Patea; The Poi-E Story

A “Half Full” FILM
WRITTEN BY Luke Watkinson

'Patea' is a part feature, part documentary seeks to tell the story of the people and place that birthed this icon. A town where the closure of the freezing works did not destroy a community, but forged it into a place of creativity, where the determination of a community catapulted them to fame and allowed them to remain together doing something they loved, and where the efforts of a kiwi music legend bore creative fruit and allowed Maori culture to not only extend its interest in New Zealand, but also travel around the world in a time when it was in danger of passing into antiquity.

The film charts a chronological history of the town, and more importantly the people of Patea, focusing on two major features; the decline of the freezing works parallel to the growth of the Patea Maori Club and Poi-E. From a brief look at pre-European settlement and Maori culture, into the establishment of a township, but really the story begins with the 1982 closure of the Patea freezing works.

We explore events like the stage show about the closure of the freezing works, ongoing interest and revivals of Poi-E, other albums and appearances to perform on various NZ and international venues. Right up through the death of Dalvaneus and the revival of Poi-E both in a Vodafone ad and then eventually with Boy. Then we return to the town today, and the freezing works is finally demolished, and we hear how people are glad the freezing works is gone, acknowledge it as part of their history, and look forward to a future as a creative and musical community, and as a legacy continuing to the next generation.