-
Arthur Beren and Martha Taiono in Aitutaki, 1946. - Source: Sunday -
Watch Video
-
Related
New research from Otago University is shedding light on the 2000 illegitimate children fathered by American soldiers in the South Pacific during World War Two.
More than two million troops were stationed in the region to tackle Japanese forces, but during the years they were serving they made friends and found love.
"(In) the bases behind the front line men had a lot of time on their hands," Judy Bennett from Otago University told TV ONE's Sunday .
"(They were) there for extended times, so they developed relationships with families and women and in time of course babies came along."
Many of the children grew up not knowing their fathers because the American GIs were not allowed to marry or take their love children home.
"The Americans in those days classified Pacific Island people as Asiatics and there were so many laws in the US and each of the states forbidding marriage between Asian people and Americans," Bennett said.
Arthur Bevan is one child of the war who has been able to trace his roots with Bennett's help.
His father was a GI and his mother a young Cook Islander, but he was brought up believing his father was dead.
"I often wondered what my father would have looked like," he said.
"Not even knowing he was an American serviceman until I was almost into my teens made it doubly harder for me to picture anything."
Bennett said she did not want to hurt anybody, but just wanted to help them find answers.
"I guess we're opening wounds, but we're also hoping we're closing some too or trying to fill some sort of a gap in people's lives," she said.
Around 80 participants have already been interviewed for the research, and the team expects more will come forward.
Latest NZ News Video
-
Kiwi speaks to TVNZ7 from Everest base camp (1:59)
-
Immigration advisor Bill Milnes discusses claims (4:34)
-
Dance to save Shakti service (0:41)
