Locally made Dawn Raids short film to screen in Porirua

Porirua City Council

The subject matter of a short film that will have its first screening in Porirua could be close to the heart of many in our city.

Produced and directed by filmmaker Jade Jackson, who grew up in Porirua, Raids will make its debut at Te Rauparaha Arena on 28 August.

Filmed entirely at a house in Cannons Creek, the seven minute long film tells the story of a family impacted by the raids carried out at dawn or late at night by National and Labour governments on homes, workplaces and churches between 1974 and 1976, as officials searched for people who had overstayed their visas. Raids is set in 1975 and centres around the impact of one such raid through the eyes of a young girl, Losa, and her father, Lupematasila.

They particularly targeted people from the Pacific Islands, even though statistics showed the vast majority of overstayers were actually from Europe and the United States. On 1 August 2021, the New Zealand Government issued an unreserved apology for the “discriminatory implementation of immigration laws that led to the raids”. Support for Pacific artists and historians to develop a comprehensive oral and written account of this dark piece of New Zealand’s history have been offered as part of the apology.

Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says the Council is proud to support and screen Raids, supporting local stories being told on the big screen, especially something that has resonance with people in this community. “These raids cast a shadow over Porirua’s shared history, so bringing that into the light can help with healing.” Raids will be shown in the small stadium at the Arena, with the evening’s festivities kicking off at 6pm. It will be MC’d by Beastmoze and attendees will be greeted with a fiery performance by Tautua Dance outside, followed by speeches inside by Ms Jackson and Mayor Baker. The film will start just after 7pm.

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