Passing of a well-respected rangatira (leader) Mr Stirling...

I'd like to pay homage to a rangatira (Māori word for leader), a kaiako (teacher) and a beloved teaching colleague for many years, Mr Te Kepa Stirling, as I knew him.

I started high school, and he was the Māori teacher at my high school, Ngā Tapuwae College (before it became a kura - school of Māori immersion), with his late wife as a school councillor. 

They were big proponents of te reo Māori (the Māori language), and I remember taking his class to learn Māori words, especially the Lord's Prayer. He also played the guitar, and I remember he had one finger missing but still played waiata (Māori songs) with gusto and had the rest of us singing along.

He was a formidable teacher and one that you didn't want to mess around with. He was a no-nonsense guy, but then when I got to know him better, I learned that he had a good sense of humour with a real heart for his people and te ao (worldviews) Māori.

There was a big restructuring of the school back in the 90s. It became one of the first campuses nationwide, with the school's name changed to Southern Cross Campus, encompassing the next-door Māngere Intermediate school that I had earlier attended. A primary school was moved onto the campus from down the road, and the rest was history.

The Māori bilingual classes then applied to become a kura and were next door to the campus and kept the name Ngā Tapuwae, where it became one of the most sought-after schools of Māori immersion that scored high marks for their students. Mr & Mrs Stirling's daughter, who was a couple of years older than me, became the principal.

After leaving high school, I went to Uni for several years and completed my first Master's degree, then returned to train as a high school teacher. I later met Mr Stirling both as experienced educators (he more than me), and we both worked on Ministry of Education contracts.

I distinctly remember him driving me to visit another colleague, and he showed me a shortcut to the city from where we both lived in South Auckland. Often when I drive down that road, I remember him showing me the road and the good relations that we had. Him as an experienced tangata whenua educator, and me as a fledgling diaspora Samoan educator at the time.

I had a lot of respect for Mr Stirling, as it was from him, his wife and colleague that I heard the Māori language spoken at school, as it wasn't commonly heard in the circles that I had growing up. It's a different story now, as I work and study within Māori tertiary education circles, but he would have been one of the first pioneers and just a year younger than my late dad.

It was so sad to hear today about his passing, as I had attended his wife's tangi (Māori funeral arrangements) many years ago at the kura where there were a lot of educators, students, and families who paid their respects at the time. They also left a special legacy in their vocal advocacy for te reo and te ao Māori, now with a kura onsite where Māori can succeed in an environment that espouses their cultural understandings. 

He reminds me of my dad; they were men of integrity who loved and served their communities. They were proponents of culture and language and believed in the integrity of tikanga/kawa or tū/aganu'u or protocols/traditions that needed to be passed on to the next generations. Interestingly, both had daughters who have continued in their legacies and trusting that this will continue with next generations...
 

Vai, Wai, and the important of water...

In past classes that I've taught, I've asked my students to consider what element they've felt associated with from their (indigenous) perspectives.

For me, it's water or vai in gagane (language) Samoan or wai in te reo (the language) Māori. I've always felt drawn to water, and perhaps that has to do with my Samoan heritage and DNA.

I remember learning to swim with my favourite strokes being back stroke, breast stroke and side stroke. I must confess that my freestyle isn't so great by my beloved's is.

All my children have been to swimming classes and in my 20s and 30, I enjoyed participating in Dragonboat and especially Outrigging or Waka ama, which is a type of canoe with an ama or outrigger. However, nowadays I'm enjoying my 5 - 7 km walks close to water, and this pic is of a beach that I walk around. I find water calming and soothing when it's still. 

It helps me to relax and to enjoy the soft lapping on sunny days near the beach. In fact, I got married to my beloved on a beach in Fiji, i.e. Sonaisali Island, and upon the loss of my late dad, when all of the funeral arrangements were completed, I was able to cry my heart out near water, which I found healing.

In Samoa, it's been a blessing to have been able to build on my late father's communal village of Fasito'o-uta, a house that is next to the open ocean with a view of the island of Savai'i from our outside porch. I've also participated in 'pure' or cleansing ceremonies with past classes when teaching/learning about 'tikanga' or Māori tradition and protocols. Water holds a special place in my heart...
 

Graduation cake for our eldest...

 

Here is a pic of our eldest's graduation cake that I forgot to post about on the day of her graduation from AUT (Auckland University of Technology) Bachelor of Laws.

