[Wednesday interview]. 1987-05-28.

Rights Information
Year
1987
Reference
4617
Media type
Audio

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Rights Information
Year
1987
Reference
4617
Media type
Audio

This content is for private viewing only. The material may not always be available for supply.
Click for more information on rights and requesting.

Categories
Interviews (Sound recordings)
Sound recordings
Duration
00:22:22
Broadcast Date
28 May 1987
Credits
RNZ Collection
Fox, Derek Tini, Interviewer
Rabuka, Sitiveni Ligamamada, 1948-, Interviewee
Radio New Zealand. National Programme (estab. 1964, closed 1986), Broadcaster

National Radio Wednesday Interview - Māori journalist, Derek Fox, speaks about how he succeeded in interviewing Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka, shortly after the Fijian coup.

He says as an indigenous person, he could relate to the feelings of the tangata whenua of Fiji who could see they were becoming a minority in their own land.

In the interview Colonel Rabuka speaks about the reasons why he carried out the coup, including ensuring Fijians retain control of their land and maintaining the balance of power in the Pacific region.

He says he began planning the coup before the elections, as he could see the implications of a change in government.

He says he considers himself a true patriot.

Derek Fox says he was convinced that the question of land was the motivation for the coup, as Colonel Rabuka felt the Taukei movement was going to rise up against the Bavadra government and his officers would be forced to defend it.

He ends by saying the majority of Māori will understand the recent events in Fiji more easily than most Pākēha.