Ōpōtiki’s De Luxe Theatre is hosting two screenings of the powerful documentary, Taiarahia: Te Kākahu Tawhito, in coming weeks.

The documentary commemorating the 40th anniversary of an occupation on Rūātoki’s sacred mountain has been well received by audiences since its release and won people’s choice for best feature documentary at the Maoriland Film Festival.

The Deluxe will host a screening and Q & A session with the film’s production team on Tuesday, July 7, at 5.30pm, followed by a screening of the film at 6pm. The $18 ticket price includes light refreshments and seating is limited.

A second screening-only is planned for Tuesday, July 14, at 6.30pm with tickets $15.

Taiarahia: Te Kākahu Tawhito explores an event 40 years ago when members of Te Māhurerhure hapū occupied Taiarahia for six months and won their battle against plans to rip out native bush and replace it with pine trees.

Tasman Forestry was behind the plantation with a lease deal from the then Tūhoe Waikaremoana Trust Board. The forestry would have covered both the Rūātoki and Waimana sides of the range.

The protestors had support from people from Tahiti and Rapanui, who came to Taiarahia in solidarity.

Forest & Bird and Greenpeace threw their weight behind the occupation, along with local MP Ann Fraser and Pākehā scientists.

The film’s executive producer, Ōpōtiki filmmaker Kim Webby, will be at the Q&A next week with Wikitoria Day, who co-directed and produced the film alongside Nicholas Riini, and Harata Day, an associate producer who along with Tame Iti was one of the key interviewees.

Wikitoria Day expects the audience to experience a range of emotions from the film … laughter, tears, anger and shock. “I think the story itself will capture the attention of the audience. If there’s one thing I would love our audience, especially Māori, to take away from this documentary, it would be the power of unity, and what we can achieve anything as iwi and hapū when we come together to fight for what we know is right, particularly as we continue to navigate this current political climate.”

She also wants it to serve as a reminder to Ngāi Tūhoe that kotahitanga is needed now more than ever, and that there’s much to be learnt from the stand their uri took 40 years ago.

Tickets are available online at deluxetheatre.co.nz