Last meeting for Pacific Peoples Advisory Panel term 2017 - 2019...

Yesterday was my last meeting with the awesome 'Pacific Peoples Advisory Panel' for the Auckland Council. We've been together for a three-year term since 2017.

It's been a neat journey in meeting monthly together as a group, getting to know each other and in learning about the new initiatives within Council and also in giving advice from the different Pasifika life experiences that we've had in various sectors of community and society.

Within our group, our Pasifika heritages hail from Tonga, Samoa, Tuvalu and we formerly had Niuean representation but the individual moved overseas but hopefully, the next panel will have more representation from our various Pasifika communities.

The neat thing though is that despite our different backgrounds of being either born in NZ or overseas, at the heart of the matter was speaking out for issues that mattered for Pasifika people i.e. housing, employment, education, equity and access to Council amenities and ensuring that our Pasifika communities would not disadvantaged through the various initiatives that are at play and particularly housing.

For those of us Pasifika peoples who have received tertiary education, who are civic-minded or have Christian heritages that encourage us to support our fellow neighbours, I believe that it is really important to get involved at different levels of decision making in order to support our local Pasifika communities whether it be in church, education in schools, local/national government bodies, community organisations etc.

In doing so, it enables us to advocate for our Pasifika communities in different spheres. That's why I'm involved in local school Boards of Trustees, an upcoming Elder in a local Pacific Islands church, tertiary education in teaching and encouraging second chance learning with a view to position and encourage students to continue onto their Master's degree studies in order to meet the requirements of engaging Pasifika and Maori people as decision-makers in our society.

I know that the opportunities that have been gifted to me in life experiences have been due to the support of my Christian faith and family, and so it's been important for me to continue to mentor, encourage and support other Pasifika peoples who come in my life's path to do the same.

I'm going to miss this special group of people but looking forward to what the future might bring for the next panel and also for opportunities for Pasifika peoples to continue succeeding and moving forward through Auckland Council initiatives...

First Aid Certificate course online too ...

Last month, I had the opportunity of resitting my First Aid Intermediate certificate at my place of work with part of it being online and the other the practical component.

I think this is especially important to have when working in our communities with children as well as adults. As you can never know when an emergency might happen wherever you go.

It's something that I think is an important skill to have in that when I was working as a volunteer with Plunket when my children were babies, it was important that we were vigilant in that choking and other emergencies could happen whilst on our watch.

And in working with teens, being aware of assisting when someone has epilepsy and other medical conditions it's important to know about what to do.

That includes going on field trips and overnight stays as unexpected things have been known to happen and so I would definitely encourage this course for church members, school staff, community workers etc.

I've known over the years of people dying in churches through having heart attacks and even in schools/institutions etc. and even at home in knowing how to cope with or deal with beloved ones needing attention with stroke symptoms, angina etc.

It's also important to know where defibrillators are found for stopping and starting the heartbeat of one has suffered a heart attack etc. as every second counts before irreparable brain damage sets in or death becomes imminent.

In face, defibrillators are now being positioned in most public places where people congregate including shopping malls, swimming pools, tertiary institutions etc. I would definitely highly recommend for more of our community people to gain First Aid skills as you never know when you might need it... (renewable every two years)

Malu Lima study artistry...

Malu Lima study (2019) Helen Tau'au Filisi

This would be the first and only Malu Lima ink study that I have drawn since starting my art class a few weeks ago and as a result, I've decided to frame it for posterity as a very limited edition artwork.

What I've liked about the Indigenous art space that I'm currently in is that it's allowed me time to consider some of the important art icons/motifs that our ancestors rendered in their time and it's now continued for new artists to reconsider.

What many people don't understand is that the tapa motifs and the malu (traditional Samoan women's tattoo), as well as the pe'a, malofie, soga'imiti (traditional Samoan male tattoo) all, have motifs, symbols or icons that each have a story and meaning behind them.

I've had the privilege, in this space, of having the time to consider what these motifs may have meant to the early arts, what current Samoan artists have considered and now for me to render with new contemporary medium i.e. water colour paints, here in ink and later in some larger paintings as new interpretations of these ancient art forms.

