“The film has taken nearly five years to make and I’m really happy that it is now ready to meet the world,” Murray said.

“MIFF is Australia’s most prestigious festival so it is a great honour to show the film there in Melbourne.”

The 46-minute immersive Dome Cinema documentary follows a voyage aboard Vaka Paikea from Rarotonga to Mangaia, celebrating the revival of traditional Polynesian navigation while exploring the Indigenous conservation practice of ra’ui.

The film places audiences aboard a Vaka Moana, allowing them to experience traditional ocean voyaging while highlighting how ancestral knowledge has been revived by master navigators, including Pwo master navigator Peia Patai.

“The film is a 360-degree cinematic experience that places viewers on a Vaka Moana so that they can imagine what it might have been like for Polynesian ancestors to have travelled the oceans on their journeys of discovery and settlement,” said Murray.

It also features Rarotonga-based marine scientist Dr Antony Vavia and Mangaia fisheries officer Tua Matepi, who explain how traditional resource management practices such as ra’ui can help address today’s environmental challenges.

Murray said the documentary celebrates Polynesian knowledge and demonstrates how ancient practices can help guide communities towards a more sustainable future.

The film was made with the support of Cecile Marten, Peia Patai and Te Puna Marama Voyaging Foundation, with filming taking place aboard Vaka Paikea.

Murray hopes to eventually bring the immersive experience home to the Cook Islands.

“We would love to be able to show the film in Rarotonga and Mangaia, where it was mostly filmed – we just need to get a portable Dome cinema there!”