Merata Mita’s Patu! is a startling documentary record of the mass civil disobedience that took place throughout New Zealand during the winter of 1981, in protest against a South African rugby tour. It staunchly contradicts claims by author Gordon McLachlan a couple of years earlier that New Zealanders were “a passionless people”.
Merata Mita's Patu! is a remarkable protest story told in the face of adversity, and a monument to a time when New Zealand was torn in two by the 1981 Springbok rugby tour. You were ...
Please keep your comments relevant to this title. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.

Im quite young. im seventeen years old and go to a low decile school in South Auckland. this documentary hit me hard as my parents were involved in these protests and to watch actual footage of what happened was very disturbing. I believed this did happen
This film is not available for purchase anywhere - but it will remain on NZ On Screen in full for free so you can watch it anytime.
Is this film available for purchase?

How about the whole program. Theres a generation of younsters that woulndt believe this happened!
Browse ScreenTalk Forums › More in depth discussion about titles and other hot topics.
Awatea Films
Anaru Ranapia
Posted at 11.02AM - 16.03.2010
I have been watching "Patu" by Merata Mita.
I think every New Zealander should watch it to restore hope in the union of our cultures within our country, it also gives me the sence that the majority of us share the same compassion even if our Governments dont....
Anaru Fellowman Ranapia