Original subtitles

- We have decided that you will continue your studies

abroad in London.

You and your whanau will live there until it is time to hoki mai.

- We had to come back to Aotearoa cos mum misses home,

but really, it's cos of her work or something like that.

- Amiria, out of the way, please.

(STATIC CRACKLES)

- And you're sure this is going to help my whanau?

- I'm sure.

- Are you three ghosts? (ALL EXCLAIM)

- Whoa, whoa, whoa. The correct term to describe us is...

- BOTH: Kehua.

- SPEAKS TE REO MAORI:

- You're straight off a flight from London and into town to meet Matua Jacobson.

You're definitely not part of that new international agency

that's trying to buy Matua Jacobson's quarry and the adjoining iwi land for a subdivision?

- Once she smells a story, she will do everything in her power to find out the truth.

- You'll keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

- I'm gonna find those deeds, John Boy. I know your nan has them.

You give me what I need, and I'll let everything stay the same.

- You need to suss whatever dodgy deals be happening up in here.

- I am not Captain Planet.

- No, but you are Maori and whanau ― me tu hei kaitiaki.

- Kiri Wharekoa, how long have you been working for Floodgate and Co?

- (SIGHS DEEPLY)

www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2025

(LAID-BACK MUSIC)

- Kia ora, beautiful people.

It's me, the nomadic native, back in the haunted homestead of Aotearoa.

For those who don't know, my family and I have been dealing with some...

unexpected visitors.

Meet our resident kehua.

This is Koro Joe.

He's been around since forever. - (CLEARS THROAT) Kia ora.

- Koro Joe, what's it like being a kehua?

Can you walk through walls? Do you get hungry?

Do you get tired and need a sleep?

- Reo Maori anake.

- Oh, that's right ― he only talks in Maori.

- Nate, get out of the shot. Oh my gosh.

And here's Auntie Huia.

She's our nan's youngest sister.

Say 'Kia ora', Auntie Huia.

- Kia ora! - Hika.

- Auntie Huia, how do you say, 'Do you get tired?' in Maori?

- 'Ka ngenge ranei koe?'

- Koro Joe, ka ngenge ranei koe?

- Ngenge? Hika. He aha tenei mea te ngenge? Ko au te tangata.

- (SCOFFS)

- Last but not least, this is John Boy.

Uh... He's Mum's cousin ― and our uncle.

I don't know how that works.

- Yeah, it's a pretty neat setup you got there, girl.

Yeah, back when I was alive, all we had was the Nokias.

- He aha te Nokia?

- Oh, it's a phone.

- True? - Pono.

- Pono? - Means 'truth'.

- Hey ― korero Maori anake.

- So there you have it. Our very own whanau kehua.

- JOE: Eh, kia ora. - HUIA: Morena, Kiri!

- Uh-uh. No. Not listening. Amiria, delete that.

- Mum's the only one having trouble adjusting to us being able to see kehua.

- Now. - (GROANS)

- He aha tera?

(POIGNANT MUSIC)

- Karekau, Nate. It's nothing to worry about.

Go upstairs and get your bag. (MUTTERS INDISTINCTLY)

(POIGNANT MUSIC CONTINUES)

(KEHUA WHISPER KI TE REO MAORI)

- Kei te kohimuhimu koutou mo te aha?

- JOHN BOY: Me pehea te whakahaumaru i nga tamariki.

- Whakahaumaru i a ratou i te aha?

- I a koe, Kiri.

- The consequences of your actions.

- My actions?

- Ka nui tena, Kiri.

Did you really think there'd be no repercussions?

- MATU: Ata marie, e te tau.

Uh, ata marie, kehua ma. (CHUCKLES)

- Hey. Morena.

- Wake tatou.

- (SIGHS)

- Hey! Where'd they go?

(MUSIC PLAYS ON CAR STEREO, BRAKES WHINE)

(STEREO MUSIC STOPS)

- (INHALES DEEPLY)

(FOREBODING MUSIC)

Kia hiwa ra, kia hiwa ra, kia hiwa ra.

- Uh, yes― Uh, kia ora. Um...

Oh. Mr Stevens.

Kua tae wawe mai.

- Well, I didn't wanna keep you waiting, Mere.

So, how's business? Is it keeping you well?

- Uh, yeah. If by business you mean journalism, it is keeping me well.

