The following list is not exhaustive — some commission projects cannot be listed for contractual reasons.
Some scripts are available on request.
PLAYS
MISS RIDLING INVESTIGATES (2022)
A retired librarian and a dementing former detective investigate the murder of a fellow retirement village resident.
FALE AĪTU: HOUSE OF SPIRITS (2021)
Newly orphaned siblings RUTH and SAM, in the midst of dealing with their grief and their parents’ estate, are confronted with the newly dead spirits of their parents who refuse to move on.
DEPARTURES (2020)
A son waits for his estranged father’s arrival at Auckland Airport. As his wait stretches into an hour, he reminisces about his evolving relationship with his father from child to adult.
WE ARE MANY (2018)
Samoa, 1930. Four Samoan women must each find a reason to continue passive resistance against the New Zealand occupying forces. Inspired by the Womens Mau Movement.
STILL LIFE WITH CHICKENS (2017)
An old woman befriends a Barnevelder chicken who will listen to her life story without judgement.
2019 Dunedin Fringe Festival — Best Theatre
2018 Wellington Theatre Awards — Outstanding New New Zealand Play
2017 Adam Award for Best New Zealand Play
KINGSWOOD (2015)
Four old university friends drive from Auckland to Wellington in a Holden stationwagon. Over two days and 700 kilometres, they must confront forgotten dreams, old jealousies and secret betrayals that threaten their friendship.
2015 Adam Award for Best Play by a Pasifika Playwright
GOODBYE MY FELENI (2012)
Trentham Army Camp, 1943. Three young Pasifika soldiers rearing to join the war are joined by a returning veteran with a tragic secret that will effect his young charges.
2013 NZWG SWANZ Award for Best Play
2013 Adam Award for Best Play by a Pasifika Playwright
TELEVISION
BURNING SPEAR (2019; 6x60min)
Crime mystery. Three police officers must break ranks to stop the Urewera terror raids from going ahead.
Episodes 01–02 scripts and series proposal.
2019 David Carson-Parker Embassy Prize for Best Portfolio
FIREBUG (2016; 13x60min)
Crime drama. A trainee fire investigator begins to lose his grip on his life and starts setting fires.
Pilot script and series proposal.
2016 NZWG Unproduced Television Pilot Script Competition Winner
SKYBLUE (2009; 13x60min)
Medical drama. A year on the front line of a forensic mental health unit.
Pilot script and series proposal.
2011 New Zealand Writers Guild Television Script Competition Co-Winner
HINENUI (2009; 6x60min)
Crime drama. A serial rapist is terrorizing South Auckland. A newly promoted police detective can find him — if only her superiors will believe her.
MĀORI ON MARS (2006; 26x30min; commissioned)
Animated adventure. Māori on Mars! What more do you need to know?!
Developed to telemovie script and first season outline.
Created by Mike Heffernan. Developed by Mike Heffernan and D F Mamea.
Telemovie script written by D F Mamea and Mike Heffernan.
HOUSE OF BROWN (2005; 6x30min; commissioned)
Medical drama. The loves, lives and work of psychiatrists, with a Sopranos twist.
Developed to pilot script and first season outline.
Created by Amarbir Singh and D F Mamea.
Pilot written by D F Mamea.
HOATATA (2004; 13x30min)
Sub/urban drama. Aotearoa New Zealand in microcosm: the lives and times of three families — Māori, Samoan and Pākehā — in the fictional South Auckland suburb of Tapanui.
Developed to pilot script and first season outline.
Created by Orlando Stewart.
Pilot written by D F Mamea and Orlando Stewart.
FEATURES
GOOD AS GOLD (2019; commissioned)
Comedy. A Topp Twins feature.
Screenplay by D F Mamea, from a story by the Topp Twins, Diva Productions, and D F Mamea.
KAIKOHE QUEENS (2018; commissioned)
Sports drama. A disgraced Black Fern is given a shot at redemption to coach an under-13s girls rugby team.
Screenplay by D F Mamea, from an idea by Wheke Productions.
WAIRUA (2009)
Mystery. The town of Wairua threatens the implode following the sudden, unexpected death of George Wiremu who, it turns out, has been blackmailing a lot of the town residents.
HOME SECURITY (2007; commissioned)
Thriller. The blackmail video of a powerful security contractor comes into the possession of a suicidal film director who must decide between his own needs and those of his country.
Script development by D F Mamea, based on an idea by David Blyth.
HOOKED (2007; commissioned)
Drama. One woman’s journey of discovery and redemption through sex, lust, power and death. Based on a true story.
Script development by D F Mamea for ILA Films.
AMATU (2005; commissioned)
Horror comedy. Previously A Japanese Werewolf in Auckland before legal got involved. A uniquely Kiwi-flavoured take on a beast let loose in Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest city.
Screenplay by D F Mamea, based on a story by Ygnacio Cervio and D F Mamea.
PROFESSIONAL (2003)
Action. A mercenary seeking sanctuary from his past. A sedentary corporate drone bent on revenge. A lawyer putting her life back together after a gruelling divorce. These three will discover unexpected connections as one pursues the others from the snow-covered Otago highlands to a corporate highrises of Auckland.
PANDEMONIUM (2003; commissioned)
A psychosexual erotic thriller.
Screenplay by D F Mamea, based on a story by David Blyth.
AMATEUR (2002)
Action. An action-film junkie must step up: when the damsel in distress doesn’t need your help, the bullets are terrifyingly real, and it’s your life at stake — it’s who’s still standing that’s the difference between a professional and an amateur.
RADIO
SKYBLUE (2012; Radio New Zealand)
An adaptation of the writer’s pilot script of the same name.
2013 New Zealand Radio Award for Best Dramatic Production
O LE SAMARIA (2009; Radio New Zealand)
A retelling of the Good Samaritan parable, set deep in the subtropical forest of Samoa.
SHORTS
TO’ONA’I (2010)
A short film on life, love and loss.
THE NEARNESS OF YOU (2003)
Where do gods go when the love has gone? Set to Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald’s classic, a Neil Gaiman Sandman– and Eddie Campbell Deadface-inspired rumination on belief faith and perception.
SAMARITAN (2002)
A retelling of the Good Samaritan parable, set deep in the subtropical forest of Samoa. Later adapted for Radio New Zealand.