Pacific Stories

This Māori Television documentary pays tribute to the nearly 20,000 Kiwis who fought against the Japanese in the Pacific during WWll. Using interviews with soldiers, locals and historians, director Iulia Leilua tells stories of bravery and brutality in New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Fiji and Papua New Guinea. Seaman Jack Harold recalls helping sink a Japanese submarine at Guadalcanal, while former Papua New Guinea Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane shares childhood memories of living in fear. New Zealanders fought in the Pacific for two years. 

For New Zealand, there was almost a sense of panic after the fall of Singapore. The Japanese in China had shown themselves to be very, very ruthless.

– Historian Reg Newell

Key Cast & Crew

Iulia Leilua

Director, Presenter

Colin McRae

Producer