Sgt. Haane

NZ release: 30 April 2026

Violence Rated on: 25 March 2026

Sgt Haane

sgt haane poster

What’s it about?

A documentary that tells the true story of Sergeant Haane Manahi, a hero of the 28th Māori Battalion, whose actions during the 1943 battle at Takrouna, Tunisia, were pivotal in securing a critical victory for the Allies.

The facts

  • Directed by Tearepa Kahi (Muru, Poi E)
  • Te reo and english language
  • Runtime: 88 minutes
  • Biography and action drama

Why did it get this rating?

This film was rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body. You can find out more about ratings here.

Violence

Reenactments of the battle at Takrouna show soldiers in dark and foggy conditions sneaking up on the enemy to overcome them. There are brief moments of hand-to-hand combat, where we see several throats being cut, and some enemy soldiers being stabbed. The blood is very limited and we don’t see close-ups of wounds. There are explosions and we see bodies being thrown but there is no detailed bodily injury.

Trapped soldiers are killed by grenades thrown into a closed space but we don’t see the resulting deaths.

The historical importance of the storytelling, the intergenerational importance, and the respect given to the stories outweigh the impact of the brief moments of violence shown.

Coarse language

There is only a few moments of strong language used, such as ‘let’s get the bastards’.

When content stays with you:

We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.

Further information

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