A Rotorua kapa haka group have stolen scenes in a new Netflix television series acting as a tribe of German Samoans.

In fact, members of the international cultural group Whakaari Rotorua feature in the very first scenes of Oktoberfest - Beer & Blood, a six-part series filmed in 2019 in Germany and the Czech Republic.

Whakaari Rotorua spokesman Frank Grapl says the filming took place over one week during one of the Czech Republic's hottest summers on record and was gruelling for the cast and crew, but also a great experience for the group.

He says Whakaari Rotorua tours Europe regularly taking the Maori culture to the world and was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time.

The group had been approached during their European kapa haka tour last year to participate in the film, perform haka for different sequences and provide cultural support for actors.

"I guess it could be considered something of a 'Cliff Curtis' moment due to the ethnicity of our roles - that we were playing German Samoans - similar people from different ethnicities."

Franks says the lead actor for the German Samoan tribe was a First Nation Canadian, Dan Bradford who has a wealth of knowledge in the industry.

"People were fainting during the film shoot and some ambulances had to be called in for actors.

"No matter how many watermelons, fruit and water everyone had the hot weather was truly almost unbearable."

Frank Grapl (right) with lead actor Mišel Matičević who plays Curt Prank in the series. Photo/Martin Sliva/Go2New Zealand

The series is based on the true story of two competing families of German beer barons and is set in the city of Munich around 1900 when the modern "beer-hall" form of the famous Octoberfest beer festival was invented.

"What is ironic, is that nobody was allowed to drink any beer on set or location and there was no beer in sight, anywhere," says Frank.

"The German and Czech production team were worried that everyone would get drunk, especially in the 40 degree-plus heat that we were experiencing."

Frank says a second series is on the cards and Whakaari Rotorua has been invited back, however, the international Covid-19 situation has put those plans on hold.

"It was a great experience meeting so many people from around the world and also learning more about the history of German Samoa and how it was colonised by Germany."