The sacred cultural practice of Samoan ta tatau is celebrated in the much anticipated book by Sean Mallon and Sebastian Galliot.  

Decades of work has gone into the comprehensive exploration of the history and shifting social contexts of the malofie in this beautiful hard cover edition.  Archival information sources from around the world and historic photographs sit side by side with contemporary pop cultural references of tatau in the modern day, in this important record of the journey of tatau.

For the two authors of the work, Te Papa senior curator Sean Mallon and ethnologist Sebastien Galliot the book is a labor of love of their passion and respect for this age old practice.

The book covers the 3000 year history of Samoan Tatau with a particular focus on the 1800s, the 1900s which Sebastian said they had more access to historical sources and the period in particular that they had a lot of archives and epigraphy, as well as of course the 20th & 21st centuries.…more

A new era for Tautai Pacific Arts Trust has been ushered in, after an intense fono, seeking to address the ‘state of crisis’ that the organisation has been in over the last year.

“I’m happy in the outcome and the  process we have managed to have, and that all the grievances were laid on the table” says arts veteran Sima Urale.

After a long period of controversial management, which saw formal and ad hoc complaints made from many Pacific artists, new board members have been voted in and a new director has been announced in the form of arts manager Courtney Meredith.

 Tautai has been the only annually funded pacific arts trust in Aotearoa for over 30 years. One of only two arts agencies to be given ‘Totara level’ funding by CNZ, it’s mandate is to work to promote contemporary Pacific arts in Aotearoa.

In recent months allegations of bullying and mismanagement have been made against former trust manager Christina Jeffery, who has since resigned.…more

Sex & The Suga’s, brought to you by The Coconet, is an after-hours series written exclusively by Pasifika women, talking about all things sex and sexuality. A subject that is usually shied away from in Island culture, five women of various ages, sexual identities and island backgrounds, reveal some of their personal experiences and explore what their sexuality means to them. Stay tuned for a new story each week, after 10pm every Wednesday! 

Part.7

Teuila, 32, Samoan 

Our Pasifika Writers and Illustrators continue to flourish with a notable range of books, from romance novels & academic publications to educational children's stories! 

Check out these authors and their books, as well as and where to buy them! 

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Bi-lingual Language Books & E-Books - Twinnies 

Last Christmas, the author decided to take it a step further and wrote a physical book for them for their Christmas present.  She wrote the story, had it illustrated, self published and printed.  She wrote the book in Tongan and in English.  She posted the book and then had other Tongan parents writing to ask if they could buy the book.  She then printed more and this was the beginning of 'Twinnies'.…more

Sex & The Suga’s, brought to you by The Coconet, is an after-hours series written exclusively by Pasifika women, talking about all things sex and sexuality. A subject that is usually shied away from in Island culture, five women of various ages, sexual identities and island backgrounds, reveal some of their personal experiences and explore what their sexuality means to them. Stay tuned for a new story each week, after 8pm every Wednesday! 

Part.6

Kels, 26, Samoan 

"Looking back, do I wish my family had spent more time discussing sex and sexuality with me? Yes, to a certain extent I do. It would have been much easier coming to terms with the fact that I was attracted to both men and women, if religion hadn’t suggested that it was a sin. I had to discover this side of myself alone until I found the courage to tell others."

It took me a long time to realize that my sexuality was mine. That I was in control of my feelings, how I acted on them and who I experienced that with.…more

Sex & The Suga’s, brought to you by The Coconet, is an after-hours series written exclusively by Pasifika women, talking about all things sex and sexuality. A subject that is usually shied away from in Island culture, five women of various ages, sexual identities and island backgrounds, reveal some of their personal experiences and explore what their sexuality means to them. Stay tuned for a new story each week, after 10pm every Wednesday!

Part 5. 

Kat, 35, Samoan. 

I am of full Samoan heritage, born and raised here in New Zealand & am now a proud single Mother of 3 children.

I grew up in West Auckland only knowing what was normal through the things that surrounded me. This was obeying your parents, staying truthful, doing as you were being told and turning up to all family or church events ready to work. Because I was the only girl and the youngest, I had a lot of expectations to live up to; something I was reminded of, everyday.

My 1st sexual experience was when I was 17 years old.…more

Two language Apps 'O Luga O Le Motu' and 'Tatou ō ile Maketi' were created with direct help from Tino e Tasi Preschoolers; based in Christchurch and Dunedin.…more

Sex & The Suga’s, brought to you by The Coconet, is an after-hours series written exclusively by Pasifika women, talking about all things sex and sexuality. A subject that is usually shied away from in Island culture, five women of various ages, sexual identities and island backgrounds, reveal some of their personal experiences and explore what their sexuality means to them. Stay tuned for a new story each week, after 10pm every Wednesday!

Sasha , 44, Cook Islands

As far as my brain would allow me to remember, I would say I was first exposed to sex at the mere age of 7. It was me. Sitting on the red lazy boy in the downstairs lounge, breathing in the smell of my Mum’s freshly moisturised hand that abruptly crossed my eye line when the man aggressively took the ladies dress off. Even when I couldn’t see what was on screen while Mum scrambled for that remote, I knew that whatever was happening, wasn’t violent.

I grew suspicious... fast. 

 My upbringing was fast paced.…more

Sex & The Suga’s, brought to you by The Coconet, is an after-hours series written exclusively by Pasifika women, talking about all things sex and sexuality. A subject that is usually shied away from in Island culture, five women of various ages, sexual identities and island backgrounds, reveal some of their personal experiences and explore what their sexuality means to them. Stay tuned for a new story each week, after 10pm every Wednesday!

Part 3.

Lose, 28, Tongan.  

“I didn’t have a girlfriend to have sex with. I dated boys who wanted to have sex but I didn’t want to, I said no. It’s one thing to go to your parents as a heterosexual couple (which is accepted), but it’s another thing to ask to have sex and teach me about having sex with girl. So I had to confide in friends and do research.” 

I started having sex when I was 21. I knew I wanted to have sex, but I didn’t have sex until I got to New Zealand, because I couldn’t have sex back home.…more