The HeART of the Matter
Luit Bieringa’s documentary examines the legacy of Gordon Tovey and the education programmes that put art, artists, and Māori arts into the New Zealand classroom.
Post World War II, New Zealand education underwent major changes. This documentary shows the changes and the people who worked tirelessly to establish an arts-centered, bicultural educational system.
Artists and art specialists, including luminaries such as Ralph Hotere, Cliff Whiting and Para Matchitt contributed to the creation of classrooms that were very different form the rote-learning environment previous generations suffered. Māori art, waiata and kapa haka were given a place in the classroom. Through archival footage and interviews, this film shows the public-servants who lead this charge into the future and the children whose lives benefited from it.
