New Zealand premiere of WWII documentary

1 January 2022

Attendees of the Koia Ora screening in the Marae – From left to right: Rory McKenzie, (author of the subtitles in English); Mr Quintin Ridgeway (National President, New Zealand Society of Translators and Interpreters); Te Ripowai Higgins (author of the subtitles in Te Reo Māori); Mr Claudio Teobaldelli (writer, producer and composer, Kia Ora); H.E. Fabrizio Marcelli, Italian Ambassador to New Zealand; Associate Professor Sally Hill (Head of School of Languages and Cultures); and Dr Marco Sonzogni (Reader in Translation Studies, School of Languages and Cultures). — From left to right: Rory McKenzie, (author of the subtitles in English); Mr Quintin Ridgeway (National President, New Zealand Society of Translators and Interpreters); Te Ripowai Higgins (author of the subtitles in Te Reo Māori); Mr Claudio Teobaldelli (writer, producer and composer, Kia Ora); H.E. Fabrizio Marcelli, Italian Ambassador to New Zealand; Associate Professor Sally Hill (Head of School of Languages and Cultures); and Dr Marco Sonzogni (Reader in Translation Studies, School of Languages and Cultures).

A tribute to the Māori soldiers of the 28th Māori Battalion, who played a central role in the liberation of Florence and the Chianti region during WWII, the 50 minute documentary was released in 2014, 70 years after those historical events.

The subtitles in English and te reo Māori were especially produced for this screening by Rory McKenzie, PhD Candidate in Literary Translation Studies, and Te Ripowai Higgins, former Taurima, Mārae Manager of Te Herenga Waka Mārae at Victoria, whose father took part in the Italian Campaign.

Held at Te Herenga Waka Mārae, the screening was attended by over 70 people, including veterans and members of the 28th NZ (Māori) Battalion Association, Te Arawa Returned Services League as well as the Italian Ambassador, H.E. Fabrizio Marcelli and Claudio Teobaldelli, one of the documentary producers.