Series synopsis
Mataku is a sci-fi & fantasy drama television series that premiered on TVNZ 1 on October 3, 2002. It ended on February 23, 2005. It stars Temuera Morrison.
Anthology of contemporary one-off dramas, adapted from the unique and mystical world of Maori supernatural legends. In these tales of the unexpected, set in New Zealand, ordinary characters encounter mysterious phenomena of Maori mythology.
Premise
Anthology of contemporary one-off dramas, adapted from the unique and mystical world of Maori supernatural legends. In these tales of the unexpected, set in New Zealand, ordinary characters encounter mysterious phenomena of Maori mythology.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Temuera Morrison as Self - Presenter
Guest cast
- Manu Bennett
- Michael Hurst as Dr. Forbes
- Patrick Smith as Auctioneer
Episodes
This series spans 3 seasons with 17 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 5 | October 3, 2002 | October 31, 2002 |
| Season 2 | 8 | November 7, 2002 | December 19, 2002 |
| Season 3 | 4 | February 2, 2005 | February 23, 2005 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Blue Line: Kahurangi When a property development company starts to clear land to make way for a new casino, a young female executive is overtaken by the spirit of an old Maori woman. She is compelled to keep the land sacred…at any cost. |
October 3, 2002 |
| 2 |
The Enchanted Flute: Te Ngoro A shy and socially inept young man is seduced by the magical properties of a Maori bone flute he finds on the beach, which seems to be the answer to his problems, but which could lead him to his doom. |
October 10, 2002 |
| 3 |
Going To War: Te Mura O Te Ahi A young Maori soldier who is sceptical about his family's traditional beliefs changes his mind when he encounters his uncle who died in World War II. |
October 17, 2002 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Fishing Trip: Mahi Hi Ika A friends' fishing trip proves fatal when the men land on a sacred island. |
November 7, 2002 |
| 2 |
The Lost Tribe: Nga Iwi Ngaro ‘The Lost Tribe/Iwi Ngaro' tells the story of a group of modern-day soldiers who are sent on a mission deep in the heart of the forest. Along the way, they come across grisly evidence that another unit of soldiers, who were meant to be in the area, have met a violent end. Moving further into the bush to hunt for their fellow soldiers they come across a mysterious warrior who they follow. Amazingly the warrior reveals to them a hidden unearthly world through a rock face and a fearsome tribe that was rumoured to have disappeared in the area hundreds of years ago. Right before their eyes, the soldiers witness a frightening event involving the mysterious lost tribe that will change their lives forever. |
November 14, 2002 |
| 3 |
Divine Intervention: Ahu Mai Hohonu Tama is a small town taxi driver that decides to go to extreme measures to drive his competition out of town by summoning up a Taniwha that ends up having an agenda of its own.Tama soon realises that desire to drive the other taxi driver out of town has backfired and he learns that there is a high price to pay for his folly. |
November 21, 2002 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Wild Ones: Uru Takariri When three young thugs hide in the forest for safety after a bank heist, they find themselves in more danger than they planned. |
February 2, 2005 |
| 2 |
The Tree: Te Rakau When Renee and Daniel move into their dream home, they are desperate to furnish that dream with a baby. Despite being on a pregnancy plan, all attempts to conceive are fruitless leaving Renee even more determined. |
February 9, 2005 |
| 3 |
Tears: Taneiwai When Joanna inherits a suspicious boulder of greenstone from an unknown relative, weird things begin to occur in her life. |
February 16, 2005 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | TVNZ 1 |
|---|---|
| First aired | October 3, 2002 |
| Last aired | February 23, 2005 |
| Runtime | 30 minutes |
| Status | Ended |