It's definitely a privilege to be afforded this time and space to study, research through tofa sa'ili and to be able to share with an interested audience this journey. So that in the coming weeks, I'll be posting up many new works of art, some that I will be gifting, others that will be set apart for another day to ponder the wonder of our ancestral art iconology for future generations to continue...

Watching the movie 'Overcomer'...

Tonight, I had another girls night out and got the chance to watch the movie 'Overcomer' which is the fourth movie installation by the Kendrick brothers film company. The first three movies being: Fireproof, Courageous, War Room with initial preceding movies 'Flywheel' and 'Facing the Giants'.

It's a Christian faith-based movie that tells the story about a community which is losing people as they move out of town to find other work opportunities due to a big manufacturing firm closing. In fact, the basketball coach at the local high school ends up coaching a cross country running team with only one runner and it's her story that the movie centres on.

What I liked about the movie is that it discusses the reconciliation between a father who had formerly been a drug addict who is dying in hospital and his estranged younger daughter who is a cross country runner and also asthmatic.

The overcoming theme is neat in that it encourages ideas of forgiveness, reconciliation, striving towards a goal and succeeding. A highly recommended family film for all ages...

Attending the Koroneihana celebrations ...

Inside the Marae performance space (Photo credits: Louise Craig-Pullan)

Last Saturday, I had the privilege of attending the annual 13th coronation celebrations of the Kingitanga with Maori King Tuheitea at their Ngaruawahia marae.

When four van loads of adult students arrived on the scene, we all dispersed and soaked in the atmosphere of kapa haka (Maori dance/songs) performances for the king, local Maori food stalls and jewelry stalls etc. with sports challenges for organised teams to tow.

It was a very interesting experience as it was the very first time that I had ever attended such an event in being aware in working within an indigenous Maori space of this annual event that many Maori staff attended over the years.

There I watched parts of a doco of the former Maori Queen Te Atarangikaahu (mother to the current King) who reigned for over 40 years and died in 2006. There, I learned about the Kingitanga movement was set up as a form of resistance to the crown and to unify Maori but some iwi (tribes) did not agree and still continue to alienate themselves from the movement.

As far as I'm aware, it's a celebration over several days that starts with dignitaries attending, followed by schools and kapa haka groups attending and performing over the weekend. On following days, people begin to bring taonga (treasures) in remembrance of those of whom have passed away during the year and in all that time, the kingitanga provide lunch and refreshments for visitors.

It's definitely an event that I would recommend for any to attend if given the opportunity and a way of paying our respects to an indigenous resistance movement, through their King/Queen: of the people, for the people, by the people...

Art courses that continue to build in the journey...

This semester, I'm taking a new course here at Te Wananga o Aotearoa  which is a Certificate in Maori and Indigenous Art, level 1. In fact, in retrospect, I probably should have taken this course years ago when Dr Richard Cooper was the kaiako/tutor as a gifted and noted sculpture, painter and neat overall Maori artist.

As a picture book illustrator, taking this course has allowed me time to consider my craft and the different skills that can be utilised in order for my pictures to tell the story.

It definitely is a privilege to have this opportunity as in my class there are like-minded artists who are also interested in developing their crafts from a graphic designer, to commissioned Maori street artists, representing many different cultures from a Korean artist who travels from the North Shore, me being a Samoan interested in representing more indigenous Samoan art within my books and in my general art.

The first assignment that I'm currently working on looks at my whakapapa/gafa/genealogy links and connections. I'm also to choose an artist that I respect and that would be my mother who has been my inspiration in a lot of the crafting, sewing, knitting etc. that she brought me up with.

The other noted artist is Fatu Feu'u of whom I've always respected as a gifted artist. I've like his use of Samoan iconology in his art works of the past and I also see that he has a current exhibition that is showing in Auckland of which I'm considering to attend.

All in all, this is another exciting journey for me which is a never-ending journey of living and learning and passing it on...

Cook Islands language week celebrations for 2019...

Cook Islands language week official post for 2019

Kia orana, it's been Cook Islands language week and it's been so neat to note the different celebrations that have been about in various communities and throughout social media highlighting the importance of the Cook Islands languages, cultures and music/entertainment etc.

