The Haka

Short Film (Full Length) – 2021

Short film The Haka gives the heartwarming true story of 'The Christmas Truce' a Māori twist. After receiving a tin of biscuits all the way from Aotearoa, a group of soldiers end up making unlikely friends with the enemy, after exchanging season's greetings across no-man's-land. Eventually, a ceasefire is called and the men socialise for the holiday, which shows both the similarities and differences between the two cultures. Released online on Anzac Day in 2021, the Wellington-made short screened at a festival of Australiasian films in the south of France, and was named Best Film at Kiwi festival Top of the South.

The Haka is a beautiful film on a terrible war which caused millions of deaths. But this film, with humour and sensitivity, gives us faith and hope in humanity. It is a film that we have to share to remember that there were wars, but also that they can be avoided if we share our mutual cultures. I am very happy to be able to share it with the French audience.
– Bernard Bories, President of French festival Cinéma des Antipodes, in a 14 July 2021 press release

Key Cast & Crew

Fredrick Pokai

As: Hemi

Matt Ruglys

As: Captain Earnest

April Phillips

Writer

Shannon Lee

Producer

Hamish Karawana-Innes

As: Wiremu

Isaac Lee

Director, Writer, Editor

See all 19 credits

Produced by

Izakariah Films

Source

Izakariah Films

Music

Closing credits version of 'God Defend New Zealand' performed by Cindy Ruakere, composed by John Joseph Woods (music), Thomas Bracken (lyrics) and Thomas Henry Smith (lyrics)