We use cookies to help us understand how you use our site, and make your experience better. To find out more read our privacy policy.
Play

00:00

/

00:00

Full screen
Video quality

Low 0 MB

High 0 MB

HD 0 MB

Captions
Volume
Volume
Hero image for Gallery - Albert Wendt

Gallery - Albert Wendt

Television (Full Length) – 1973

In this 1973 current affairs interview, Albert Wendt discusses his first novel Sons For the Return Home on the occasion of its publication. The Pacific Island Romeo and Juliet tale was a seminal exploration of Samoan migrant life in New Zealand. Wendt muses on the inspiration for his work; facing discrimination at school and from girlfriends' parents; the differences between NZ Samoans and Samoan Samoans; returning ‘home’, and the difficulty of finding the solitude to write in Samoa. Author Maurice Shadbolt praises the book at its launch. It would be adapted into a film in 1979.

A teacher would call me 'Black Sambo' thinking it was a joke, he didn't mean anything by it ...
– Wendt reflects on acclimatising to NZ

Key Cast & Crew

Generic Profile image for Albert Wendt

Albert Wendt

Subject

Profile image for Maurice Shadbolt

Maurice Shadbolt

Subject

Produced by

Logo for NZ Broadcasting Corporation

NZ Broadcasting Corporation