‘You gotta go twice as hard’: City Boys on being brown in Grey Lynn | Still Here

“I think it’s important for us Polynesian boys that are from central and are from the city to be proud of it. When there’s less of you, you’ve got to go twice as hard. Last of a dying breed, that’s how I see it.” Subscribe to Re: bit.ly/subscribe-re
Follow acclaimed rapper Diggy Dupé and the City Boys using music, fashion and entrepreneurship to reclaim and rebirth the inner-city Pacific identity.
In 1971, 45 per cent of Auckland’s Pasifika population lived in the inner city. Now, they’re fewer than 2 per cent.
Through the eyes of Pacific youth and their families, this four part docu-series celebrates the small but mighty Pasifika community in inner-city Auckland who have remained despite decades of rampant gentrification.
Each episode weaves intergenerational stories of family, community and culture dispelling the myth that “all the Islanders have left.”
Made with the support of NZ On Air.
Re: makes videos, articles and podcasts about the things that matter to young people in Aotearoa. Check out: www.renews.co.nz/
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#stillhere

[@King_2ya]

"Theres a difference between their value, and our value, its more than money..." wow, that was powerful!! Praying all these P.I families hold on to their homes and never let it go, they are a part of all our history. Holding the fort for the rest of us who got pushed out.

[@kazpahghost9791]

Wdwdedwdwdededededededededededededededededededededededededededededwdededededededededededededed

[@PiriakaTrackwrecker]

Back this, hard. Reckon I used get beaten by these guys big cuzzies on the GL Park bball court. I feel privileged to have spent a good chunk of my childhood rolling around these streets back when it was a big family, swimming in the paddling pool and watching the Rovers. Now I walk these streets and its mostly just ghosts of the past, I miss what it was, not what it is. From Toucan Cafe to Foodtown Grey Lynn (my first two employers) I loved that place, and would nothing more than these boys buy it back off the yuppies. Respect to the people in this clip, and who made it, it brought a tear to my eyes.

[@brianmitchell1624]

I am nearly 60 years old now and have lived In Devonport all my life. This is exactly the same as here!

[@slpalelei1179]

I'm soo grateful they kept the whole clip raw & authentic

[@lancestrickland2092]

Kiaorana. Grey Lynn Ponsonby was my hood late 80s through late 90s . Cheap rent , kava at the Surrey Cres dairy and single cigarettes, blockbuster video on Williamson, samoan owned dairy next to Grey Lynn park , 12 tribes of Israel on corner of Richmond Rd, king cobras on Ponsonby TCE ... a truly multicultural place back then but you could see it changing. Props to you hold outs !

[@at4lu523]

shoutout to all the island families still standing their ground in central, big respect! Gentrification has got us down bad but I hope our people can make their way back

[@nztoma]

Unless you want to live in China 🇨🇳 The Free Market decides what the property or area is worth. Don’t let these issues bring you down, and I don’t believe the island community is down.

[@at4lu523]

@@nztoma ​ spare me the free market talk and don’t patronise me either. You can never bring our people down however it is just facts that we are among the most at risk of being gentrified THAT of which I was referring to. I have no further energy to donate to ppl like u, there are about a million racists in nz herald’s comments for you to go and dissect, pls go there

[@sheeeeessssh2990]

We are behind you our Polynesian cousens 🙏💯 proud Maori proud to be Polynesian

[@cytu1198]

Down? In NZ ? Really ? How are us islanders down ?

[@ngamanaia1738]

Gentrification=apartheid out with brown in with the white

[@Inzpyred]

From a white boy whos first family home was on Hakanoa St, keep standing strong bros. My first friends were Fijian, Samoan, Maori etc. in the 90s growing up there, shit has sure changed these days

[@Flemo2140]

Hold fast to your culture and your whenua brothers. All the best with your journeys

[@Washyourbum28]

Grew up in west Auckland and south Auckland majority of my life, but I have solid memories going to my papas sister house in grey Lynn right around the corner from grey Lynn park, all the houses on the block at that time were run down, their house is the only run down house left. Sad to see Polynesians leaving

[@archimedes6855]

