02/12/2025
On the 26th of January, one month before the release of the second âNZ Royal Commission Covid-19 Inquiryâ report, New Zealandâs own Covid story; âMy Covid Storyâ will be premiered and then shown for free on many social media online channels.
This is a one and a half hour feature length documentary, made by kiwi film maker Grant Dixon.
Noted New Zealand lawyer Sue Grey has viewed the film and commented; âWow! That is so powerful Grant. When you put it all together the way you have it's so compelling. Brilliantly done.â Another reviewer commented; âI found myself moved to tears on multiple occasions. The film was beautiful, sensitive and very impactful.â
This film traces the five Covid years from lock-downs to vaccine mandates, through Grantâs eyes.
On 26th of March 2020 New Zealand entered the first of many Covid-19 lockdowns, which dragged on for more than two and a half years. It was feared that there would be a 20% fatality rate, so kiwis willingly followed their leadersâ directions and kept indoors, except for exercise and food shopping.
This documentary initially tracks the experiences of film director Grant Dixon, his wife and their Hobsonville Point community as they stopped work and moved online to socially interact. This included Grant being rushed to hospital following a dramatic head injury while out running. Due to lockdown rules most of his family were banned from visiting, even though his injuries could have proved fatal.
It all changed in February 2021 when the Pfizer vaccination programme was announced, and then it changed again in October when all health workers were mandated to take the vaccines. Grantâs wife being a community nurse then had to decide whether to take the shot or lose her job. She decided not to take the shot. Then at her online exit interview an extraordinary event unraveled as an ambulance and fire brigade emergency unfolded next door ..
This documentary tracks how the lockdowns and vaccine programme affected family events and community activities, such as a choir, community gardens and a local Parkrun. The rise in civil unrest is also tracked including multiple street protests and the convoy to Wellingtonâs Parliament and resulting police stand-off. Then telling statistics for seniorsâ âall cause deathsâ, gained from official documents, are tracked as the doses and deaths mount. Grantâs five year journey then culminates in a personal bereavement.
Previously Grant worked as a National Film Unit Producer/Director, where he made a range of films from natural history to childrenâs mime. Grant then became an independent television programme and video maker, and made documentaries for TVNZ and TV3.
This Grantâs latest film; âMy Covid Storyâ, was accepted as a semi-finalist at the 2025 Synergy Film Festival, and won âBest Editingâ and âBest Messageâ at the 2025 Top Indie Film Awards.
It will be very interesting to see how the messages in this film mesh with the Commissionâs findings.