The cinematographer for Raids was Jess Charlton, who worked at the University when the film was shot. The event was made possible by funding from Wellington UNESCO City of Film, as well as the University’s Film programme.
The showing was followed by a Q&A with Jade, along with Jess, and Biondi Sio and Mikayla Aitogi-Wilson, the actors that played Losa and Lupematasila respectively. Questions from the audience were respectful and honoured Jade’s skill as a director and producer. Jade shared that she is soon off to Utah where she has been invited, as a Sundance Institute Indigenous Film Fund Fellow, to pitch her proposal for a feature film (Losa) for funding.
Although Raids was made six months prior to the New Zealand Government’s official apology for the Dawn Raids in 2021, Jade explained that she had to make it on zero budget. A camera from the Film programme, alongside favours from friends and the support of the Cannons Creek community in Porirua, helped Jade make the film she felt compelled to make. Yet in the wake of the apology, and with the public’s increased interest in this neglected history, Raids’ value for audiences in Aotearoa is clear.
Senior lecturer Dr Missy Molloy says, “Raids is incredibly significant, and the fact it was by necessity made without a budget indicates the importance of having accessible film funds that are earmarked for emerging filmmakers like Jade.”
The film has been selected by the New Zealand International Film Festival as part of Ngā Whanaunga Māori Pasifika Shorts 2022 , and will also be shown at the Māoriland Film Festival, the Wairoa Māori Film Festival and the Melbourne Women in Film Festival.
Guests of honour at the event, which was preceded by a moving dance by Tautua Dance Group, were the Minister for Pacific Peoples The Hon. Aupito William Sio, Manukura—Chancellor John Allen, and Kaiwhakakapi Tumu Whakarae—Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Jennifer Windsor, along with Wellington Mayor Andy Foster and his wife Ann.
The Hon Minister Sio spoke after the dance and film showing, saying, “Arts are more powerful than politics. They reflect what happened in the psyche of those involved.” He also mentioned the Ministry’s Teu Ie Va – Dawn Raids History Community Fund, which was established as part of the Dawn Raids apology by the Government.
“This fund will help us to collect information about the Dawn Raids and establish an official historical record, helping to remind you that our Pasifika grandparents did nothing wrong, and we should be proud of how they responded.”
The MC for the event was Samson Samasoni, and helping to arrange the event were Jotham Tesese and Leroy Nurkka from the Film programme, and Esther Taulapapa-Saipani aand Maepa Saolotoga from Va’aomanū Pasifika―Pacific Studies and Sāmoan Studies. The event was translated into NZSL by Associate Professor Rachel McKee, director of the Deaf Studies Research Unit.
The after-event dinner was catered by the Island Food Company.