When my family migrated from Samoa we stayed on Ariki street heard all the stories growing up how the streets of grey Lynn/ponsonby were all brown and then they pushed us out glad to see the islanders still hanging on love ya usos ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@universalkaos4568]

Raised out West Aux in the 80s but always went & hangout with our aiga on Baildon Rd. Always remembered the creaky wooden floors at their house. Remember playing B-ball at the end of the street. They went to Seddon College. Every year,we'd go & watch the Samoan Marching at Grey Lynn Park,& hung out with the locals,with the playground that had the flying fox. Then ask dad for some coins where we'd head for the spacies at the shops,near the TAB.. Socials at St. Joseph's on Saturday nights,then into town for a Ka'a.. Or a DJ nite at Fred Wilson's place near the Speedway. & The Friday nite dances at the Mormon church with the Satele family. Good times with the Central family who were part of my growing up. Alofas to you all & keep rising👆

[@hakstaoneeightseven8287]

That's the best thing I've watched in ages....real life...real talk ..realism . Awesome watch💯

[@billymack333]

That’s the streets I grew up in. Proud Westmere Grey Lynn boy. St. Joseph’s,Marist, St Paul’s. The Polynesian experience was part of growing up in the inner city back in the 70s and 80s.

[@Huimatewaka]

I remember Che Fu 1 of his opening lines in Chains the remix was "Well i grew up in Ponsonby" BIG LOVE to our Polynesian familys we all belong to the triangle , this was an awesome watch cuzzys, generational wealth :) thats the key ,Arohanui Whanaunga

[@johnnydon6738]

Raised in Ponsonby, Most houses were owned by palagis. Some islanders purchased their homes, but a lot rented. Then opportunities came to purchase houses out in the suburbs, east, west, south of Auckland.

[@bunnbeater475]

CHURRR SOLID I REMEMBER ALL THE GREY LYNN BOYS IN THE ROCK BACK IN THE DAYS😎😎😎CRIPS AND THE SNAKES💯💯💯

[@feletituipulotufamili4773]

Tongan Grew up in East Auckland and made friends with these Brothers back in 2005 from Grey Lynn who trained at the gym I worked at. They talked me into Playing for Richmond Rovers and nek minnit I just fell in love with the culture. The local boys were cool and they were really hospitable but it’s obvious you guys cut from the same cloth. Nothing but love for my Grey Lynn Poly peoples.

[@user-eb3tw4ge6n]

Moved from Tonga to Grey Lynn in the 80s, from there, most islanders moved to the south or east of Auckland. We ended up in G.I.

[@leoniesmith1026]

Faith family culture believing in yourself, having pride in who you are & making your aims & goals work, continues to help you survive. Keep following those aims in life & keeping it real, you can survive anywhere if you have that behind you. Central was where it was at & Im proud to say my both my grandmothers, my parents, uncles & aunties gave me that strength to keep striving & having perseverance to never give up. Our home is our investment for our future generations to come. Loved this footage & the stories these young men told, love everything about the stories from still here. The history, the memories, seeing how hard both my both grandmothers worked, my parents, all my family, it’s worth more than any offer people try to give. We may live in Grey Lynn but we still have to work hard to pay rates & bills like everyone else & maintain our home. Pride in what we have & grateful for strength to keep doing so. Thanks for sharing 🙏🌺

[@pt1348]

Humbled from your story Lah.miss my niuean family in west Auckland but we had to Make the move to aus for better opportunities.yous are doing mean brothers💪Tutau Tamas♥️

[@itsyunggrave]

When there's less of you you gotta go twice as hard 🔥

[@slpalelei1179]

😭😭😭😭 man in my feels frfr seeing our ppl

[@dokzeastfuku7916]

Went to st pauls 94 to 98 stayed on richmond rd great memories changed alot grey lynn ponsonby

[@slpalelei1179]

Difference between their value and our value 💯💯💯💯💯

[@angijnr1002]

The day me and my folkes moved out of Grey Lynn and moved to Otara was a sad day for me. I never forget where I came from. COOPER STREET/WALLINGFORD STREET/BOND STREET. Ponsonby 4 life

[@demokkore895]

What a awesome point of view! Nice doco

[@arikepa4760]

@diggydupe love your music my bro.... the realist is now I can definitely understand where your lyrics come from, mean eye opener...stay blessed brother

[@harleyfrench9997]

This was powerful

[@nobuen0]

Love this content🙌💎

[@gambioelsavado9753]

This is a very beautiful documentary!!! LOVE FROM THE HOOD OF OTABLU SA!

