Sergeant Haane Manahi of the Maori Battalion was recommended for the Victoria Cross for bravery during World War II but instead received the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM).<\/p>\n
For his bravery, Manahi was recommended for a Victoria Cross that year by four Allied generals.<\/p>\n
The award was later mysteriously downgraded to a Distinguished Conduct Medal.<\/p>\n
Manahi died in 1986 and was buried at Muruika cemetery in \u014chinemutu.<\/p>\n
In 2006 it was decided that Manahi would not be awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously despite supporters lobbying the Government.<\/p>\n
The request was turned down by the Queen, adhering to King George\u2019s 1949 decision that no further awards from World War II should be considered.<\/p>\n
Instead, in 2007, the then Duke of York, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (formerly Prince Andrew), presented Manahi\u2019s sons with a special citation for bravery, an altar cloth, a letter from the Queen and a sword in recognition of his actions on Takrouna Ridge.<\/p>\n
Manahi\u2019s wh\u0101nau hope the new film will result in him finally receiving the Victoria Cross, RNZ reported.<\/p>\n
Niece Dr Donna Morrison told RNZ that during his lifetime Manahi did not want the VC reinstated as he \u201cdidn\u2019t want to fuss and bother\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe thought everyone who went away deserved the VC. That was the man that he was.\u201d<\/p>\n
She hoped King Charles would consider restoring the VC to her uncle.<\/p>\n
\u201cPerhaps the film will help to speed that process up,\u201d she told RNZ.<\/p>\n
A film \u2018beyond the controversy\u2019 <\/p>\n
Sgt. Haane film director Tearepa Kahi and actor Alex Tarrant, who plays Manahi, spoke to the Rotorua Daily Post ahead of the premiere.<\/p>\n
Kahi said he was approached by Morrison and her son Anaru Grant to do the film.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe M\u0101ori Battalion story is the crown jewel of all M\u0101ori stories in recent memory. Because it\u2019s a historic story, there\u2019s a lot of weight attached to it. It\u2019s not like anybody can help themselves to this story \u2013 you have to be invited into the house.\u201d<\/p>\n
Manahi\u2019s descendants featured in the film.<\/p>\n
Kahi said Manahi had become \u201csynonymous\u201d with the Victoria Cross recommendation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wanted to go beyond the controversy and get to what it was he truly accomplished up there … \u201d <\/p>\n
The film\u2019s \u201cheadquarters\u201d revolved around two important sites on \u014chinemutu marae \u2013 inside the wharenui and Manahi\u2019s resting place at Muruika cemetery. <\/p>\n
Other Rotorua film locations included Pukeroa and the maunga of Ngongotah\u0101 \u2013 a \u201csymbol\u201d B Company soldiers carried with them, he said.<\/p>\n
Tearepa Kahi wrote and directed the film Sgt. Haane. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
Kahi said the crew shot part of the film in Rotorua on Anzac Day last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the first time in the history of M\u0101oridom that there were no members of the M\u0101ori Battalion left to join the ranks.\u201d<\/p>\n