Loading Docs 2022 - Testimony

Tesimoni Fuavao's 2021 testimony to the Royal Commission into Abuse in State Care is the blueprint for this short film about a painful piece of New Zealand history. Tongan-born Fuavao arrived here in 1975 on a medical visa. On a night out he was questioned by police. Soon afterwards the family were subjected to a dawn raid and Fuavao's parents were imprisoned as overstayers. Fuavao still carries guilt about the deep shame experienced by his parents. Tagata Pasifika reporter Alice Lolohea mixes Fuavao's story with footage of the government's historic 2021 apology to the Pasifika community at Auckland Town Hall. 

Our government conveys to the future generations of Aotearoa that the past actions of the crown were wrong, and that the treatment of your ancestors was wrong. Today, I stand on the behalf of the New Zealand Government, to offer a formal and unreserved apology to Pacific communities for the discriminatory implementation of the immigration laws of the 1970s, that led to the events of the Dawn Raids.

– Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern apologises to the Pasifika community at Auckland Town Hall, 1 August 2021

Key Cast & Crew

Christo Montes

Cinematographer

Daniel Habedank

Editor

Tausani Ah Chong

Composer

Sandra Kailahi

Producer

Alice Lolohea

Director, Writer, Editor

Juliette Veber

Producer