Latest news with #Sāmoan
The Spinoff
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Spinoff
Why Tāmaki Makaurau needs an urban Māori leader
With a byelection set for September 6, and Peeni Henare, Oriini Kaipara and Hannah Tamaki confirmed in the race, Tāmaki Makaurau needs a leader who understands what it means to be urban, disconnected and diasporic, argues Te Rina Ruka-Triponel. I've spent most of my life in Tāmaki Makaurau. I've lived overseas, moved between cities, and never quite had one tūrangawaewae to stand firm on – yet, Tāmaki has always been my home. But not in the way many understand. My experience as a Māori in this city has not been shaped by marae or iwi connections, at least not in the beginning, but by my relationship with Pacific communities who, in many ways, carried me when I felt disconnected from my own. I didn't grow up speaking te reo, like some of my Sāmoan and Tongan friends who were encouraged to speak only English – at least in public. For Pacific families, the church is like a marae, a fale or a meeting place. It's their tūrangawaewae away from home. A space for gathering, to keep language alive, for healing. It's where we mourn, celebrate and connect. Some rarely go back to their island homes because they're established here, and others don't know where they're from. While I've been on a reclamation journey for the last decade – now strongly connected to my hapū, my iwi, my whānau, even my fenua and village in Mo'orea – the story of the Pacific diaspora is one I deeply resonate with. I found belonging in those spaces when our own had been stripped from us. That's why I advocate for our Pacific communities, they healed a part of me my own community couldn't. Because, truthfully, Māori often participate in our own marginalisation. I come from a whānau shaped by colonisation, disconnection and assimilation – and I'm not alone. There are many of us out here. We are mokopuna of grandparents who were beaten for speaking te reo, forced off their whenua, and into urban centres like Tāmaki Makaurau. Some of us are reclaiming our reo, our tikanga, our names. These stories, though common, are still invisible in our leadership – and we are a huge demographic. Around 84% of Māori in Aotearoa live in urban areas, a figure that has remained consistent since at least the 2013 New Zealand census. Tāmaki Makaurau is home to the largest Māori population in the country, with nearly a quarter of all Māori (over 200,000 people) living in Auckland. That's a significant presence – yet urban Māori realities are still underrepresented in leadership, policy design and public narrative. There needs to be a voice that understands these realities – one that is actively pursuing the path to whakapapa too. This isn't a story of victimhood either – if anything, we are strong and resilient because of what we've endured. Many Māori whānau in Tāmaki are not te reo champions, we're not immersed in reo Māori every day. Many of us didn't grow up on our whenua or with a relationship to our marae. It's here that I urge Māori leadership to hold space for these complexities. For those of us who feel Māori in our wairua and bones – but who weren't raised with the traditional anchors of reo, marae and whenua. Now a byelection is upon us. The late Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp understood these realities. She was an unapologetically urban Māori wahine who, as chief executive of Manurewa Marae, turned the marae into a vital community clinic during the Covid‑19 lockdowns. She helped whānau impacted by job losses, distribution obstacles or vaccine hesitancy. Under her leadership, the marae administered around 65,000 Covid-19 vaccinations and provided food packs to support struggling households. She was also director of Hip Hop International NZ, managing the first Aotearoa crew to compete at the World Hip Hop Championships, celebrating Māori and Pacific cultural expression through dance. She worked with youth across South Auckland with a passion to ensure they would thrive. A servant-leader who proved that whakapapa and community service can take many forms – whether through the rhythms of hip hop, the outreach of a community clinic, or the embrace of a marae. Whoever follows Kemp must understand what it means to be a servant-leader in the context of this city. And they must carry the weight of representing Māori and Pacific communities whose lives are intertwined through shared histories of migration, struggle, and resilience. In political circles, I've often said: 'I don't resonate with the current leadership as an urban Māori.' And I'm usually met with: 'Well, that's not how politics works,' or 'It's not about seeing yourself in someone – it's about who can do the job.' That may be true in a western model. But as someone grounded in te ao Māori – and who's spent the last decade on a reclamation journey – I believe leadership is relational. And who better to lead Tāmaki Makaurau than someone who understands Tāmaki Makaurau? My hope is that Māori also extend their leadership to our Pacific whanaunga, our tuākana. We cannot prosper towards a Hawaiki hou without them. I certainly would not have come this far without them.
