Saving Grace - Te Whakarauora Tangata

Television (Full Length) – 2011

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.

We would average around about two or three reports of domestic violence a night or a day, and now we're getting six and seven domestics a day, and anything up to 25 a weekend. So it's increasing all the time.
– Kevin Croskery on rising rates of domestic violence