She also won a top prize from one of her classes regarding indigenous laws that she was particularly fond of discussing with me, given my interest in indigenous research.

She actually had two other cakes, one from her BBF as they had been high school buddies who had both decided to enter law schools but at different universities, though only metres away from each other.

For this particular cake, I went in with my youngest to the cake shop to discuss the design of a book with yellow and pink tapa-type print on the top, frangipani with pink centres on the top.

The mortar board, coloured forest green with ribbon around the scroll, depicts the colour of the hood for law graduates of the university.

Inside the book cake, our youngest chose a marble cake with chocolate and vanilla and the mortal board filling was her favourite - a red velvet cake. The sad thing about our festivities was that I had to work on the weekend of her graduation and wasn't able to spend the Saturday and Sunday together.

However, we had a fun time and with some beautiful memories that were captured by a professional photographer and also our handy phones. I'm so glad to see her complete this part of her journey. It definitely was hard fought and we're so proud that the next generation are continuing on with my late father's wish for them to do well no matter what life's path they decide on...

"Culture is what shapes your ideas" Photograph by Iriyahz Filisi (2026)

 

Photo by Iriyahz Filisi (c) 2026

One of the things that I've been pleasantly encouraged by is the creativity that I believe was passed down through generations on my maternal side. 

Starting with my namesake, great-grandmother Eleni Tuilimu nee: Spitzenburg, to her son (my granddad), who was a jewellery maker, then to my mum, who was an amazing creative, i.e. could sew, knit, crochet, weave, make handicrafts, and amazing cook.

Then passed down to me with my interest in the arts and fine art, handicrafts and creative writing. Then to my children, with the elder two taking art into their senior high school years and now the youngest taking photography in senior high school.

This is a poster that was created by our youngest in her photography class, bringing together her interest in Samoan culture and a wordsmith too. She displayed the depiction of one of the weapons that Nafanua (an historical Samoan warrior woman) was believed to have used in a historical battle that she was, as I retold the story of in one of my books...

He Ara Rangahau - The path/ways of Indigenous Research...

 

This was an article that was written a couple of months ago after I graduated with my PhD from Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi. It summarised the journey that I had taken (which was a very long in decades) to complete my studies.

I think that in taking my time, learning from my communities and not compromising and walking away from some academic environments, I was able to write a thesis while being immersed outside of academia

I was able to authentically write in such a way that it was recognised by the markers and the committee who awarded me with a first equal top thesis prize for the year. I must say that when I first read the report from an eminent Māori academic who supported my thesis going to examination, I simply cried.

It has been my nemesis for so many years, so it was a sigh of relief and a sign that it was meant to be and that the eminent academic understood why I wrote it that way. My pathway to completing my PhD had to go through the fire and through an indigenous lens as a diaspora Samoan woman matai (chief), and there was no other way to write it.

I'm considering now publishing it (not all the research speak for the academy) but more the personal stories, as it was hard fought and I think it can help to inspire other would-be academics or even just the lay person who's interested to consider their own personal stories as being worthy of sharing. 

Again, I thank God and my parents; my mum always believed in me from the start and my late dad, who planted the seed and dream within me to even consider the 'doctor/ate' path, although he meant a medical doctor, but as a creative, I was able to put my own spin on it...

First Class visit to Papakura Marae...

During the weekend, I had the privilege of taking my class to visit a local marae called Papakura Marae. 

It was to be my first time visiting there, but its reputation preceded it, as I had heard about all of the neat community work they did during the COVID-19 lockdown some years ago.

I was the van driver, as we only had a van full of students; we didn't need to use the other two vans that had been booked, as others were catching up with their work back on campus.

It was also a privilege to have had a family of three associated with the marae and another who worked at the marae and joined my class last year. There, I had promised that I would bring a class not only to visit but to get to spend a half day there to learn about the marae and the opportunities that it offers its community.

We were formally welcomed onto the marae with a powhiri (māori welcoming ceremony), with two ladies of our group who were able to karanga (special female call) in kind, and one of our group who was fluent in te reo (language) Māori was able to respond and thank the marae representatives for welcoming us into their space.

We enjoyed having morning tea and lunch there at their beautiful whare kai or place of eating. I must say that I enjoyed their meals as it was cooked with a lot of  'love' compared to the catered food that we usually receive on campus. There I was able to catch up with two of my former students, and it was so neat to see how far they had gone with their practices.

