We will soon have te reo Māori versions of Disney faves Frozen and The Lion King!

Publish Date
Friday, 23 July 2021, 1:43PM

Your Disney faves will soon be available in te reo Māori! 

Production is under way to create te reo Māori versions of two of Disney's most iconic animated movies.

Matewa Media and Walt Disney Studios are teaming up once again to create te reo Māori versions of Frozen and The Lion King.

In 2017 Disney released Moana Reo Māori in New Zealand cinemas, and it proved so successful that a further two Disney films will be produced entirely in Aotearoa's official language.

The production is being led by Oscar-nominated producer Chelsea Winstanley (Jojo Rabbit), and Tweedie Waititi (Moana Reo Māori, Rūrangi) from Matewa Media.

"It was always our dream to dub more Disney films that our tāmariki love into te reo Māori. 

We are extremely thrilled to continue this journey with the Walt Disney Company, it clearly demonstrates their commitment as a company to diversity and inclusion," Winstanley said in a press release.

"In order for our language to thrive it must reach the hearts and homes of our people," Tweedie Waititi said. 

Tweedie Waititi is the sister of Taika, who wrote the original script for Disney's Moana in 2016. 

Ka pai Disney and Matewa Media! We can't wait!

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