Scoop
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Nafanua Purcell Kersel Named As 2025 Emerging Pasifika Writer In Residence
Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington's International Institute of Modern Letters (IIML) is delighted to announce the appointment of Nafanua Purcell Kersel as the Emerging Pasifika Writer in Residence for 2025. Nafanua, a Sāmoan writer and performer, is based in Heretaunga, Te Mātau-a-Māui (Hawke's Bay). She will use the residency to work on a stage adaptation of her debut poetry collection Black Sugarcane, as well as a new book of poems. Her aspiration is to create work that creates more.'More alofa, more creativity, more understanding in our communities and worlds,' says Nafanua. Nafanua has a background in facilitation and community storytelling, including her role with Nevertheless NZ, where she leads the storytelling programme and runs creative writing workshops with Māori, Pasifika, and Rainbow+ communities. Her creative work includes poetry, theatre and spoken word, often centring on themes of intergenerational memory and Pasifika knowledge systems. Black Sugarcane, published in 2025 by Te Herenga Waka University Press, grew out of Nafanua's Master of Creative Writing at IIML, for which she won the 2022 Biggs Family Prize in Poetry. Her poetry has appeared in anthologies and in various literary journals including Cordite, Landfall and Turbine l Kapohau. Nafanua says it is a privilege and an honour to receive this award. 'I admire each of the previous recipients, and feel humbled to have been chosen to follow on from them. 'My wish is to write work which offers an insight into the complexity of community and the subtle work of shared stories, through my own experiences, dreams, and observations. My goal for the residency is to produce work which is mana-enhancing and unapologetic in its cultural depth. Fa'afetai, fa'afetai, fa'afetai tele lava mo le avanoa.' Nafanua will receive a stipend of $15,000 to write her new work at the IIML for three months. She will also work with a mentor during the residency. Damien Wilkins, Director of the IIML, says Nafanua's wonderful first book of poems shows her to be a highly skilled writer with new things to say. 'We're excited to see her work develop. The IIML is also very appreciative of the support of the University and Creative New Zealand.'
Scoop
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Fauono Ken Laban: First Pacific Candidate For Lower Hutt Mayoralty
Community leader Fauono Ken Laban has officially announced his candidacy for the Lower Hutt mayoralty, making him the first Pacific candidate to enter the race to replace outgoing Mayor Campbell Barry. He promises to unite the city and refocus the council on fundamental priorities. As the son of Sāmoan migrants who built their life in Wainuiomata, Fauono is a well-known broadcaster, community leader, and former police officer. He launched his campaign on Tuesday with the slogan 'Leadership That Unites, Priorities That Deliver.' Fauono's decision to run is rooted in the principles of service, teamwork, and practical focus. He says his experience in policing, sports, and community service has taught him that real progress comes from teamwork and putting people first. 'I've been a player, a captain, and a coach. I know what it takes to build a team that gets results,' he says. 'You need trust, shared goals, and the discipline to work together. Leading a city is no different. It's not about ego, it's about bringing everyone to the table to serve something bigger than ourselves.' 'I've spent my life bringing people together - on the field, in the community, and across the region. Real results come from teamwork. As Mayor, I'll unite people around clear priorities, listen to every voice, and lead a Council that truly works for our city.' Fauono's vision for Lower Hutt includes partnering with mana whenua, supporting the retention of Māori wards, and prioritising strong local connections to improve safety. 'Unity isn't a slogan, it's how I lead. It's about respecting people's voices, building trust, and getting the best out of everyone,' he says. 'When I was a community constable, I learned that real safety comes from strong relationships. It's not just about policing, it's about knowing your neighbours, having safe spaces for our young people, and ensuring support is there when families need it.' Fauono advocates for a return to basics, ensuring that council spending delivers value for money, supporting local businesses and workers, and relieving pressure on households. He envisions a council that truly puts people at the heart of its work - one that listens, follows through, and achieves tangible results for the community. 'Ratepayers deserve value for money. I'll make sure every dollar counts – focusing on the basics like water and roads, while creating opportunities for local businesses and workers. 'We can't keep putting all the pressure on households. It's time for smarter, more disciplined leadership. 'Because when we unite around shared values and clear priorities, there's nothing we can't achieve together.' In a statement to Local Democracy Reporting, Fuaono discussed the importance of Pacific representation, his decision to stand, and how he plans to engage with youth. 'My story is one of many Hutt Valley residents. The son of Sāmoan migrants who built their life here, raised to lead through acts of service. My decision to run for Mayor is grounded in that upbringing. I love my community so I have been called to serve them,' he says. 'I work with a number of young people, coaching multiple age grade rugby league teams here in the Hutt. They used to call me uncle but now with a few more grey hairs on my head, they call me Papa Ken instead. 