Moana 2 in reo Māori language to launch alongside global release

Disney’s Moana 2 in te reo Māori will release on the same day as its global debut, marking a milestone.

For the first time, a Disney film in an indigenous language will debut in theaters alongside its global release. Moana 2 will be released in te reo Māori on November 28, 2024, as part of a collaboration between Matewa Media and Walt Disney Animation Studios. This landmark moment continues the Disney reo Māori series, marking the sixth film translated into the language. Returning voices include Rachel House and Temuera Morrison, with Jaedyn Randell reprising her role as Moana in both the English and Māori versions.

Director and producer Tweedle Waititi expressed pride in this achievement, stating, “We now steer te reo Māori toward a new future in global entertainment.” The translation incorporates the Tairāwhiti dialect, with contributions from Mātanga Reo, Tātere Jeremy MacLeod, Piripi Winiata, and Te Uranga Lee Belk. Producers Chelsea Winstanley and Mia Henry-Teirney highlighted their long-standing vision, saying, “Our dream to see te reo Māori normalized on cinema screens alongside English has come true.”

The sequel follows Moana on a new adventure, receiving a call from her wayfinding ancestors that leads her to the far seas of Oceania. New characters will be introduced, including Loto, Kele, and Moni, voiced by Arihia Cassidy, Rutene Spooner, and Nepia Takuira-Mita, respectively. Tickets and school bookings for the Māori language version of Moana 2 will be available soon.