Behind the Confiscation Line — Melanie Kerr on Growing Up Tūhoe-Side, Gangs & Getting Out

TV/radio fave Melanie Kerr returns with a raw
origin story: growing up Pākehā on the Māori side of the
1860s confiscation line in Ruatoki/Tāneatua (Tūhoe
country). We unpack what that line actually was, how colors
mapped to gangs (Mongrel Mob red, Black Power blue), why the
primary school uniforms ended up road-worker orange, and what it
felt like to be a blonde farm kid in a staunch community. Mel
leaves home at 14, heads to WA’s
outback (cattle stations, gold mines), then lands in
Dunedin—a world of bagpipes, churches, and
culture whiplash. Plus: the anatomy of Crate Day
and a very Kiwi idea for “upgrading” it with an Aussie pool
challenge… right before it all goes sideways. Proper history,
proper laughs, proper true yarn.


#propertrueyarn


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