Untold Pacific History - Episode 1: Dawn Raids

Of the many real life events of Pasifika people in Aotearoa, the Dawn Raids period in our recent history, is a story that is overdue to be told. Long whispered about in secret family conversations, people have heard the words ‘Dawn Raids’ but not about what really happened.
In this critical examination of a time little-known in New Zealand’s social history, this piece features key talent involved in the infamous New Zealand government ‘Dawn Raids’ regime; from a Samoan policeman who was at the forefront of the raids; to the personal stories of families impacted in this time.
This episode explores the landscape of Aotearoa in the 1970’s and the global political factors that led to the economic decline that turned the tide of public sentiment against ‘illegal immigrants’.
This important mini-doco looks at the relationship of Aotearoa and its Pacific population, and how this has evolved over the decades.
In this short-form encapsulated history of the Dawn Raids’ era, historians, Pacific families, teachers and a policeman help to paint a picture of a time that redefined the lives of Pacific people in Aotearoa.
Made possible by the RNZ / NZ on Air Innovation fund
www.thecoconet...

[@Jingaling1]

E kalofae my poor parents, to this day mum and dad still carry their passports with them everywhere.

[@charkay192]

😢❤❤

[@jameslongstaff2762]

I'm Tongan, Palangi, and American and I loved learning about this history.

[@desjoreytanuvasa1724]

lol american isnt a race its a citizen. no hate thou bradda

[@hauntingpuns]

Really bold of Pākehā, whose ancestors came here without permission, to question anybody (even MĀORI) if they had the right to live in Aotearoa.

[@mariaarmani1780]

💯💯

[@senepeleti4774]

Fr fr

[@AhTu1306]

Didn't know about this part of the Polynesian history in NZ. Thank you for this.

[@erenathompson9228]

Thank you for posting this - so important to be aware of our history.

[@konsttaiti603]

I love learning about us south pacific islanders... peace and love

[@iSELLrocks]

Awesome content. Would love to see more videos on Blackbirding.

[@atarangimuso]

Thanks for sharing. The pacific Islanders are a beautiful people. This is really sad that this happened to you. I'm sorry to hear what you suffered because of racism. Racism is a sick disease.

[@luwananueiti7670]

Thanks for sharing this. It's very helpful to know. 🙏💜🤙

[@keonikaauwauole4499]

Hawaiian/ Samoan here..They only targeted us Polynesian.Not Palangi's talk about white Privlilege right there..Much Love to all my Polynesian.We proud and strong willed people cant stop us..Aloha Talofa Malo e le lei

[@fat-nel593]

Thank you for the history lesson.

[@ruttleytashnmarty8598]

Growing up in Rotorua my friends and neighbourhood didn't distinguish people because of their ethnicity it was always about the content of their character. Our Pasifika whanau take their tangi to our marae. Bury their loved ones at the urupa. They are us. Back in the 90s we just got on with life. It was all about which of the 5 high schools you belonged to which pretty became your creed. Maori. Pakeha. Indian. Asian. Pasifika. We all human.... aren't we.

[@solomondavis4076]

Fa'afetai tele lava mo lenei ata tifaga. So important.

[@itsjustmeflo8684]

Thank you for sharing! I wish they taught this in schools as well. But they only want to share blacks, (every kind of) whites, Asians, and Hispanics history. I am a proud Afakasi, afa uli uli, Afa Samoan 🇼🇸! I have experienced racism for being mostly black. I have also experienced racism from Samoans for being half black.

[@bighawaiianpunch3534]

Black like African?

[@vaijr.5004]

Thank you for sharing. Loving this from the USA

[@franklinnanai2745]

Island born and New Zealand raised, I hated the Dawn raids even though I could live here legally.

[@josephineoliver9499]

This reminds me of here in Australia when the police used to do the raids to get the mixed race kids who looked white to train them to be domestics.

[@TheUhila650]

To bad here in America the next generation or the ones that have gotten there papers have forgotten.

