Moehau Hodges-Tai

Moehau Hodges-Tai (Ngāti Pāhauwera, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Wai) is a New Zealand filmmaker, director, and journalist with over 14 years of experience across film, television, and digital media.

After beginning his career in drama and scripted storytelling, Moehau spent several years working in news and documentary, including roles with NZ Herald, NZME, and Māori Television, alongside freelance work across major film productions, advertising, music videos, and television.

He is now a freelance director focusing on Māori and Indigenous storytelling, marking a return to drama—where his creative passion has always been rooted. Moehau brings a distinctive voice shaped by both narrative craft and factual storytelling. He holds a First-Class Honours degree in Digital Cinema and a Bachelor of Media & Creative Technology, double majoring in Te Reo Māori and Screen Media, from the University of Waikato.

Alongside his filmmaking, Moehau has a strong interest in artificial intelligence, audience development, and emerging technologies. Through the Google News Initiative’s Audience Development programme, delivered in partnership with Blue Engine Collaborative, he explored how AI, data, and content discoverability can strengthen audience engagement and increase the visibility of Māori and Indigenous stories in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. (Google News Initiative⁠)

Moehau is committed to championing Māori and Indigenous storytelling while embracing emerging technologies that are shaping the future of screen media.