Oscar Kightley’s Dawn Raids: A reflection
24 years after the original production hit the stage, Oscar Kightley has bought his screenplay Dawn Raids back for the mainstage in 2022.
Kightley wrote the play at the age of 25, performed in 1997 by Pacific Underground, depicting the events of the 1970s raids inflicted on Pacific Islanders by the New Zealand Government.
In 2022, one year since the Government’s formal apology for the Dawn Raids, the play showed at the ASB Waterfront Theatre, from 16 August to 3 September.
For those of us privileged to see the show, it was an unforgettable night that left you switching between moments of hysterical laughter and silent tears.
The Dawn Raids is a dark moment in Aotearoa’s history, occurring in Auckland during the mid-1970s, at a time when the New Zealand Government prioritised ‘cracking down’ on Pacific Islanders whose visas had run out. Those in this situation were deemed ‘overstayers,’ and were subjected to police raids during the middle of the night and if caught deported.
These events compounded after the Government enticed Pacific Islanders to migrate to Aotearoa in the economic boom of the 1950s, to fill low-paying jobs that Pākehā didn’t want to do. As Aotearoa reached an economic downturn, we saw the Government backtrack and begin to use Pacific Islanders as the scapegoat for the country’s problems.
Promises of the land of milk and honey quickly forgotten as police enforced racist laws profiling and targeting Pacific Islanders.
The Dawn Raids was little (if at all) taught in our education growing up. In high school, I was personally grateful for a history teacher who allowed us to choose our own essay topics. I was able to focus on the Dawn Raids, taking the opportunity to learn more about a dark history that so many were reluctant to talk about.
It is a beautiful moment to see this history brought to the mainstage, and depicted in such a raw and honest way. I am hopeful art like this will provide further opportunities for our tamaiti to learn about our history.
In Faith Wilson's recent article, she comments on the importance of our stories being told in Aotearoa.
“…In light of the Government’s apology last year, we remember that we can forgive, but these stories should never be forgotten. We’ll keep revisiting these stories, as our people continue to thrive, because they’re part of our gafa in Aotearoa.”
Kightley successfully created an encapsulating and intimate set that drew you in as an audience member, allowing you to feel as if you were walking alongside the characters on stage.
The actors so accurately depicted the depth to their characters and the internal battles each were struggling with.
Bella Kalolo-Suraj stars as To’aga, the mother of the family, alongside Lauie Tofa playing Mose, the father, both bringing to life so well the essence of Sāmoan parents. Michael Falesiu plays Sione, who lights up the stage during his nightshifts as Fabian, lead singer of the Noble Hawaiian Sabretooth Tigers. Gabrielle Solomona, also shines as Sione’s finance, the quiet but curious Fuarosa.
Talia-Rae Mavaega accurately portrays the tautalaitiiti daughter of the next generation, resonating hard with the loud mouth within us. Her character Teresa joins the Brown Panthers, reminiscent of the Polynesian Panthers, depicting the political tensions not only occurring within Aotearoa, but within Sāmoan households as well.
Jake Tupu also appears alongside Talia-Rae as Bene, Teresa’s best friend, providing both comic relief and nuance to the plot, as we see him arrested towards the end of the play.
Italia Hunt, playing Steve, a Sāmoan policeman, also provided such nuance to the play as you watch him experience an internal battle, being pulled in two different directions, as he partakes in the Dawn Raids.
His raw performance sacrificed so much emotion, representing true experiences of 1970s Sāmoan police officers.
I’m reminded strongly of Melani Anae’s book, The Platform: The Radical Legacy of the Polynesian Panthers, as I reflect back on the play.
The principle of educate to liberate, which was entrenched within the Polynesian Panther party’s message, denotes the importance of providing our youth with the ability to understand their identity as well their own power through the tools of education.
This brings to life the Panther principle educate to liberate.
We need these stories to continue to be told. The effects of the 1970s, and the attitudes that period created, are still pervasive, and many New Zealanders continue to hold prejudiced views of Pacific Islanders.
Dawn Raids now rings as a question, and a looming reminder, that we can’t forget or remain stagnant in progress.