[@tuhikusolomon647]

Overstayers would be more suited to Europeans to be honest us as Polynesians have many homelands Tonga Rarotonga Samoa Tokelau Tahiti Hawaii Aotearoa’s just to new a few I think the tactic conquer and divide to make us think that this isn’t our other Polynesian brothers and sisters home land as much as it is us as maori and that goes for some maori as well 🤦🏽‍♂️likr we didn’t fall from the same coconut tree and come off the same wakas that were continuously travelling back and forth from all of these islands makes us believe we are different cracks me up man I being Maori get annoyed especially when you fill out and application form for example and it ask who you are and it has pacific island or Polynesian and maori as seperate entities 🤦🏽‍♂️ but that’s it because it’s easy to control is this way I guess 😅😂 god bless sorry this happened to you in your own homeland brothers and sisters 💪🏽💪🏽 should teach this in Kura

[@Ornacia29]

Dawn raid was only a part of the huge impact which racism has affected our maori and polynesian people. What strikes me to this day is the fact that we are living under a system where are taught that our actions have consequences yet when you look at the racist actions that was enforced upon our people there was no consequences no remorse nothing. What's even worse is the challenge we are facing today is the level of hate we have now amongst our own people towards each other. The way in which pasifika people down play darker skin members in their family and the racism maori have towards pasifika calling them coconuts, and recently the trolling that young polynesian online show towards each other is shocking. This is all because white supremacists tried to embed brown new zealand to believe that if you are anything but white then you are less of a human being. Polynesian people do not realise the true beauty of their identity. That is the reason why when you see our kids on tik tok or social media if you ever notice the way they act the way they talk as if they are black americans. They don't identify themselves completely and take on a whole different persona because they don't see the beauty of being brown and being confident in their own skin. We were not created to follow and copy other races. We blaze our own trails we set our own trends we start our own businesses, walk our own paths!

[@SolosoloAfaluko]

Zzzzz ....

[@tanasekope9362]

Fk the hori maolis they ain’t the same as us

[@richardnixon4345]

There is a spelling mistake in ''Coconet'' TV

[@BoonBMT]

I'm doing this for my homework also I'm samoa

[@Unifyyyyyyy]

Up there with the sad civil rights movement in America back in the 1960's etc

[@shokikelnz7987]

We forget most times that we are just one race, the human race. I sympathize with the men & women who were ill treated during this horrific & unexpected time in their lives. However, as a Polynesian and a Christian we find hope and peace in our LORD Jesus Christ who went through the worst suffering ever known to man and He was sinless. He carried what we all deserve as fallen, sinful beings the punishment of our sins yet He Himself had no sin. If there was ever an unjust treatment in the history of mankind it was upon the Godman Jesus Christ. Who chose to forgave us and give us eternal hope upon repentance and trusting in His life & works alone as the mean for Salvation. If we don't find hope, peace and forgiveness in Jesus Christ then we'll never find it in a fallen world full of unforgiveness, bitterness, resentful, hatred, deception and false hope. This as an unfortunate part of our history but it doesn't determine our values & beliefs to avenge. That's God's job, we do our bit & learn of the Lord Jesus Christ lest we be conform to this world. Let His Words & Spirit transform us by the renewal of our minds. This world is not our home we're only passing through. Repent & Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for Salvation. He will not refuse/rebuke anyone that draws near to Him in humility.

[@teokotaiandrew3472]

Mr Ings my teacher.

[@shhhaua9426]

Episode 2?

[@cassietoa92]

More reason for us to support all migrants to nz so we don't copy the actions of those who used us and then wanted to abandon us when they were finished. Why you make me cry for .

[@niinaa_xO]

2:37

[@4dapeoplesdabaluz995]

✊🏾💯🐚

[@kuliokali9030]

Time to us now to pay back what they do to us

[@jschwenke8804]

💓💖💓💖

[@tavioka6243]

That is fucked up! Cuz after world war 2 the US, Aust, & NZ divided the islands even tho our islands were already divided!! The US took us Micronesians yet ddnt wanna let the whole world know we existed. Till today one out of 100 Americans knws there are people in the pacific. Im just surprised how Aust, & NZ treated everyone.

[@sinamumuta8399]

Was racist but remember why Samoa first brought here was from the war ,slave .that was why

[@Awakeninghumanzombies247]

🌈🕊️

[@GodIsGood1991]

Tonu ke ta palangi ke mimi he taulasese! 😂

[@robgotti4157]

New Zealand is pacific land .. simple as that

[@davedogge2280]

70's Kiwi police "Bill, shall we dawn raid Sid the punk from London, England who bums around and takes drink and drugs all day long ?" Bill the police officer: "Nah, we should dawn raid that Polynesian working class family instead.".

[@iluop3623]

What is a white samoan?

