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Story: Feature film

Sons for the return home, 1979

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The first film to describe the experiences of Pacific Island people in New Zealand, Sons for the return home, was directed by Paul Maunder. It was adapted from Albert Wendt's 1973 novel. In this clip Sarah (played by Fiona Lindsay) and her boyfriend Sione (Uelese Petaia) meet Fiona's parents (Alan Jervis and Anne Flannery), and then Sione is shown interacting with his family while cleaning for his mother (Moira Walker). The awkward and unfamiliar juxtaposition of the two cultures made for compelling drama.

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NZ On Screen

Reference: Sons for the return home. Writer and director, Paul Maunder. Wellington: Pacific Films, 1979.

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How to cite this page

Helen Martin, Feature film – The 1970s film renaissance, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/interactive/42475/sons-for-the-return-home-1979 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Helen Martin, published 9 September 2013, reviewed and revised 21 May 2024 with assistance from Emma-Jean Kelly.