Herein is the provisional
story...just for you to set in.
Hopefully that is what you want. can
write more but i'm concious of your
death line....
Malo e lelei comrades of Amerika... a
little update from down under...
Polynesian Panther Party 37 years
on....
Bennie: Use this for them
by Will 'Ilolahia, former Chairman PPP 1971-76
Like Amerika's BPP ,the New Zealand
equivalent has also a legacy 37
years on...For the 35th
Anniversary (2006) a book was released
(copies available c/- Billy X
www.itsabouttime.com).
Titled “ Polynesian Panthers; the
crucible years 1971-1974 its a
collection of stories written by
members, associates,supporters
For example Part Six “Once a
Panther,always a Panther” includes
stories by those pictured.
L-R...I'n I= Will the scriptwriter
herein, Tigilau Ness, with raised
fist ,our Minister of Culture, Vaughan
Sanft Minister of Supplies and
Rev. Mus Strickson- PuaPua whom assisted
with PPP Homework Centers in
our younger days.
The PPP started June 16th 1971...when in
Auckland NZ Vaughan,Will
and 5 others were tired of the
“divide and rule”tactics of the
system when indigenous Maori
fighting their Tongan, Samoan, Niuean,
Cook Islander cousins...We wanted
to stop fighting each other and
work collectively for the
betterment of our people.
Modeled on the teachings of Huey P
Newton, Bobby Seale and BPP Central
Committee, we grew from a
Polynesian panther movement to full party
status by 1972. Who would of thought,
other than the Lord our saviour
,the Panther Spirit would be global and
this year hopefully we will
all meet up in Tanzania August. ( By
buying our book assists with our
funds for trip...)
Now as Executive producer of PiTV
(Pacific Islands TV) our
“legacy” Komiti (basically who
ever turns up to our annual June
16th anniversary.) has reminded
me to follow up the book with a
movie.
Since movies are really an Amerikan
invention, any interested
investors from Hollywood comrades..?
(LOL) I've been mandated I suppose
by our equivalent to your
itsabouttime gigs for 2011 release.
Auckland is the largest Pacific
Islanders city in the world. The PPP
were very instrumental in making this
city and country a better place
to live for us Polynesians and hosts
(mainly European immigrants) We
had a 10 point platform and programme.
The amazing legacy we are
presently in, is that our children have
gone onto better things.
Many award winning top musical artists
like Che Fu , Scribe and Lady6
parents were PPP members.
Che's father is Tigilau Ness
(pictured) a musician himself and mother
Miriama Rauhihi PPP's first full time
community worker. Our national
Rugby All Blacks team member Fred Atiga
has PPP parents.
We have national representatives in
Water Polo, Film industry and
many other successful “cubs”
Meanwhile some of our members have moved
onto higher ranking positions
such as the Chaplain of the whole
NZ Navy, Top 10 Executive Chef in
the world, Government managerial roles,
University lecturer and just
successful parents.
All power to the Panthers