Mana over Meth

A wahine toa finds light in the darkest of places, but the damage remains.

This is a raw and honest short documentary of a West Auckland mother - Jessica Apanui - who has survived meth addiction. Follow her dark journey as she reclaims her wairua and mana.

We need your support to tell this important story on Loading Docs’ award-winning short documentary platform.

THE FILM

Facing the harsh reality of living her worst nightmare, Jess was left with two choices: ‘the pipe’ or her tamariki. Methamphetamine took Jess’ wairua once. How can she ensure it won’t happen again? No longer a slave to the ‘p’ pipe, she is now on a relentless mission to reconcile the past and break the cycle of addiction for others. As she takes an emotional journey home, Jess must embody mana not trauma.

Mana Over Meth explores one woman’s every day struggle to stay clean, while atoning for her past decisions.  We will follow Jess’ current day story, while using re-enactments and animated sequences to revisit her past.

We need your support to tell this compelling short documentary.

Our wāhine are suffering in silence while using methamphetamine to escape the pain of sexual abuse, depression, physical abuse and inter-generational trauma.  

It’s time to break the silence. It will remain hidden if we don’t share our stories. I want to change the narrative by making this powerful film as this kaupapa needs to be talked about.

Mana over Meth is about your daughter, your son, your mokopuna, your loved ones. 

We are losing our people to addiction. Māori wāhine living in low income neighbourhoods are 18 times more likely to use amphetamines than those in wealthy neighbourhoods. 

You can make a difference. With your donation we’ll be able to tell a powerful story, bringing awareness and light to such a dark subject. Help us tell Jess’ story so she can help others. 

THE TEAM

Director Holly Beckham is three years clean. With her lived experience of addiction, she is determined to be the voice for so many wāhine who are still suffering from meth addiction. ‘It’s time to raise our wāhine up and show them their true potential’.

THE TARGET

As part of Loading Docs initiative, we need to raise a minimum of $3,500 through Boosted. These donated funds will be used for locations, equipment hire, music and animation.

Once we reach our minimum target, it will unlock funding from Loading Docs. But, this is an all or nothing campaign. If we don’t reach our target, we get nothing! That’s why we need your help. 

Any donation is welcome to help us tell Jess’ story. The more donations received, the better justice we can serve Jess and her inspiring story. 

Loading Docs is an award-winning short documentary initiative to develop New Zealand filmmaking talent. Loading Docs is funded by NZ On Air with support from NZFC and Te Māngai Pāho. 

Thank you for your support. 

Holly

THE FILMMAKER

Holly Beckham (director)

Holly Beckham is a friendly, confident individual with leadership experience who loves a challenge. She has always had a passion for the film and television industry, she loves factual storytelling as it allows her to help others by giving them a voice. She is

driven to achieve – friends call her determined – and her enthusiastic nature is what stands out.

She studied documentary directing at South Seas Film School where she produced and directed He Ara Anō, a powerful documentary about addiction in Māori wāhine, which has won over 20 awards internationally. From there she has gone on to work on various projects as a field director and a production coordinator for Greenstone TV. She is proud of her Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Rangi heritage and knows that it is what makes her multi-cultural approach so strong.