Waitui Atea - Saltwater Realm Exhibition
The Auckland libraries present a brand new exhibition, displaying a number of contemporary stories and rare heritage pieces from the pacific. Encouraging people to think about the Pacific in a different way, the exhibition covers 22 islands, and has works spanning from the Tahitian Tapas in Captain Cook’s collection, to materials from the infant navigation school in Samoa.
In collaboration with the Auckland museum, University of Auckland and Maritime museum, Daren Kamali (Senior Creative Pasifika of Auckland libraries) describes the importance of an event like this one; “I think it’s important for us Pacific people living in diaspora, especially living in Aotearoa, and our children mainly. This exhibition is one of the first of it’s kind in Auckland Libraries.” Daren, a Fijian born New Zealander, describes how much he’s learnt from his two years in the role of Senior Creative Pacific, “I’ve learnt more here in New Zealand about the history of Fiji, than my time actually growing up in Fiji, because they never did Fiji studies in schools.…more
ʻO le Tala o le Māfua'aga o le Tuiga' - The Origin Story of the Tuiga
By Jake Fitisemanu Jnr.
There was once a taupou named Vītaliutaolepaepae(1), the daughter of orator chief ‘Ulu(2) who lived in Puipa‘a village, Faleata district, ‘Upolu island. Vī was renowned throughout the islands for her beauty -- especially her wavy, brown hair -- of which she was extremely proud and boastful. Her pretty friends (also the daughters of chiefs) were just as conceited and self-centered, and they relentlessly teased all the other girls in the village.
After years of hearing the villagers complain about his daughterʻs bullying, chief ʻUlu had had enough of her childish ways. He told Vī that it was time to grow up, and that she had one year(3) to choose a husband to settle down with. Vī hoped that if she made the selection criteria stringent enough, that no man would be eligible, and she could stay single and carefree forever(4).…more
HOME WORKOUT WITH FILI TAPA
Tongan model Fili Tapa takes us through a HIIT fitness workout that you can do at home while you're on lockdown.
Follow along with him here! Fili has both easy and hard options to try out depending on your fitness level.
Get your day moving with some fun fitness for lockdown!
HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS - RUBEN VULAWALU
RUBEN VULAWALU
Communications Assistant/illustrator
Fijian
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My name is Ruben, I was born and raised in Suva and also lived in the West during my high school years in Lautoka.
How did you get into illustration art? Has it always been a passion?
I was brought up my grandparents in the early 1980s, and had just started school in Veiuto Primary School, when my grandfather/namesake who served during the Solomon Islands campaign and was a retired war veteran moved to the chiefly village of Drue in Kadavu to retire (5 hours by boat in the southern part of Viti Levu).
He used to love reading the Fiji Times - Letters to the editors particularly. Growing up I made it a personal hobby to trace the editorial cartoons from every weekends paper and send it by snail mail to the village.…more
CORONAVIRUS WEEK 4 - COVID19 PACIFIC UPDATE
We're now into the 4th week since the World Health Organisation upgraded the Coronavirus to a Pandemic. We will be updating this page with Pacific Islands updates for our community here in New Zealand and around the Pacific. To catch up on updates from Week 1 click here , Week 2 click here & Week 3 click here
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FRIDAY 10th APRIL
NEW ZEALAND - A Christchurch woman in her 90s who was living in the Rosewood rest home is the country's second death from Covid-19, the Ministry of Health has confirmed.
Director of Public Health Caroline McElnay said the "frail" woman could not have family around her in her last couple of days, because they were not allowed at the facility in Burwood Hospital. "However, hospital staff were able to provide her with comfort and support, and we thank them for that"
McElnay also said the number of new cases in New Zealand has risen to 44 - 23 new confirmed and 21 new probable cases.…more
Loimata - A Real-Life Wayfinder
The water is strangely calm today outside the Maritime Auckland Museum. Looking out onto the two waka that held the heroic feet of Ema Siope, I watch as they sit vivaciously in the dock, bobbing up and down. I feel as though I have to keep an eye on them, or else they might break out and sail away at any moment. Anna Marbrook, the director of Loimata, joins me, and notes that Ema knew every inch of the waka that sits before us, and it seems as though they continue to embody her energy to this day - ready to move with the ocean and speak with the stars.
Ema Siope is a navigator, a wayfinder, a true sailor, who used the stars and traditional (some might describe them as ancient) navigation techniques to sail the seas. Dr. Tamasailau Sualii- Suani speaks of her power as both a polynesian and a woman, “Ema is an amazing master navigator who has been able to really be a champion in a world that is largely male...…more
WOMEN OF THE ISLANDS - ANE TONGA
ANE TONGA
Artist/ Curator of Pacific Art & Inaugral curator of Pacific Art in Toi o Tamaki, Auckland Art Gallery. She is the newest and youngest board member of the Arts Council of NZ - the governing body of Creative NZ arts funding agency.
Tongan
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My name is Ane Tonga and I am from the villages of Vaini and Kolofo’ou. I was born and raised in Auckland-in Mount Wellington/East Side to be exact.
You and your older sister Nina are both Arts Curators in a major NZ gallery and museum - are you unicorns? How unique and important is this for Moana people?
Unicorns are closely related to horses and we’re Tongan so watch out, ha! All joking aside, Nina and I aren’t dissimilar to other Tongan and Pacific people; we are proud of our heritage and demand nothing less than excellence when it comes to the work that we do to serve indigenous and Pacific peoples.…more
HOME WORKOUT WITH ASH - UPPER BODY WORKOUT
Pasifika Fitness Instructor Ashleigh Elliott from Fit Mums NZ is back again with a great Upper Body Workout you can do from the comfort of your own home.
Follow along with her here - she has easy options for those just starting out on their Fitness Journey plus put it together with her 8 min Tabata workout here - click here
WHAT THE “NEW NORM” FUNERALS MEAN FOR PASIFIKA
The spread of the Covid-19 virus and the compulsory self-isolation period has dramatically changed the way we live, with restrictions on how we socialise and gather as a community.
One area that has had a devastating impact on our families is the strict restrictions on the funeral and burial process when loved ones die during this period. The Ministry of Health has banned all public funerals and burials and in most cases, bodies are buried between 24 to 48 hours after death.
“This has been the hardest time in my entire career,” says Tongan/Maori funeral director Francis Tipene, who also fronts the popular reality show The Casketeers. “It’s been heartbreaking to uplift someone from a home or the hospital and telling their family that would be the last time they will see their loved ones.”
This week, Francis and other funeral directors challenged the strict guidelines, knowing how difficult it was for Pasifika families who were in mourning. Changes were made, allowing family members living in the same household as the deceased, to attend a funeral service and burial.…more
KAVA DRINKERS & KAVA CLUB GOERS - "STAY HOME & SAVE LIVES"
Manase Lua, National Manager Kanorau / Principal Advisor Pasifika shares an important message for those who are breaking the rules and gathering for Kava sessions -
To my fellow kava drinkers and regular kava club goers, please listen to the authorities. The more of you breaking the rules and meeting secretly to have kava together, the higher the risk of transmission of the Coronavirus into our communities. These are your parents, sister, aunts, grandparents and kid’s lives you are playing with. Your selfish actions could actually kill people, your people, your own family members. That’s how serious this thing is. Save lives. Stay home. Drink kava online with friends. The faster we beat this virus, the fast we can return to our normal tradition of drinking together.…more