Ria Hall - Te Ahi Kai Pō [Official Music Video]

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Directed by Shae Sterling
Styled by Sammy Salsa
Hair and Makeup by Sylvia Kara
Dancing & Choreography by Kasina Campbell & Matiu Hamuera

Made with funding from Te Māngai Pāho - tēnā koutou mō te pūtea tautoko

'Te Ahi Kai Pō' – 'the fire burning away the darkness' is in reference to finding peace following the aftermath of war. The battle of Te Ranga in June of 1864 is the inspiration for this song, which was an unplanned slaughter of many Māori. This spiritless attack was in retaliation to the battle of Pukehinahina, where the British found themselves at a loss to Māori.

Directed by Shae Sterling, the video was shot on location at Auckland’s Ihumātao, also known as the Otuataua Stonefields Historic Reserve. It is a location which has been occupied by the local Māori since the 11th Century, and is steeped in significant Māori stories and histories, spanning over generations.

While 100 hectares of this land is today protected, it has been a hard fight for Tangata Whenua and conservationists alike to save this land from the growing urban sprawl. It is a battle which is ongoing and one which Hall and Sterling offer their unwavering support.

‘“It’s a space where you feel its wairua as soon as you enter onto the whenua. We felt compelled to shoot our video at Ihumātao to carry on the message of resilience, reaffirming the fire burning within that will never be extinguished.” – Ria Hall

“I wanted to symbolise the aftermath of war, the loss of life, and loss of culture with this video. We used infrared to help take the audience to a surreal place, like a vacant memory, a place of purgatory.” – Shae Sterling