He Toki Huna: New Zealand in Afghanistan

He Toki Huna examines New Zealand’s long military involvement in Afghanistan. It follows journalist Jon Stephenson as he researches Aotearoa's role in a conflict which co-director Kay Ellmers calls an “ill-defined war against an unclear and shifting 'enemy'". This opening excerpt includes experts, Stephenson in Afghanistan, and background on his 2011 Metro article alleging NZ soldiers breached the Geneva Conventions. Ellmers and Annie Goldson made the Moa Award-winning documentary for Māori Television. A longer cut played at the 2013 NZ Film Festival. Stephenson and Nicky Hager later wrote book Hit & Run. 

... not just a summary of our time in Afghanistan, it's a story of a man driven to speak truth to power, to get down on the ground away from the military surveillance to talk to real Afghans about their perspective and their stories. This documentary will no doubt enrage many of the powers that be, who would prefer to curate the message we see on our TV screens.

– He Toki Huna's editor James Brown

Key Cast & Crew

Mike McRoberts

Subject

Jacob Bryant

Cinematographer - Afghanistan

Annie Goldson

Producer, Co-Director, Writer, Editor

Joel Haines

Composer

James Brown

Camera, Editor

Kay Ellmers

Co-Director, Producer