With one month to go until its nationwide cinema release, Sgt. Haane has today unveiled its second trailer, a gripping battle-charged glimpse into the story of 28th Māori Battalion Aotearoa hero Haane Manahi.

The release of the second trailer comes one month ahead of the film’s general release on April 30th and coincides with final preparations for the film’s premiere season, which begins in Rotorua on Sunday 19 April, acknowledging the whakapapa and community at the centre of the story. Following Rotorua, Tāmaki Makaurau’s premiere at Sylvia Park will be held on Monday April 20, and a Te Whanganui-a-Tara premiere on Tuesday 21st April.

April 19th also stands as the anniversary day on which the charge on Takrouna, by the 28th Māori Battalion took place, in 1943.

From international award-winning writer and director Tearepa Kahi (Muru, Poi E: The Story of Our Song, Mt. Zion), Sgt. Haane tells the story of L. Sgt. Haane Manahi DCM (Te Arawa, Ngāti Raukawa) of B Company, 28th Māori Battalion (28 September 1913 – 29 March 1986), a soldier of extraordinary courage whose bravery was described by Lieutenant General Sir Brian Horrocks as "the most gallant feat of arms I witnessed in the course of the war" – culminating in the 1943 attack on the heavily fortified pinnacle of Takrouna, Tunisia.

The film stars Alex Tarrant (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, NCIS: Hawaiʻi, DMV) as Haane Manahi – with Niwa Whatuira (The Dark Horse, A Mistake, M3GAN 2.0), Vinnie Bennett(Whina, F9: The Fast Saga, Human Traces), Matuera Ngaropo (Whina) and Poroaki Merritt-McDonald (Muru, The Gone) as the soldiers who fought alongside Haane. Their performances are woven together with the voices of Māori Battalion descendants – Dr. Donna Morrison, Kīngi Biddle, Colin Bennett, Raimona Inia, and Anaru Grant Jr.

Sgt. Haane will have commemorative screenings from 20-30th April, including ANZAC Day, and will be released on April 30th. Sgt. Haane is produced by Reikura Kahi, Selina Joe and Dr. Donna Morrison of Penny Diver Pictures, and made with investment from NZ On Air, Te Māngai Pāho, the New Zealand Film Commission and Kiwibank. Rialto Distribution International will distribute the film in New Zealand and Australia.