After a long struggle, Whanganui became the first river in the world to gain legal rights. Its guardians, the Maori, invite you to experience the spirit of Aotearoa / New Zealand.
Ned Tapa, a Maori elder and guardian of the Whanganui River, sets off on a breathtaking five-day kayaking trip. Whanganui is the first river in the world to be legally recognized as a living and indivisible entity. Granting legal personhood to the river is a way to protect it from exploitation and legitimize the long-oppressed Maori worldview in Aotearoa / New Zealand. For them, this river is a sacred, living being, their ancestor. Sharing their wisdom and unique relationship with living nature, Ned, his family, and his dog Jimmy, together with the filmmakers, experience the river’s community, spirit, and beauty, inviting us to rethink our relationship with the world through the prism of care and protection, rather than ownership or resources.
In cinemas 10/7/2025
NK'25: I Am the River, the River is Me
NK'25: I Am the River, the River is Me
V
Genre
Documentary
Run time
1h 28min
Genre
Documentary
Run time
1h 28min
After a long struggle, Whanganui became the first river in the world to gain legal rights. Its guardians, the Maori, invite you to experience the spirit of Aotearoa / New Zealand.
Ned Tapa, a Maori elder and guardian of the Whanganui River, sets off on a breathtaking five-day kayaking trip. Whanganui is the first river in the world to be legally recognized as a living and indivisible entity. Granting legal personhood to the river is a way to protect it from exploitation and legitimize the long-oppressed Maori worldview in Aotearoa / New Zealand. For them, this river is a sacred, living being, their ancestor. Sharing their wisdom and unique relationship with living nature, Ned, his family, and his dog Jimmy, together with the filmmakers, experience the river’s community, spirit, and beauty, inviting us to rethink our relationship with the world through the prism of care and protection, rather than ownership or resources.
Ned Tapa, a Maori elder and guardian of the Whanganui River, sets off on a breathtaking five-day kayaking trip. Whanganui is the first river in the world to be legally recognized as a living and indivisible entity. Granting legal personhood to the river is a way to protect it from exploitation and legitimize the long-oppressed Maori worldview in Aotearoa / New Zealand. For them, this river is a sacred, living being, their ancestor. Sharing their wisdom and unique relationship with living nature, Ned, his family, and his dog Jimmy, together with the filmmakers, experience the river’s community, spirit, and beauty, inviting us to rethink our relationship with the world through the prism of care and protection, rather than ownership or resources.