At dawn, a gathering of Pacific people assembled at the Auckland Viaduct to take part in a sacred Kava ceremony aboard the Waka Haunui. This event served to raise awareness on climate justice through connected Pacific ancestral ways – kava, waka, and storytelling.

The event was led by Pacific Vision Aotearoa using Kava o Aotearoa, which wove in various Pacific cultures into the morning. Kava o Aotearoa is a traditional kava ceremony uniquely designed and adapted for Aotearoa. The Maori representative Pita Turei of Ngati Paoa was uplifted as the highest chief of the ceremony, in honor of his stewardship and the waters in which the ceremony took place. Being on the traditional Waka this particular kava circle was extremely special. For many of those who were privileged to receive kava, it was their first time having kava on the Moana. About 20 people participated aboard while another 50 participated on the balcony overlooking Haunui. 

The overall event aimed to unite Pacific conversations around climate justice in Aotearoa.…more

Climate Activist from Uganda Vanessa Nakate called out organisers at the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue. She delivered a speech highlighting how she felt about the censorship that she and Samoan Climate Activist Brianna Fruean experienced in the organising of the dialogue. Vanessa said that they were made to submit their presentations for approval in advance, were banned from criticising any of the politicians involved, and that their time was continuously cut.

The Dialogue was attended by high-level officials such as German economic and energy minister Peter Altmaier, U.S. climate envoy John Kerry and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. In her speech Vanessa highlighted the prevalent youth voice censorship and said “It’s the leaders who have failed us, not the young people....this is not naming & shaming...it is just telling the truth. Why are you so afraid of hearing the truth?”. 

The following day after the Ugandan activist's keynote delivery a number of people started questioning the legitimacy of Vanessa's claims and questioned whether she was telling the truth.…more

By Fine Mat Creative 

As part of International Women’s Month we are showcasing some of the talented and dedicated women in farming and from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Samoa.

Pursuing a purpose nearly always leads to having the courage to make a deliberate choice in following the road less travelled, as Principal Fisheries officer MAF, Su’a Sapeti Tiitii would tell you.

When Su’a first entered the Fisheries division in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Samoa (MAF) fresh from graduating with a Diploma in Environment Resources Management from New Zealand in 2000, the first thing she noticed about her work environment was she was the only female in the office, yet she knew without a doubt – she belonged there.

“I’ve always been interested in environmental science starting from college where I studied biology and geography which got me interested in the eco system especially mangroves eco systems.…more

A senior Pacific doctor says that the enthusiasm the New Zealand government has shown to combat the Covid-19 pandemic is also needed to fight the current diabetes crisis.

Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) member and public health physician, Dr Corina Grey, says there has been an “avalanche of diabetes” amongst the Pacific and Māori communities. PMA is teaming up with Te Ohu Rata ō Aotearoa (Māori Medical Practitioners Association) and the New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes, to advocate to the government and Ministry of Health to focus on the care of people living with type 2 diabetes.

Pacific peoples have a significantly higher rate of diabetes than all other ethnic groups. On average, 53 percent of Pacific peoples aged 65-74 years were estimated to have diabetes compared with 10.9 percent of people of European ethnicity aged 65-74 years.

Dr Grey hopes the New Zealand government can address the diabetes problem just as seriously as Covid-19, especially when people living with diabetes have a higher risk of poor outcomes if they contract the Covid-19 virus.…more

One of Samoa’s longest-serving resorts, Sinalei Reef Resort & Spa, has partnered with widely-successful grassroots NGO, 'Poutasi Development Trust', to drive Sowful Journeys – a COVID-19 recovery effort with the dual purpose of providing immediate assistance to Samoan families and communities in need, and safeguarding travellers’ dreams of visiting the island destination in the future.

Sowful Journeys seeks to alleviate the extreme financial hardship and consequential societal impacts, including increased malnutrition, rising non-communicable diseases and inadequate opportunities for better livelihoods, that COVID-19 has wrought on the South Pacific nation. 

The campaign seeks to change this trajectory by calling on people around the world to visit Sowful Journeys’ crowd-funding site and make a pledge toward essential COVID recovery programs, in return for resort credits and bonuses for future holidays, as well as the heart-warming knowledge that their contribution will directly empower Samoan families.…more