Polynesian Panther Melani Anae

A new book in the BWB Texts series highlighting a period of Auckland's late 20th century history The Platform by Melani Anae explores the legacy of the Polynesian Panthers. It's also the author's personal story. Melani is New Zealand-born Samoan, long fascinated by her own culture and history. As a seventeen year-old she snuck out of her parent's Grey Lynn house to join a meeting of the Polynesian Panther party and joined a battle for validation, and against the discrimination and racism of the 1970s. Melani is Senior Lecturer and Director of Research at the Centre for Pacific Studies at the University of Auckland. She tells Kathryn Ryan about her new book.