New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister wears Samoa on her skin
In an historic first, NZ's Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni had the Samoan malu bestowed on her by renowned Tufuga Li'aifaiva Lavea Fesola'i Imo.
Watch Carmel's beautiful day as she underwent the 6 hour tatau process, surrounded by friends and family in this emotional ceremony.The Deputy PM speaks of the honour of wearing these ancestral marks in her high profile position as a key leader of the nation, and breaks down her background, upbringing and reasons for finally getting the malu done.
Like many Kiwi Pacificans, she speaks of the cultural challenges she worked through to feel ready to wear the malu, and the things that changed this for her in her later life.
Carmel's malu journey is an inspirational story that will resonate well with so many others in our adopted Aotearoa homeland.