Safeguarding measina a Samoa Presentation at WIPCE conference 2025...

 

It has been a whirlwind week! Firstly, with completing my WIPCE presentation (30 minutes) on Thursday, I elongated my 10-minute presentation accordingly.

The auditorium was packed, which was quite surprising for me, as I had expected only a few people to attend on the last day of the conference, but many were interested in the topic. I took a pic for myself to remind me of the venue, etc.

I was also honoured to be able to share some of my journey in safeguarding our Samoan cultural treasures, and gave some tips from my study journey and also from my work in my Samoan and indigenous communities, supporting our communities in their lifelong intergenerational learnings.

It was my first International conference presentation, so I was pleased and blessed by the many questions asked, especially those who came to see me before and after my presentation to share ideas at our family bookstall. It was quite overwhelming and very humbling.

I'm also blessed to know that my well overdue thesis was approved by the wānanga (Māori tertiary higher learning institute) to go to examination. This is such a miracle, as it has given me hope to bring this part of my journey to an end and see where it takes.

This is super exciting, as it's been a 7-year journey (part-time) since 2018, and now I'm awaiting the verdict of three examiners: one from Samoa and two from New Zealand. It's a creative, practice-led thesis, distinct from the usual academic theses, as I wanted to challenge mainstream ideas about what constitutes valid indigenous knowledge and ways of doing.

Let's see if my examiners agree with my approaches as a diaspora Samoan, i.e., one living outside the 'homeland'...

Opening at WIPCE with book stall...

We're finally here at the WIPCE World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education. It was the opening day with a powhiri (Māori welcome) and a parade of nations with 26 nations represented at the Conference.

We have a family bookstall at the conference, with my family members helping to man it (the white peaks are the roofs).

It has been so interesting with so many people visiting from around the world. I've met with Native or First Nations peoples from Canada, the USA, Hawai'i, New Mexico, Australia, Germany, Kiwis, etc.

It's been interesting to have so many people interested in my books, and I, in turn, encourage many of the indigenous educators or visitors to try making their own and sharing their resources with others as well.

This first day was a full day for me, our eldest and my beloved as we manned the stall from 11am until the Festival closed at 9pm. I couldn't wait to go home, have a bite to eat and also to do some marking as I still have marking to do before going overseas on Friday!...

 

Gearing up for WIPCE 2025...

 

Yesterday evening, I went with my middle child to the compulsory stallholder's meeting in readiness for the WIPCE conference called "Te Ao Pūtahi" Festival.

At the meeting, we were told that with the 3,000+ delegates arriving in the next 2 weeks in readiness for the conference that already it boasts being the largest conference that New Zealand has ever hosted.

In looking at the conference programme, it is jam packed with so many events and offerings to attend. I've already decided on some of the events that I'll be attending but I'm also attending to our stall of selling books and answering any questions that readers have.

We're starting to consider what we'll be packing in for our stall and the different products that we'll be offering as well as checking out what other stalls are offering too.

This is getting really exciting as it's the first international conference type setting that I'll be selling my books at and I'm very grateful to the conference organisers for accepting our application to be present at this auspicious occasion.

I'm also grateful that I have my family there with me as it's a family business. In fact, on the last day of the conference where I'll be presenting, the next day we fly out to Fiji for a bit of R&R after a crazy year and especially with my birthday on the horizon...

2025 Kaitiakitanga conference complete...

 

This weekend has been so busy with our in-house conference with students presenting their models of bicultural practice in supervision.

There were six rooms operating with a speaker in each and we had 31 students presenting a 20 presentation. I was so proud of the many who were able to stand and share their visions.

The mini kava bowl that is on the desk in the foreground was a replica of a very large Tongan kava bowl indigenous story that the speaker wove into her presentation with a gift as a souvenir for the markers.

In fact, there were so many indigenous stories that I was privileged to hear about which both was encouraging and satisfying to learn about.

After the conference we had a conference dinner complete with speeches and a lot of happy and relieved students. I think what was so encouraging for me was the transformations that had taken place during class times from the very start with some hesitancy and then to full confidence in their created models of practice.

As an educator, it's a space that I feel very blessed to be in to support the dreams and visions of indigenous peoples for their families but also in partnership with non-indigenous peoples in being able to work together to make this world a better place...

