Happy birthday to my beloved...

 

I really liked this AI-developed Pacific beach scene that I'm working on to send to my beloved as an inspired birthday card, as it's his birthday today.

He had a countdown to his birthday last night with some of the family who were still up and around. It was continued with his birthday breakfast and going to church, then we'll wind down with a family dinner out at one of his favourite eateries of Indian food.

Yes, I know not Samoan food as he had spent some years in India during his missionary days and still enjoys curries and special Indian/Asian dishes too.

It's also a long weekend so it's great that he gets to take some time out during the King's birthday weekend and take some R&R (rest and relaxation) during this weekend.

He also teaches, like me, and is currently completing his creative practice-led PhD at the Auckland University of Technology, which is a mainstream university, quite unlike the wānanga or indigenous and Māori spaces that we frequent as part of the community.

Wishing him God's blessings and a neat birthday and to have an enjoyable year despite the pressures of studies, working and the many things that he does in the communities that we are involved in. I'm so glad that we have been together for some 25 years having celebrated many birthdays along the way...

Radio Samoa Interview 20 May 2026...

One of the things that my late dad asked me to do was to speak on Radio Samoa about my books, but I wasn't confident in my gagana (language) Samoa in that I spoke everyday Samoan and not the matai (chiefly) language.

However, upon graduating on the 1st of May with my family there to witness the event (although missing my mum and lil' sis'), I knew it was time that I fulfilled his wishes, and this interview was the result.

In my nervousness, I completely had some foggy moments in forgetting the name of the ship that my parents left Samoa in, which was the Tofua, and the name of my late cultural supervisor, Funemalafai Dr Silipa Silipa, who first gave me the idea of the topic of Measina a Samoa.

I'm still on a 'high' from finally completing my nemesis PhD journey that evaded me for decades, since my 20s, as it seemed as if I would never finish it with so many things happening in my life. It's such a blessing to now be on the other side of the fence where the 'grass is greener'.

I have another radio interview on 531PI Radio next week on Samoan language week here in New Zealand, and looking forward to sharing some of the information that the thesis writing and seeking helped me to understand with more speaking engagements to come next month...

 

Happy Heavenly birthday to my late dad...

 

Yesterday, we celebrated my late dad's birthday, which would have been his 89th birthday. We went to visit his gravesite and had our family devotional prayer there, then headed out for a quick drive, and then back home.

I then baked together two boxed cakes that came with icing - cos I was too lazy to measure out ingredients then baked them together. I cut the large cake in half and added the icing.

We then burst out the bubbly (non-alcoholic of course) and drink it with the cake. It was such a neat time of coming together as a family and celebrating him and the legacy that he left behind for us to continue. So it was a celebration and one we'll keep doing.

I also read the posts that my youngest added to her Instagram account in acknowledging being named after him. As my dad was the first visitor who held her and I knew that I would name our youngest after him and carries the name well for him.

Today, I went for my usual brisk one-hour, 5 km walk and enjoyed the scenery, the fresh air and the beautiful water. I feel like I get drawn to the water as its calming and lovely on a sunny day. It reminds me that we have been blessed to live in such a beautiful part of the world...

PhD graduated and awarded 1st = Top PhD thesis...

 

Here's a pic of one of my graduation photos in the local marae (Māori meeting house) with the traditional carvings and taniko (traditional wall hanging) patterns, earlier this year, for Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi (Māori Indigenous Education institution of higher learning).

I'm also holding the flax flowers that I received in having been awarded the "Emeritus Professor Roger Green (ONZM) Award for Top Thesis" (2026) as first equal with another PhD candidate.

It was indeed a pleasure to receive the award, as my colleague was able to deliver the valedictorian speech in honour of all those who had graduated that day.

I was also honoured to have some of my family there and especially my beloved and children, as it would have been too much for my mum to travel the three and a half hour drive. 

Instead, we made it a road trip, staying over two nights at an Airbnb and having an enjoyable time with good company. It was also a time of relaxation, chilling and listening to music and being together as a family. I think it solidified how important it was for me to enjoy this time with my children in sharing with them the end of a journey that had been one of my goals to complete. They have now seen the completion and the joy that it brought to all of us...

Finally PhD grad' completed...

 

It's finally official in completing my PhD graduation ceremony in Whakatāne yesterday with Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.

Here I am dressed in our regalia for PhD students, with one of my examiners. Her late father had been an important figure and worked for Māori Affairs.

Her esteemed father met with the former Head of State for Samoa, His Highness Tui Atua (he does have a longer official title) and whose writings I also used as an important part of the methodology for my PhD thesis.

It was such a beautiful day with so much more to write about as my family accompanied me down with two full cars and after a 3.5 hour drive we finally arrived at our Airbnb that my eldest booked for us. We hurriedly attended the Powhiri (Māori welcoming ceremony) the day before the graduation.

That's all for now with so much more to write about. It was such a blessing to attend with my family and my mum waiting at home as the long ride would have been too taxing. With more to come...