The War Below - Solomon Islands UXO Documentary

11/01/2026

Pasifika TV has a detailed write-up on The War Below: Restoring Hope in the Solomon Islands - a documentary co-produced by Solomon Islands Local Media Agency and Nine Islands Media.

The piece outlines the ongoing risk from unexploded World War II ordnance in the Solomon Islands, the background to making the film, and why it was important to screen it first in the country where the impacts are still being felt.

Pictured: The War Below - Solomon Islands UXO Documentary Director Tuki Laumea and Co-Producer Elizabeth Osifelo during filming in Honiara, Solomon Islands, in 2025.

A Pasifika TV-supported Solomon Islands–Aotearoa New Zealand film has been selected for competition at FIFO (Festival International du Film Océanien) in Tahiti. The War Below: Restoring Hope in the Solomon Islands examines the continuing impact of unexploded ordnance (UXOs) remaining...

18/12/2025

The War Below has been selected for the prestigious Pacific film festival FIFO in Tahiti!

20/11/2025

It was important to our filmmaking team that The War Below - Solomon Islands UXO Documentary was first shown in the Solomon Islands - to the people whose experiences shape the film, to their families, and to the communities still living with the danger of WWII unexploded ordnance (UXOs) today.

The War Below is co-produced by Nine Islands Media (Aotearoa NZ) and Solomon Islands Local Media Agency. It is funded by New Zealand government agency NZ On Air through the Pacific Regional Media Fund, in collaboration with Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited (Pasifika TV), with local platform support from TTV Solomons.

The film focuses on the experiences of UXO survivors-turned-advocates Maeverlyn, Loretta and Jeff, and it was wonderful to have them at the screening along with their families.

Over the weekend, a special community screening was held at the Solomon Islands Museum auditorium. There was a large turnout, with strong support from the local community and dignitaries, including Member of National Parliament Roland Seleso. The response reflected the deep importance of this issue, and the need for continued awareness, advocacy and action to help make Solomon Islands bomb free.

We were honoured to have representatives from the New Zealand High Commission- Honiara, Solomon Islands - High Commissioner Jonathan Curr, his wife and strong Pacific advocate Flo, and Deputy High Commissioner Rebecca Williams - as well as representatives from Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited (Pasifika TV) including Junior Hunter (Chief Operations Officer) and Tia Soakai (Regional Content Manager). We acknowledge with deep gratitude your support of this community screening and your ongoing commitment to the Solomon Islands film and media sector, and for the communities affected by UXOs.

Thank you also to our local platform partner, Frederick Osifelo, Manager Television, Commercial, Telekom Television (TTV Solomons), for his support, and to the owners of co-production partners Solomon Islands Local Media Agency, who were also in attendance.

A special mihi and thank you to Solomon Islands senior journalist Dorothy Wickham, who reluctantly took up the role of MC for the evening at the request of Nine Islands Media. We are grateful for her leadership and support.

The War Below supports the work of Bomb Free Solomon Islands, a registered charity led by UXO survivors dedicated to victim support, community education and advocacy.
To support their work, follow Bomb Free Solomon Islands or donate directly here:
https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/support-bomb-free-solomon-islands-saving-lives

This community screening was made possible with generous support from:
Pasifika TV / PCBL
New Zealand High Commission- Honiara, Solomon Islands
Solomon Airlines
King Solomon Hotel Honiara
Dreamcast Theater Solomon Islands
NZ Police
The HALO Trust

Without your support this screening would not have been possible.

Thank you to everyone who attended and supported the screening. More photos and video highlights will be shared soon.

A huge thank you to our exceptional photographers and videographers:
Tenesee Houlia, Trevor Filia, Roy Wasi Jnr, Anna Delany, with support from Jason Gagame.

The War Below - Solomon Islands UXO Documentary will be released across the Pacific via Pasifika TV, in Aotearoa and globally in 2026. More details to come.