Conference preparations and lanyards...

Not only am I getting ready to present at the WIPCE conference but am also getting my students ready for their in-house conference presentations this weekend.

That's me busy completing the lanyards today, I mean what is a conference without lanyards right? I think it's supposed to make you feel important and 'official' when arriving at a conference with lanyards so it was really neat to be able to let my creative side go to town.

It's all on this weekend with an opening on Friday morning with each presenter picking up their conference pack with lanyards. 

Then the conference proper starts on the following day, on Saturday, starting with a powhiri or a Māori welcoming ceremony at 8.30 am. A cup of tea afterwards with the first presenters starting at 9.30 am and the last at 3.30 pm.

Each presenter has a 20 min' slot to discuss their model of practice and then there is time for the markers to ask questions or clarify things. Afterwards, the whānau or family including friends whom they've invited to watch their presentation can also make comments and then their time is complete.

For this weekend we are having a conference dinner at 6 pm whereby the presenters are able to bring along a +1 or one other guest and then we have a pre-Christmas-like dinner. Some speeches from the valedictorians will be delivered and then we complete the evening with a poroporoake which includes final comments and a karakia or prayer.

It's going to be a very busy weekend with so much going on so I'm really looking forward to Sunday evening when all is complete and then I can relax and put my feet up for a bit before pacing to the next event...
 

Another books.by/pacific-hibiscus...

 

books.by/pacific-hibiscus

This is another offering as an updated reprint on our online bookstore for Pacific Hibiscus. I'm so 'over the moon' that I'm now able to offer books to overseas readers that are 'print on demand'.

It's definitely a lot easier than having inventory with storage needed. This way it's a lot more easily accessible and cuts out all of the running around for me as an Indie-publisher.

I would be interested to know, for those who do decide to buy online what the experience is as I'll also be testing and ordering some online to see how it is for me.

I'm also considering to also Indie-publish on this website a long-awaited novel that I wrote some years ago for my second master's degree in creative writing with AUT Auckland University of Technology.

It's called "Catch him when he falls" it was initially over 100,000 words a longer novel with different perspectives, but I've since separated the perspectives to have a novel for each one. But that's another story and looking forward to the outcome by Christmas.

Meanwhile, I'm enjoying being able to offer this book online through our bookstore on Books.by and looking forward to adding so much more over the weeks leading up to Christmas. Yet another new journey and looking forward to new opportunities...

books.by/pacific-hibiscus...

 books.by/pacific-hibiscus

We've finally done it! I now have an online bookstore especially for overseas readers who have been asking to buy my books online (oops! not eBooks). I mean real books, and it is a print on demand service which makes it seamless and easier to be sent directly to your mailing address. 

So how it works is that you check on the hyperlink above which takes you to the bookstore called "Pacific Hibiscus". You can then view the books that I have available, only one at this stage with "Maui and Sina" Pasifika play kicking it off. If you decide to purchase, then follow the cues and it will print and send it out to you.

I hope to have more titles to add over the summer as we have a lot of work to do to update some of the books that have been out of print and also to add other details that were missing at the time of the first print.

I am so glad to finally have this option for readers as it's been quite difficult trying to sort out this part of our book business. As it's a family business with my children and younger sister involved in different aspects of the book process. From drawing or painting covers to re-typing and updating the older books. It definitely keeps us busy.

However, our New Zealand book service still continues with books printed for conference stalls and places I'll be speaking at in the future as I have a few conferences that I'm looking forward to attending in the not too distant future and starting with the WIPCE World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education next month at Auckland's Aotea centre. 

With so much to do and so little time, please do check it out our new online bookstore called "Pacific Hibiscus" with more to be added in the coming weeks before Christmas. You're also most welcome to add a book review to my Goodreads.com profile too which would be greatly appreciated...

Newest updated cover for 10th Anniversary reprinting of "Maui and Sina" Pasifika play...

 

This last week I've been busy at sorting out the reprints on the 10th Anniversary of Indie-publishing back when it started in 2015. I had a conversation with a representative from Pacific Business Trust on 23rd January in 2015 that so inspired to me to start, and I haven't stopped since (except for during the COVID-19 pandemic).