[@BennVai]

Seki usos. Great watch. Richmond emblem gave me all the memories. ✌️

[@KuntaGday]

Great job young team...loving the energy and vibe...the late 70's, 80's all changed my personal opinion is that the area has become sanitised, disinfected, soulless its lost that vibrant Polynesian vibe....yeah man keep on keeping on hope all your futures are bright and that when you become family men to pass down the past, present, fututre history.

[@neilpeters275]

Much luv from the 275 now in Brisbane

[@doopyz]

Mad love 🔥

[@frannyloco9314]

Exactly what’s happening here in mt druitt Sydney 🇦🇺

[@rnvano1928]

So true, them side looks from the newbies to GL but he's right - they were there first

[@kirijones3778]

Fabulous video. Hold fast!

[@flaminraymon]

beautiful words by our young brothers

[@sirkkorus8394]

CA all day we need to stay and stand our ground if you own house do not sell we need to stick around this where we belong where it all started my family still in the area and when I see other Polynesians bring happiness I'm just like yeah that right we still here you can't move us we don't want your money we all good we own our house but I know that they looking at us and hoping we sell up fuck that shttt we here to stay hopefully next generation will still here and remembering our history how us Polynesian family's got here central Auckland was full of pacific life every were you go specially in ponsonby and use to see my aunties uncle's and cousins and was a big Polynesian community but these days not much but we here to stay CA all day keep our Polynesian community strong let's buy up whole bunch of houses CA all day 🇨🇰

[@glceezar3766]

Onya brothers 👌🔥

[@helentauaufilisi9934]

So great to see the next generations taking it to the next level and doing it proud. Never give up, keep the faith and keep striving for the good for your PI communities and families. Malo le tauivi...

[@adamlaz8334]

So good.

[@paoratewhata3667]

Mean brothers 🙌💯🔥🔥

[@1visa961]

Great watch

[@georgemohetau6056]

I enjoyed this video I can relate growing up in central but our family home in Mount eden run down old skool villa home all the homes near by been renovated and yes never sell because very unlikely to get a house in central again 🙄

[@patcruising8925]

Keep doing your thing young usos!! Grey Lynn/Ponsonby is my mums old stomping ground, always talks about scraps with the Niuean n kuki girls at Beresford Primary, lol.

[@brendonwilson3830]

This is on, this video showed alot of unity with the very few that is left in Grey Lynn 🤝🏾💯✊🏾 PolyPride forsure. I never grew up around those parts but back in the days my great grandparents lived In the area and i remember my Nan telling me about how ponsonby was full of Maori and pacific people. Can only imagine the love between each neighbors then. It's comforting to know there are polys around this area still. I know I'm not the only one that feels uncomfortable when it's just full in white 😂 No hate. keep up the great work brothers 💯

[@brentuamaki9149]

We used to live on Posonby Rd back in the 70s then we moved to Newton. Polynessians were every where. K rd had its own culture compared to Queen St. Unfortunately we couldn't afford to live in Auckland anymore so we moved to Wellington in the mid 80s. I went back a few years ago and I'm looking at these Pakeha and Asian people thinking, "What are they doing here" 🤔 😅 they looked back at me probably thinking the same thing lol. Great story, brought back alot of memories. The person in one of the photos at 3:47 looks familiar 🤔.

[@angijnr1002]

Born in 1978 stayed on Cooper street mean memories Bond street, Wallingford street near Richmond Bulldogs club rooms Williamson ave shops The old gymnasium on Grey lynn park. I went to St James Kindergarten, and went to Grey lyn primary. 1986 I moved to south Auckland otara I miss grey lynn.

