Before beginning the film unit, I used this powerpoint with my Year 10 class who are predominantly Asian and NZ European and not particularly familiar with the film's setting or the many 90's pop culture references used in the film. I then asked my students to write their own introduction (mihimihi or pepeha) similar to what the main character does in the exposition.

1. BOY
Setting the scene

2. BOY is set in the small town of
Waihau Bay on the East Cape of
the North Island
It is the home town of the film’s
director, Taika Waititi.
small community
5 hours drive from Auckland
rural
simple living
no cellphone coverage

3. Maori predominantly lived
in rural areas until a major
shift in Maori urbanisation
from the 1970s.
Maori lived primarily
within their own tribal
districts.
Waihau Bay falls under
the Te Whanau - A -
Apanui tribe.

5. Pop culture - 1980’s
Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ - 1983
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial - 1982
Dallas, Dynasty & Falcon Crest were prime TV
soap operas during the 1980s

7. Pop culture - NZ
‘Hine e hine’ instrumental used to play during the
Goodnight Kiwi segment
‘Poe E’ - Patea Maori Club: became an iconic
Kiwi song and proved significant in putting Maori
song/culture on the international stage - the song
speaks of a fantail flying through the forest
Billy T James - iconic New Zealand entertainer

8. Powhiri: a formal Maori
welcome onto a marae
Marae is a sacred meeting
house which symbolises
tribal identity

9. Maori battalion
All-Maori frontline infantry unit
during WWII
Fought alongside other NZ
soldiers in several campaigns
covering Greece, Crete, Egypt,
Syria, Tunisia, Libya and Italy
Made up entirely of volunteers
Almost 3,600 men served
overseas with the Maori Battalion
between 1940 and 1945 and of
those 649 died.

10. Mihimihi (mihi):
Introductory speeches which take place at the
beginning of a gathering, after the formal powhiri
Establish links with other people present
Speaker introduces themselves by sharing their
whakapapa (genealogy) and other relevant
information
It is important for Maori to know and share their
whakapapa; to know one’s whakapapa is to know
one’s identity

11. Whangai
Literal meaning is ‘to feed’
Pakeha interpretation of it is ‘adoption’ although there is
no legal exchange between the two parties
In Maori and Pacific Island cultures, it is common for the
eldest grandchild to be given to their grandparents to
raise
Parents can take back their children at any time, no
questions asked
Controversial topic - Maori customary practice vs the law

12. Your task
Write your own mihi stating:
Your name
Where you live/come from
Ethnic background
Your family (parents, siblings, e.t.c)
Your likes
Anything else you would like to share