Once Were Warriors TOA leather jacket patch

Once Were Warriors jacket

‘It was a breakthrough in terms of Māori film-making. But the subject matter it tackled became hugely important as well, showing a side of our society that nobody talked about too much, that everybody turned a blind eye to.’

Julian Arahanga (Nig in Once Were Warriors), 2014

Toa Aotearoa was a blend of real gangs in New Zealand, including their rituals and symbols. The patch design conveys a hybrid Māori identity and gang presence. The patched jacket, though fictional, provides a focus for discussion on gang culture and identity in New Zealand.

This jacket was a parting gift from the designers Michael Kane and Pauline Pohatu (Ngāi Tāmanuhiri) to producer Robin Scholes. Jackets were also given to director Lee Tamahori and scriptwriter Riwia Brown.

NZ Herald (16 Aug 2014). Once Were Warriors: Twenty years on. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/once-were-warriors-twenty-years-on/COYE3W3RTKD7XWLNL2RN6QG42Y/