Saving Grace – Te Whakarauora Tangata (2011)

Saving Grace – Te Whakarauora Tangata is the final film by director Merata Mita, who sadly passed away before its completion. The documentary explores difficult issues affecting Māori communities, highlighting the innovative solutions being developed within those communities. Mita encourages Māori men to confront the long-standing problems of violence and abuse through open and honest discussion. A personal response to this violence, the film advocates for a renewed model of Māori manhood, recalling a time when men held nurturing roles. As Carol Hirschfeld of Māori Television notes, "Merata intended the documentary to matter deeply to her and to shift perceptions of abuse and violence by focusing on responsibility, redemption, renewal, forgiveness, and above all, love."