1953, Nuie, 3 men - Folitolu, Latoatama, Tamaeli, were sentenced to hang [to show example] for the murder of Hector Larsen, while at the same time a white convicted murders were pardoned in New Zealand. Hector was employed on Nuie by the NZ government to manage local affairs, his almost 10 years reign was dictatorial, bullish, and bullying. His end was horrific, but so was the domination from New Zealand. www.michaelfield.org/Niue%27s%20anniversary.htm www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ideas/20090322
lyrics
Hector Larsen
Pack up a thug, and the one that he loves.
To Niue 'cross the Pacific, enforce administration.
With bigotry, Empires pride,
colonial rule, Island style.
A heafty fist, judicial smile,
the crown sends in Larsen.
Leters from the native hand, ignored, but not the white mans.
Takeing currency from conviction, both cash and labours arm.
When locked inside local cells,
forced to work at brutes hotel,
with slap and kick, slag and yell,
comes fury to break bullies calm.
Too many taunts, too many times
what Hector does, for others crimes.
Four days hiding, conclusion came,
from on the run, they claimed their blame.
Three young men, borne bullies stick,
to break and snap, with a bloody fix-it-quick.
Broke from prison, quiet through tyrants door,
with “the bush knife that ate Larsen raw”.
Locked and charged straight away, Palangi lawyers came.
Kangaroo legal game, guilty, guilty, guilty
In custody they stay months on end just the same
Gallows to murders fame, to swing, to swing, to swing.
Practice with lynch machine Given last rites, last feed,
last minute bid, reprieve, appeal, appeal, appeal.
Petition to the Queen “Justice has not been done”,
Power speaks, to be swung, by neck, by neck, by neck.
Double standard the rule, if white save neck from pull,
not all support old school, protest, protest, protest.
Many months, many fights, Stop extreme eye for eye,
Get sentence changed to life, in time, in time, in time.
Spent under Empire sun, also Palangi thumb,
hefty cost, paid in time again, again, again.
Broke from prison, quiet through tyrants door, with “the bush knife that ate Larsen raw”.
Spacious south Pacific Eno-esque night time music. Gentle and homely(as long as home is late, dark, fire-warmed & with whiskey in hand) skirted Records
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