O U R T E A M
Kimiora Kaire-Melbourne
Producer/Director
Kimiora Kaire-Melbourne (Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahungunu) is an award-winning Māori producer and director passionate about telling stories from a distinctly Māori worldview. Raised in Ruatoki with te reo Māori as her first language, her upbringing deeply grounded her in Te Ao Māori and continues to shape her approach to storytelling both on and off screen.
With more than a decade of experience across the New Zealand media industry, Kimiora has worked as a journalist, presenter, translator, director and producer, building a strong reputation for authentic and culturally grounded storytelling. She holds a Master’s degree in Indigenous Studies from the University of Waikato, specialising in Māori broadcasting under the supervision of Professor Rangi Matamua. Her research explored how Māori practices and philosophies could be better integrated into broadcasting spaces producing Māori content, reinforcing her commitment to cultural integrity in the screen industry.
In 2019, Kimiora founded Te Imurangi Media to create independent Māori content that centres Indigenous perspectives and meaningful community impact. Since then, she has produced and directed a number of acclaimed projects, including the award-winning factual series Homesteads. The series received Best Māori Programme at the 2025 NZ Screen Awards, Best Reo Māori Programme at the 2023 NZ Television Awards, a Gold Award at the New Zealand Cinematography Awards, and Best Short Documentary at the FIFO Tahiti in Tahiti.
While she is grateful for the recognition her work has received, Kimiora values impact above all else - creating stories that empower communities, evoke emotion, open up meaningful discussions, honour important histories and leave a lasting legacy for the people and places at the heart of each kaupapa.
Te Aorere Pewhairangi
Te Aorere Pewhairangi is a qualified cultural advisor with extensive knowledge of te reo Māori and tikanga Māori. While he is now widely recognised for his online presence and social media platforms, which reach well over half a million followers, it is his strong sense of cultural identity that continues to shape the way he communicates, tells stories and engages audiences.
Over the years, Te Aorere has worked across a range of media spaces including presenting, reporting, commentary and digital storytelling, always with a commitment to promoting Māori language, culture and mātauranga in meaningful and accessible ways. His ability to bridge traditional knowledge with contemporary platforms has made him a powerful voice online and an invaluable asset to Te Imurangi Media as both a cultural advisor and social media strategist.