Sia's 'Snowman' song...

This weekend, in hanging out with my lil sis and youngest in our 12th day of COVID-19 lockdown alert level 4 (leaving our parents in peace) we listened to some of our favourite music and my littlest shared this as one of her favourite songs last year.

 The song was particularly restful to listen to after having been masked up and dashing for an early shopping trip at the local supermarket (it seemed as if many people had the same idea) and it was good to only be waiting for some 15 minutes in a queue although it started 100 metres out on the road.

So now I'm drawing and listening to music on our lil' boom box. We're having turns listening to our fave songs (for me including the ones that I've just finished blogging on). Sometimes music can be cathartic or cleansing and this song was nice to listen to too...

Disney's new movie 'Jungle Cruise'...

 This weekend I got to watch Dwayne Johnson's (a.k.a. the Rock) new Disney movie called 'Jungle Cruise' with Emily Blunt. I must say that I wasn't expecting it to be anything like it turned out to be as it certainly action packed.

It's interesting in that it is set in the early 1900s during World War I and it brings together different stories about a quest to find hidden treasure as in Aztec Gold in the Amazon i.e. the Jungles of Brazil. There's a little geography lesson in the places that they need to go to, to get to the treasure.

Without giving anything away (no spoiler alerts), I would definitely recommend this movie as a family movie during this lockdown period. It happily allows you to suspend your disbelief and takes the worries and cares away as it transports you to another time and place in the magic of Disney...

Baking up a storm in level 4 lockdown...

In locking down at my parents' place, my lil' sister has started her backing frenzy with making 'keke pua'a' (literally cake of pork) or steamed buns with a chicken filling as well as deep fried.

This time around I've decided to take it easy and have only started slowly in the lockdown alert level 4 baking. I've only just made deep fried panikeke fa'i or banana pancakes and chocolate pudding with some more baking expectations on the horizon.

On the flip side, my lil' sis' has made churros complete with chocolate sauce, cinnamon sugar and cream and contemplating to make fried doughnuts.

All comfort food and spaced out so that we get some time to recover as well as enjoying the time together in not being able to buy our usual baked goods from the bakery.

Making meat pies is also on upcoming menus with coconut buns and even dumplings that are both steamed and fried. I know, lots of calories that need to be walked off with lots of exercising needed from YouTube clips and outside walks away from the other walkers.

Sparing a thought for those who are sleeping rough and needing a lot of support this time around with the lockdown as we slowly head into Spring with warmer weather just around the corner.

I'm also aware that there are also many who have been affected by the virus with positive swabs who are isolated in their homes and trying not to spread the virus out to other communities.

I'm so grateful, as many others have said, that our government has taken a hard and fast approach as I hear/see news from Australia and the many who are COVID positive and some still dying from the virus.

It's a timely reminder for those of us who can, to be grateful for this time of being able to stay home with loved ones. To be kind, to be safe and to not take this time for granted. Perhaps for some, baking helps them to keep sane, be kind and to stay safe with the comforts of home and full tummy whilst the war is raging outside against the virus...

 

To vaccinate or not?....

 

I've had some very interesting conversations over the past week regarding vaccinations and the concerns that many have over quickly made vaccines that did not go through the usual rigorous testing regimes of earlier vaccines that were developed over years.

Particularly for some indigenous peoples, the weariness of having to again be dictated to by the hosts or colonist communities who first brought viruses into their homelands has not been an easy conversations and poses dilemmas by decision makers as to what to tell their family groups.

I had a great grandfather who died in the 1918 epidemic in Samoa and I wrote a book about it but I never thought that some 100 years later, I would have a similar experiences in my own lifetime. The only thing that I know about him is his name, his village and where he was buried. Nothing else.

The decision to vaccinate was easy for me as I often visit my parents, who are in the Group 1 vulnerable category, and wanted to ensure that I had taken every precaution that I could to keep them safe as with my own family now that I am encouraging them to also get vaccinated.

