Retiring Pacific scholar leaves powerful legacy

It was a fitting end for the rebellious teenager who became a renowned Pacific scholar, influencing a generation of Pacific people to find their agency and fight against racism. 

Associate Professor Melani Anae QSO was farewelled at the University of Auckland’s Fale Pasifika on Monday 19 February after an extraordinary academic career spanning 25 years.

Colleagues, former students and members of the anti-racism political activist group, the Polynesian Panthers, showered her with powerful and moving tributes. 

They spoke of Dr Anae’s major contribution to the University, which inspired a new generation of Pacific academics, some of whom now occupy prominent roles across Aotearoa New Zealand and globally, and of her role as a key disrupter with the Panthers.

She was just 17 when she joined the group to protest against the then National government’s racist policies in the early 1970s, which targeted Pacific migrants, largely from Sāmoa and Tonga, with the infamous dawn raids; where armed police would storm the homes of people suspected of 'overstaying' their visas at early hours of the morning and march them away, traumatising the whole family in the process.

Her considerable contribution to research, which resulted in more than 90 published books, articles and commissioned reports, are revolutionary calls which address inequity and racism.

They challenge the status quo while aiming to empower Pacific people and others towards critical consciousness; having greater awareness and a deeper understanding of the world they lived in.

Referring to Burmese politician Aung San Suu Kyi, she said: “The revolution I am talking about is conscientisation of the spirit and the intellectual conviction of the need to change attitudes and values which perpetuate racism and the course of Aotearoa’s development.”

From her own journey as a New Zealand-born Sāmoan, emerged her ground-breaking research that made a distinction between the contemporary and the traditional lived experience of Pacific populations.

Documenting the Sāmoan diaspora through her research saw tangible gains such as the historic  2021 Dawn Raid apology by  the then Labour Prime Minister, Dame Jacinda Ardern. 

Fellow academic, Dr Melenaite Taumoefolau, spoke of Dr Anae’s powerful legacy:“The Pandanus fruit has fallen but its fragrance lingers in its place.” 

 Dr Anae’s unwavering commitment and drive to hold space for Pacific people resulted in the construction of the impressive Fale Pasifika on City Campus almost 20 years ago.

The design of the iconic building won several awards, and over the past two decades,  has become a beacon and hub for Pacific life in Auckland, hosting important cultural events, while also serving as a monument to realising Pacific aspirations. 

Following the tributes, Dr Anae rose to thank everyone present.

“Well the day has come to write a retirement speech after 25 years of service,” she said, looking out to her family, distinguished academics, former politicians and former students, many now steadily rising through the ranks in cultural and tertiary institutions and gathered in her honour.

“Now there is a sea of informed and conscientised students and graduates here and out there in the world, what more can I do?” 

As part of her fight against racism and social injustice, she talked about laying the foundations for Pacific Studies, with her dreams and visions becoming a reality with the Fale Pasifika.

“The dreamers, thinkers, movers, scholars, students and teachers will always be our strength,” she said, in relation to redefining what a Pacific scholar looks like, especially in dealing with today’s world of Covid, climate change and rampant racism.

She said her portfolio of  more than 90 publications were a never-ending revolutionary call to annihilate racism and to educate to liberate. Creating a Pacific-focused curriculum with Pacific Studies, she said was the milestone of creating a safe space and home for Pacific people within the Fale. 

As well as all those present, special thanks went to her family, who she said have always been by her side during her journey at the University of Auckland. 

“I will happily retire and exhibit new milestones of success.”

She holds positions on several prominent governance boards and the legacy of her raising consciousness work, she said, is the incorporation of her Indigenous philosophies, methodologies, pedagogies and activism at the highest levels. 

She ended with a rallying call to staff and students:

“Keep making milestones. Maintain the passion and zeal to achieve something bigger, better…and totally revolutionary!” 

As guests sang and filed through, congratulating Dr Anae for such a remarkable contribution to the University, and the gains made for Pacific people within Aotearoa and around the world, next door at Waipapa Marae, a few hundred first-year Māori and Pacific students were being welcomed to the University; another generation following in her steps.