The Haka Party Incident

88min
Feature
Synopsis: 

The last New Zealand War happened in 1979. It lasted three minutes.

On May 1st, 1979, a group of young Māori and Pasifika activists, He Taua, confronted a gathering of University of Auckland engineering students as they rehearsed their ‘mock’ haka for their capping parade. The fracas that followed prompted the nation to confront systemic racism and instigate change for a better and more equal partnership between Pākehā and Māori.

This film received the Feature Finishing Grant.

Status: 
Complete
Genre: 
Documentary
Distributor: 
Vendetta Films (NZ/Aus)

Credits:

Directed by: 
Produced by: 
Executive produced by: 
Crew: 
Cinematography
Cinematography
Cinematography
Cinematography
Cinematography
Original Music by
Sound Design
Archive Producer
Kaiarahi Haka
Festival/Awards: 
2025 Sydney International Film Festival - In Competition, First Nations Award, ImagineNATIVE, Pápa International Historical Film Festival, Gold Coast, Birrarangga, Māorilands, LA Independent Women’s Film - Human Rights Award, New York International Women Festival - Award Winner. 2024 Whānau Mārama: NZIFF.