[@jfotofili]

Fijian in Australia although there were raids the UK passport holders were also deported to my recollection. Living in the UK, Australians who over stayed their visa were instantly deported when caught. My advice, go back to the islands and set up home because the world is changing fast politically and the best place could be a self contained hut on an island with family and friends reading the bible. i know island politics has its issues also but nothing compared to the demons with shirt and tie.

[@tanasekope9362]

You didn’t experience the dawn raids in NZ so you don’t know sht

[@user-oy1go8qw3l]

Now nz is not safe

[@lafoawright-liu1924]

White people aren't white they're a different color😜😂😂

[@tellemitstia965]

@olivia Siaosi, instagram has a story about the dawn raids of her grandparents Olivia and Apoani Tapuala Unasa

[@jurisranger]

“My blood has been spilt for Samoa. I am proud to give it. Do not dream of avenging it, as it was spilt for peace."

[@floratoetu5458]

😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️

[@Timuia_ipaepaetele685]

Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III.......

[@iamyouyouareme9905]

"I bet you nobody from the UK was getting asked for ID". Sad but true.

[@nahzewilliams5912]

facts!!

[@coronacoviina1543]

I totally agree with you Bill Russell, I was watching the news last and really makes me crying hearing and talk about Samoa people. I feel for them, apologize doesn't fix damage has been done.

[@stevelamore4284]

Was Samoa part of the commonwealth?

[@abrown2130]

I remember being a 6 year old and knowing that being a Pacific islander was the looked down at in the 90s. If anyone was allowed in this country it should have been our Polynesian older brother islands. They were so good at turning polynesian against polynesian. Let's not let this shit happen to us or anyone again.

[@gwilliams4674]

I was called an over stayer even though I was born there.

[@saintsvanguard5549]

They are Asian. Part of the Mongolian horde that had spread across the world like a plague... The Queen knew that if the whites had of known the same race had spread across the world it would no doubt spark a race war. Hence the colonisation and the In-breeding of WHITE BLOOD,it is the reason the union jack is on all the Polynesian flags as that represents the blood of the queen that they accepted. The world has only really changed in the last 100-150 years as White Blood was bred into black/Ethnics so they could become like whites.. look @ 2 minutes in the "Dr" look @ her and you will understand what I mean...

[@6DRAMAQUEEN9]

This is a very important part of our HIstory and this should have many more views. As a Polynesian born in NZ in the 70's, this gives me great understanding of what my Samoan and Maori grandparents went through before I was born. My father was also part of the Polynesian panthers but until now, I didn't fully understand the depth of what they went through. This was very tough time for all Polynesian families including Maori. Thank you for this video, I look forward to the next Episode.

[@stevelamore4284]

You guys had it easy compared to what working class British people had to suffer from in the early 19th century and earlier. The treatment the has to endure from the aristocracy and politicians was inhuman

[@j.ckennedy2669]

@@stevelamore4284 - Really Steve? This is a Pacific Island platform, take your issues to the Queen.

[@safuwanfauzi5014]

As Malaysia im very sympathy to my Polynesian cousin, its totally mess, with Maori population drop and high immigration in NZ, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna and New Caledonia under French, America Samoa, Hawaii, Wake Island, North Mariana Islands, Guam, Cook Islands and others. Malaysia native Malay almost become minority when british bring many chinese and indian, we lost Singapore because racial riot, we lost half peninsular to Siam/Thailand because British was allied to Siam at the time and siam hate malay and burmese at time the time, we are enemy. Champa lost to Vietnam, Austronesian lost is huge.

[@whatthesigmaW]

@@stevelamore4284 and what exactly did the British suffer to?

[@peterstowers6219]

And what did u British working class do to stop it? NOTHING!!!!!

[@double_074]

POWER TO THE PEOPLE! 🇼🇸🇹🇴

[@charmainetaimani5149]

Right on brother fight the power

[@julee5939]

💖🥰I'm Maori and proud of our Polynesian family. God Bless you all!💖💖

[@LomezBrown]

So good! Would be great to hear from a Palangi overstayer and their experiences in those times !

[@stevelamore4284]

Why is it that brown people think that they are the only ones who have ever suffered from oppression and hardships?

[@ichinesan]

@@stevelamore4284 when you can name an instance where white people were persecuted for being born white in the same era, you can speak, till then, stay a hater

[@amandahoglund6978]

@@stevelamore4284 they never said they were the only ones but their story is often overlooked so what wrong with them trying to bring it to everyones attention. it's a historical event, either learn from it or move passed instead of making such ignorant comments

[@missjini82]

My father speaks of these days with sadness. Polys stomping grounds back then was k'rd and ponsonby. Hard to imagine that now.

