Kahawai Productions Ltd is an independent television production company with a wealth of experience in Te Reo Māori sports broadcasting, live events, documentaries, and unscripted television.
Winner of the Best Live Event Coverage 2022 in the NZTV Awards
Matariki 2024
On June 28, 2024, Kahawai broadcast Mānawatia a Matariki - Celebrate Matariki from the peaks of Treble Cone in Wānaka. Stacey Morrison and Mātai Smith hosted the live broadcast of the festivities, beginning at dawn with a traditional Hautapu ceremony. Informative and entertaining, Mānawatia a Matariki invited all Aotearoa to both understand the traditions of the past, and create news ones of their own.
2023 MAORI SPORTS AWARDS
Kahawai recently produced coverage of the 2023 Maori Sports Awards for Whakaata Maori with ImageNZ providing the technical solutions…
Work
Television and video production, from concept to reality.
Matariki 2024
448, Journey of The Haast Eagle
World Forklift League
Shovels & Guns
Mama Son Learner League
Matariki 2023
About
Brendon Butt
Best Live Event Coverage 2022
Ngāti Whakaue/Ngāti PukekoSince 1986 Brendon has been directing and producing sport, comedy, documentary and drama for TVNZ, TV3, SKY and Maori Television. In 1990 he worked as a studio director for TV3 and eventually became Head of Sport. He covered rugby for SKY for 7 years including the Lion's Tour in 2005. Then he started Kahawai Productions, which went on to produce numerous documentaries and reality series. The company also specialises in live events like the Anzac Day and Matariki live broadcasts. His independent production company has a wealth of experience in te reo Māori broadcasting, having produced over 2000 hours of bi-lingual sports coverage.
Contact
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2024 Matariki
Live Broadcast
On June 28, 2024, Kahawai broadcast Mānawatia a Matariki - Celebrate Matariki from the peaks of Treble Cone in Wānaka. Stacey Morrison and Mātai Smith hosted the live broadcast of the festivities, beginning at dawn with a traditional Hautapu ceremony. Informative and entertaining, Mānawatia a Matariki invited all Aotearoa to both understand the traditions of the past, and create news ones of their own.
2023 Matariki
Live Broadcast
On July 14, 2023, Kahawai broadcast Mānawatia a Matariki - Celebrate Matariki from the Skyline high on the slopes of Mount Ngongotaha. Stacey Morrison and Mātai Smith hosted the live broadcast of the festivities, beginning at dawn with a traditional Hautapu ceremony. Informative and entertaining, Mānawatia a Matariki invited all Aotearoa to both understand the traditions of the past, and create news ones of their own.
448, LEGEND OF THE HAAST EAGLE
Documentary
Mike Noonan started building a custom motorbike in his garage in 2014, and has rallied a group of friends to help him get to Speed Week at Bonneville. In the spirit of Burt Munro, Mike hopes to make his dream come true on the famous salt flats - to break the land speed record for a 350CC supercharged push rod motorcycle. This documentary was funded by a successful crowdfunding campaign.
| Type | Documentary |
| Date | 2017 |
| Client | TBC |
SHOVELS & GUNS
Documentary
"My great uncle's photo album shows the formation of the Pioneer Battalion in Auckland in 1914. It's a personal story, a Maori story and a New Zealand story that deserves to be told." Brendon ButtShovels & Guns is the story of The Native Contingent which became The Pioneer Battalion; from its very formation to the bloody battlefields of Gallipoli and the Western Front.
| Type | Documentary |
| Date | 2015 |
| Client | Māori Television |
WEEKEND WARRIORS
Sports Documentary
Weekend Warriors is based on the book 'Auckland 100 Years of Rugby League' by Bernie Wood and John Coffey, and first aired on Maori Television on August 28, 2010.
| Type | Sports Documentary |
| Date | 2010 |
| Client | Māori Television |
WORLD FORKLIFT LEAGUE
Entertainment
World Forklift League is the world's first nationally televised forklift driver competition. Eight teams from around the country compete against each other to determine who really is king (or queen) of the pallets.
| Type | Entertainment |
| Date | 2015 |
| Client | Māori Television |
MAMA SON LEARNER LEAGUE
Entertainment
Mama Son Learner League is a unique family entertainment show, with specific attention on parents and teenage boys and their driving skills.
| Type | Entertainment |
| Date | 2016 |
| Client | Māori Television |