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During the 1970s they were arrested for protesting the ill-treatment of Māori and Pacific people, and often vilified for speaking out about their community issues.
But today, the Polynesian Panthers are celebrated as an important part of New Zealand history. This month the group were named as nominees for the New Zealander of the Year Awards, an honour which sits at odds to how the country saw them in their youth.
“50 years ago we were looked down on,” Panther member Fuimaono Norman Tuiasau tells John Pulu.
“[We were] seeing that there was something wrong and taking on the challenge, but many times we were scared but we knew we had to do it.
“It’s almost like a turnaround for New Zealand to recognise a group of young Pacific students – some of us were no older than the students I teach at De La Salle.”
While they were mostly known for their efforts in bringing an end to the dawn raids, the Poly Panthers also ran homework centres, food drives, provided legal aid and often protected tenants from unfair eviction.
Their clashes with these unjust landlords led to the institution of the Tenancy Tribunal.
And last year, the Government offered an official apology to the Pacific communities that had been affected by the dawn raids.
2021 also saw the Poly Panthers reach their 50th Anniversary, opening the festivities with an official plaque placed outside their original headquarters, what is now ASB Bank in Ponsonby.
Fuimaono says the nomination for New Zealand Community of the Year award has left the group feeling elated that they’ve been recognised at an international level.
“And I think on reflection we have to be thankful for the many Panthers; many of them are no longer with us so we respect them and pay due respect to them.”
But while their legacy and work is celebrated, Fuimaono insists there is still much work to do.
“This [nomination] is like a signpost for us, that we’re on the right track,” insists Fuimaono.
“Our work challenged the system many decades ago…I hope it encourages other Pacific young people to take up the modern causes that we need to address – climate change, poverty. We need some strong voices in these areas.
“The Poly Panthers have shown the challenge is not easy, and change comes from ongoing and relentless struggle.”