[@p0ooLahH]

hello dear, I am currently looking for people from these times of the dawn raids to get their stories because I am doing a masters in history and dawn raids is my thesis topic. is it ok if I ask for your dear Dad's story please? it will be def confidential. I am Samoan studying at Massey University btw. thanks

[@RedRock-PlasterPanelPaint]

Sad to see that hope everyone come together as one. One love and care about each other.

[@arthurimona5901]

This is so sad to watch. I can only imagine what Melanesians were probably going through in Australia, being also brought to work from the islands. maybe someone can shed some light on this too #islander4lyfe

[@josephineoliver9499]

My paternal great grandmother was taken from a Pacific island at the young age of 12 and from tracing our family tree we discovered that she was Samoan/Maori and she was raped by a French sailor and when they found out she was pregnant she was dumped on the port at Townsville not knowing anyone at all, she was taken in by a Southsea island family that looked after her. My brother and my daughter and I used to always get asked if we're from New Zealand and we'd say no, but now we do know that we have Maori in our bloodline.

[@WOCdom1]

My grandfather from Greece experienced the same thing in Aus back in the 70s when they were cracking down on overstayers. Sad to hear

[@teawheroagilbert5560]

Ill always remember my Dad hiding a couple of his Tongan friends when they were being hunted by Police. So glad my Dad had a good heart.

[@tanasekope9362]

Yeah because hori maolis are more racist then palagis these days. Your worst enemy could be your best friend

[@L3a98]

That’s really beautiful! Thank God for people like your dad.

[@w4yzz181]

Yeah it’s sad like that one time they banned the Maori language from being spoken in schools and all the racism done to our pacific island people & I hope they teach this history in schools

[@karenibrown6857]

That is so sad 😔

[@isara6653]

They'll never teach these truths in schools - sad but a true fact. The truth is silenced because if people knew of their evil deeds they will have a large resistance to deal with. They'd rather keep us ignorant and blind. They only teach you what they want you to know (whether it's lies or "half truths")

[@flogol4645]

RAcism is everywhere! Never thought that polynesian people had to deal with poverty on the island's. Proud to be a Polynesian!Thank you for the History!

[@atulasitani7246]

My father was here in New Zealand in the 70s, he was working at a glass bottles factory, in Ponsonby and was the Supervisor there, my dad was an over stayer but his Palangi boss was willing to fix his visa, because my dad was such a good worker but, my mother did not want to leave her home in Tonga so dad returned back home

[@davejordan267]

Thank you polynesian Panthers for making our lives easier for our people. However, we can not allow mainstream media to twist the way we see others

[@StepheBrown]

Hard to hear this stuff but blessings to those who lived it and now share their stories. Thank you 💪👍🌺🌴🤎🤎🤎

[@ayoTUBBZ1]

One thing Polynesians no matter how you try to break us we won't fold! And will unite and die for the right cause! Warriors, unity, loyalty is in our blood!

[@Timuia_ipaepaetele685]

I am currently watching the Panthers series such a good watch can't wait for the next episode tomorrow. As a NZ born Samoan they didn't teach any of this in school..I never knew about the dawn raids till I started reading up on Samoa and the colonisation period specifically German Vs NZ administration of Samoa at the time. Wow it just broke my heart literally but glad that I read up on it for some knowledge about what happened to our people. God bless the panthers for their commitment and passion in the fight for the mistreatment of our people 🇳🇿🇼🇸✊🏼.

[@akz7366]

bruh, they want them here, but don't want them at the same time

[@SiobhanK]

😯 I never knew any of this, thank you for the history lesson 💗

[@aivenimila2217]

Thats crazy I would've never thought out of all places New Zealand?

[@naomigeorge6600]

"Son of the Dawn Raids" was bold. Loves up

[@hulkstah5625]

Typa videos the youths need to watch.... Rather than taking their own brothers blood 🌪️

[@afiomai69]

Dad came in the 1950s first. Mum came later. They both met in Auckland. Pacific Islanders were used for Labour in Factories but once the economic downturn started. Pacific Islanders were targeted by National PM "Piggy" Robert Muldoon. Simply as a political target. Racism and Fear works to get Votes it even works to this day. In the 70s we had moved to Invercargill so we were saved from the fear in main city centres; Auckland and Wellington. Interesting how the decades of colonialisation instilled unwarranted respect of Pacific people's at that time to authorities. Now we know better and that is to question.

