Bastion Point: Day 507 and Bastion Point — The Untold Story are presented by the National Library in partnership with Manatū Taonga. This event is one of a series of film screenings for Mana Māori Motuhake Māori Rights and Representation.

Join us to watch a double screening of two documentaries about the historic occupation of Bastion Point. Merata Mita, Leon Narbey and Gerd Pohlmann's Bastion Point: Day 507 (1980) provides an on-the-ground perspective of the occupation. Bruce Morrison’s Bastion Point: The Untold Story (1999) includes interviews with key figures involved in the protest, who reflect on the occupation and its lasting impact on Māori rights and representation.  

Bastion Point: Day 507

In 1977 protesters occupied Bastion Point, after the announcement of a housing development on land once belonging to Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. On 25 May 1978, police and army arrived en masse to remove them. The film concentrates on the 507th day of occupation (25 May 1978) when the protesters were forcibly evicted by police. No other film crew was permitted in the occupied area. 

Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision film conservators worked with the original cinematographer, Leon Narbey, to produce a beautifully restored digital version of Bastion Point: Day 507.

Sharon Hawke (daughter of Bastion Point occupation leader Joe Hawke) said: 'We are reminded that mainstream media refused to televise this back in the day for a decade. This is a major tribute to the late Merata Mita, who fought hard to get this film finished, and we honour her at this viewing.'

Bastion Point — Day 507 is courtesy of the Merata Mita estate, Leon Narbey, Gerd Pohlmann and the Hawke Whānau Trust. From material supplied by Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision.

Bastion Point — The Untold Story

This documentary examines the history of Bastion Point/Takaparawhau — including how questionable methods were used to gradually take land from Māori, while a working sewage system was withheld from those remaining. Featured are interviews with Joe Hawke, one of the protest leaders, and former police. The documentary also includes footage of the day police arrived to arrest protesters from the documentary Bastion Point: Day 507.  

Bastion Point — The Untold Story is courtesy of Morrison Grieve and Sharon Hawke. From material supplied by Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision.

Speaker details to be announced. 

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Bastion Point: Day 507 and Bastion Point — The Untold Story film screenings at National Library