It's definitely overdue for me and my family to visit the Cook Islands as I last visited it in the 1990s and with having grown up at the PIC church in having a village community of Niuean, Cook Islanders and Samoans worshipping together with English being the main language of intercultural communication, it made for a very interesting childhood surrounded by music, languages and sounds that became familiar but were not of my own cultural heritage.

So I got to taste puke (a banana delicacy with coconut cream), Cook Islands mayonnaise (i.e. potato salad) and especially the pink beetroot version, cook islands donuts that are sold locally and often taken on trips as a snack including the giant donuts etc. Not to mention their amazing lyrical ukuleles and amazing voices in the meke and tivaevae - Cook Islands quilts which replaced the tapa making with the arrival of the missionaries etc.

Which is why it's so important for having an understanding of the distinctions between the various Pacific cultures and even within the Cook Islands as each of the 15 islands have distinct dialects or languages, cultural practices etc. Pukapuka being closer to Samoa and Tonga with Aitutaki being of the islands that I would love to visit.

Perhaps what Cook Islands culture is known all over the world for is not only their amazing tranquil beach scenes but also their drum dance with their women expertly moving their hips vigously to the sound of the drums and their men dancing with unfamiliar leg movements to the novice.

It's definitely entertaining to watch unfamiliar and unsuspecting adults from other cultures being called up to dance by an expert dance partner from the opposite sex in their entertaining 'around the world' drum dance whereupon each couple is asked to dance in the middle of a dance circle to the sound of the drums. So if you haven't experienced this, I would highly recommend it.

Happy Cook Islands language week everybody. Meitaki (thank you)...

NCEA Changes in the pipeline...

Last night, I attended an NCEA (National Certificate of Achievement) Ministry of Education update at a local school called 'Understanding the changes to NCEA.'

It turns out that after a big Review of NCEA there are 7 main changes to the National Qualification as follows:

1. Making NCEA more accessible which means zero fees
2. Giving Maori knowledge more authenticity and resourcing (this may also include Pasifika)
3. having fewer and larger standards i.e. of 60 credits minimal rather than the current 20 credits
4. strengthening literacy and numeracy requirements
5. simplifying the NCEA structure
6. showing clearer pathways to employment or further education
7. keeping NCEA Level 1 as an option (up to each individual school to consider)

It was a very interesting conversation by Ministry of Education representatives and although there has been much planning and discussion, there's still a long way to go before full implementation by the year 2023.

Currently, our eldest child is just about to complete her final year of high school and gaining high grades in her NCEA subjects is foremost in her mind with intended courses that she's hoping to apply for and gain admission to in the new year at various Universities.

Therefore, gaining important credits in her final year is key to gaining entry into those courses and especially those that are restricted in numbers such as law school, conjoint degrees etc. I think the intended changes may allow for some room to move and relieve some pressure for future students but it will be the universities that will have the biggest say in what they will accept for those intending to attend Universities.

Still it will be up to the individual to make those final efforts to gain qualifications to get to the places that they are reaching for. I just hope that more Pasifika students will take those opportunities to make important and significant contributions to society no matter whether they decide to further their studies or not...

'Hobbs and Shaw - Fast and Furious' Samoan stylez...

It was interesting to watch the highly anticipated 'Hobbs and Shaw - Fast and Furious' movie starring Samoan/African American, Dwayne Johnson and Englishman, Jason Stathom. To be honest, It wasn't so much for the action-packed scenes of high adrenalin not to mention octane content but it was on a research mission to see how much content/context there was of Samoa having seen social media alerts of the up and coming movie featuring Samoa.

Sorry some spoiler alerts coming, so if you'd rather watch the movie first, then read no further! What's funny is to see a fellow Samoan on the movies (as his mum's Samoan) and Dwayne Johnson's character is a kind portrayal of having family values, family problems and a keen sense of humour, plus loads of personality as I know a lot of Samoan males and females have.

So when the scene of saving the world ends up in lil' old Samoa, I anticipated which side of Samoa that they might feature. Well, it wasn't to be as it looked more like the rugged high coast line of Hawaii that I had viewed over the years that I've visited the Hawaiian islands.

