Pacific Media Watch

23 June 2020

NZ: Southern Cross - Will 'Ilolahia talks Polynesian Panthers and how to keep activism alive

Will 'Ilolahia at the 95bFM radio studios at the University of Auckland. Image: Sri Krishnamurthi/PMC
PMW ID
10750

AUCKLAND (Southern Cross/Pacific Media Watch): Host Sherry Zhang has interviewed Polynesian Panther co-founder Will 'Ilolahia about the similarities between the 1970s struggle against racism in New Zealand and the #BlackLivesMatter movement in the United States following the death of George Floyd on the Southern Cross radio programme on 95bFM.

'Ilolahia reflected on the Polynesian Panthers movement and the deliberate targeting of Pasifika and Maori peoples almost five decades ago.

He also said the makers of the Herbs movie, a band which he managed back then, were planning to make a six-part documentary series on the Panthers.

LISTEN: Will 'Ilolahia, the Polynesian Panthers and tomorrow's activism

Then Sri Krishnamurthi, contributing editor of Pacific Media Watch, reminded 'Ilolahia of South Africa's Archbishop Desmond Tutu flying in to support him in his court case.

Pacific Media Centre · PMC Southern Cross: Will 'Ilolahia, the Polynesian Panthers and tomorrow's activism

Towards the end of the Pacific Media Centre's Southern Cross segment Krishnamurthi updated listeners about the latest events in the University of the South Pacific saga following the reinstatement of vice-chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia.

A brief discussion about Fiji trying to institute the “Bula Bubble” with New Zealand and Australia in a bid to get the tourism economy back up and running again.

Pacific Media Watch

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Pacific Media Watch is compiled for the Pacific Media Centre as a regional media freedom and educational resource by a network of journalists, students, stringers and commentators. (cc) Creative Commons

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