous ancestry.
Maria Barlow, director of content and audience engagement at Whakaata Māori, highlighted the importance of representation in children's media, underscoring the necessity for Māori families to see their culture authentically depicted on screen.
The series has received backing from both broadcasting partners and various funding bodies across both nations. In New Zealand, support comes from Screen Canterbury, the New Zealand Film Commission, and NZ On Air, while Canadian support includes Telefilm Canada, Creative BC, and others. The collaboration between Whakaata Māori and APTN represents a visionary approach, moving beyond simple content exchange to true partnership, aimed at uplifting Indigenous narratives.
Mike Omelus, executive director at APTN, remarked on the project, emphasizing that Māui & Elvis allows entertainment to coexist with cultural education, stating, "...it's a big, funny, imaginative adventure filled with aliens, friendship, and heart, but it's also deeply grounded in Māori and Métis ways of seeing the world."
Aotearoa series co-producer Janine Morrell-Gunn echoed this sentiment, indicating that the goal is for Māui & Elvis to be a family-friendly series that amplifies the voices of children and youth while reflecting their cultures in an authentic manner.
This partnership represents a significant advancement in the representation of Indigenous cultures in media, emphasizing collaborative storytelling that bridges continents. As production is set to commence in November 2026 with a planned premiere in 2027, Māui & Elvis holds the potential to enrich the television landscape with stories that resonate deeply with Indigenous audiences while educating and entertaining a wider demographic. Casting is currently underway, with the creative teams committed to developing a narrative that reflects both Māori and Métis experiences, enhancing children's programming in innovative ways.
For more details on upcoming series, check out our coverage on Alix Earle’s new reality series and how Please Save My Earth is being adapted.
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