10 Oct 2024
In the 1970s, dawn raids were a harsh reality for Pacific people in New Zealand. Police officers forced entry into homes suspected of housing people who were overstayers, triggering fear and anxiety in Pasifika communities.
All sorts of people were on the wrong side of visa requirements, but Pacific people were the main targets in dawn raids.
In the 1990s, Oscar Kightley found his voice as a playwright by tackling this painful, shameful chapter that had been all but erased from the national narrative. The drama was already there, but Oscar shaped into a play that was relatable for those who knew it first hand and confronting for those who had not been personally affected.
The play premiered in 1997, triggering strong emotions in Pacific audiences. Oscar’s motivation was to tell an untold story.
“At that time, it hadn’t been explored on stage or screen, or told anywhere really. Pacific Underground exists to tell the stories of Pacific people in Aotearoa, so that was our focus. We had a real drive to share the story, so it was crucial for me to research it properly by interviewing people who were a part of the raids and get the truth out there. All of the characters in the play are based on real people and things that actually took place. I think this is what contributes to the authenticity of the play when audiences watch it now. The real pain and emotion resonates with the whole audience, whether they are Pacific or not.”
Half a century after the events, the play is being staged in Wellington in October with support from the Niu Dawn Raids Funding initiative and produced by ground-breaking arts collective Pacific Underground, formed in Christchurch. This is a $1.9 million fund from Creative New Zealand and support partners Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and NZ On Air, developed as part of the government’s 2021 formal apology to Pacific people for the hurt and damage caused by the dawn raids.
Oscar was ahead of the curve in developing a creative response to these very real events and is excited by the latest production of the play.
“This is the same play that I wrote over 25 years ago, but the production that you are seeing now was co-created by Auckland Theatre Company and Pacific Underground in 2022 with a much bigger budget than we had in the 90’s! This production has all the bells and whistles, a big stunning set, awesome lighting, a live band - it’s full noise on stage. The creative team were given permission to go for it. My goal for this Wellington season is to bring the story to more people. From students who might have studied the play at school, fans of Pacific Underground’s work, theatre lovers, anyone who might have wondered what the Apology was about, through to any of our current leaders in the capital who want to get an authentic glimpse into what that time was like for our Pacific people. I want as many people from the Wellington region as possible to come and see it. It’s such a buzz for me that it’s still living and having its moment 27 years later!”
The funding from the Niu Dawn Raids Funding Initiative supported the re-staging and Wellington season of the Dawn Raids production which had a season in Auckland in 2022, co-presented by Pacific Underground and Auckland Theatre Company. The fund also supported play readings in Christchurch at the Word Festival and in Dunedin. Dawn Raids is on for three performances 23-24 October at The Opera House in Wellington, with tickets available through Ticketmaster.
While in Wellington, the company will also offer a schools matinee performance of Dawn Raids at 11am on Thursday 24 October, with an accompanying education teaching pack available for students. Schools can contact Pacific Underground to book for the matinee at discounted rates: aiga@pacificundergroundarts.co.nz
The Niu Dawn Raids Funding initiative is managed by Creative New Zealand through a Mana Pasifika kaupapa process aligned with the Pacific Arts Strategy 2023-2028. The initiative is supporting 28 works by Pacific artists and organisation, all responding to the dawn raids in different forms, spanning film, dance, choral music, visual arts, song, and theatre.
See all the recipients of Creative New Zealand’s Niu Dawn Raids Funding Initiative on our website
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