A pilot for a new television show based and filmed in South Auckland is using humour to put a spin on negative police stories.
Written and directed by Damon Fepulea'i, Māngere Vice follows two detectives in their pursuit of a notorious South Auckland gang, Killer Whales.
The cast features a range of Pacific and Māori talent, including Kiwi actress Rachel House, who's starred in blockbuster films Moana and Taika Waititi's Thor:Ragnarok and Hunt for the Wilderpeople.
Pacific actors that feature in the film are Iaheto Ah Hi, Haanz Fa'avae-Jackson, Lauie Sila and Italia Hunt.
Samoan actor Italia Hunt, who plays gang member Big Fasi, says he hopes people will enjoy the Pasifika talent and light-hearted narrative.
"The media shows South Auckland normally in a negative light but this TV show is fully being filmed in Māngere itself and has a lot of Pacific Island and Māori people in it's cast, so the show offers a positive spin and not everything has to be negative."
Māngere Vice is one of four Kiwi comedies to air this week on Three as part of it's Comedy Pilot Week.