Chapter 14: Wahine Toa Women Warriors: Māori Women Leaders in the Film and Screen Industry

Growth in the creative economy has produced interest in the dynamics of leadership in creative careers. Research in the screen industry, a subset of the creative sector, often highlights tensions between the glamour of creativity, passion, and potential for fame on the one hand, and the grind of precarious work and tough conditions on the other. There is, however, a paucity of research investigating wider forces that shape the careers of women leaders—and particularly indigenous women leaders—in the screen industry and ways in which women leaders influence this industry. In order to address the research gap, this chapter presents findings based on an investigation (2008–2012) in the screen industry of New Zealand. The project, titled “Glamour and Grind, New Creative Work,” used the New Zealand film and screen industry as a case study to examine creative careers.