A new film premiering Sept. 16, 2025, highlights the cultural threat of invasive seaweed to Māori communities in New Zealand’s Gulf.

The Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust, alongside mana whenua and local Gulf communities, has released the short film "The Seafloor Coloniser" to raise awareness about the cultural impact of the invasive Exotic Caulerpa seaweed. Premiering at the Auckland Art Gallery on September 16, 2025, followed by a screening in Russell, the film shares stories from local leaders fighting to protect their whakapapa, land, and sea. Produced after two years of battling the invasive species, the film will be made available online for public viewing.