[@kimsherlock8969]

Proud to hear your strength 💪 ♥ Relatives communed in the loved place of Home. Differences abound still Thankyou for sharing 😊 Beware of the temptation 🤔 money. Beware of the Devil wanting to steal your home And the dirty deeds of debt causing a sale. I am saying the real estate demons 😈 Are out to make a killing

[@ninjasonpanapa102]

🔥🔥🔥

[@roido6614]

Sasha's Uncle Alaric Speaks Facts!

[@alexchala7035]

The comment about milk is fucking timeless and as deep as you take it. Hits home if you understand what hes saying then your on the right page. love it peace.

[@danpan6249]

Yes young islanders with true vision. Not joining gangs like followers

[@kingpanamanian1041]

S/O to all the OG King City Boys, Inner city boys and all of CA. Nesian or nothing baby 💚💯

[@jonathanstowers8929]

CENTRAL WILL AWAYS BE HOME!🔥

[@D.O2KOLO]

I still have family that live in Ponsonby💯💯

[@renejclothing3216]

Shot LAH. Aint no place like home. No matter where I go it's forever C3ntral💯💯💯

[@gerrardstones4246]

Was a great time...

[@tangiers365]

this is powerful tangata whenua

[@Fake-iw1qb]

I remember coming to nz for the first time I stayed with my Aunty in ponsonby …they had been there since the 80s I came 90 and only stayed in ponsonby for 4 months then they moved out to new Lynn ( rata village) lol now my aunt in te atatu and I’m in otahuhu…they slowly trying to do the same with otahuhu mangere ….pushing the islanders to pukekohe lol homes now are at one mil now in places that were 200k max!! A lot of home owners are selling out !! Mostly islanders…I seen my uncles house in otahuhu which he sold for one mil now there are four units up on that same property all going for 1.2m each!!! Lol

[@JonErick_GymDad]

Fakaaue lahi ma kau. To Taha mitaki e doco/vitio. Shot Diggy!! Haia ma tau toa. Niue Ki Mua. Grey Lynn ponsonby going hard. Mean!!

[@Forever376r]

🔥🔥

[@felixdoolan836]

Kia Ora bros!!

[@jeztauiliilivincent1916]

Harcourt Street rep, Grey Lynn forever

[@theotherguydidit7683]

The best street was summer street summer all year round 😎 👌

[@williamfrost6933]

Yo ReNews where can I buy some of those CityBoys merchandise? What's their website?

[@vehmp2741]

WOW tbh im samoan but have always had it good i went to school with white kids & highschool with white kids & lived in a what youd call upperclass area malvern melb if anyone knows raised by 2 full samoan parents who came over to aus for a better life & yes only 3 siblings including me my parents were not poor but not rich my parents worked extremely hard 3/4 jobs when i was growing up my parents always wanted to make sure us kids had what they never did tbh i always thought where were the other "brown/fob" kids were when i grew up becos tbh but watching this & seeing how hearty these Polys are about being PI is mean as

[@jameslalesi8999]

I’ll never forget Grey Lynn we were in gangs there TCG ,Lords, homodee I forgot the rest but had the best time of our lives in grey Lynn

[@CraigWedd]

fuck i love Auckland, i miss it heaps. its weird cause i grew up and lived in christchurch till i was 24 then moved to aux and lived there for like 5 years... and Auckland is more my home that chch will ever be. especialy thoses inner suburbs. if i ever leave Melboure its back to eden tce for me

[@rea5on859]

Don croot. grey Lynn. Kingsland. Morningside. City newton dragons. Kowhai intermediate. Western springs. Bullock track. Pasadena. GLC.CA.

[@beazjohnson9865]

Not sure about this guy being the second wave, he's more like the fifth wave.

[@Fullcombatnz]

Hey hey Māori been doing hangis long before yous flew here brother

[@annabanna666]

I'm a white boy grew up west mostly .I wish I had poly mates they seem so fun and laugh alot seem to have big hearts and good family values. I hate the way us whites act and treat people makes me sick . Chur

[@Fullcombatnz]

Bruv Polly’s and indians crack up asf to hang with

[@Joem2648]

"good family values" with the highest domestic abuse rates in the country lol. more than twice as likely to beat their kids and wives than whites. but yeah good family values for sure

[@annabanna666]

@@Joem2648 well that's a very narrow minded view of the truth. There is alot more to unpack in that statement. There is extremes in all races . Easy to highlight the bad and sit on that alone .