We were taken on a tour around the marae and got to learn about the different carvings and pou (poles), their names and the stories behind them. I also learned that a lot of the carvings had been carved through a relationship that they had with TWOA Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, where I currently work, and it was through a programme like mine that students and their teacher were able to plan and carve out the pou.

We learned that there were at least 62 services that the marae offers to its community that were not only for their Māori communities but also for non-Māori. They also gave a copy of their publication about the marae's backstory.

My students absolutely enjoyed themselves for our fieldwork excursion and we also got to learn a lot along the way, so much so, that when it was discussed the following day in class with the rest who hadn't been able to attend - there was so much to share and I was so glad that I was able to share that learning opportunity with them...
 

Congratulations on law degree graduation of eldest...

 

Congratulations to our eldest child who graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from AUT University this morning.

It was a mad rush to get to the University, located in the CBD (Central Business District), to grab our family tickets and then be seated at the Aotea Centre, awaiting the start of the graduation ceremony.

It was encouraging to see the other graduands with many families seated around, and when it came time for our graduand to cross the stage, we all stood up (7 of us) and sang "Ua fa'afetai..."

I had already prepped our group to stand up and sing loudly and even encouraged my beloved to lead the song, as I'd be able to harmonise loudly, which we did. It was also encouraging that our graduand said that she could hear us from afar and that we were in tune!

We later drove over the shore to a lovely restaurant in Devonport by the wharf to have a late lunch with our new graduate, her maternal gran (my mum), our family and her friends. She had been at the Museum taking photos, which I've witnessed over the years as many taking graduate photos there.

There were several gifts that she received i.e. three cakes, including a cutting cake, beautiful flower bouquets, a graduation teddy bear, some measina that my beloved brought back from Samoa i.e. carved replica weapons, many leis to name a few. With lots of well wishes for the future ahead ...

Live action "Moana"...

 

Last night, I went with my youngest to watch the highly anticipated 'live-action' Moana movie that still stands as my fave all-time Disney production. It featured Dwayne Johnson as the better-looking character of Maui, and Moana was played by the debut of Catherine Laga'aia.

It was so interesting to watch because I knew of Catherine's Samoan grandparents who attended my birth church with our families until they both passed on. Catherine's Samoan features so embodied her grandparents, and I can see that they live on in her, and they would have been so proud of her too.

They made wonderful contributions as actors of Samoan/Pasifika descent to the story of our ancestors' wayfinding voyaging, and craftsmanship of seafaring vessels that brought them as pioneering explorers to establish thriving islands in the Pasifika long before Captain Cook's voyages.

I am so pleased that this generation of young people (and some of us oldies) also get to hear/view/read of such amazing explorations that have brought us the cultural practices and considerations that we have today that set us apart from other cultures as our point of difference/s.

Yes, absolutely enjoyed it and I would highly recommend it as a family-friendly movie to watch. It was also very interesting to see the intertwining of Hawaiian, Samoan, Tongan etc. dance moves, Pasifika actors and art. An array of what makes us proud Pasifika peoples...

Celebrating Matariki 2026...

 

Happy Matariki! It's been interesting to observe the uptake of many in Aotearoa New Zealand to celebrate Matariki, which is known as the star cluster that rises and is visible to announce the traditional Māori new year.

Even in Shopping Malls, as pictured here, there are displays to explain Matariki and the nine stars that make up the cluster, with different properties associated with each.

I've also heard of some who choose not to celebrate it, but I think it's because they may not understand or have been told about the importance that the celebration entails.

From a video that I watched recently on social media by Prof. Rangi Matamua, he explains that in its essence it's about three things:

1. Remembering those who have passed since the last Matariki or even those dearly beloved.

2. Celebrating the presence of whānau/families today and being (for me) grateful to have this time together over a special meal.

3. Future-focused in planning for the year ahead and where you'd like to be (by next Matariki).

That's it in a nutshell, and I'm encouraged as a New Zealander and SamoaNZ that such indigenous knowledge is validated with holidays that now exist to not only be relevant to my life today but also for those to know that Te Ao Māori (worldviews) are relevant for us as a nation...

Toy Story 5 Review...

 

    

It was quite a surprise when I found out that Disney and Pixar were launching a Toy Story 5 movie, having watched the movie from the beginning before having children and then having them grow up and watching the movie franchise.

I watched it last night with my younger two, and we were pleasantly surprised as we didn't quite know what to expect. We were especially interested in wondering how they would treat the idea of technology taking away from the focus on playing outside, and make-believe, etc.

