Morgan Tuimaleali’ifano is Associate Professor in History at the University of the South Pacific and obtained his PhD from ANU and USP in 1997. From 2010-2015, he served as Head of School of Social Sciences.

From the villages of Falelatai and Leulumoega, Samoa, he has been with the USP for over 40 years and first attended USP as a student in 1974 served on the USP Council as a student representative 1975-1977 and later as Staff representative (2007-2009). 

He is a founder member and former General-Secretary of the USP Alumni Association in 1981. 

He served as President of the Association of USP Staff (2008-2009) and President of the Pacific History Association (1998-2000). 

He is the author of two books and several book chapters and journal articles. He is on the editorial board of four journals including the Journal of Pacific History. His team of historians is collaborating with Fiji Ministry of Education (Curriculum Advisory Services) in reconceptualizing the secondary school history syllabi (2010-2017).

Oscar Kightley is an award-winning writer, director, actor and TV presenter. Oscar is most well-known for his work on the hit series bro’Town, the highly successful film Sione’s Wedding and being a member of the comedy group The Naked Samoans. He was the 2006 Arts Foundation Laureate Award winner and was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2009 for services to theater and television.

Oscar Kightley, will host the first-ever Pacific focused sport show on New Zealand television. The show, Pacific Brothers, produced by Kava Bowl Media in conjunction with SKY TV, will look into the world of Pasifika athletes, past & present, around the world.

Dr Patrick Vakaoti, Co-Director, Otago Global Health Institute & Senior Lecturer, Sociology at University of Otago joins us now on Pacific Breakfast to talk about masterclasses highlighting some of the amazing individuals who fronted the New Zealand public explaining what, why and how we needed to respond to the pandemic.

Public feedback for the Emergency Budget 2020/2021 closes this Friday, 19th June 2020.

The Emergency Budget responds to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on Auckland Council’s finances, with the Council forecasting a loss of half a billion dollars, as a result. 

Over half of the money Auckland City council collects to pay for the services Auckland needs come from sources other than rates, including public transport fares, water charges and it's dividends from the airport. Most of these sources are facing significant reductions this year. At the same time Auckland Council rates revenue could fall next year as they provide additional relief to ratepayers facing significant financial hardship.

We’re joined on Pacific Breakfast now by Auckland Councillor Fa’anana Efeso Collins for more.

Looking at sports from the weekend with Pacific Breakfast sports guru Ray “Razor T” Tele’a.

Robert Oliver is a New Zealand chef who was raised in Fiji and Samoa.  He has developed restaurants in New York, Miami, Las Vegas and Sydney, “farm to table” resorts in the Carribean and food programs feeding homeless people and African immigrants with AIDS in New York City.

Robert returned to the South Pacific to write his first cookbook with a development mission to connect Pacific agriculture to the region's tourism sector.  Me'a Kai The Food and Flavours of the South Pacific stunned the food world by winning top prize, Best Cookbook in the World 2010, at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in Paris.  

Robert is the Executive Director and Founder of Pacific Island Food Revolution, a television-media-led movement across the South Pacific designed to return the region to traditional cuisine in an effort to curb the Pacific’s NCD crisis.

View more: https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/pacific-island-food-revolution

Afamasaga Agness Rasmussen has been recognized in this years Queens Honours for her services to education and the Pacific community

She has been involved with the education and community service sectors for more than 50 years.

Afamasaga Agnes has taught at primary, intermediate, and secondary levels, and is currently a teacher at St Mary McKillop Catholic School in Mangere. 

She has been a committee member of St Theresa’s Catholic Church for the past 52 years and was a founding member of the Mangere Writers’ Group in 2017. 

 She has volunteered for PACIFICA Inc. for more than 40 years and is a Life Member of the Manukau branch. 

Afamasaga Agnes has volunteered to provide training and English lessons to new Samoan migrants in Auckland and was the first Pacific woman to be appointed to the Social Welfare Commission

Rene Richardson is of Niuean and Fijian heritage and was raised in New Zealand.  A mother of two daughters and 3 grandsons. Rene has 20 odd years experience in the hospitality industry and has owned and operated 2 restaurants and a cafe in NZ prior to moving to Niue. 

In 2011 she moved back to Niue with her English husband and daughter where they now own Sea Turtle Fishing charters, Coco Catering and manage the family guesthouse.

She can be best described as an avid foodie, lover of arts and all types of music.

The 312 Hub is a ‘A Place Where Youth Lead’, where rangatahi voices are heard, rangatahi faces are seen and the mana of rangatahi can be felt, acknowledged and respected under the korowai community, change, creativity and culture as our founding tikanga. The vision is to be a place where Rangatahi become Rangatira through our ability to 'create multiple memories' with Arts Education, Arts Activation and Arts hustle. Our very own Tina Bonsu Maro went along last night to the relaunch, which also hosted a celebration for the 49th Anniversary of the Polynesian Panthers. Tina spoke with some of those in attendance.

The Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa is pleased to announce interdisciplinary artist Yuki Kihara as New Zealand’s artist for the 59th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia presented in 2021.

Yuki is renowned for delving into the complexities of postcolonial histories in the Pacific and interrogating Western misinterpretations from the perspective of Fa’afafine (Samoan for ‘in the manner of a woman’ broadly understood as the LGBTIQ+ in the Western context) community which she belongs to in Sāmoa. Yuki joins us now on Pacific Breakfast.