Bay of Plenty will be the backdrop for a new Maori drama series.

This is Piki is an eight-part, 30 minute drama being shot in Rotorua and Auckland by Maori television. It's the brainchild of Rotorua based-Hollywood actor Cliff Curtis.

Danielle Selwyn, Temuera Morrison and Rickylee Russell-Waipuka on the set at Mitai Maori Cultural Village. Photo: Greg Taipari.

Rotorua based and Velvet Stone Media producer Lara Northcroft is co-producing the series with Auckland's Kerry Warkia from Brown Sugar Apple Grunt along with Cliff who is the executive producer.

Lara told SunLive the series is part of a Rotorua-based film networking group called Steam Box. It includes Lara, Cliff, Mike Jonathan and a number of other people who are trying to building the film industry in Rotorua.

'It started there, a group of us talking about how we can really develop the area of Rotorua and the capacity within for the film and television industry.”

Funded by Te Mangai Paho and written by Briar Grace Smith and Victor Rodger, the series is centred around a young Maori girl called Piki (Hinerauwhiri Paki) who embarks on a voyage of self-discovery that leads her to Hamilton and Auckland and back again.

'We wanted to base it around something we knew. We wanted to co-produce a show that highlights Maori culture and tourism, and brings into it a contemporary young person's perspective."

The series will screen on Maori television in mid-2016. The cast features Rotorua's other Hollywood star Temuera Morrison, Born To Dance star Tia-Taharoa Maipi and former Shortland Street actors Calvin Tuteao and Vanessa Rare. Top New Zealand musicians are also involved.

Filming for the series has already begun with the cast and crew filming two weeks in Rotorua and two weeks in Auckland. When SunLive caught up with Lara the cast and crew were filming at Mitai Maori Cultural Village in Rotorua.

She says filming will take in some of Rotorua's other top destinations, including the Government Gardens, the Lakefront, Skyline Rotorua, Rotorua i-site and the Glenn Hawkins & Associates building.

Lara says the series is a 'low budget” project but the cast and crew were all professionals and they would produce a great pilot serious.

Temuera Morrison who has just returned from Germany says it was great working alongside some of the talented people from Rotorua.

'You know it's great to be working with these guys it's a worthwhile project and I'm always keen to give back to the film industry and to our people who are making a difference in the industry.”

Funded by Te Mangai Paho, the series is centred around a young Maori girl called Piki (Hinerauwhiri Paki) who embarks on a voyage of self-discovery that leads her to Hamilton and Auckland and back again. The series is expected to screen on Maori Television later this year.

The cast:

Piki - Hinerauwhiri Paki

Carl - Tia-Taharoa Maipi

Rickylee Russell-Waipuka

Rongo - Edz Eramiha

Te Maru - Calvin Tuteao

Bill Mercer - Temuera Morrison

Huia - Aroha Hathaway

Tarnz - Vanessa Rare

Louie - Kimo Houltham

May - Maiau Houltham

Kura - Te Ahorangi Winitana