It’s third time lucky as The Ponsonby Street Festival and The Auckland Rainbow Parade announce festivities will take place this Saturday March 27 following the recent shifts in and out of Covid alert levels. 

The Parade will kick off at the slightly later time of 6pm and run through until 7pm and the Ponsonby Street Festival will continue the party running from 7pm - 10pm.  

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Minister for Pacific Peoples & Associate Minister for Health, Hon Aupito Toesulusulu Tofae Su’a William Sio, joins us every Fortnight, for updates on issues important to our Pasifika community. 

* Language Weeks announced for 2021. 

* New funding for Pacific Education. 

* Amendments to Child protection act announced on Wednesday. 

* Article in N.Z. Herald re: Fijian-Indians fight to be recognised as Pasifika not Asians. 

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The second stage of Auckland War Memorial Museum's visitor transformation will be unveiled next week Wednesday 24 March when Tāmaki Herenga Waka: Stories of Auckland is opened to the public. 

Designed to share the diverse stories of the people and place that is Tāmaki Makaurau, this is the first time that Auckland will have a permanent suite of galleries that explores the past, present and future of its people and the cultures that have made the city what it is today. 

Andrea Low, Associate Curator Pacific at Auckland War Memorial Museum, joins us now on Pacific Days for more.

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42 different groups and noted experts, including Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand, NZ Council of Trade Unions, the New Zealand Public Service Association, Greenpeace Aotearoa and Médecins Sans Frontières New Zealand have signed a letter calling on Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to support a "people’s vaccine" by supporting a waiver to WTO intellectual property rules for Covid-19 vaccines.

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Makerusa Porotesano second-generation American Samoan, Mak spent most of his childhood in the United States and has organized for climate and social justice for over a decade.

He is a higher education professional and a Council of Elder for youth-led grassroots network 350 Pacific Climate Warriors as the diaspora representative. Mak founded the Pacific Islander Student Alliance in 2007. 

He is also founding coordinator of the Men of Color Program at the Portland Community College, serving as a role model for male students of color who share similar experiences and struggles. 

As President of the Samoa Pacific Development Corporation, he advocates for a voice, resources and recognition of Samoan and Pacific Islanders at the state and local level. Mak sits on the General Fund Grants Committee with the MRG Foundation who is responsible for grassroots grantmaking for social justice issues.

Mak remembers that in his short time living in American Samoa, he experienced the constant threat of a storm each year. He fights for climate change and wants to give his daughter, Matafele-Peinam, a chance to return home to Samoa and the Marshall Islands without the fear of their home submerging.

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Cora-Allan Wickliffe is a multidisciplinary artist of Māori and Niue descent, originally from Waitakere. She is a founding member of BC COLLECTIVE and is a maker of Hiapo (Niuean Barkcloth). 

Cora is currently on a residency here in Wellington which is a partnership between Te Whare Hēra and Mana Moana – a curated artist led collaboration between Māori and Pacifica visual artists, musicians, writers and choreographers to produce short art films.

Te Whare Hēra thanks our partners Wellington City Council and Toi Rauwhārangi / College of Creative Arts

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Tuilevaoa'ana Taofua Rocky Pilitati is Samoan, born and raised in Wainuiomata.  He has ties to the villages of Saoluafata, Falevao and Vaisala in Samoa.  

Tui is currently studying and is in his final year towards A Bachelor of Creative Media Production at the College of Creative ARts, Toi Rauwharangi Majoring in Film and TV.  He is a member of the Massey Association of Pasifika students,  Kafa Kollective and a member of the Pacific Islands screen artists.

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Mata’afa Keni Lesa started his career at the Samoa Observer newspaper in 1999 as a junior reporter where he worked as a political correspondent, sports editor, news editor and then he was promoted as the Editor in May 2006.  After 15 years he decided to step down as the editor and dedicate more time to family.  This morning we cross over to Apia to talk to him about the upcoming Samoa elections on the 9th of April.

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Brown Pride N.Z. is a Social Enterprise founded by best mates, whose aim is to empower Pacific and Maori thorough fitness, arts and community. 

Commonly known for their weight loss challenges that grew from 22 or so people to now capping close to 400 people per six week blocks. 

We’re joined now on Pacific Days by Johnnie Timu, Director of Brown Pride N.Z.

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Last week we began a 4 wk series on Pasifika Homeownership on Pacifi Days. In week one we looked at the Current Market Landscape. Today, week two, we’re focussing on First Home ownership. 

A big welcome back to Bob Lemalu, real estate agent with Ray White in Mangere & Lance Mulu, mortgage broker with Mike Pero in Botany. 

To contact Bob or Lance:

Bob -  022 360 5297/[email protected]

Lance - 021 795 793/[email protected]

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