It was a neat night that recognised efforts of individuals such as: Sir Michael Jones who is the first Pasifika person to be knighted as well as Dame Valerie Adams who is the first Pasifika woman and youngest Dame to have the honour, however, she wasn't able to be there as we were told that she was heavily pregnant and expecting her first child soon.
It was a neat night M.C.d by the humourist Tofiga who had us laughing from the get go and it included speeches from various dignitaries in having Pasifika candidates from the major political parties, ministers, other recipients and it was neat to see Cook Islands, Niuean, Samoans, Tongans etc. coming together to celebrate the success of their Pasifika brothers and sisters.
It made me reflect that in Western society, often if individuals are honoured that it belongs to that individual but for Pasifika peoples often success is shared with the community in the recognition that many would have been there to support that individual towards their success and last night was a part of acknowledging the support of the 'village'.
I was invited by the Samoan Business Association, as was another 15 other businesses, to display and promote our services, products etc. without selling on the night and I was able to gift 7 books free as spot prizes and give away prizes.
The entertainment was neat with Cook Islands drum dances, Tongan Taualuga and Samoan Mauluulu and even a creative dance whilst the dinner was on for around 350+ invitees. A who's who in Auckland Pasifika's scene and saw many Pasifika leaders who were being honoured whom I'd come in contact with along my life's journey.
I think it was neat to take some time to reflect also upon the journeys that many of Pasifika people took in the risk of leaving Island homes, much like my parents, to live in a society so different and so promising and now to see some of the fruits of that success has been good...
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