Neighbourhood - Hastings (Series One, Episode Eight)
Hastings-bred former All Black Josh Kronfeld returns to the 'fruitbowl' of New Zealand to meet immigrants, in this series celebrating diversity. Adversity and sadness are key themes in this episode; an Indian "untouchable" caste family face being separated, after the parents overstayed, while Bosnian rapper Genocide draws on his war-ravaged childhood for inspiration. On a lighter note, Zimbawee-born Sandy Densem creates art using a mollusc shell design popular in her home country, and a South African family keeps tradition alive by making and selling boerewors (sausages) at markets.
Milk & Honey
During the Dawn Raids of the mid 1970s, police systematically raided the homes and workplaces of suspected Pacific Island overstayers. Milk & Honey follows one such raid, as a pregnant Samoan woman (Nora Aati) is taken into custody by two police officers. Despite assurances of a misunderstanding, she is denied a call to her husband. This does not sit well with Constable Salevao (Robbie Magasiva). Made as part of director Marina McCartney’s Masters in Screen Production at Auckland University, it was nominated for Best Short Film at the 2012 NZ International Film Festival.
Dawn Raids
This documentary chronicles a shameful passage in New Zealand race relations: the controversial mid-70s raids on the homes and workplaces of alleged Pacific Island overstayers. Director Damon Fepulea’i examines its origins in Pacific Island immigration during full employment in the 1960s, when a blind eye was turned to visa restrictions. As times got tougher, that policy changed to include random street checks by police, despite official denials. Resistance by activists and media coverage helped end a policy which has had a long term effect on the Pacific Island community.
Damon Fepulea'i
Writer and director Damon Fepulea'i trained as an editor before turning to directing. His credits include Dawn Raids and Life After Footy, two documentaries exploring Pacific Islanders experiences in New Zealand, and comedies Jono and Ben, Funny Girls and Mean Mums. His short film Watermark was invited to 20 international film festivals.
Goretti Chadwick
Goretti Chadwick followed a Diploma in Stage and Screen Acting from Unitec Institute of Technology with extensive theatre experience as an actor, writer and director. Chadwick is one half of comedic duo Pani & Pani (with Anapela Polataivao), whose larger than life PI personas and cheeky euphemisms have spiced up Pasifika youth show Fresh TV, and popular Māori Television reality series Game of Bros (which they host). Chadwick has also had acting roles in feature films (Apron Strings) and TV dramas (The Market). She is Course Director at Auckland's Pacific Institute of Performing Arts (PIPA).
Eteuati Ete
Eteuati Ete was one of the first Samoans to attend drama school Toi Whakaari. After graduating he starred in Le Matau (1984), the earliest contemporary play in the Samoan language. He had also began doing screen work, including narrating Samoan-set film Flying Fox in a Freedom Tree. In 1997 Ete was part of comedy series The Semisis and McPhail and Gadsby; in 2003 he formed comedy duo The Laughing Samoans, with Tofiga Fepulea’i. Mainly a live act, they released multiple concert DVDs, and starred in 2010 series The Laughing Samoans At Large. In 2019 he played father to the hero in movie comedy Brown Boys.
Sarah Smuts-Kennedy
Sarah Smuts-Kennedy was able to sing most of Oliver! before she started school. Since debuting as the doomed Daphne Moran in 1982‘s The Scarecrow, her movies have included two lead roles: dark fantasy Jack Be Nimble (as the troubled Dora) and romance This is Not a Love Story (as a wannabe writer). Her TV work includes starring roles in award-winning play Overnight, and across the barricades love story Mother Tongue.