New Zealand film 'Cousins' empowers wāhine Māori 6 Mar, 2021 08:16 PM 3 minutes to read By: Kayne Ngātokowhā Peters for Te Ao Māori News A leading actor in the new film Cousins says the screenplay highlights the cruel treatment inflicted on wāhine Māori in the 1940s and 1950s. Hariata Moriarty plays the young-adult version of the character Missy in the film and says it was a great experience working on the film. And although some of the subject matter was challenging, it gave her a sense of empowerment as a young Māori woman. "He mahi mīharo, he mahi ngāhau. Ahakoa ka peka pouri wētahi wā taumaha, he mahi ngāhau."