Compass - The Islanders

Welcome to the unofficial capital of Polynesia, Auckland. Of the 32,000 Islanders who live in this country, an estimated 20,000 are concentrated in this one city making it in fact the largest Polynesian city in the world.

– Reporter Brian Edwards

For the Tokelauan, Niuean and Cook Islander, entry to this land of opportunity has only one condition: that the intended entrant be over the age of 12 years. For these Islanders are already New Zealand citizens. Their right to enter New Zealand is set out according to the British Citizenship Act of 1948.

– Reporter Brian Edwards

I would prefer not to have as a tenant anyone who was coloured.

– An Auckland Landlord on his 'Europeans preferred' rental advertisement

Of the many problems which the Islander must face in his new environment, prejudice is the most difficult to pinpoint and the most unpleasant. Perhaps only in the field of accommodation is prejudice openly expressed.

– Reporter Brian Edwards

The best possible education for his children, a home to live in and a job; these briefly are the things which the Islander hopes to find in this country.

– Reporter Brian Edwards

There can be no doubt that there are concentrations of Islanders within the city, and particularly in the Ponsonby district, but is this because they want to live in one district, or because, for some reason, they have to?

– Reporter Brian Edwards