‘Sgt. Haane’ – A Taonga of Courage and the Legacy of the 28th Māori Battalion this ANZAC Day – Review
“For they are all gone now. Only we remain.”
So ends Sgt. Haane, a stirring and deeply resonant war-drama documentary that brings to light the extraordinary story of Sergeant Haane “Jack” Te Rauawa Manahi—one of Aotearoa’s most revered yet under-recognised World War II heroes. Arriving in time for ANZAC Day, the film stands as both tribute and reckoning, honouring the legacy of the 28th Māori Battalion and ensuring their deeds are neither forgotten nor diminished.
Sgt. Haane tells the story of L. Sgt. Haane Manahi DCM (Te Arawa, Ngāti Raukawa), whose extraordinary courage during a 1943 World War II battle at Takrouna, Tunisia, secured a critical victory for the Allies. Blending dramatic re‑enactment with the voices of descendants, the film explores legacy, whakapapa and remembrance.
A Story That Demands to Be Told
Directed by Tearepa Kahi, Sgt. Haane centres on Manahi’s remarkable exploits during the assault on Takrouna in Tunisia in April 1943. Scaling what was considered an impregnable cliff face, he led members of B Company—many of them his own kin—to capture more than 300 Axis troops, securing a crucial Allied victory. Kahi blends dramatic re-enactments with testimony from descendants, crafting a narrative that moves seamlessly between past and present, action and memory.
Yet Sgt. Haane is as much about injustice as it is about heroism. Despite being recommended for the Victoria Cross by senior Allied commanders, including Bernard Freyberg and Bernard Montgomery, Manahi’s honour was controversially downgraded to a Distinguished Conduct Medal. This lingering injustice, still contested by his whānau, adds a powerful emotional undercurrent to the film.
Honour, Sacrifice and Legacy
Kahi approaches the material with reverence and urgency, foregrounding themes of whakapapa, sacrifice, and cultural identity. The re-enactments—shot with a textured, almost archival aesthetic—deliver immediacy and tension, while the contemporary interviews ground the story in lived experience and generational memory. The result is a film that feels both epic in scope and intimate in its emotional reach.
The significance of the narrative driving Sgt. Haane is also not lost on the young cast who assembled to tell this story, and headlining Haane’s narrative is Alex Tarrant, and he is exceptional in the strength, mana and warrior spirit that he displays as this soldier who goes beyond the call of duty to not only conquer the enemy, but to ensure that his whānau are protected to the utmost degree. Responsibility and discipline anchor his performance, and you get the full measure of him in the role of Haane.
Final Verdict: A Stirring ANZAC Day Tribute
With the voices of the greatest generation fading, Sgt. Haane emerges as a vital cinematic taonga. It not only restores Mana to a deserving soldier but also preserves the enduring spirit of the 28th Māori Battalion for future generations. This ANZAC Day, it stands as essential viewing—an unflinching reminder of courage, sacrifice, and the stories that must continue to be told.
Image: Rialto Distribution
