Setting

Rural New Zealand

Hunt for the Wilderpeople is set in the rugged and vast wilderness of New Zealand, where the natural environment plays a crucial role in the story.
- The setting highlights the isolation and beauty of the New Zealand bush, where Ricky and Hec must survive and evade capture. The dense forests and wide-open landscapes reflect the freedom and challenges the characters face.
- The wilderness also symbolizes a place of escape and adventure for Ricky, who finds a sense of belonging and identity in the natural world.

The farm where Ricky is placed at the start of the film is depicted as a small, simple home surrounded by nature. This setting contrasts with Ricky's experiences in urban foster homes, offering him peace and stability.
Bella's connection to the land is evident as she teaches Ricky how to hunt and live off the land, introducing him to a more self-reliant lifestyle.
The farm is also where Ricky first experiences a sense of family and belonging, disrupted by Bella's sudden death.

The New Zealand bush serves as both a literal and metaphorical wilderness for the characters. It is a place of survival where Ricky and Hec must rely on their wits and each other to endure.
The setting of the bush underscores the themes of self-reliance and the bond between Ricky and Hec as they navigate the challenges of living in the wild.
As they journey through the bush, the landscape becomes a backdrop for their evolving relationship, with each obstacle they face bringing them closer together.

The film contrasts the freedom of the wilderness with the oppressive nature of urban environments, such as the government offices and juvenile detention centres that represent Ricky's past.
These settings are depicted as cold and impersonal, reinforcing the sense of confinement and lack of control Ricky feels in the foster care system.
The urban environments symbolize the societal pressures and expectations that Ricky and Hec are trying to escape by fleeing into the wilderness.