Three months ago 41 year old John Kieran Hettig was told by his doctor that he was pre-diabetic.  That very same day he walked into a gym signed up, got a personal trainer and started making small steps to living a healthier lifestyle.     

Of Maori, English, German, Tongan, Samoan and Chinese descent John Kieran Hettig who works as a cameraman is one of these every day heroes who I find so inspirational as example of how we as a community can fight obesity at a personal level.

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At 7 o’clock tomorrow evening at the FMG Stadium in Hamilton (OMG it’s going to be) the highly anticipated rugby match between Moana Pasifika and the Maori All Blacks will kick off.  The Tana Umaga coached Moana Pasifika side will be led by Crusaders front row prop Michael Ala’alatoa.

To tell us more about this exciting match-up we have on the line Auckland rugby stalwart, former All Blacks star, TV star and Pasifika Engagement Manager at New Zealand rugby Saveatama Eroni Clarke.

 

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An Australian-born Samoan with a head for the complex world of logistics and a heart for his family has been named the Royal New Zealand Navy Sailor of the Year.

Leading Logistics Supply Specialist (LLSS) Peter Siulai, 27, from New Lynn in Auckland, is a sailor of professionalism, skill, enthusiasm, dedication and resilience – the epitome of the values expected of the modern sailor, according to Chief of Navy Rear Admiral David Proctor.

As a youngster, LLSS Siulai moved with his parents to Auckland, along with his two sisters and a brother. He attended Kelston Boys’ High School, and participated in its services academy programme.

He enlisted in the navy in 2013.

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Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust and Link Alliance are proud to present the MOANA WALL. An outdoor exhibition space located on East Street’s hoardings surrounding the Karangahape Station construction site. Tautai will curate and project manage the outdoor exhibitions from 2020 – 2023. The 70m hoardings will be transformed into the MOANA WALL using the existing infrastructure as a canvas that highlights contemporary Pasifika artists and celebrates the diverse community of Karangahape Road. 

The grand opening will be held tomorrow, Friday 4 December celebrating its first exhibition Inside the wave are ocean bodies by artists Natasha Ratuva and Hōhua Ropate Kurene, curated by Cora-Allan Wickliffe. The exhibition will remain until April 2021.

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The Royal Commission of Inquiry: Abuse in care has a Pacific inquiry team that is investigating the abuse suffered by all Pacific survivors from the 1950s onwards. This includes the abuse experienced in foster homes, churches and schools. 

The Pacific inquiry team is dedicated to calling on all Pacific survivors to come forward and share their stories, so that they can make recommendations to the government on how to take better care of our children in future to ensure that history does not repeat itself.

The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry Faith-based Redress hearing began on Monday in Auckland, which focussed on the redress processes of the Catholic Church, Anglican Church and the Salvation Army. 

The first witness who gave evidence was Moeapulu Frances Tagaloa. Moeapulu currently works with Tandem Ministries, a Christian organisation and has just been assigned to work with their global organisation, Campus Crusade for Christ, as Chief of Staff, based in the United States.  

On Monday Frances gave evidence about the sexual and emotional abuse she experienced in the early 1970s when she was a primary school student. The abuser was a Marist Brother who taught at the nearby Marist Brothers intermediate school in Ponsonby, Auckland.

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DO GOOD FEEL GOOD are celebrating 5 years of service to the community !

Leading up to the “We are one We are Many” production showcasing this Friday & Saturday LIVE with Zabdiel Mataia one of the main actors for this production. We are ONE We are MANY We are ONE we are MANY is a production that showcases the common thread that pulls us together. We also highlight our diversity as a strength.

"We get to show the community the talent we have in our neighborhood"

They chose to be courageous in using the creative arts platform to share their  lived experiences and showcase the power of young people when all energies are harnessed towards positive change.

2X Public Shows on Saturday 5th December 11.30am and 6.30pm.

PRODUCTION IS FREE Do Good Feel Good is a youth movement in South Auckland leading social change. Backboned by The Cause Collective for the past five years, we have built our network of changemakers to design solutions on social issues we are passionate about. #BETHECHANGE

Book your tickets now: https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2020/we-are-one-we-are-many/auckland/mangere

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Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Saunoamaali’i Dr. Karanina Sumeo shares views about the need for diversity at senior levels of management.

New research has revealed that Māori and Pasifika female academics are paid nearly $8000 less a year than their non-Māori and Pasifika male counterparts.  The study, Glass ceilings in New Zealand Universities: Inequities in Māori and Pacific promotions earnings, was led by Dr Tara McAllister at the research centre Te Pūnaha Matatini and published in Mai Journal yesterday.

It builds on previous research which found that only 4 percent of New Zealand professors are Māori and Pasifika make up only 1 percent.

This new study, which examined the promotions and earnings of 17,174 academics from all eight New Zealand universities between 2003 and 2018, has revealed they're not only underrepresented but underpaid.

 

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K’aute Pasifika - a charitable trust based in Hamilton - is making great gains towards building a Pan Pacific community hub in the city.  The vision of the Hub is to create a place that offers a whole of family wraparound service which operates across all the wellbeing domains.  It will include a large modern fale that will provide a place to belong.

This coming weekend Hamilton prepares to host the Moana Pasifika vs Maori All Blacks match and K’aute Pasifika have plans for the groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of building the Pacific Hub.

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Pakilau Manase Lua is the Chairman of the Pacific Response Coordination Team of the Pacific Leadership Forum. 

He is an installed Matapule or talking chief for Lord Ma’afu of Vaini and Tokomololo.   He co-facilitates the Mana Moana programme for Leadership NZ and is on the boards of Fonua Ola, Aotearoa Tongan Health Workers Association and Chairman of Auckland Museum’s Pacific Advisory Group. 

On Monday this week For the first time ever a Turou and Ava blessing ceremony was held at the New Zealand parliament for new Pasifika MPs.  The Moana Pasefika team held a kava ceremony and the opening of the leadup to game against the Maori All Blacks and kava ceremony was part of the opening of Auckland Museum’s Atrium.   Pakilau Manase Lua joins us this morning to talk about Pan Pacific cultural traditions being created and practiced in New Zealand today.

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Tyla Vaeau is a tattooist of Sāmoan descent who  has dedicated much of her practice to researching the cultural, historical and spiritual significance of tatau and motifs and is the first Sāmoan female tattooist to be gifted the ‘au (customary Samoan tattooing tool).

After graduating with a conjoint Bachelor of Arts in Art History and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Elam School of Fine Arts in 2009, Tyla more recently completed a Master of Arts in Art History focused on Samoan tatau and its development within the Sāmoan diaspora as a travelling practice.

Tyla Vaeau is one of only a few qualified female tatau practitioners in a domain that has traditionally been male-dominated. 

Tyla Vaeau was named the winner of the Creative New Zealand Emerging Pacific Artist award in 2019. She was this year named one of Auckland University’s 40 under 40 inspiring young alumni who continue to shine both in their professional and personal lives.

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