Saving Grace - Te Whakarauora Tangata

In this documentary, Māori whānau open up about experiences of domestic violence haunting the community. The weakening of traditional whānau structures, social and cultural dislocation have all contributed. Together Māori communities are working to break the cycle, with mental health initiatives, kura kaupapa and support for parents. Saving Grace was the final film by pioneering Māori filmmaker Merata Mita before she died in June 2010. It was originally produced for a Māori Television special 'Tamariki Ora: A New Beginning', aimed at preventing child abuse. Saving Grace finally debuted in 2011. 

It's important that as many individuals as possible stand up and make the changes that they can, and they’re simple things that people can do such as banning alcohol and drugs around tamariki and making a stand....

– Author and academic Rawiri Taonui on practical steps to combat child abuse, late in this documentary

Key Cast & Crew

Rewa Harre

Cinematographer

Chelsea Winstanley

Producer

Cliff Curtis

Subject, Co-Producer

Merata Mita

Director, Producer

Annie Collins

Editor

Piripi Curtis

Subject