Meet talented author of "I Am Lupe" and proud Tongan... Sela Atiola!

Sela Atiola is a Tongan writer residing in Australia. Her mother is from Nukunuku and her father from Lofanga, Fakakai and Mango in Ha’apai. She’s a mother and author of children’s book “I Am Lupe” that came out this year. Her writing career is inspired by her experiences as a Pacific woman and passion for meaningful representation of Pacific people.  

This Tongan storyteller is a big believer in Pacific people writing their own stories. She sees value in using storytelling to empower our Pacific children, highlighting Pasifika excellence and seeing the power in lived experience. Representation in children’s literature is of great importance to society and Sela is willing to be a positive contributor to this change.

Her book “I am Lupe” explores themes of belonging, heritage and confidence in individuality. "I am Lupe" has moved readers around the world and is now available for purchase from huge literary spaces such as Target, Amazon and more.…more

Via Pasifika Medical Association Group 

Pasifika Futures (PFL) - the Whānau Ora commissioning agency for Pacific families – in partnership with The Fono, mobilized a team of Covid-19 “Community Finders” to help stop the spread of the contagious Delta variant within the Pacific community.

“The role of the community finder is to locate an individual referral we receive from the Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) because they are a positive case or a close contact”, says Whānau Ora Manager for The Fono, Europa Kupu, who has been working closely with the PFL team to manage the Community Finders initiative.

She says the role is challenging when there are difficulties getting in contact with an individual after the usual methods (phone/email) are exhausted. In these circumstances, other means of reaching out such as home visits are used but with Alert Level 4 restrictions.…more

Via Pasifika Medical Association Group 

When the current Delta outbreak affected the schools of De La Salle College and McAuley High School, there was no hesitation by Pasifika Futures (PFL) - the Whānau Ora commissioning agency for Pacific families - to reach out and offer their support.

Families were instructed to self-isolate immediately so the school community needed support with food supplies, utility relief and mental health care to ensure they safely and comfortably remain in their bubbles.  

Deputy Principal for De La Salle College, Mr Elton Charles, said the school was grateful that PFL made significant efforts to quickly mobilize support to the students and their families.

“It was a curveball for the families. We had a large number of families mainly needing food support,” he said. 

Mr Charles said the school immediately communicated the support that PFL were offering and were then inundated with responses from families.…more

TAMA: tributes to all our Pasifika fathers - Some tributes to our dads from around the world from their children.

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Otulea Latu 

By his daughter Cathrine Tuivaiti 

"Anyone that knows me, and has had the privilege of meeting my Dad too, will realise that is where I get a lot of my personality traits from. Stubborn and loyal being at the top of that list.

Me and my 9 brothers and sisters have always had such a hard working Dad to look up to. One thing he has always told me, that never really connected till I was old enough to understand was,

‘Never forget who you are and where you come from.’

My Dad is my favourite Dad in the world."

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Paul Elliott & Atu Lagi 

By their son and step-son Jesse Elliott 

“Blessed to have two men I can call Fathers in my life, Paul Elliott and Atu Lagi.…more

via Radio New Zealand 

Cover image:  Associate Minister of Health Aupito William Sio. Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas

"They are the heroes on the frontline everyday keeping our communities safe ..."

The government is to give a $26 million boost to support Pacific communities during the current outbreak of Covid-19.

Associate Minister of Health Aupito William Sio said the funding would go towards Pacific health and disability services, community vaccination services and improving communications to specific groups within the Pacific community.

The minister said Pacific providers had proven that they are an essential part of the government's response to this outbreak.

"In the August 2020 outbreak and today, they are the heroes on the frontline everyday out there keeping our families and communities safe," he said in a statement.

"These providers are known and trusted by the communities that they both live and work in. They have the language skills and the cultural intelligence required for the most effective response.

"E fofo e le alamea le alamea, the solutions for our challenges lie within communities," he said.…more

New changes for funeral homes under Alert Level 4 will allow families to visit loved ones in a limited capacity, but a Pasifika funeral director says online streaming is also serving the needs of Pasifika people particularly well in the Covid times with the extra need for Pasifika to be safe.  

"You can still bury and have the minister's sermon and the eulogies online, as well as the slideshows - all these elements can happen, you're just not there physically. The streaming service includes the burials, and the grave being filled in.…more