A'ta: An island enslaved

Author Scott Morrison has put out a new book examining the dark history of Tongan island A’ta. In 1863, a group of sailors and whalers - some of them New Zealanders - arrived at the island and kidnapped half of its inhabitants. The some 150 ‘Atans were then sold into slavery, while the rest of the island's residents were eventually forced to abandon their home for the mainland. Producer Mack Smith spoke to Scott about the significance of these events and began by asking him what led him to uncover them.