Ka Whawhai Tonu - Struggle Without End is a 2024 New Zealand historical drama film directed by Michael Jonathan, based on a screenplay by Tim Worrall.
The movie stars Temuera Morrison, Cliff Curtis, Miriama Smith, Paku Fernandez and Hinerangi Harawira-Nicholas.
Haki becomes acquainted with the teenaged girl Kōpū, who is believed by her tribe to serve as a medium for the Māori god of war Papatūānuku.
Cast members included new leads Paku Fernandez as Haki and Hinerangi Harawira-Nicholas as Kopu, alongside Temuera Morrison, Cliff Curtis, Miriama Smith, and Jason Flemyng as Daniel Morgan.
[6] Ka Whawhai Tonu was the directorial debut of Mike Jonathan and produced by Piripi Curtis and Thomas Toby Parkinson.
Gleason also praised the creative decision to have 95% of the film's dialogue in the Māori language, which she described as critical to world-building, respectful for the source material, and immersive.
[6] Kate Rodger of Newshub gave the film 4.5 stars, describing it as "a powerful story of Aotearoa's history through a Māori lens."
She praised the performance of Temuerra Morrison and the creative decision to tell the Battle of O Rākau through the eyes of two teenage characters.