Keskidee Aroha

This film documents the influential 1979 New Zealand tour of a black theatre group from London arts centre Keskidee. They visit marae, perform at The Gluepot, prisons and youth centres; meet gang members, Ratana ministers and a young Tame Iti; and korero about roots and fights for rights. The made-for-TV film was directed by Merata Mita and Martyn Sanderson. On the tour Sanderson met his future wife, Kenyan actor Wanjiku Kairie. Tour instigator Denis O’Reilly argued in 2009 that the doco is “full of insights at a time of huge social and cultural shifts in Aotearoa.”

The gang image was new for Keskidee. Most of them were amazed, fascinated by the dress and demeanour and the size of the gangs and the gang members — and after this initial reaction I think they may also have tasted fear.

– Denis O'Reilly in a contemporary report on Keskidee's NZ tour

Key Cast & Crew

Merata Mita

Producer, Co-Director

Annie Collins

Editor

Martyn Sanderson

Co-Director, Producer, Narrator

Rod Cornelius

Executive Producer

Nevan Rowe

Production

Kevin Hayward

Camera