Sāmoa Evermore (1935–1944)

This chapter begins by tracking the change of fortune for Ta’isi once the political landscape in New Zealand shifted when the first Labour government was elected in late 1935 and Michael Savage became prime minister. As a result, Ta’isi was allowed to return home in 1936 where he again received an immense welcome but this time administration officials and three of the highest chiefs also joined the welcoming party. Despite the euphoria upon his return, old problems surfaced as war-horses of the Samoan administration continued to hold their positions and wield extraordinary powers. This gave rise to the “New Mau” in 1938 where Ta’isi once again took an activist role. The chapter charts the drastically altered circumstances when war erupted. This time of war was also the time of Ta’isi’s increasingly poor health. The chapter offers an intimate view of his final years that ended with his death in February 1944.