Three months after that first conversation, I self-published "Sina and the Tuna" as my first picture book and later in the year, my first Pasifika play called "Maui and Sina" that I first wrote back in 1994 in my 20s.

The pic shows an updated version of the cover as I wanted to stay with the original lino that my eldest had carved out. With her permission, I painted acrylics in adding the bright coloured background (to make it pop!) and the rest was history.

I also stayed with the layout as "why change something that isn't broke right?" plus it was in appreciation of my eldest letting me use her artwork when I didn't have anything already set. 

These are some of the books that I'm getting ready for the WIPCE conference stall that I have there at the Aotea Centre in Auckland city where it's held from Sunday 16th November to the final day of the 20th of November when I'll also be presenting at the conference.

I've also since paid my eldest a commission (because I hadn't back in the day - oops!) and she was wonderfully surprised. As I do the same thing when I have permission from my younger sister to use her art for my book covers and a show of appreciation for their artistic artworks.

I'm now considering reprinting the other two books that form a trilogy of my first three Pasifika plays  i.e. "Tagaloalagi" is the second play with "Su'e the lost son" as the final book of the three. My eldest will also be paid commission (in retrospect for the two covers of both books) and will also work on the layout in similar fashion. So much to do in so little time! roll on Christmas...

Preparations for WIPCE conference & stall...

 

It's going to be a busy month, next month with a WIPCE conference presentation, and stall at the conference selling books at the Aotea Centre in the Auckland CBD Central Business district.

One of two books that I'm currently working on reprinting is "Sina and the Tuna" which is my most popular bilingual picture book.

"Maui and Sina" was written back in 1994 and was a popular play that high schools are currently asking for as it is a recommended reading for Year 9-10 Drama set for the new English Curriculum in 2027.

Both books are in the process of preparations for reprints and an updated dedication with the loss of my late father. I know he would have been so proud of my efforts as he attended all the book launches that I had whenever he was in the country or in Samoa. 

I know he was quietly pleased but always wanted me to remain humble about my achievements. Although it was the inspiration of both my parents that I was able to bring my dreams into fruition due to the tenacity that they both had in letting us dream big.

It's also the 10th Anniversary of both books as when I started self-publishing or Indie-publishing as it's sometimes called. In that first year of 2015, I released 5 books in that first year and I strategically wanted to start with "Sina and the Tuna" because that was the first 'tala o le vavau' story from ancient times that my parents first told me. It was an acknowledgement of my parents and my Samoan ancestors. 

In now preparing to present at the international WIPCE conference on the final day with the theme of "Linguistic and Cultural Revitalization through Creative Arts and Media" I'm prepping and looking forward to enjoying the experience and walking in new opportunities....

Rainbow's End Fun times...

 

On the weekend, my youngest went to our local resident amusement park called "Rainbow's End" for their night rides.

We went earlier in the year and just loved it so that when she wanted to go with her friend for a birthday celebration there was no problem.

My favourite ride is still the Log Flume (you can check it out in an earlier blog) where you hop into a hollowed-out log-like structure.

Then it takes you around floating on water with indoor and outdoor scenes. There are also lots of different themes and right at the end there's a long drop. So, you've gotta be careful if you're sitting in the front seat cos you could end up getting wet.

I picked my youngest up after the ride and she'd had a ball (fun time!) with her friend and their family. She's wanting us to go again during the next school holidays, but we'll see cos there's so much going on before Christmas that I'm not sure if we can squeeze it in but you never know!...

Colourful Vans and Colourful Fans!...

 

Yesterday, after some study in my office with my eldest, we left and picked up a bite to eat from a local eatery.

Recently, I had been aware of lots of flags showing up outside homes in front yards, mostly Tongan and Samoan showing national pride or fans' pride. 

This also indicates that there's probably a big televised Rugby or Rugby league match just around the corner.

However, on our way home we saw a group of colourful vans parked up at our local town centre. There were seven in total and each with their own unique colour and parked next to each other as if to make a statement of solidarity. Some were sporting Samoan flags and stickers at the back of their vans showing the car/van club that they belonged to.

We couldn't help smiling in asking where else would you see such colourful vans basking out on a cloudy day? Well only in South Auckland where people can appreciate the colourfulness of our culture and "get-it!" cos not everyone can "gets-it!". 

