Taika Waititi, the Oscar-winning director, has been recognised on New Zealand’s Queen’s birthday list for services to film. Waititi, director of Jojo Rabbit, one of last year’s more controversial releases, has been made an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Throughout his career, Waititi has focused on conveying the experiences of Indigenous people, and others who are oft overlooked under the more mainstream film community.
In an interview with Radio New Zealand, he said that receiving the award from New Zealand was more meaningful to him than any other he had received. He continued that Boy, a film set on the East Cape of the Island, was the work he was the most proud of.
“Personally I make my stuff for New Zealanders first and foremost. They are my first audience” he said. “My peers and colleagues, to be recognised by them, people who are closer to my home, is more significant.”
Waititi was in excellent company, with a further 178 New Zealanders recognised in this year’s list. Kieran Read, the former All Blacks captain, Elizabeth Knox the novelist, and Āni Pātene Gazala Wainu a Māori linguist were also recognised.
Upon receiving the Oscar for best adapted screenplay at the 2020 Academy Awards, he dedicated his win to “all the indigenous kids in the world who want to do art and write and dance and who are the original storytellers.”
“We can make it here”.
As the New Zealander of the Year in 2017, Waititi used his platform to front an anti-racism campaign.