My great grandfather didn't have a chance against the deadly virus that killed him. All of the arguments and conspiracy theories in the world will not help you if you catch the deadly Delta variant that is currently in our community and easily transmissible in being airborne.

If I lived remotely in a rural area, island or a space away from people then I would have the luxury of not vaccinating but as I live in a suburban centre where the virus has already infected over 100 Pasifika peoples in Auckland alone, then it is my duty to ensure that I do whatever I can for my family, my gafa (genealogy) so that the next generation survives.

I'm definitely not interested in the marches and riots that are happening around the world with anti-vaccers wanting their freedoms and many not wanting to be in lockdowns. However, they also carry the responsibility and consequences for their actions regarding the vulnerable people around them who could be infected due to their decisions.

I do believe that each person has to take responsibility for their own actions and decisions about whether to vaccinate or not but when you are putting other peoples' lives in danger then that's crossing the line.

To vaccinate or not? I don't really believe that we have a choice if we want our next generations to survive. I've called it an unnecessary evil that is life threatening and for me and we are privileged in having the 'choice' to be vaccinated or not. However, for me, it's not a choice anymore, it's a responsibility...

Alo i au faiva 'row/paddle to your fishing/goal'...

 

Here's another beautiful contemporary Samoan song that I picked up on Radio Samoa (1593AM) last year (and found on YouTube) in hanging out with my parents during the various lockdowns. It's sung by Livingstone Efu from the group Lani Alo.

The Samoan lyrics are thoughtful in sharing about the title 'alo i au faiva ia manuia' which translates as row/paddle to your fishing or metaphor for goal to do well. It continues by saying don't be down hearted with difficulties come.

It's a beautiful song about the Christian principles and values of Samoan culture about: about staying close to God; not giving up when this world brings about its difficulties; with advise to sons/daughters to take care of important matters and listen to the wise counsel of parents for a better future etc.

It would be nice if they also had an English version of this song for those Samoan youth who would benefit from learning about Christian and Samoa principles such as these. Often these songs are only heard in churches and hope it gets widely shared. There's so much that our diaspora (living away from the homeland) Samoans could learn and discuss from this song.

Here's my attempt to translate the lyrics for non-Samoan speakers (not including the rap). The official lyrics translation is on the YouTube clip comments:

Row/paddle to your goal to be successful

don't be downhearted when difficulties come

you'll be together with God in any path you take

My son, listen to me, to my words that I'm saying

Be prepared, don't go backwards to the goal that you've set.

This world is full of negative things

there are a lot of temptations to weaken your feelings.

be strong of heart, don't be fearful, 

go with happiness, my son, may you be successful.

CHORUS

Paddle to your goal to be successful

don't be downhearted when things get difficult

you'll be together with God in any path you take

My daughter listen here

to our words that we will be saying

in case you don't take it seriously

in the tears of your mother

when you travel in the vast ocean its difficult

you provide shelter to this family

My daughter, in you love, do it well

put away the mats

put away the pillows

be strong until we get to the completion.

Punialava'a - Fave song for lockdown...

This is one of my fave songs from last year that I started listening to in the first Alert level 4 lockdown. I discovered it in listening to my dad's and late granma's favourite radio station 'Radio Samoa (whilst hanging out at my parents' house as the lockdown levels came down. 

It's sung by one of my parents' favourite popular bands in Samoa except that now it's the next generations who've taken up the mantle to carry on the legacy that was started by their family members sometime in Samoa during the 1970s. 

This is one of their songs that incorporates some Maori haka aspects (my own personal opinion) i.e. he he ha! Even better to dance to with your best hula, contemporary or siva (dance) Samoa moves. Especially during these lockdown times. There's even a Cook Islands ukulele sound that you could put your cool Cook Islands dance skills to good use.

It even makes me laugh with word 'Auoia' as that's a Samoan expression whenever something seems to have gone wrong. I learnt that from my parents :) Hope this brings a spring into your step with Spring just on the horizon...

Stay calm and make sushi...

With the "Stay calm" posters, I thought to change it up as yesterday was day 5 in Alert level 4 lockdown. Our household decided to make sushi to whet our appetites.