Uh, I've just asked you here― If you could just clarify a few details for me.

- Of course. I'm happy to help.

- I've been looking into Floodgate & Co and their sudden interest in local lands.

There's a lot of fast-tracked applications and these approvals that just don't quite add up.

- Floodgate & Co ― never heard of them.

- Huh. Really? That's interesting.

It's just, you know, it seems wherever I look, your name keeps popping up.

- CHUCKLES: Yeah, I'm a popular guy, Mere. My name tends to be on a lot of people's waha.

- (CHUCKLES DRYLY) Yeah. So you'd know better than anyone then that where there's smoke, there

- Smoke and mirrors, Mere. Smoke and mirrors.

- Look, I'm just trying to get to the truth.

- (CHUCKLES) Oh, Mere. Always the crusader.

Half a truth is often a great lie.

You have to choose your battles more wisely, Mere, and learn when to just leave things alone.

Oh, you didn't even offer me a kapu ti, Mere. Typical.

Well, it's a... pleasure as always.

(FOREBODING MUSIC CONTINUES)

(GRUNTS)

(KEYS CLACK)

(PHONE CHIMES, VIBRATES)

(FOREBODING MUSIC CONTINUES)

- (SIGHS SOFTLY)

- MATIU: Kei te pai ranei koe, e te tau?

- Mm-hm. Ko taku mahi noa iho.

(BIRDS SING SOFTLY)

(EERIE MUSIC)

(HAKA ECHOES DISTANTLY)

- MERE: E kore au e roa, ka hoki wawe mai, kei te pai tena?

- MATIU: Ae, kei te pai.

- Bye, bub.

(HAKA ECHOES DISTANTLY)

(SING-SONGY) Amiria? - Hi.

- I said, help your dad out. Awhinatia. See you soon.

- Yeah, help Dad out. Got it.

- Nate!

- (GROANS) Not again. - Nate!

(FOREBODING MUSIC)

(HAKA ECHOES DISTANTLY)

(FOREBODING MUSIC GROWS)

(HAKA ECHOES DISTANTLY, STOPS)

(WIND WHOOSHES)

(WIND WHOOSHES)

- Auntie Huia? Ko koe tena?

(FOREBODING MUSIC CONTINUES)

(GRUNTS)

- Here, boy. Let me give you a hand.

- Kia ora, Uncle.

Uh, Uncle Bill hasn't seen him, (CHUCKLES) but said something about putting a bell on him.

But we'll go check by the creek. - All right, everybody, stations as usual. Let's go find this

- Ooh, hi. Kia ora.

E Kiri, me korero taua.

- Come on.

Where are you off to in such a hurry?

- Nowhere. Home.

- Oh, yeah? Where's home?

- Uh, I think you meant to say, 'No hea koe?'

My auntie told me that you should ask strangers who they are and where they're from

so you know who they whakapapa to.

- Is that so? - Yep. Ana.

- Hey, look, are you sure you don't want me to go and help look

for your son or...? - Kao, kao, kao, kao. Kei te pai.

- OK. - Amiria and Matt will find him, or his Uncle Bill will.

He's done this before, so I think he's got his bearings.

What can I help you with?

- Well, since our last korero, I looked into Tipene's operations.

He tika hoki tau.

There are so many dubious dealings and all these loose ends that lead to this unethical practi

- And what does that have to do with me?

- I need your help to expose the truth. - (CHUCKLES DRYLY)

Why would I help you? - (SCOFFS SOFTLY)

OK, well, this was buried under a lot of fast-track deals,

so pretty well-hidden, but by the looks of it,

Tipene has filed a claim to subdivide this whenua.

- Yeah, I'm well aware of his dealings.

I think you're forgetting who led you to Tipene.

- Koia. (INHALES DEEPLY) That's why I'm here.

This whole thing is far bigger than Tipene.

We're dealing with widespread corruption involving

local officials and government entities

and it's all linked to these fraudulent land transactions.

Tipene's been their man on the ground. He's been facilitating the deals and everything.

Circles back to Floodgate & Co, where I know that you have influence.

- Na reira, he aha te wahanga ki a au?

- I can bring everyone down.

But I just need a credible source from within Floodgate & Co.

- Oh! Oh, so you want me to be the whistleblower?

- Ana. With your inside knowledge and everything I've discovered,

we can expose these people that are exploiting our communities.

