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Hero image for The Green Chain

The Green Chain

Television (Full Length) – 2011

This homegrown Erin Brockovich story follows former Whakatāne sawmill worker Joe Harawira and his long battle to reveal the impact that workplace toxins have had on his community. In the 80s after being afflicted by health issues, Harawira noticed co-workers getting sick. In 1988 he helped found SWAP (Sawmill Workers Against Poisons) and began investigating the effects of exposure to dioxins, a by-product of timber treatment. The Joe versus the mills crusade screened on Māori Television, and won Best Popular Documentary at the 2012 NZ Television Awards.

OSH wasn’t around in those days ... The safety precautions were pretty rugged really ... now that we know what we know now.
– Joe Harawira

Key Cast & Crew

Profile image for Kathleen Mantel

Kathleen Mantel

Director, Writer

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Meg Douglas

Producer

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Nikki van Lunenberg

Production Manager

Generic Profile image for Frank Phipps

Frank Phipps

Sound Recordist

Generic Profile image for Ben Vanderpoel

Ben Vanderpoel

Sound Recordist

Generic Profile image for Fraser Satherley

Fraser Satherley

Sound Recordist

See all 18 credits