I, personally, haven't made sushi in a long time and not since my children were in primary school when I remember making some for the shared lunches that they had.

But since schools have changed their food policies and there are fewer shared lunches plus the fact that my children wanted to take shop bought snacks, I didn't make large batches of sushi anymore.

This was quite a special occasion in not having made them in such a long time plus the fact that they are relatively easy to make, compared to the prices that you usually have to pay in the shops that cost quite a bit if you are buying for a family or a group.

We decided to make sushi with avocado, grated carrot, surimi and cream cheese because I had forgotten to buy other ingredients. Yum! I'd definitely recommend that you buy a sushi kit at your local supermarket which usually includes the main ingredients i.e. rice, vinegar powder, seaweed mats, wasabi (hot!), soya sauce and a bamboo sushi roll mat.

In fact, I'd quite forgotten how to roll the sushi to a compact size but after a couple of attempts, it got much better and the effort was well worth the wait. The pic above is a sample of some of the sushi that were devoured last night with the only missing - pickled garlic!

I even remember the first time I bought sushi at the University of Auckland, those many years ago, where I had lunch with some friends and thought that it was about time I tried it. When it came to the wasabi, I thought it was a type of guacamole or avocado and swallowed it whole! Wow! was I in for a ride. I ended up drinking up the coke bottle that I'd bought which probably just made it worse and couldn't believe what just happened.

So, if you are want to change it up a bit during lockdown and try something new to taste, you can order the sushi kit online with your choice of additional ingredients i.e. sliced cucumber, chicken, tuna, mixed veges etc. It's relatively healthy (depending on what you put inside) and your family might just thank you for it...

 

'The Repair Shop' TV programme...

 

As I've now locked down at my parents' house with my youngest, for this level 4 lockdown, it's been neat to be able to be with them and catch up with my folks. It's especially been neat not having to worry about them in being in the same bubble.

In being at our second home, I've been able to catch up with some of the programmes that I usually don't get to watch unless I'm at their place. 'The Repair Shop' is one of those new TV programmes that I've enjoyed as it has a lot of good stories about heirloom pieces that are repaired by artisans.

You only have to watch one episode to see how popular it has become and I also read an online article about how many didn't think that it would be as popular as it is now. I think it's because of the stories that are behind why many come to the 'Repair Shop' to repair a variety of items that would be very expensive to try or do not have the skills to do by yourself.

The skills of the artisans (my word for the skilled craftspeople) are quite amazing with woodturners, leather workers, sewing machinists, engineers, designers, mechanical craftspeople and the list goes on. Just simple amazing reveals at the end too. I'd highly recommend it for inspiring crafts people...

Pre-lockdown to Day 1 of level 4...

Yesterday, before I even found out about a lockdown, I attended our Ministry of Education funded (Innovations workshops) a neat workshop on making 'Elei' or Samoan printed designs onto material.

What I discovered was our Aoga (Samoan bilingual Early childhood centre) had an 'upeti' or a wooden carved out panel with Samoan designs.

This was an amazing find as these are hard to come by unless you know of someone who can make these up or can source from Samoa where they are even scarce too.

What I like about this upeti is that children are able to use it and can view this important motif that is my particular favourite of all Samoan motifs. 

It's the four leaf-life motif that I'm currently re-framing in the next 3 upcoming Samoan bilingual books that mention siapo or Samoan tapa for passing on this information for next generations. As I'll be framing borders that will utilize siapo or tapa patterns into the books.

So that one of the things that I'll be doing during this 7 day lockdown is beginning to frame up the artwork for all three books and seeing what it will look like. As I'll be changing up the media that I'll be using and moving into using markers. All thanks to my lil' sis' Maria for bringing me up to speed...

 

Going into Lockdown level 4 at midnight for at least 7 days...

 

Today, I had to finish my class early as one of my adult students informed me that they had heard about a 6pm announcement that the Prime Minister would be telling us about a lockdown.