'I will be bringing them on this campaign with me, getting their input on my decisions, knowing they can reach people in ways I can't.' Gabriel Tupou, Hutt City Councillor and the only Pasifika, told LDR that Fauono's candidacy could transform Pacific representation and increase voter turnout. 'This is very significant for our Pacific community because we haven't had a mayor of Pacific descent. Ken represents the best of us,' Tupou says. 'Ken's a local legend - well-known and respected, not just in Wainuiomata or Lower Hutt but across the Wellington region. 'His candidacy is a game changer, it will mobilise and motivate our people to vote. We've got a large Pacific community here, and I think that's what his campaign will do.' Tupou says Fauono's background and life experience allow him to connect with ordinary residents, especially Pacific families facing similar challenges. 'Ken comes from humble circumstances. He doesn't come from privilege. He understands the struggles our Pasifika families go through. He's a man of the people, so he knows what the issues are. With those insights, he brings strength, wisdom, leadership and humility.' He described Fauono as 'a local legend' and 'a statesman' with broad appeal and a legacy of mentoring young people, saying, 'Ken has a wide reach. He's down to earth and accessible to the community.' Fauono joins sitting councillors Brady Dyer and Karen Morgan, as well as community advocate Prabha Ravi, who have also confirmed their intention to contest the mayoral elections. More candidates are expected to announce before nominations close. Nominations for Lower Hutt's local elections open on Friday and close at noon on 1 August. Voting papers will go out from September, with the election day nationwide on 11 October.
Scoop
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
A New Universe Of Whānaungatanga Takes The Stage With ‘Siblings'
Directed by acclaimed artists Pelenakeke Brown and Barnie Duncan, SIBLINGS brings together four Mori and Pacific disabled performers in a devised, disability-led production that is as theatrically adventurous as it is emotionally resonant. Which one are you? The tutu, the peacemaker… or the odd one out? SIBLINGS is a bold, genre-defying new theatre work exploring the messy, funny, profound world of siblinghood – a story as old as time but told in an entirely new way. This world premiere plays for a limited 5-performance season at Te Pou Theatre from 24-28 July. Directed by acclaimed artists Pelenakeke Brown and Barnie Duncan, SIBLINGS brings together four Māori and Pacific disabled performers in a devised, disability-led production that is as theatrically adventurous as it is emotionally resonant. The work has evolved over three years of creative development – grounded in talanoa and play – and is now ready to meet its audience. If you've ever had a brother or sister, or wished you had, you'll understand the peculiar and complex relationship that exists within this universe of 'sibling'. When a member of that unit is a person with a disability, this universe becomes even more nuanced. Studies have shown that siblings of people with disabilities have been found to have warmth, heightened empathy, increased altruism, and a larger sense of responsibility. But what is it like for the sibling with the disability? SIBLINGS is a work of fragments and sensation. Moments are woven together through live performance, visual design, movement and sound – inviting audiences into a unique theatrical language that reflects the lived experience of its cast. It's a show about siblings, yes – but also about agency, care, roles we inherit (or reject), and the cosmic forces that bind us together… or pull us apart. It's a show for anyone drawn to bold, form-breaking performance and the future of Aotearoa theatre led by disabled artists. Directed by Brown and Associate Director Duncan, the work resists tidy narrative. As Brown says, 'the process informs the form of the show and we are always creating with accessibility as our creative prompt.' The result is a constellation of shared truths, made not to explain or simplify disability, but to honour its full spectrum – in the context of family, of whakapapa, and of performance itself. SIBLINGS stars Roka Bunyan, Dazz Whippey (Ngāti Tūwharetoa), Kiriana Sheree (Ngāpuhi, Tuhoe and Ngāti Porou) and Jordan Kareroa (Ararangi) — four artists who have journeyed together through every phase of this work's creation. Pelenakeke Brown (Gataivai, Siutu-Salailua) is an award-winning interdisciplinary artist whose work intersects disability theory with Sāmoan cultural concepts. Working between Aotearoa and New York, her work has been presented at institutions such as The New York Public Library for Performing Arts and Gibney Dance. She most recently received a 2024 Wynn Newhouse Award. Barnie Duncan is a celebrated actor, comedian, director and writer who has been working in the performing arts for the last twenty-five years in both Australia and New Zealand. His award-winning shows have taken out the 2024 Fred Award at the NZ International Comedy Festival and Best Comedy at the Adelaide Fringe. Barnie's show Ollie Is A Martian (2014), performed by his nephew Oliver Cox, dealing with Oliver's experience in 'special needs' classes was included in the Pantograph Punch's Top Ten Plays of 2014, and triggered Barnie's interest in working with creators with disabilities. SIBLINGS warmly invites all audiences to experience a theatrical work created from a place of authenticity, invention and deep whānaungatanga. Performances are proudly accessible, with New Zealand Sign Language interpretation and embedded audio description available. After years of dreaming, devising, laughing, questioning, and growing, SIBLINGS is finally ready to be shared.