[@Joem2648]

@@annabanna666 “I hate the way us whites act and treat people, makes me sick” you did the exact same thing “only highlighting the bad”

[@annabanna666]

Fair point

[@annabanna666]

Bro what's the t shirt brand I'll support

[@lostfound2158]

at 6:39 that looks like ngarie from cowan st

[@t3chn1n35]

Go 💯 boys and keep GL brown

[@manawanuitini7676]

😍🙌🏽🔥

[@WasteyOne]

Bring us home brothers

[@troncarter6834]

Reality is it'll never be the same. Priced out of paradise. It will never get cheaper bruh. Instead of waiting, yall gotta work harder to stay.

[@8ight1ne8ight6]

It’s so beautiful to see our islanders thriving off of each other’s success and having each other’s backs through it all. And to be looked at as the out siders from others is so sad knowing that those boys have been there since they were youngins! I love this and I love our island people🇳🇺🇳🇺❤️

[@gankem4829]

Those lyrics about grey lynn turning into a northshore, even on the northshore in certain areas they have the same struggles as grey lynn its not all flashy over there iykyk BEACHHAVEN N.$

[@leont5096]

🙏🙏🙏

[@rochelletamarua1153]

Proud to be from Grey Lynn #Elgin

[@samsaluni]

maybe bro we got to be millionares too! so the palagi's know we are just as better as them! malo alofa atu manuia!

[@annabanna666]

Some of us know your value mate we not all bad. I got no poly mates but I see the love . Much respect .

[@samsaluni]

@@annabanna666 all good!

[@lukeaoina56]

harrrrd

[@deficator750]

another stark but very sad reality of NZ housing changing communities not for the better but for worse culturally and socially. I remeber this the same when i was a kid my neighbourhood used to be full of kids and adults/elderly hanging out together in front of their flats/duplexes everyone got along like a small village but once they sold out to business couples it literally killed the community and theres no more kids and people socialising its cookie cutter dead community. My best memories was from those social neighborhood communities where everyone new each other.

[@sleep9526]

haha i love that statement, 2 isle for milk 1 for normal 1 for bouj hahaha its fucking true though

[@williamcody1385]

CA 🔥

[@quintinakuhata]

Congrats to dunken for claiming Niues 1st commonwealth medal 💪

[@southaklcuh6442]

james cook tour ended in .... for a reason.

[@HANUMAN7454]

Yes and rediculous vegan burger bars/cupcake shops hipster barber shops all the dive bars closing. It's all very familiar. Sigh. I feel ya.

[@Awakeninghumanzombies247]

🏰⛰️ Dryden and Regina street Raised in Grey Lynn 💛🌼🌺🌻🕊️💐

[@Daxkalak]

"Just put them all in one aisle!" Lol, I need to print this legendary statement on a T-shirt, between an image of two milk bottles.

[@jeremykapinga8759]

27 Harcourt since 1905

[@aaronthomas7802]

S/o to O'Neil street #015RIP #RaisedInPonsonby

[@aaronthomas7802]

Why not accept the fact that us PI's were lied to and that its not too late to piss off back to where we are from and go back to the way it should be? Just a thought lol

[@HANUMAN7454]

Where did everyone get displaced to?

[@Faikakala]

Outta suburbs generally South or West Auckland

[@observedot7490]

@@Faikakala this happened over 20 year period? Sad man sorry

[@pjm9574]

That happens when you just sit around.

[@Washyourbum28]

@@pjm9574 no one sat around, gentrification happened. Of course if you’re struggling Polynesian family and need money you’re going to sell your house.

[@fabiangroom3228]

It's a global trend whereby poor people are driven out of the CBD to make way for wealthy folks and big businesses. I think there should be at least some land put aside for the poor people to at least live in and around these areas. 🙏

[@zingaa2328]

Meith and alcohol is huge problem

[@sheeeeessssh2990]

Remember who you are where you come from where your next destination is heading too BUT NEVER FORGET YOUR PEOPLE AND THE HOOD YOU GREW UP IN 🙏💯