I, therefore, finished class early for my students to be able to listen to the announcement with their families and also for me to quickly return home and check on all members of my two households to ensure that all were accounted for.

Lockdown 4 basically means that each household must stay in their 'bubble' with minimal contact with anyone outside their bubble.

All schools will be closed, all takeaways and businesses must be closed with the exception of supermarkets, petrol stations, dairies with only one person from each household to go shopping.

The NZ government is taking this 'hard and fast' approach as today it was revealed that an Aucklander was found positive with their COVID-19 test. Across the ditch in Australia many states have had lockdowns but with many people not heeding the calls to stay home and people have been getting with this new variant and some even dying.

The concern is that this may be the first of many who have yet to be tested in NZ but have the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus. This could potentially be very dangerous for our community and so the lockdown is for all of NZ for 3 days from midnight tonight.

Panic buying had already started in the early evening as soon as people found out but for my family, I decided to check stocks and await until tomorrow to pick up my shopping from the supermarket with an online order.

As for the rest of the week, I won't be going to work and will be working from home and catching up on all manner of things that need to be complete. I'll also be Zooming in different meetings and keeping in touch with my loved ones at my other household to ensure that everyone is safe.

It's a timely reminder to check on our loved ones, our neighbours and the elderly or most vulnerable to ensure that they have support systems in place. Also looking after our pets is really important as they too need to be taken care of in these trying times. So stay safe out there and take care...

Memorial service since COVID-19 lockdown...

Yesterday, I attended a memorial service for an elder in our church who passed away during our August 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, as there was a community outbreak of the virus and the lockdown was to stop it from spreading further.

During that time, the family was unable to have a family service with the usual rituals associated with funerals within the church.

As a result, the family was only able to have a restricted funeral service and the church was unable to be there to support them and many found out about it after the funeral had been completed.

A year later, the beautiful memorial service that I attended, was a time that the family was able to have a family service with church members and share in memories of their late mother, grandmother and great grandmother, church family member and friend. 

It reminded me of the fragility of life but also how to a single mother and a widow for 40+ years was able to bring up her three young children surrounded by the love of her family. She was able to leave in peace with her descendants mourning at the loss of one who lived, loved and laughed. A fitting memorial post COVID-19 lockdown with treasured memories for all...

 

Māngere light rail prospects...

Early this week, I attended a community workshop meeting on the proposed light rail that may run through Mangere Town Centre - a 10 year initiative with a development plan being pulled together.

I was running late in driving over from an appointment in Papakura. However, upon pulling into the carpark, I was surprised to see that few cars were parked outside at the local hall.

Upon scanning the QR code and entering into the workshop, I could see fewer than 10 people from the local community and that was quite sad to see.

Upon further investigation, I heard that there had been earlier forums and discussions that had taken place but for me it was sad to see that there was not enough representation.

It reminded me of the forums that I had been a part of when I had worked for the Ministry of Education contracts in the late 1990s where few community representation would be seen at the meetings. However, I've learnt since that it's best to work in community partnerships where links to community members are already set up i.e. schools, churches, sports clubs etc.

The good thing was that I was able to learn a lot more about the project and that its at the early stages at the moment in trying to make up a business case for the route that would likely link the airport to Auckland city with major stops along the way at Mt. Roskill, Onehunga, Mangere Bridge and Mangere Town Centre.

This could help support a much needed face lift at the Mangere Town centre and also could open up more job prospects within Mangere. The link would make it much easier for people to commute via train to the city as its currently difficult to travel to Uni for which our eldest changed from AUT city campus to the Manukau South campus.

However, it's also about working with mana whenua (our tangata whenua or local indigenous people who wish to protect the local area) and to ensure that he carbon footprint is as reduced as possible with the use of locally sourced flora for the setting as well as keeping the character of the local community.

I'm also advocating for local groups that I'm in sync with to bring their voices to the table in having a say in what they would like to see in the near future and in the local community regarding this new initiative. 

It's exciting but also important to see that it supports the local communities positively with collaborative planning and design which could bring about some very special outcomes for the local community as well as for local businesses. 