[@ANALEI137]

The land and all it's resources, belong to no one...it's for ALL. Imagine if we all just shared.

[@ikilei]

Uh....I'm sorry but why does the doco not advise that it was the Labour party that started this?? National party carried it on, but Labour was the one to start it. Why did you hide that RNZ??

[@ookieekolo]

Love this content! Please continue to share more 😍

[@joelkalpram]

Same story like it’s happened/happening around the world. You’d think it’s 2021 that these sh*ts would have ceased, nah still happening…

[@somethingidk-rm7lb]

no wonder my dad keep telling me about knocking cops out

[@floratoetu5458]

So UK civilians were also overstayers but never questioned but Pacific Islanders were 🤷‍♀️😞 Till this day I still don't get it 😭

[@johnkelly7825]

People should move on the prime minister of New Zealand she racist

[@bink676]

I know this is off topic but their drip look so good

[@lesinatomasi348]

Hi uncle Mika Tafua gosh thanks for sharing the sad story GOD BLESS🙏😘❤YOU

[@fernandoc1784]

Nowadays everyone wants to be polynesian 🤣🤣🤣

[@kingz6649]

And then theres people in America who defines us Polynesians as not Black people.

[@Lingz2330]

Can’t wait for the next episode!!!

[@chrisblester37]

New zealand and Australia have treated our islanders nabours very poorly from black birding for labour in the earliest times, but they were smart and became the urbanized moari that ones that lived

[@richardmatatahi4563]

yep a sad day in New Zealand history and btought on by a racist National Government and victimized the Samoan people

[@sixbayboloka5491]

That's knowledge 💯 👏

[@noprobe2301]

Welby Ings Next time I see you, beers on me mate

[@nuttyazfuk9270]

Maori was getn pitted against our poly whanau by the behavior of the then Government.. Today that stigma is there still.. but not as worse.. But together we will be strong.. our elders need the respect.. acknowledge and understanding side by side we welcome our Pacifica people..

[@justinaptuimavave5323]

This project is so true, i know some people in the past I knew about all these rumours a n out overstayed people are been hiding when their commission is over, alot of people these days they come over from samoa or were ever Island, n family try to connect them up with a older palagi old man lol, so they can sponsor them to live here. But very sad some people will still love that person, if it wasn't for them they would of been deported back to the island. But some other, after they been looked after n sponsor by their new partner or whatever, they neglected the love and honour these people did for them. They should be very thankful and been blessed bye these people that whats to help and love them or else, they go back n tui tui niko under the koko or ulu 🙃🤣🤣🤙👍

[@p1369]

It simple we're not the same skin colour & we'll never be equal as the palangi,So we are the Mexican to Nz during that error after our Brown/polynesian people thought in the white mans war

[@lifeandthings340]

Samoa to the world

[@Mannsy83]

It's crazy to me as a white Australian. The pacific community is a very proud and old civilization, they should be able to freely travel the pacific as it's their people. Nothing new though, my ancestors were put on ships and sent to hell to try to build a life. Then I apply to visit the UK and am rejected. Isn't it my home too?

[@moeyhabibi1976]

was born in 03 was never taught about any of this because I went predominantly white schools

[@Gday09]

🙏❤️🥰 HEROZ

[@f.a.6503]

Thank you for sharing this. Never knew of the struggles that our people went through in New Zealand. :(

[@Rere-kc1tk]

My brothers and sisters o te moananui The doors to Aotearoa were always open to you. Until colonisation

[@antonfwveiagina5774]

X

[@tavioka6243]

We Micronesians had to be smart. The US wanted to control at the same time he was already in the spot light so they cant always do that. So then they came up with something.

[@cybcc8778]

Racism in nz? Who would’ve known my poor people

[@antoninorex5857]

Now i know why my father decided to go to Hawai'i instead of New Zealand.

[@legacyrawiri2115]

This has been a long time coming

[@jessereremoana9226]

That's what it was like in those days? So, 1970s. 💙

[@kityumcashcokityumcashco5740]

What's sad is that when I got to NZ in the early 70s, the most racist people I knew were also polynesian.

[@christinakilipati8891]

That wood tech teacher though?! 🥲 Bless his soul 💕

[@yaaleeuce2872]

Facts

[@missk1942]

Wow dawn raiding the politicians, brilliant.