Polynesian Panthers
Encyclopedia
The Polynesian Panther Party was an organisation founded by New Zealand
born Polynesia
ns on June 16, 1971.
The party was explicitly influenced by the American Black Panther Party
, particularly Huey Newton’s policy of black unity. They located the causes of Māori and Pacific Island oppression within the exploitative social relations of capitalism
. Consequently, the Polynesian Panthers promoted a strategy of liberation based on the complete overthrow of the capitalist system and the social relations necessary for its development. The group greatly increased in profile during Robert Muldoon
's immigration scare campaign in 1975, and the subsequent dawn raids under his administration.
by six young Pacific Islander men; Fred Schmidt, Nooroa Teavae, Paul Dapp, Vaughan Sanft, Eddie Williams and Will 'Ilolahia. At the time many Pacific Island youth were supporters of Māori political initiatives such as the Bastion Point occupation
and Waitangi Day
protests, and gained skills in political lobbying and processes which they used to raise the profile of Pacific people in New Zealand. Because of the working class background of its members the movement concerned itself with issues relating to unequal pay and unsatisfactory working conditions.
Headquarters were established in Ponsonby
and the Polynesian Panthers began to organise activities, among them were homework centres for Pacific children, visitiing Pacific prisoners as well as providing transport for their families to visit, and running programs educating Pacific Islanders on their rights and New Zealand citizens. Soon the movement expanded nationally with chapters in South Auckland, Christchurch
and Dunedin
, as well as a chapter in Sydney
, Australia.
One of the notable early members of the Polynesian Panthers include Niuean composer, musician and activist Tigilau Ness
, who was imprisoned during anti-apartheid protests in New Zealand aimed at stopping the controversial 1981 South Arican Springboks rugby tour. Ness is also the father of New Zealand hip hop artist Che Fu
.
On 12 September, 2009 the Polynesian Panthers held a special evening in Auckland to honour American Black Panther revolutionary artist Emory Douglas
during his International Artist in Residency at Auckland University's Elam Art School.
In 2010 a documentary film was released telling the story of the Polynesian Panthers.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
born Polynesia
Polynesia
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs...
ns on June 16, 1971.
The party was explicitly influenced by the American Black Panther Party
Black Panther Party
The Black Panther Party wasan African-American revolutionary leftist organization. It was active in the United States from 1966 until 1982....
, particularly Huey Newton’s policy of black unity. They located the causes of Māori and Pacific Island oppression within the exploitative social relations of capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
. Consequently, the Polynesian Panthers promoted a strategy of liberation based on the complete overthrow of the capitalist system and the social relations necessary for its development. The group greatly increased in profile during Robert Muldoon
Robert Muldoon
Sir Robert David "Rob" Muldoon, GCMG, CH served as the 31st Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984, as leader of the governing National Party. Muldoon had been a prominent member of the National party and MP for the Tamaki electorate for some years prior to becoming leader of the party...
's immigration scare campaign in 1975, and the subsequent dawn raids under his administration.
Early years
The Polynesian Panther Movement was founded in inner city AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
by six young Pacific Islander men; Fred Schmidt, Nooroa Teavae, Paul Dapp, Vaughan Sanft, Eddie Williams and Will 'Ilolahia. At the time many Pacific Island youth were supporters of Māori political initiatives such as the Bastion Point occupation
Bastion Point
Bastion Point is a coastal piece of land in Orakei, Auckland, New Zealand, overlooking the Waitemata Harbour. The area has significance in New Zealand history for its role in 1970s Māori protests against forced land alienation by non Māori New Zealanders.-History:The land was occupied by Ngāti...
and Waitangi Day
Waitangi Day
Waitangi Day commemorates a significant day in the history of New Zealand. It is a public holiday held each year on 6 February to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document, on that date in 1840.-History:...
protests, and gained skills in political lobbying and processes which they used to raise the profile of Pacific people in New Zealand. Because of the working class background of its members the movement concerned itself with issues relating to unequal pay and unsatisfactory working conditions.
Headquarters were established in Ponsonby
Ponsonby
Ponsonby is a surname which may refer to:*Arthur Ponsonby, 1st Baron Ponsonby of Shulbrede was a British politician, writer, and social activist...
and the Polynesian Panthers began to organise activities, among them were homework centres for Pacific children, visitiing Pacific prisoners as well as providing transport for their families to visit, and running programs educating Pacific Islanders on their rights and New Zealand citizens. Soon the movement expanded nationally with chapters in South Auckland, Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
and Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, as well as a chapter in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia.
One of the notable early members of the Polynesian Panthers include Niuean composer, musician and activist Tigilau Ness
Tigilau Ness
Tigilau Ness is a Niuean New Zealand activist and reggae artist, and performs as Unity Pacific.Ness is a political activist and first generation Pacific Island New Zealander.-Lifetime achievement award:...
, who was imprisoned during anti-apartheid protests in New Zealand aimed at stopping the controversial 1981 South Arican Springboks rugby tour. Ness is also the father of New Zealand hip hop artist Che Fu
Che Fu
Che Fu MNZM is a New Zealand Hip hop/R&B and Reggae recording artist and producer. Originally one part of the band Supergroove, as a solo artist he has gone on to sell thousands of albums both in New Zealand and internationally, including in Australia and the UK.-History:Fu is one of New Zealand's...
.
Recent years
In 2006 Panther members released a book to mark the 35th anniversary of the Polynesian Panther movement.On 12 September, 2009 the Polynesian Panthers held a special evening in Auckland to honour American Black Panther revolutionary artist Emory Douglas
Emory Douglas
Emory Douglas worked as the Minister of Culture for the Black Panther Party from 1967 until the Party disbanded in the 1980s...
during his International Artist in Residency at Auckland University's Elam Art School.
In 2010 a documentary film was released telling the story of the Polynesian Panthers.
Further reading
- Polynesian Panthers Melani Anae, Lautofa Iuli and Leilani Burgoyne (eds.) Reed Publishing (NZ) ISBN 0-7900-1001-1
- How the Polynesian Panthers changed our world salient.org.nz
External links
- The Contemporary Evolution of Māori Protest (scroll down for the section on the Panthers)
- Black Panther Party International Support - Polynesian Panthers (PDF)