Moana star walks home-town blue carpet with 'The Rock'

Catherine Lagaʻaia and Dwayne Johnson
Catherine Laga'aia and co-star Dwayne Johnson have walked the blue carpet to promote new film Moana. -AAP Image

Stars of the new live-action Moana movie have hit the "blue" carpet in Sydney amid a global publicity tour for the new Disney release.

They included the actor who plays the film's titular character, 19-year-old Australian actor Catherine Laga'aia, and Hollywood juggernaut Dwayne Johnson, who plays demigod Maui.

The pair interacted with fans and posed for pictures atop a sprawling blue carpet - a nod to the film's ocean-voyaging story.

Director Thomas Kail - best known for directing the hit Broadway production Hamilton - also appeared at the event.

Laga'aia attended Newtown School of the Performing Arts, just kilometres from Thursday's glitzy event at the International Convention Centre in Darling Harbour.

In the film, a live-action remake of the 2016 animated adventure, Moana takes to the seas alongside Maui to find herself and restore prosperity to her people.

Australian and New Zealand audiences can catch the film when it premieres on July 8.