27 Otutehapari Road, Waihau Bay, Opotiki

Waihau Bay - Boy Film Set

Opotiki Community Halls

By Caitlin Lynch

Taika Waititi might be an internationally famous director now, but his roots lie here in Waihau. This coastal Bay of Plenty town is home to Te Whanau-a-Apanui iwi and a favorite spot for summer campers.

Waititi’s 2010 film ‘Boy’ is a homage to his hometown, and many of the sites are exactly as they appear in the film. Check out Boy, Rocky and Chardonnay’s local haunts: buy an ice-block at the General Store or jump off the jetty across the road. A ten-minute drive west along the coast will take you past Raukokore school where Boy shows off his moonwalk, and the Raukokore Bridge where Weirdo lives.

You’ll also pass Waititi’s marae, Maru o Hinemaka (Pararaki), where the ‘Boy’ crew was based during filming. Maru o Hinemaka marae also hosted the film’s national premiere, on a big inflatable screen set up in the courtyard. Boy went on to be highest grossing New Zealand film at the time, now second only to Waititi’s 2016 film, ‘Hunt for the Wilderpeople’.

If you happen to have a picture of Waihau Bay, please feel free to send it in.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople Blu-ray 1Disc The Keys to Hell ![What We Do in the Shadows](http://www.fishpond.co.nz/affiliate_show_banner.php?ref=1323&affiliate_pbanner_id=86423537)Hire'Boy' Digitally.

Or watch the trailer, excerpts and extras at NZonScreen.

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