Grappling with the overwhelming pain of losing his father was “terrifying” for Jordi Webber, but thankfully, it was all make-believe for his new short film – behind the scenes, the actor’s dad Chris was his biggest supporter, transporting the movie’s cast around the Kāpiti Island set and even stepping in as a stunt double!
Jordi recalls, “One day of filming was quite choppy and I needed to direct, so I said, ‘Dad, you’re the best at driving the boat. Can you chuck on my outfit and play me?’ He was buzzing because he not only got to be in the film, but he also got to play his son!”
While it was an emotionally taxing project, Jordi’s movie He Kōrihi marks a proud milestone for the actor, filmmaker and musician, 31. When we caught up with him in 2025, he’d just wrapped a gruelling role on Spartacus: House Of Ashur and was eager to get his own projects rolling.
So when his producer cousin encouraged him to write a film about coming home to Kāpiti, Jordi – who grew up in Rotorua but frequented the island throughout his childhood – penned He Kōrihi, which translates as “birdsong”.
Funded by screen industry initiative Day One Hāpai te Haeata, the film follows a Māori musician who heads home following his dad’s death and finds comfort
in the tunes sung by the island’s native birds.
Homecoming was a timely theme for Jordi, who starred in Head High, Shortland Street and Power Rangers in New Zealand but has spent recent years working abroad on shows like Home And Away.
“The story was born from travelling lots and feeling disconnected from home,” says Jordi, who is of Ngāti Toa, Te Āwa, Ngāti Raukawa, Te Arawa and Ngāti Maniapoto descent. “As I was writing, I was thinking about how sometimes when I’m busy, I don’t pick up my parents’ calls. I felt the grief of one day losing them. This wave of emotion hit and I thought it should be a part of the story.”
Although imagining his dad’s passing was horrendous, it gave Jordi fuel for playing the lead role in his film. And while he’s always been close with Chris and his mum Jacque, the project deepened the father-son bond.
“Dad was with us the whole time,” smiles Jordi. “He learnt to fish in those waters, as did his dad and his dad’s dad, so it was special to be there with him.”
As for how Chris dealt with watching his son pretend to grieve him, Jordi laughs, “He bawled his eyes out!”
Jordi also tapped into his own experiences with grief, like losing his grandma Molly to lung cancer when he was eight. His whānau spent her final days camping on her farm, then lit candles and sang waiata as she passed.
“Even though it was such a sad moment, it taught me there’s beauty in death if you focus on what they’ve left you, rather than what you’ve lost. Seeing my nan passing brought our family closer.”
More recently, Jordi’s hardest loss has been the death of his dog and “best mate” Zeus, but he says he’s also had to grieve past relationships.
“I’ve spent years with certain people, but then when we no longer align and go our own ways, that’s almost a death. Suddenly, this person I loved and trusted, who was a best friend, is gone from my life.”
As well as the difficulty of portraying grief in He Kōrihi, Jordi was also navigating his first time as a director, admitting he was in “survival mode” the entire shoot. But Jordi tells, “I found I can work well under pressure and that directing’s in my bones.”
Having first found fame in Kiwi boy band Titanium, he also worked on the film’s score. Meanwhile, Jordi’s been enjoying his own homecoming since moving back to Aotearoa last November.
“I want to connect more with my culture, learn more reo and be around my nieces,” says Jordi, whose appearance in a recent Tourism New Zealand campaign is so sizzling, some have questioned whether he’s AI-generated!
“My little brother’s eldest child is getting to that age where we can hang out now, so I take her to the post office, get her some lollies and we take the
dog for a walk.
“If I’d kept building my life in Australia and had kids, they’d grow up away from my whānau, culture and heritage.”
Having previously shared with us his dreams of fatherhood and even written a song dedicated to his future daughter, Jordi admits he’s now dating. “It’s nice, but there’s still no kids,” he laughs. “Don’t worry, I’ll get there!”
So what attracts him to a partner?
“Positive, warm, confident vibes and silly fun. I’ve got a professional hat, but I’m a silly dude, so I like someone who can banter and be silly with me!”
To watch He Kōrihi and get more info about Day One Hāpai te Haeata, visit dofilm.co.nz.
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