Scoop
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Ode To Ōtara: A Symphony Of Hope, Culture And Call For Support
Article – Mary Afemata – Local Democracy Reporter Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy' was written centuries ago, but this week it became a powerful celebration of unity through music, bringing together youth as they rehearsed for an upcoming concert with the Auckland Philharmonia and the Sāmoan music education initiative, Sol Fa. Dozens of young musicians performed 'Ode to Joy' at a Sistema Aotearoa rehearsal, welcoming Arts Minister Paul Goldsmith to Ōtara's Music and Arts Centre on Tuesday. The rehearsal was part of the lead-up to their annual 'Pese! Fasi! Pūoro!' concert and provided Goldsmith with insight into the talent, discipline, and pride of South Auckland. However, when asked about increasing government investment in community arts, the minister was cautious. 'It's amazing to be out here and to see the smiling little faces as they're exposed to the wonderful world of music,' Goldsmith says. 'There are few greater things than being part of a group making music together. 'We can't walk in with a chequebook and throw money around. We're maintaining arts funding in a very tough environment, and we're encouraging agencies to invest widely, from professionals to grassroots groups like this.' Sistema Aotearoa, which partners with over 60 South Auckland schools to provide free orchestral education, is widely celebrated for its impact on tamariki. But board member Tasha Hohaia says the programme's success has been achieved despite limited resources. 'We make magic happen with the little we have. And with just a little bit more, we could reach more,' Hohaia says. 'It's critical to have Māori and Pasifika whānau supported in classical music. We have so much to offer the world.' Iain Rea, General Manager for Sistema Aotearoa, says the programme goes beyond music education. 'Sistema Aotearoa is much more than a music programme, it's also about community development and the programme has been going for almost 15 years. It's hugely supported by the community, it's as much about community building as it is about music.' One example is Reece Ferrer, 19, who joined Sistema Aotearoa as a child and is now a tutor. 'I joined when I was five, so that was back in 2013. I currently do midwifery at AUT, but I've been with Sistema basically for 14 years. Sistema to me is much more than a music programme. 'It helped me build my social skills and helped me connect with the community in Aotearoa.' Ferrer, who learned the violin and flute, has forged connections with fellow students through Sistema Aotearoa, and is now giving back to her community as a young adult. For parents like Terry Filipo, whose son plays the violin, the change is deeply personal. Filipo's son is a Year Four student at Flatbush School, and she hopes he will gain discipline and self-belief from the programme. Filipo says the programme exposes children like her son to new spaces. 'I look at my son and see a future that's more open because of exposure to classical music. It's an investment, not just in music, but in how our kids see the world. 'It's a practice. Whether it's a sport or an instrument, you learn commitment, and that progress follows discipline. 'It's a type of cultural exchange, which is important not just musically and not just skill-wise but their perspective … it's allowing them to expand on their worldview even as young people.' Filipo stresses the need for government funding and support. 'It's extremely important … Without the funding and without the support that Aotearoa Sistema gets, children that come from certain areas … may not go to schools [with access to] this type of music or even this type of culture.' 'It is an investment, even for our music industry. We have so much to contribute … We don't support small, we support big.' Rene's son has participated in the Sistema Aotearoa programme for three years, starting in Year Two. He plays the cello, and Rene believes the opportunity might not have come without it. She says the programme teaches more than just music; it nurtures confidence and opens doors. She adds that the programme fosters engagement and uncovers hidden talents, strongly endorsing the initiative. 'I think without the awareness of the programme, it may not have been an opportunity that he would have pursued. 'I think it's very crucial, opening up their eyes to different opportunities, different disciplines. So it's not just about the musical ability, but it offers a wide range of, I guess, perspective and life lessons as well that they can carry through to other areas of their lives. 'It's much better to have our kids engaging in this kind of activity rather than on the couch and so forth.' William Kingi, Sistema Aotearoa's youth adviser, says the programme opens doors that would otherwise remain closed to rangatahi. 'Even though this community is under-resourced, we're culturally rich. Classical music allows our kids to participate in spaces that might feel foreign, but instead, they feel like they belong. 'Sistema helps level the playing field. Not a lot, but just enough to change a life.' That potential was visible during the rehearsal, as students beamed with pride while performing for their families and friends.
