Matala-Anzac  the first-ever Anzac Day “Civic Service” in New Zealand led by members of the Tongan Community, to raise the awareness of Anzac Day within the Pasifika communities in South Auckland through Tongan arts and culture. This project was initiated to honour the Tongan soldiers who fought in World War 1, many of whom never returned home to Tonga.

In the Tongan language, Matala means “The Blossoming of a Flower”, which is a metaphor for the blossoming of the mind. The impetus behind Matala is to pass down the knowledge of Tongan arts and culture from the old generation to our young Tongan New Zealanders.

Meleane Fatafehi Tu'akalau shares her story