A gala screening will be held for the homecoming of South Taranaki film Te Hokinga Mai a Tatarakihi - The Children of Parihaka on Tuesday, October 23, at 6pm at the Hawera Cinema 2.
The Children of Parihaka has been described as a modest and affecting road trip documentary, agentle film, full of compassion.
The special screening, supported by South Taranaki District Council, features guests from Parihaka, the children from the film and the film-makers who will be welcomed to Hawera by Ngati Ruanui iwi members.
The film tells the story of a group of children from Parihaka who, in 2009, travelled to the places their ancestors were incarcerated for their campaign of non-violent resistance to European occupation of confiscated land in the area.
The film was made by Paora Joseph and his wife, Janine Martin, with support from acclaimed renowned film-maker Gaylene Preston.
"The history of this place should never be forgotten, and there is so much to learn from all of the events surrounding Parihaka, so congratulations to the film-makers for recording and telling the very significant, and at times, disturbing stories about Parihaka."
After the gala screening, The Children of Parihaka will go on to feature in the NZ International Film Festival in New Plymouth on October 27, 28 and 31.
It returns to the Hawera Cinema 2 for one week on November 1.
As part of the film, the children visited places like Addington prison in Christchurch and the various buildings and roads their ancestors worked on in Dunedin.
Along the way, they were welcomed at local marae by descendants of local Maori who supported the prisoners at the time.
Mr Joseph said while it recounted days of darkness, the film carried a sense of restoration and hope.
"I hope it enables continued dialogue for understanding and mutual respect of both Maori and Pakeha in the New Zealand we know today."