I think it had to do with a Rugby League game between the Kiwis and Toa Samoa. I only found that out in googling the topic because unfortunately only my late dad and my beloved watch/ed sports and I'd only dip in with the occasional interest.

I also think it's a lead up to next week's match between Tonga and Samoa (googled), and I know when the Tongas have parades and show up to matches, they take it to the next level. So this is probably going to be a lead up to something big. 

It's usually complete with cars driving around of following a leader displaying flags with pride in their respective islands beit Samoa or Tonga. Then there's a lot of honking and loud Island music playing. There's also a lot of cheering and laughing. Yeap! adding a Pacific flavour to our NZ sports...

"Smashing Machine' movie...

 

Last night, I went on a date night with my beloved and thought to go watch Dwayne Johnson's latest movie called "Smashing Machine". It's based on a true story of Mark Kerr who was one of the first USA fighters to make it big in MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) in Japan back in the 1980 - 2000.

My beloved bought some pizza (a first for me in the movie theatres) and a large fizzy which I knew I wouldn't be able to finish and then we settled into our recliner chairs cinematic viewing. Right from the outset there are a lot of fight scenes and although I've watched a lot of male macho movies with fight scenes, this looked particularly graphic.

Perhaps it was because in the early days of MMA they were still working out the rules and eye gouging, knees to the head and other moves that were banned in other sports. I particularly didn't like the loud background songs and some of the background music in scenes were so jarring.

Apart from that, I thought Dwayne Johnson's acting was superb, except I couldn't get over the way that they did his makeup prosthetics around his eye area, it just didn't seem right. He showed a lot of vulnerability with crying scenes (oops - belated spoiler alert) and I couldn't help but feel sorry for him with his self-absorbed girlfriend.

At the end of the movie, the actual real-life Mark Kerr has his cameo scene buying his groceries at a shopping place and then leaves in his large twin cab truck. He never recovered from some of his injuries and pain killers was a very real part of his life with addiction.

We came out of that movie feeling a little lack-luster in that the movie in a sense was a tribute to him for how he started in the sport but then through all of the dramas he was going through he wasn't able to reach that pinnacle again - although one of his good friends did. 

I think it's more of a man's movie and that's why I took my beloved with me as sometimes the graphic violence seemed real but too much for my taste. Over all, it's in the middle ground for me and Emily Blunt's acting as the girlfriend was pretty good too. Just not a movie for me...

Chocolate leis and celebrations...

This week, I went with my family to celebrate the PhD scholarship that my beloved received from AUT. It was an interesting event with people from many different backgrounds.

However, before we travelled there, I supported my middle child in making a bunch of what used to be called lolly leis, except that these ones were made out of mini chocolates.

I shared about the history of lolly leis (which I might have already blogged about earlier). I remember as a child, my mother and other ladies would make up lolly leis for those going to Samoa whenever we went to the airport back in the 1970s - 1980s.

It was interesting back then because that was the only place that I would see it. I also remember taking them to Samoa and seeing children enjoying themselves as NZ lollies were a treat back then.

I was interestingly surprised when I took my then young children to a South Auckland primary school and watched as children would go up to pick up their prizes, and their families would go and put on lolly (or chocolate) leis. 

I saw how much my children appreciated this all the way through to high school, where they continued to do so and now at University, they do the same thing with their friends who appreciate it. So we've become something of a machine when it happens. 

It was also interesting to see how much has changed, with Tongan women taking it to the next level with their neat designs akin to weaving. It's not a phenomenon unique only to New Zealand, as I've seen it in videos from Hawaii and the United States, though some people go to the extreme of consuming whole blocks or bars of chocolate. Let's not even get started on the money leis!

Now, it's more about celebration and chocolate; lolly leis have become a symbol of celebration in many Polynesian cultures. The funny thing is that although it is often given to one person, that person then distributes it to other people. It was the same when we went out, and I was given one, and then I passed it out to someone who didn't have one (that's because I had some when making it).

So let's give it up for the lolly/choc/money leis that have evolved and now are in the space of celebration and showing up whenever Pacific peoples are out there. Especially with the cheehoos that I heard my children shouting out when they saw their dad receive the award then added the choc leis!