19/11/2025

How can you watch this documentary?

The War Below has been shown at FIFO Tahiti where it won the Prix Demain/Tomorrow Award.

It was finalist for Best Documentary Single at the Australian International Documentary Conference.

Further festivals announced soon.

The War Below will again broadcast on TTV-Solomons in July, and across the Pacific via Pasifika TV. Aotearoa New Zealand broadcast is via Coconet TV.

18/11/2025

Directly support WWII bomb victims from anywhere in the world.

All funds (minus small unavoidable transfer fees) go directly to registered Solomon Islands charity Bomb Free Solomon Islands - (CT 325 of 2025).

Bomb Free Solomon Islands was founded by survivor-turned-advocate Maeverlyn Pitanoe.

All funds raised through New Zealand based Givealittle are collected by Nine Islands Media co-founder and senior journalist Cleo Fraser, and passed on to Bomb Free Solomon Islands via bank transfer.

Nine Islands Media co-produced The War Below - a documentary being released in 2026 that highlights the impacts of WWII bombs injuring and killing in the Solomon Islands, more than 80 years after the end of the war. Bomb Free Solomon Islands features strongly in the film, and Nine Islands Media co-owners Cleo Fraser and Tuki Laumea hold strong times to both Maeverlyn and the charity.

Maeverlyn holds a Master’s in Education and works hands-on every day with survivors and communities. She partners with the Halo Trust, Safe Signals, Safe Ground, and the National UXO Office to raise awareness and push for national clearance, along with her directly work with survivors, and in the community.

The charity is governed by a volunteer board of local leaders and survivors who oversee every dollar.

Your support helps families live without fear - and moves the Solomon Islands one step closer to being truly bomb-free.

Donations fund victim support (school fees, medical costs), awareness in schools and communities, printed safety materials, and programmes helping survivors rebuild through business, training, and workshops. Minimal admin only.

Bomb Free Solomon Islands board:
Chairperson: Maeverlyn Pitanoe
Assistant Chairperson: Martin Otto
Treasurer: Isaiah Tangata
Secretary: Miriam Noda

Members:
Dorothy Wickham (Senior Journalist)
Loretta Aile Manele (Victim survivor)
Krister Hapa (Youth4Change Solomon Islands)

Survivor Maeverlyn Pitanoe leads Bomb Free Solomon Islands to protect lives and create a future free of WWII bombs.

17/11/2025

Over the weekend, a special community screening of The War Below was held at the Solomon Islands Museum auditorium to honour survivors-turned-advocates and the families of those tragically killed or injured.

It was an evening to remember those impacted, and to encourage everyone to play their part in helping make Solomon Islands bomb free.

The film follows survivors, families and advocates working to bring attention to the dangers of WWII bombs that still kill and injured people in the Solomon Islands more than 80 years since the end of the war.

This documentary is only possible because of the bravery of Loretta, Jeff and Maeverlyn, and we are deeply grateful to them. Through their voices, real change is possible - but they need continued support.

Follow Bomb Free Solomon Islands to support survivors, advocacy and awareness work.

The War Below is co-produced by Nine Islands Media (Aotearoa NZ) and Solomon Islands Local Media Agency.

Funded by NZ On Air through the Pacific Regional Media Fund, in collaboration with Pasifika TV (funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade), with local platform support from TTV Solomons.

This community screening was made possible with generous support from:
Pasifika TV
New Zealand High Commission- Honiara, Solomon Islands
Solomon Airlines
King Solomon Hotel Honiara
Dreamcast Theater Solomon Islands
NZ Police
The HALO Trust

A huge thank you to everyone who attended - especially Loretta’s family, who travelled far to be there.

More photos and videos will be shared throughout the week.

A huge thank you to our incredible videographers and photographers: Tenesee Houlia, Trevor Filia, Roy Wasi Jnr and Anna Delany, with support from Jason Gagame.