Taking Back Our Beach

This film is about the response by a community to New Zealand’s largest environmental disaster, seen through the eyes of that community. Filmmakers Steel and Liddle Crawford explore the aftermath of the 2011 grounding of the MV Rena on Astrolabe Reef in the Bay of Plenty. This disaster not only threatened the iconic coastline and wildlife, but also a way of life treasured by local M?ori and Pakeha alike. Despite bureaucracy’s floundering response, this disparate community comes together to clean up the devastation. The film captures the shock, anger, grief, moments of humour, and ultimately, positivity arising from people uniting to save their beloved beach.