It was neat that they had a Maori actor play the elder brother (Cliff Curtis) of Dwayne's Hobb's character even though I thought that perhaps they could have gotten Roman Reigns to have played the part as he definitely would have looked more believable but still Cliff Curtis pulled off the accent pretty well.

The character that plays his mum did pretty good as she reminded me of many of my matriarchal mum's, aunts, grandmas etc. wearing a mu'umu'u (long island dress), wearing a selu (Samoan ladies comb), and a turtle-like bangle, with that 'don't mess with me' instructional voice and holding the jandal poised to through (seeing this when I was growing up) and maybe I've got some of those kick-ass traits in having had some of those genes handed on to me through my mums, grandmothers, great grandmother etc.

Definitely, recommended for those high adrenalin junkies who really enjoy action movies with Dwayne Johnson and some spices of Samoana...

Ihumatao - Pania in the past meeting the present...

Early days in protecting Ihumatao

Much has changed with King Tuheitea (Kingitanga movement) becoming involved at Ihumatao but some things remain the same. I first met Pania Newton, the co-leader of SOUL Save our unique landscape out at Ihumatao in 2016. I had just started teaching an Indigenous Research paper and at our local Wananga (Maori higher learning institute) and wanted to learn more about why the land at Ihumatao needed protecting. 

Pania was gracious and shared with me and later my class/es about why this whenua was important to preserve and also the tragic historical background of how the land came out from mana whenua (designated indigenous people of the land) hands to being sold to Fletchers, a corporate that is ready to build 480 houses on this designated land.

At that time she made a commitment then that she would stand as Kaitiaki (guardian) of the whenua (land) that was taonga (treasure) to her whakapapa (genealogy) with many of her whanau (family) with other supporters. That commitment is unwavering despite the death of her father last year of whom I was privileged to meet in one of the classes that I took and despite the flack that she has received from some Maori leaders (some of whom she is related to).

In 2017, I received a grant from Mangere Otahuhu Arts funding on behalf of the Mangere Otahuhu local board to edit a book called 'Mana Mangere Voices' and I asked Pania if she would be able to be one of those voices that needed to be heard. Pania graciously agreed and also wrote the mihi (acknowledgments) at the beginning of our collection of short stories and poems.

This is her voice, her poem for the legacy of her late father, of her tipuna/tupuna (ancestors), for her future whanau to continue...

He mamae-aroha mo Ihumaatao

A historic place slowly defaced by toxic, industrial and sewage waste.

A historic reserve for us to preserve but yet we learn it will soon be yearned.

How can it be that corporate creed is put above the needs of both you and me?

As this sacred place, a cultural basis is threatened by the replacement of sprawls of disgrace.

So sad to see, for the generations to come, that the beauty of our landscapes will be destroyed and plundered for the profit of some.

E tu, maranga, whaiwhai mo te whenua.

by Pania Newton (2017)

Toy Story 4 another ending...

Last night, it was a girl's night out and we went to see Toy Story 4 having followed the story since my children were young. Turn's out, it leaves you with an alternative ending and without spoiling the movie for you, I think some would like it and some might not.

Over the years, the storylines developed the characters with Tom Hanks being the voice of Woody, the cowboy toy leader and Tim Allen is the voice of Buzz Light the friend who starts off as a foe. I remember when the first movie came out that it was new for its time and people flocked to see the new technology at play.

Now with the fourth installation, the storyline has continued but with the inclusion of the missing toy Bo Peep and her sheep (she was in the first movie) and Woody's love interest. In this last installation (although you never know as they might continue it as the never-ending Star Wars movie saga) Bo Beep reminds me of Laura Croft (Tomb Raider heroine) who knows a thing or two about survival.

She helps to give an alternative life to toys who no longer get played with, in that they go off and make their own adventures. It's an interesting philosophy in the life story of a toy that's shared on-screen that makes one really think about what toys might say if it were possible.

So I would recommend the movie for the laughs and in reuniting with the cast for their possible final movie but get ready for an alternative ending that might have you say 'yay' or you might even say 'nay', no way Jose ...