The Steambox Film Collective

Māori, telling
our own stories.

Rotorua's Steambox Film Collective is storytellers, crew and creatives building an indigenous screen industry from the heart of Te Arawa.

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The Film

Our story, in motion.

Who We Are

A collective,
not a company.

Steambox Film Collective is a Rotorua-based charitable trust dedicated to advancing content creation in Rotorua. Our kaupapa is rooted in storytelling that reflects Rotorua's identity, supports local creatives, and contributes to the region's economic and cultural wellbeing.

It started as a group of friends hanging out, talking about the films and television they dreamed of making. It's since grown into a network of directors, producers, writers and crew who each run their own companies, but come together to get projects made and to nurture the next generation of talent.

01

Initiate, support and develop Māori cultural and arts projects.

02

Add to the cultural wellbeing of our hapori.

03

Support opportunities to participate, to learn and to experience film and all content.

04

Profile arts, media and cultural projects.

Our Story

In control of
the narrative.

"As storytellers, to be in control of the narrative and the way in which we as a people are portrayed, it's hugely important. Having a story told about you versus telling your own story is an important distinction to make."

Tihini Grant, Writer & Director

While each member has their own company and projects, together they provide support to get productions up and running, and to develop skills across the industry. The collective is behind short films including Tits on a Bull, Ow What!, Elevation and Ahi Kaa, and has supported each other on television series such as Tappy, End of the Valley, Vegas and Kairākau. The collective supported with the feature film Ka Whawhai Tonu, directed by Mike Jonathan and filmed in Rotorua.

"What lockdown did was prove that you don't actually need to be in the big cities to be making content . . . anything can happen in the regions. Rotorua is a place that has a lot of hidden talent."

Nicola Smith, Producer & Director
Directing on location
Directing on location in the Rotorua ngahere.
Hair and makeup department at work
Hair & make-up, bringing characters to life.
Video village on set
Video village: every take, every frame.
Films & Television

From shorts
to feature.

Short films that started winning awards, then became the progression to features.

Ka Whawhai TonuAhi KaaKairākauVegasTits on a BullOw What!ElevationEnd of the ValleyRapidoWait Wait Now!Tappy Ka Whawhai TonuAhi KaaKairākauVegasTits on a BullOw What!ElevationEnd of the ValleyRapidoWait Wait Now!Tappy
Vision · 2026 to 2029

Ngā kōrero
o te ao.

"Ngā kōrero o te ao kōhatu ki te ao hou: the stories of our ancestors and our community, expressed through film, for Aotearoa and the world."

01

Champion Indigenous Storytelling

Prioritise and uplift indigenous-led stories.

02

Strengthen Cultural Leadership

Protect Māori tikanga, honour Te Reo Māori, and work in partnership with iwi and hapū.

03

Grow Local Production Capacity

Develop the skills and infrastructure of our crews to handle larger, more diverse productions.

04

Back Local Content

Produce or support film and TV projects made by Rotorua production houses, with local crew.

05

Attract Outside Productions

Use industry connections to bring domestic and international productions to Rotorua.

06

Grow Partnerships & Financial Strength

Deepen key relationships and manage resources wisely to keep Steambox thriving.

07

Future Industry Readiness

Stay ahead of emerging screen technologies and trends so we remain innovative and relevant.

08

Rotorua Indigenous Film Festival

Continue to build a film festival that creates space for indigenous film makers to connect.

Tohea Film School participant on set
Tohea Film School

Growing Māori
talent, on set.

Tohea Film School was created by Steambox to grow Māori talent in the screen sector and build real capacity here in Rotorua. Designed for rangatahi Māori, the 12-week programme combined hands-on workshops, theory and guest speakers with six weeks of on-set training, mentored directly by experienced heads of department.

20
Rangatahi Trained
12
Week Programme
6
Weeks On-Set

Many graduates went on to crew productions including Ahikaaroa, Kairākau and Hunting Aotearoa. Steambox is now working to establish a Rotorua Screen Creative Hub, and reignite a refreshed version of Tohea as a long-term training pathway.

Rotorua's Screen Landscape

Aotearoa's next
production hub.

#1
Most production houses per capita of any regional centre in Aotearoa
15
Nominations at the 2025 NZTV & Film Awards, the most from any region outside Auckland & Wellington

Rotorua's unique geothermal landscapes, rich Māori culture and strong creative talent base have attracted national and international productions, supported by Film Bay of Plenty, RotoruaNZ, and clear filming protocols that uphold iwi values and environmental care.

Local production houses

Haka Boy FilmsVelvet Stone MediaJack MediaMiro ProductionsHikoi ProductionsArama PicturesAratauaTe NoniLocal Gecko ProductionsMairanga MediaWawata Creative
Get In Touch

Let's tell the
next story.

Whānau, friends of the industry, and anyone with a story worth telling: we'd love to hear from you.

"Mā tō pouaka, mā taku pouaka, ka ora ai tātou katoa."

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