It was very encouraging and a reminder of what it was like to play as a child before technology came around. It was also interesting for me to reflect on how different it was for me as a child, enjoying playing outside all day on a Saturday and not coming inside until it was evening.

I see the differences in Samoa when I'm visiting, where there are fewer children on devices, and they are out playing or engaging with each other. It's a reminder that with the advancement of technology that children should be encouraged to take time out to enjoy the natural world around them...

Gift acknowledging PhD graduation...

This week, I received a beautiful gift of a kete (basket) and paua (abalone) shell earrings in acknowledgement of completing my PhD.

It was such a surprise, and I was able to humbly thank my manager on behalf of 'Te Manawa Houkura' (the name of our Indigenous Research team) at our campus.

It's been quite a journey, now that I'm completing my nemesis degree and considering the many other interests and pursuits I have. 

With more tala or stories to retell, more books to write, edit and publish, some exhibitions to consider and my usual handicrafts that are cyclical.

I'm also encouraged that my work doesn't stop with the completion of my thesis but that it continues in supporting other students, and particularly those who are from indigenous cultures, to continue in their studies.

I'm also looking forward to the end of the year, when there are plans for an end-of-year graduation party, but that is still to be confirmed, with many other things happening in the interim and particularly for my eldest graduating with a law degree at the end of this month.

So never a dull moment with a two-week holiday break for the degree and post-grad' students and for me to catch up on marking those who are catching up on their assessments...

Guest Speaker at Careers Expo 2026, at Auckland Showgrounds, Greenlane...

  
This week, I had the privilege of being one of three guest speakers at an 'Inspiring the Future' event at the annual Careers Expo, which went over a two-day period that many Auckland secondary school students attended.

In the session that I attended, there were students from the Deaf Education school and two other local high schools. The two other speakers were also women, with one who was a Car collision specialist (mechanic) and a Scientist.

It was also neat that my three children attended with me as well and gave their support, as well as having a look around at all of the stalls of different universities, Technology Institutes, various career pathways, with lots of giveaways too.

I was able to give a short 10 - 15-minute talk about being a (self-published) author/illustrator, and I was also able to share about my books and how I came about to writing ancient Samoan stories and illustrated the pictures too.

There was an opportunity to ask questions, and I was able to answer questions around why it's important and how I was aware that the stories that I had researched many years ago as a part of my first Master's degree could be lost if I didn't start sharing them in book form.

It was such an honour and privilege to be able to share my journey, and I was also able to thank the organisers for such an opportunity, as I often don't get the opportunity to thank them. I also like encouraging students to try their best at whatever they are good at as I remember thinking during my final senior year at high school that "my ambition was to have an ambition" as I wasn't sure about what I wanted to be/do.

Next week, I've also been booked to attend another school and am looking forward to sharing with them as well...

Neice's Wedding Proposal...

Yesterday, I attended a proposal ceremony for my niece, who my parents had helped to bring up. I was at first surprised that it had been considered to be at the grave of my late father, yet I understood why it was important. 

As the youngest, my dad had a soft spot for her, which didn't always sit well with me to have favourites, but I also understood the special place that he had for their youngest.

I still remember, in his last years, how my late dad would speak with me to ensure that I promised to look out for her, as I did for my own children. He knew that he could trust me, as he had important values that he brought me up to do the same with mine.

It's a promise that I've kept, in the background, checking in every now and then and ensuring that all is well. I'm also glad that my own children feel protective in the same way, of each other, as they were all brought up together.

it was beautiful to have our mum there to witness the occasion. The pic shows a siapo or tapa cloth where the proposal took place in front of my late dad's gravesite. It was actually the first public proposal that I've ever been to, except for my own, which was private but at one of my favourite places, at the beach at night with the light of the moon.

After the proposal, she said "yes," and he gave her the engagement ring (which must have been a sigh of relief for her newly engaged partner). Then a small group of family and friends went to a newly renovated local restaurant that I had not been to before, and we simply had a great time there. 

I think the only thing missing was a dance floor. We then departed for home as the newly engaged couple continued their celebration with an after-party, with some club-hopping afterwards. But not for me, as the night before, my sister and I had been cleaning and preparing the site before the proposal.

All in all, it was a beautiful celebration and declaration of love, and I wish the newly engaged couple all the best as they look forward to planning their wedding for the new year. Already, there's a buzz of excitment as this would be one of the first weddings in our family for my children's generation to come...