Oscar Kightley: Dawn Raids | Q+A 2022

Playwright Oscar Kightley sits down with Q+A to talk about the 25th anniversary performance of his show Dawn Raids, and the place of Pasifika in New Zealand

Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

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[simonmathew]

I just saw Dawn Raids at 11am on a Thursday at the Opera House in Wellington.

There might have been 200 almost entirely Pasifika high schoolers in uniform. These kids hollered and cheered and laughed and groaned. They brought so much to my experience of the play.

This is a genuinely great play about a disturbing time in our very recent history told with sensitivity, emotion, and humour. The production and acting was superb. I cried more than once.

Also, any house band that can play Rose Royce’s Cash Wash and then Olivia Newton John with equal commitment and authenticity will make me want to applaud before the play even begins.

[gerardinerobbie]

Love this interview - these stories do matter. Thanks Oscar and Jack.

[kibvpce]

Really terrible how the authorities raided houses looking for over
stayers at the most inconsiderate hours in the morning and night. Much better to do it between the hours of 8 to 5. That way people can avoid the inconvenience of being deported altogether.

[kentaylor]

Wondering how the islands treat overstayers.
I wouldn't mind spending winters in the tropics.

[purefoldnz]

Wait... I thought Jack Lame was fictional.

[raybreeze]

They were over stayers come here for period of work should have left and would not have been a problem a lot of them were unskilled labour'

[John.Leitch]

Why are we talking about Dawn Raids seriously!!! all this achieves is stirring up more hatred and discrimination between races. Yes it happened and yes it was a dark place in history but we can't keep dwelling on the negative things that have happened in our society and we should instead focus on the opportunities we have in front of us. Don't look for someone else to blame or something perceived to be in your way to succeed just stand up on your two feet and take action.