Audience
The Polynesian Panther Party (PPP) was a revolutionary social justice movement formed to target racial inequalities carried out against indigenous Māori and Pacific Islanders in New Zealand. Inspired by the Black Power movement in the United States, they were founded in 1971 by Fred Schmidt, Nooroa Teavae, Paul Dapp, Vaughan Sanft, Eddie Williams, and Will 'Ilolahia.
The Polynesian Panthers members were made up of university students, high schoolers, and former gang members. The PPP operated to bring awareness and combat exploitative social relations oppressing Pasfikas, including redlining, racial profiling, disproportionate incarceration, and segregation in sports.
The group joined the anti-Vietnam War movement, created after-school homework help programs in their communities, ran food co-ops, and promoted Polynesian languages and visibility in mainstream New Zealand culture; the group also advocated for tenants' rights and fought against slumlords renting in Polynesian communities.