Check out their website to submit your thought via an online form on the website:  https://www.lightrail.co.nz/ and share it with your networks https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AKLLightrail An interesting start so far...

 

Visiting Papakura library and township museum...

 

Yesterday, I spent some time at a local Papakura library catching up on some work, in a quiet space whilst awaiting for a family member. 

I found it to be a very large space with bookshelves on rollers that, I guess, could be moved around a lot more easily. It has a very interesting feel to it as it's situated on the second floor of a  complex.

There was even an upright piano that's situated close to the library that could be heard being played by a local. Such a different vibe with a variety of community members accessing the resources at the library.

Close by on the other side of the library entrance is Papakura museum of which I've taken one of classes to. It has artifacts and photos of some of its history as a farming community with some market gardening. There was also an area of remembrance to those who had served and fought for the country in the two worlds. 

Interestingly enough, they also had an photo exhibition of the Tokelau community in recognition of climate change. There was also video footage and a resource book for those interested to find out more about the island atolls nation.

It was good to have been able to spend some time there in that it reminded me of how different South Auckland communities and townships are, in the resources that they have and also in the 'feel' of the communities. Definitely one that I will visit again soon...

Stan Walker all time favourite Maori male artist...

 Today, I was listening to some music and came across this beautiful waiata/song by my all time favourite Maori male artist, Stan Walker. He has such powerful and controlled vocals. A real gift from God and this song just transports you to another level.

The lyrics are as follows (below) as shared on his YouTube comments board by 'Megan'. These are not easy words to sing about in knowing what so many Maori have gone through in the dispossession of their lands (confiscated and stolen), the colonisation that's happened in NZ and disheartening in how as indigenous peoples of NZ, they have lost out on so much.

However, this song paints another picture of pride and strength. A warrior people with much to look forward to and Stan inspires many through this beautiful song. Gave me chills just listening to it with my eyes closed... Enjoy!

He kākano āhau I ruia mai i Rangiātea And I will never be lost I am a seed, born of greatness Descended from a line of chiefs, He kākano āhau Ki hea rā āu e hītekiteki ana Ka mau tonu i āhau ōku tikanga Tōku reo, tōku oho-oho, Tōku reo, tōku māpihi maurea Tōku whakakai marihi My language is my strength, An ornament of grace Ka tū ana āhau, Ka ūhia au e ōku tīpuna My pride I will show That you may know who I am I am a warrior, a survivor He mōrehu āhau Ki hea rā āu e hītekiteki ana Ka mau tonu i āhau ōku tikanga Tōku reo, tōku oho-oho, Tōku reo, tōku māpihi maurea Tōku whakakai marihi My language is my strength, An ornament of grace, An ornament of grace, An ornament of grace, An ornament of grace.....

Donated Pasifika hampers for community raffles...

This week am donating hampers (on behalf of Pacific Hibiscus) for raffles for our local bilingual Samoan Early childhood centre and also for my local Mafutaga o Faalavaau group.

The tickets are $10 for a Pasifika hamper valued at around $150. Each hamper is a little bit different but has over 10 products with a Pasifika theme (except for the food, drink and sanitizer).

Each hamper consists of the following:

1. Samoan bilingual book for the young $25
2. Limited edition Samoan design painting $35
3. Ei katu - garland flowers for head $25
4. Beaded lei $15
5. Ribbon lei $15
6. Sparkling grape juice $5
7. Fiji chocolate $5
8. Masks x 2 & sanitizer $15
9. Samoa mug & popcorn $10
10. plastic basket $5

If you are interested in purchasing a ticket or donating to our Samoan Early childhood centre then you are most welcome to get in contact with me and this can be arranged. Alternatively, you can contact me via email, mobile or on the website for further information...

 

Kia Orana! celebrating Cook Islands language week...

 

Kia orana! This week NZ is celebrating the Cook Islands language week. As seen the in Ministry of Pacific Peoples poster on the left, there are now nine Pacific language weeks that are celebrated throughout the year.

