FILM Tātarakihi: the Children of Parihaka

Free/koha and family-friendly, this hour-long documentary by Paora Joseph and Janine Martin (2021) is an ideal warm-up to the commemoration events planned for Parihaka Day on 5 November. It's essentially a road trip documentary taken by the children of Parihaka to trace the haeranga/journey of their tipuna/ancestors when they were arrested in the events leading up to and on the day of the invasion of Parihaka on 5 November 1881. The children and their kaitiaki/guardians travel by bus down from Parihaka through Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington and then down to Te Waipounamu/South Island, stopping at memorials and places where the Parihaka men were incarcerated and put to hard labour. It's an important story but not graphic - is easily digestible for children and it ties in with the newly-minted History Curriculum. All are welcome and please note: there are two 5 November Parihaka events planned also.