“Moana 2” is making history by being the first Disney animated feature to release an Indigenous-language version alongside its English counterpart. The movie will have a global premiere alongside “Moana 2 Reo Māori,” which will have voiceovers in the indigenous Polynesian language. The movie reunites Moana and Maui for a new seafaring adventure, incorporating Tairāwhiti, one of several Māori dialects. Director Tweedie Waititi, who is from a coastal Māori tribe, ensured the accurate representation of Māori culture in the film, including a haka dance. The Māori language remains endangered, but revitalization efforts have been successful in bringing it back from the brink of extinction.
Disney’s creative team created a collective of Pacific Islander cultural experts to ensure authenticity in the depiction of Polynesian culture in “Moana.” Waititi emphasized the importance of making cultural aspects such as the haka culturally and spiritually safe for the world to learn and appreciate. The movie is a significant milestone for the normalization of te reo Māori in cinema, following efforts by Māori people to preserve and revitalize their language.
Other Disney films have also been translated into te reo Māori, thanks to collaborations between Walt Disney Animation Studios and Matewa Media, a New Zealand-based media organization dedicated to Māori storytelling. The translated films, including the original “Moana,” “Coco,” “The Lion King,” “Frozen,” and “Encanto,” are part of the ongoing efforts to honor the legacy of those who fought for the survival of the Māori language.
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