Dr. Emalani Case is a lecturer in Pacific Studies at Victoria University of Wellington. 

 

As a Kanaka Maoli woman, activist, and writer, she is deeply engaged in issues of Indigenous rights and representation, settler colonialism and decolonization, and environmental and social justice. She is from Waimea, Hawaiʻi. 

Dr Case is with to talk about the release of her new book Everything Ancient Was Once New.  

SYNOPSIS:

In Everything Ancient Was Once New, Emalani Case explores Indigenous persistence through the concept of Kahiki, a term that is at once both an ancestral homeland for Kānaka Maoli (Hawaiians) and the knowledge that there is life to be found beyond Hawaiʻi’s shores. It is therefore both a symbol of ancestral connection and the potential that comes with remembering and acting upon that connection.Tracing physical, historical, intellectual, and spiritual journeys to and from Kahiki, Emalani frames it as a place of refuge and sanctuary, a place where ancient knowledge can constantly be made anew. It is in Kahiki, she argues, and in the sanctuary it creates, that today’s Kānaka Maoli can find safety and reprieve from the continued onslaught of settler colonial violence, while also confronting some of the often uncomfortable and challenging realities of being Indigenous in Hawaiʻi, in the Pacific, and in the world.

Dr Emalani Case joins us this morning to talk about her newl book ‘Everything Ancient Was Once New.’

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Ray Parker is fighting to get his parents back into New Zealand from Samoa where they retired two years ago.  Ray Parker’s sister Amanda was diagnosed 4 weeks ago with Stage 4 Stomach cancer. Her doctors have said her case is critical and incurable. 

Ray Parker talks with us about their struggle to find a place in New Zealand’s managed isolation quarantine facilities for his parents. 

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Suai’a Matagi, is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Castleford Tigers in the Betfred Super League. He is both a New Zealand and Samoan international.

Suaia Matagi served a prison sentence having become involved in gangs as a teenager, but managed to turn his life around upon his release playing rugby league, a game he’d not played before.

He played for the New Zealand Warriors, Sydney Roosters, Penrith Panthers, Parramatta Eels, Huddersfield Giants and currently the Castleford Giants.  Suai’a is keen to use his own life story and lessons and experience to help others.  Suai’a Matagi is on the line with us from the UK now. 

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Drew Leafa is of Samoan heritage born in Auckland.  He spent most of his early years studying overseas, worked in the United States for 4 years including serving the former President of the United States Bill Clinton.  Has also worked as a flight attendant for Qantas.    

Drew works at the Jet Park Quarantine and was among the first group of people in New Zealand to be vaccinated.  He joins us not to talk about why he was more than happy to be one of the first front line workers to be vaccinated over the weekend.

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Garth Barfoot is a remarkable New Zealander who has applied his immense determination to achieving success in both the real estate world and distance running field. 

At the age of 30 he became a director in the family real estate business, Barfoot and Thomson and has since overseen the company’s growth to more than 2000 staff. 

His business success has seen him feature regularly in the NBR’s Rich List, yet his wealth has not altered his lifestyle. Greatly respected within the industry for his strong moral compass and honesty, he still lives in the same family home he bought more than fifty years ago and regularly donates his time, as well as funds, to charities and sporting events.

When he was 56, Garth competed in his first triathlon and has gone on to compete in more than 30 Iron distance triathlons all over the world, including the iconic Kona World Championship Ironman.

Garth Barfoot was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business, sport and the community.  He turns 85 in three months time but he’s still running races and is on the line with us now.

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Various events across Christchurch are being held in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the 22 February earthquake.  It will be a chance for the community to gather in remembrance of the 185 people who died in the earthquake.

In 2011 a community forum was established to provide Canterbury Earthquake Recovery minister Gerry Brownlee with local advice.  The forum consisted of 38 members after 230 nominations were received from the Canterbury Communities Earthquake Network (CANCERN), Council of Trade Union, CCS Disability Action, community special interest groups, individuals and local MPs.

Maria Godinet Watts is one of those people who was selected to that forum.  She was also in the Pyne Gould Building that collapsed during the earthquake.

A civic memorial service will be held at 12.30pm on the north bank of Oi Manawa, Canterbury National Earthquake Memorial. Governer-General Dame Patsy Reddy and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will be there.  It will include a minute of silence.

 

 

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Our next guest was born in Dunedin and is of Tongan and Niuean heritage.  Jamie Fukofuka has been singing for years in church first at Elim and now Equippers.  Her most recent gigs have been at the Pasifika Festival and Garden’s Magic. 

The Numbers is a Wellington based band who have been together for many years before Jamie joined them.

Jamie says she loves singing but has never been a very ambitious singer or considering it as a career but is always open to opportunities that come her way.

* The Numbers had been a band for many years before I joined. Simon, the bassist for The Numbers, is who get us started. His daughter started singing lessons with my singing teacher. When we came to do Singers Concert, he heard me sing and afterwards asked if I’d be willing to do a project with them. 2-3 years on, here we are - 2-3 singles out, a few gigs under our belt and planning an album. 

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Su'a Lealali Alex Hilbron is a father of two wonderful boys Tau and Manu. and husband of the one and only Omega Malelega Jackson. He has been an airline pilot for over 20 yrs.

Su'a left Polynesian Airlines and Samoa in early 2005 with family to fly for Oman Air.. He went on to become an Instructor Captain responsible for checking and training other pilots in the company and in 2016 Oman air sent him to Singapore to train as a Captain on the Boeing 787. In October 2020 the effects of Covid caught up with Oman air requiring major downsizing which has led to Alex taking redundancy therefore returning to live back in NZ with Omega and their two boys and reunite with all their families here.

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The excitement is getting real down south as our Pasifika communities in Dunedin prepare for the very first Moana Nui Festival that is going to be held at the Forsyth Barr Stadium.  This morning we are going to talk to one of our Tongan community leaders - Finau Taungapeau who joins us on the line right now. 

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Tony Fuemana is a Director, Music Producer, Writer, Musician, Documentary and Film Maker.  He has a background in music production and performing with work that was started by his late brother's Phillip Fuemana & Urban Pacific Records and younger brother Pauly OMC Fuemana.  As part of the multi award winning band “OMC” Tony traveled with his younger brother across the globe with the hit song “How Bizzare”.  Tony has produced and recorded over 8 music albums, directed documentaries and music videos.  More recently Tony has moved to Napier and has a passion to work with Pasifika youth and communities.

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