This week I've seen many women and children walking around with Ei Katu or a garland of flowers (some real and some frabic) that are worn as a head dress to show their affiliation to the Cook Islands.

You don't have to be Cook Islands to wear or make one and I am currently making some (which I'll blog about later) as a part of a raffle for fundraising for a couple of groups that I belong to.

As I was privileged to have been able to take the opportunity to attending a workshop that invited women to learn about how to make them and when I attended there were Tonga, Samoan and other ethnicities represented.

I even made some and took them to Samoa to celebrate some special occasions with family members. It seems to elevate the occasion of celebration in wearing flowers that are so beautifully grown in our Island nations.

I'm so thankful in being able to make them and it's been a blessing in attending a church where I have Cook Islands friends within the congregation of whom I've known for many, many years. A big 'meitaki' or thank you to them for their beautiful friendships...

The Apology (Ifoga) for Dawn Raids by NZ government...

 

Yesterday, was an unprecedented day for the Pacific communities and especially for Samoans with an apology given by the NZ government for the Dawn Raids that occurred during the 1970s that impacted people of colour including Tongans, Niueans, Cook Islanders and Maori etc.

The picture on the left is the 'ifoga' or Samoa process of asking for forgiveness and showing remorse with the Right Honourable Prime Minister of NZ, Jacinda Ardern, covered with a 'Ie Tonga' or 'Ie Samoa' fine mat and when it is lifted by the transgressed party it signals the acceptance of the apology. Very symbolic and very pointed.

I must say that it brought tears in seeing our Prime Minister show such humility, strength and courage to take on this position. 

It is also demonstrated genuine remorse that many Western countries around the world need to take heed of when working through issues and transgressions with indigenous peoples. Prime Minister Ardern illustrated the depth of her understanding in taking such a stance.

It is unprecedented in that I do not know of any other Western political leader of a nation to take on such an indigenous way of asking for acceptance of an apology. For many Samoans who know the depth of such a symbolic way asking for forgiveness, this is not an act that can be taken lightly.

A former Prime Minister of NZ, Helen Clark, did apologize on behalf of the NZ government in June of 2002, for the many thousands of people who died in Samoa as a result of NZ's negligent administration, at the time, in allowing the Influenza epidemic to enter Samoa without taking any preventative measures. Her's was through a speech that was presented publicly.

A lot of thought went into the yesterday's evening event from the beginning to the end that included many speakers and also reparation, of sorts, with $2.1 million scholarships for Pacific peoples, resources made to support the teaching of this time period and also opportunities for Pacific leaders to come to NZ. More details are available on the Ministry of Pacific Peoples website.

Spare a thought for the many labelled 'over stayers' survivors who did not get to hear the heart felt apology. Many family members are now able to understand the depth of what victims or survivors went through and can now carve a different path of freedom for what they went through...

Le Va digital resource for Pasifika families, youth etc...

 

I came across this post on Facebook and thought to share it with the Pasifika community out there who may not have had the opportunity to avail themselves of this neat resource created by 'Le Va' on their social media platform.

If you register on their website, you'll have access to a number of programmes as a young person or as a parent, educator etc.

The neat thing about it is that it's resources that positively reflect on Pasifika values, principles and culture and discusses ideas that a lot of our youth need to understand about cultural identity as a Pacific person.

It's also good for parents and educators to reflect on as there is some interesting information that are good topics to talk with our youth about especially in terms of cultural identity.

One of the interesting points that the resource brought up for me was the idea of cultural intelligence or being able to understand our cultural identity is a strength and is important for our youth to see. Often in mainstream education we are covertly seen as being different and are in a sense judged for being different.

This resource helps our youth to see that our diversity or being different and speaking more than one language (or even understanding it and being exposed to it) is a plus and not to be seen as a negative. We don't have to compare ourselves to mainstream culture i.e. European but be able to see what our individual strengths are that can be shared in our collective communities.

Definitely a resource that I think will be of much benefit to our communities. Why not give it a try on www.atumai.nz ...