He Ara Anō
“There is a demon on its way. It is a demon that will arrive stealthily and deviously; you will not even see it coming. So when you see the effect in the eyes of your mokopuna, do not punish them, instead clothe them with a korowai of love.”
These words, phophesised in 1883, could easily have been written about Jesse’s and Rochelle’s story. Close sisters, they share their moving and at times painful journey, opening up about lost childhoods, marital abuse, destructive behaviour and finally the road to recovery.
Their story is all too familiar to Dame Naida Glavish DNZM, who uncovers long-forgotten truths Aotearoa has buried - revealing how a disconnection with wairua (spirituality) creates fertile ground for addiction to take hold of young wāhine such as Jesse and Rochelle.
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He Ara Anō
Documentary | 16 min | 2021 | HD
In 1883 a Māori prophet warned that a demon was on its way. In 2021 it is here.
“There's not a family in New Zealand that can say they are not affected
by some sort of addiction.”
- Dame Rangimarie Naida Glavish DNZM JP
Directed by: Holly Beckham
Starring: Rochelle van Niekerk,
Jesse Tahau, and Dame Rangimarie Naida Glavish DNZM JP
Languages: English, Māori
Featuring
Rochelle van Niekerk
Rochelle is from Tuwharetoa and lives in Pukekohe close to her sister. She has 4 children and works at the church. Rochelle’s 17-year struggling with addiction had finally come to an end when her husband and her decided that’s they couldn’t keep living in addiction. Their marriage was at rock bottom and life had become a struggle. They made the decision to get clean together. Coming up 1½ years they are both living a fulfilling life in recovery.
Jesse Tahau
Jesse is from Tuwaretoa, she also lives in Pukekohe with her whanau, has raised two beautiful daughters, and works at the Manukau super clinic. Jesse’s 10-year journey through drug addiction, martial abuse has finally come to an end. She has found her pathway of recovery which has empowered her to lead a life of hope and helping others. It has now been 1½ years that she has been clean from destructive patterns and addiction.
Dame Rangimarie Naida Glavish DNZM JP
Whaea Naida Glavish is a New Zealand politician and Māori community leader from the Ngāti Whātua iwi. From 2013 to 2016, she was President of the Māori Party. Whaea Naida Glavish first came to national attention in 1984 when she was a telephone operator for the New Zealand Post Office, and used the Māori language greeting "kia ora" when dealing with callers. She was threatened with dismissal by her supervisor but the Prime Minister of the day, Robert Muldoon, supported Glavish's use of the phrase.