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Untold Pacific History

14m

A dynamic and often provocative account of NZ's relationship with the Pacific.

Made with the support of NZ On Air

Series details.

Credits

Lisa Taouma
Producer
Tuki Laumea
Director / Narrator, Season 1 / Writer, Season 2
Damon Fepulea'i
Director
Shimpal Lelisi
Presenter, Season 1
Leki Jackson-Bourke
Presenter, Season 2
Joyanna Finch
Presenter, Season 2
Megan Whelan
RNZ Head of Content, Season 2
Tim Burnell
RNZ Commissioning Manager, Season 2
Kay Ellmers & Tim Burnell
RNZ Commissioning, Season 1

Untold Pacific History is a dynamic and often provocative account of New Zealand’s relationship with the Pacific and the broad impact it's had on NZ’s own history and relationship with Pacific peoples in Aotearoa today.

Over two seasons, we shine lights on eight key stories in the Pacific that have been little-told in Aotearoa. From the epic drama of NZ’s colonisation of Samoa, schoolboys that were hidden under floorboards as part of the NZ Dawn Raids, to the extraordinary story of an allegedly ‘cursed’ hotel in the Cook Islands.

Produced by

Tikilounge Productions

Season 1 - Made possible by the

RNZ/NZ On Air Joint Innovation Fund

Season 2 - Made with the support of

Partner Logo for NZ on Air for use on dark background

Get in touch

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Video section home

A man looking into the camera with his mouth slightly open. His left eye is bugged out in a comically over the top way. Text reads, "A Place Called Te Awamutu".
A person sitting on a stool, they're looking down. The image has been edited so that there's a strong orange toned light covering the image, obscuring the figures face. The text reads, "The Outliers".
A man operating a cannon, theres smoke coming out of it and a man next to it holding his hands over his ears. Text reads, "NZ Wars: Stories of Waitara".
An archival picture of a group of Pacific Islanders posing for a group picture. The text reads "Untold Pacific History"
Side profile of a persons face, silhouetted against a setting sun out of frame. Text reads, "Imposter".
Young man with soot on his face looking into the camera, in his left hand he's holding a Patu (weapon). Text reads, "NZ Wars: Stories of Tauranga Moana".
A hillside is draped with a large Māori flag, on the ridge line stands a single figure and another Māori flag. Text in a painted font reads "Ake Ake Ake"
A man standing with his arms crossed looking at the camera, he has visible tattoos on both forearms. He's highlighted with a blue light. Text reads, "NZ Hip Hop Stand Up" in neon green and pink.
Two people holding microphones and singing into them, another person stands behind playing a keyboard piano. The scene is lit with a purple hued light. Text reads, "The Barber Shop Sessions".
An older woman with grey hair is holding a ceramic bowl up and looking at it intently as she sits at a dining table. In front of her are plates, and a bowl of green apples. Text reads "Crown Lynn: A Māori Story". Above the text is a white line illustration of a tiki with an illustration of a star on either side of it.
The side profile of a man holding a guitar with a microphone on a stand in front of him. Text reads, "Legacy: Katchafire" and has a boarder around the perimeter of the frame.
Woman looking into the camera, standing side on. She has a staunch expression and Is wearing a bright pink blouse. Text reads, "Breaking Silence". Text and woman stand against a dark, almost black background.
Dark purple background with text, "Art Stories in Aotearoa".
The host, Mihingarangi Forbes, smiling at the camera. Text reads, "Mata".
A brightly colours grid of squares where some of the squares include the faces of the five hosts of Whakamāori
A large mountain capped with snow. Text reads, "Land of the Long White Cloud".
A man wearing a kākahu (clothing garment) and holding a hīrau (waka paddle). Text reads, "Te Kawau ki Tai. The Story of a Waka".
Three ovals with images from the short films inside. One oval has two young children, another has a woman holding melting ice creams, the third is a man looking out of a window. Text reads, "Day One Shorts".
Illustration of two women looking defiantly at the viewer. The background is yellow with illustrated yellow simple flowers. The text reads, "Conversations with my Immigrant Parents".
A woman sitting on a chair next to a desk and coffee table. She's smiling at the camera. Text reads, "Aotearoa's Most Bizarre Conspiracies".
Alice Snedden looking into the camera and holding a megaphone up to her mouth in her left hand. In her right hand she holds up a stack of paper, on the first page is a simple drawing of the beehive with a text bubble that says, "No voting for you!!!". Text reads, "Alice Snedden's Bad News". Both the text and Alice Snedden are on a bright blue background.
One young woman sits on another who is in a wheelchair in a zany candid moment. Text reads "This is Wheel Life with Soph and Indy"
Eight seperate images edited into two rows of four, each showing different images of people and art. Text reads, "Marauders".
Six people standing in a row wearing indoor netball bibs. The person in the centre is holding a netball and smiling that the camera, everyone else looks curious or fed up. Text reads, "Here If You Need".