- (SIGHS) - We can unearth corruption on the highest level.

- (SCOFFS SOFTLY)

(PAPERS RUSTLE)

Maku e mahi.

But...

on my terms.

- Tena koe.

(BIRDS SQUAWK)

(EERIE MUSIC)

(EERIE MUSIC GROWS)

- HUIA: To tatou tama!

(EERIE MUSIC SIMMERS)

(FOREBODING MUSIC)

- Matua, what are you doing out here by yourself?

- It's none of your business. - Oh. Why?

- You talk a lot. - Yeah, my auntie said that too.

But she also said she liked it ―

'Waha papa mai ki a au' cos people hardly ever talk to her, cos she's a...

Wait ― are you a kehua?

- No, don't be stupid. I'm not a ghost.

- You're not supposed to say that 'g' word.

- Hey, you're Kiri's son, aren't ya? - Yep. E noho ra.

- Hey, wait. What's in the bag? - (GROANS, SCREAMS)

- Take it easy. - (SCREAMS)

- Hey, hey!

What the hell's going on? Nate?

Kei te pai koe?

You all right? Kei te pai koe? - (PANTS)

(EERIE MUSIC)

- Hey, come on, take a breath.

- What the hell are you doing out here with your hands on my son?

- Hey, just chill out. Your boy was out wandering alone.

I thought it'd be a good Samaritan, just check if he was all right.

Wouldn't want anyone to think he's been neglected now, would you? - Watch your mouth!

- Pai ana bub? Kei te pai?

- Kiri! Nice you finally show up. You wanna tell Kevin Costner here to back off? (CHUCKLES)

(GRUNTS) - Matiu!

(MUSIC DISTORTS)

Hey, hey. Whakahokia nga tamariki ki te kainga.

- I'm not leaving you out here with this piece of shit.

- Hey, I will be fine. - (GRUNTS)

- Go.

(BIRDS CHIRP)

(EERIE MUSIC)

- Why did you tell me to meet you out here if you're gonna send your boofhead down just to rou

(PANTS)

So, this journo, what are we gonna do about it?

- You are in over your head.

Meremereana has all the details and facts she needs to bury you.

Your fraudulent dealings, your lies, your involvement.

It is all gonna be out in the open now.

You should run and hide while you still can.

- You said you'd be able to protect me. We had a deal. - Deal?

What deal? The only deal I made is with Floodgate.

You were becoming a liability for them, so I had to ensure you were taken care of.

- You used me.

- Used you? You're a puppet.

I needed to keep my hands clean and you were the perfect fool for the job, but you got greedy.

So I'm gonna make sure you rot. - I'm gonna take you down with me.

There is no way you're getting away with this. - Mm, I think I already have.

Enjoy the fall, Tipene. It's a long way down.

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

'These are my terms;

'you take Tipene down, I'll give you all the ammunition you need.

'But he'll fight, and I only do this if he is silenced.'

- You go for a wash, eh?

- 'I stand to lose too much if his lies get out.

'Nothing gets traced back to me.

'If it does, I'll deny it.

'And your story doesn't exist.'

- What's that?

- Karekau.

(OMINOUS MUSIC CONTINUES)

(INHALES, EXHALES DEEPLY)

(BREATHES RAGGEDLY)

(OMINOUS MUSIC CONTINUES)

- 'Tuarua; my whanau stays out of this.

'My kids, Matiu, Bull, everyone.

'They must never know about my involvement with Tipene or Floodgate & Co.

'Marama?'

(KEHUA PERFORM HAKA)

(KEHUA PERFORM HAKA)

- MEREMEREANA: Why are you choosing to help me?

- 'Help you?

'This isn't about you.'

My whole life was planned out for me.

(OMINOUS MUSIC CONTINUES)

But not anymore.

(PAPERS RUSTLE DISTANTLY)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

(KEHUA EXCLAIM)

I see the big picture that they were too blind to see.

I make the rules now.

Kua tau?

- (INHALES DEEPLY)

(BREATHES SHAKILY)

Ae.

- 'And no one will stand in my way.'

(UPLIFTING MUSIC)

(HAKA CONTINUES)

(UPLIFTING MUSIC SOARS)

(HAKA CONTINUES)

Captions by Kitty Wasasala.

Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air.

www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2025

(ETHEREAL MUSIC)