WEDNESDAY 29 July
Sgt, HAANE
Directed by: Tearepa Kahi
2026 | M | 1 hour 30 mins | NZ | Māori and English
Doors open at 6:30pm.
Screening starts at 7pm sharp.
The extraordinary true story of one of New Zealand’s most remarkable wartime heroes comes to the screen in Sgt. Haane, a powerful documentary-drama from acclaimed Kiwi filmmaker Tearepa Kahi (Muru, Poi E: The Story of Our Song).
The film tells the story of Lance Sergeant Haane Manahi DCM, a soldier of the 28th Māori Battalion whose courage and leadership during the Second World War helped secure a crucial Allied victory at the Battle of Takrouna, Tunisia, in 1943.
Haane is told that capturing the German-held desert fortress of Takrouna will be a “cakewalk”. But when the chain of command collapses under heavy enemy fire, Haane steps forward, leading a small group of Māori Battalion soldiers — many of them cousins and members of the same whānau — up a near-impossible cliff face and into history.
What follows is a story of extraordinary bravery, sacrifice and leadership, but also a story about legacy. For decades, Haane Manahi’s actions at Takrouna have been remembered alongside the controversy surrounding his Victoria Cross recommendation, which was later downgraded to a Distinguished Conduct Medal. Sgt. Haane explores not only the events of the battlefield, but the lasting impact on his descendants and the importance of remembering those who served.
Blending dramatic re-enactments with the voices and memories of whānau, the film brings together history, whakapapa and remembrance. Rather than focusing only on the honours and the debate surrounding them, director Tearepa Kahi looks deeper — at the man behind the legend, the values that shaped him, and the generations who continue to carry his story.
Starring Alex Tarrant as Haane Manahi, alongside Vinnie Bennett, Niwa Whatuira, Matu Ngaropo and Poroaki Merritt-McDonald, Sgt. Haane is a moving tribute to a remarkable New Zealander and to the wider legacy of the 28th Māori Battalion.
A story of courage, loyalty and the bonds of whānau, Sgt. Haane is an important piece of New Zealand filmmaking — honouring a chapter of our history that deserves to be remembered.
Producer: Selina Joe, Reikura Kahi
Cinematography: Tudor Vladimir Panduru
Screenplay: Te Arepa Kahi
Cast: Alex Tarrant, Niwa Whatuira, Vinnie Bennett, Matu Ngaropo, Poroaki Merritt-McDonald