Kaikohe Blood & Fire

AroView: An absorbing fly-on-the-wall portrait of Dhcamad Armstrong and David Faulkner, two talented MMA fighters whose glory inside the ring extends to providing inspiration and mentorship for young men in their Far North community.

It’s a change of scene for director Simon Ogston – best known for his indie rock docs about Skeptics and Bill Direen (also available) – who delivers an authentic snapshot of small-town NZ for those who may or may not have set foot in a combat sports arena, anchored by the honesty and charisma of its central characters.

“Blending ringside action and social realism with observational intimacy, _Kaikohe Blood & Fire_ explores the role of combat sports in the lives of men in a town with limited opportunities – where masculinity is often shaped through violent physical expression, and fighting becomes a language for resilience, identity, and belonging.” — Heperi Mita, NZIFF