Milk & Honey

During the Dawn Raids of the mid 1970s, police systematically raided the homes and workplaces of suspected Pacific Island overstayers. This short film follows one such raid, as a pregnant Samoan woman (Nora Aati) is taken into custody by two police officers. Despite assurances of a misunderstanding, she is denied a call to her husband. This does not sit well with Constable Salevao (Robbie Magasiva). Made as part of director Marina McCartney’s Masters in Screen Production at Auckland University, it was nominated for Best Short Film at the 2012 NZ International Film Festival. 

New Zealand: The land of sour milk and bitter honey.

– Graffiti on the walls of the jail cell

Key Cast & Crew

Nora Aati

As: Tailoto Tavu'i

Robbie Magasiva

As: Constable Salevao

Marina Alofagia McCartney

Director, Writer, Editor, Producer

Angela Hicks

Producer

Will Wallace

As: Sergeant Stan

Yvonne Taufa

As: Salevao's wife