Untold Pacific History - excerpts

These excerpts are from Untold Pacific History, which was named Best Pacifica Programme at the 2021 NZ TV Awards. The "often provocative" five-part series explores stories from Fiji, Niue, Samoa, Rarotonga and the Pacific community of South Auckland. These excerpts are taken from episodes exploring the murder of an unpopular Kiwi diplomat in Niue, land rights issues involving a derelict hotel in Raratonga, and immigration and political instability in Fiji. Shimpal Lelisi presents the first excerpt. Untold Pacific History shines a light on little known stories involving Pacific history, and the part Aotearoa has played in it. 

Niue 1953. Population 4600, one of whom was New Zealand High Commissioner Cecil Hector Larsen, New Zealand’s only diplomat to be murdered while serving oversees. It’s an incident that changed Niue, and all Niueans. There’s still like a sense of shame about it and Niueans, we still don’t talk about it. Well I think it’s time we did.

– Episode two presenter Shimpal Lelisi

Key Cast & Crew

Shimpal Lelisi

Presenter (episode one), Research, Camera Operator

Sefa Taouma

Sound Mix

Tuki Laumea

Director, Editor, Camera Operator, Narrator (episodes 4 & 5)

Lisa Taouma

Producer

Tofilau Afa Rasmussen

Camera Operator

Tim Burnell

Radio New Zealand Commissioner