In 1977 an indigenous Anglican priest from the New Hebrides was invited to Sāmoa to explain to the government what was meant by the newly named Vanua’aku Pati (VP). It had been called the New Hebrides National Party and was advocating independence for the bizarrely run Anglo-French condominium - pandemonium as the locals called it.
Thirty five year old Father Walter Lin̄i was invited to Apia by Prime Minister Tupuola Efi (later Tupua Tamasese Efi) who, as a recently elected premier himself, was keen that his country support Pacific independence. There was also curiosity and some checking out; the metropolitan powers were talking of potential Soviet Union influence. New Zealand Prime Minister Robert Muldoon was particularly personally hostile toward Lin̄i.
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