(UPBEAT PERCUSSIVE MUSIC) Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2025 - Ni sa bula vinaka turaga kei na marama. Aloha, ohana and welcome to Tagata Pasifika. On the show today ` Rotuma Language Week starts tomorrow. What does this mean for one of our smallest Pasifika communities? We take a closer look in our talanoa. In our Pacific newsroom this week, Niue welcomes back its iconic arts festival. - As you can see already, these are some of the traditional cultures, but more so the young talents of tomorrow. - We meet the designer who's done a makeover of the Air New Zealand staff uniform. - How lucky am I that I have this heritage, that I have this community, and that I could be part of something like that? - And the capital welcomes a new Pacific Disability Support Group. - A lot of work has gone into getting us here, but we know that there's more to be done. and it's a collaborative approach. - Oh yes, we've got a great show for you today. Now, as we mentioned earlier, the Pacific language weeks are about to begin with Faeag Rotuam Ta, or Rotuman Language Week, kicking off this weekend here in Aotearoa. Well, joining us right now to discuss Faeag Rotuam Ta related issues is Centre For Pacific Languages' chief executive and proud Rotuman, Fesaitu Solomone. Noa'ia, and lovely to have you on the polokalame. - Noa'ia 'e mauri, John. - So you're kicking off the Pacific language weeks out of the 12. It's Rotuma that's starting off our Pacific language weeks celebration. Tell us about this year's gatherings and why this is so important for your community. - Faiakse'ea. The Rotuman Language Week, as you know, is the first in the line-up. It's a very important step for us, not just for us as Rotumans here in Aotearoa, but it's an opportunity for our community to be visible here ` our language and our culture as well. And I know that we are one of those smallest Rotuman groups here, especially with just below 1000 people in the last census. And I'm hoping that the 2023 will lift up our numbers of Rotumans here in Aotearoa. But it's important for us because our language is noted as one of the endangered languages. We're moving to that space in terms of the Unesco listings. And so it's a time for our people to come together, showcase who we are here in Aotearoa but across the world as well. - And the encouraging theme for this year ` talk to us about this year's theme for the Rotuman Language Week celebrations. - Faiakse'ea. It's quite a long theme in Rotuman language. - We've got time. - It's Af'akia ma rak'akia 'os faega ma ag fak Rotuma ` tefakhanisit Gagaja na se 'ae ma gou. So this is what our community has come up in terms of working alongside our Ministry for Pacific Peoples and encouraging our young people to recognise as well the importance of our language, our culture and identity, but also the gift that God has given us as people here in Aotearoa and across the world, including Rotuma. - That's beautiful. I was going to ask for the translation as well, and it's got a religious backing to it as well in this year's theme, eh? - Definitely. And I think just bringing us, centring us back in terms of our values, and us growing back home as well ` that our people very foundational when it comes to religion, our churches as well. While we come from different churches, the values of us as Rotumans has always been embedded in that. So I'm really excited about our community taking the lead here in Aotearoa and the activities that they've planned for the week as well. - Yeah, well, language is a gift from above, but it's about sustaining it, especially when so many of us are now living abroad outside of our home islands. Tell me about some of the challenges. You know, the centre for Pacific Languages ` you're helping with the teaching and the making sure that, you know, everyone can take part in learning their languages, non-Pasifika as well. But what are some of the challenges that you face? Is it funding or is it people not, you know, embracing it? - It's a combination of a number of factors. I think one of the things is the challenges when it comes to our funding ` what can we do outside of that, not just looking at one organisation or a ministry to fund us, but looking at diversifying. That was a key area that we can continue to support our communities here in Aotearoa to work in our language and cultural space. The other part that we find in terms of working at the centre is the challenges of having our people to be confident and who are able to come up and teach the language ` areas of confidence in speaking the language who are fluent` those who are fluent. And we know that New Zealand Stats has really shown us that the decline in our language is in fluency here in Aotearoa. We know that our home countries hold the language in terms of continuing that journey. But here in Aotearoa is where we see the challenge of getting teachers who can teach the language, designing and development of resources to help. And we don't have much of that in terms of resources to help support our learners as well. - Sorry to interrupt. Speaking of resources, even the Ministry of Education specific bilingual language programs has also been affected as well. There's been some funding cuts to that as well? - Yes, definitely. And we know that the Ministry of Education should be one ministry that should support the learning of our languages to be embedded in our school curriculum. That's an area that I know that all schools are working towards. We know that there's a Niuean bilingual unit in Favona that's been working really well for our young ones. And I think the learning of language not just starts from home, but it needs to be in our curriculum and our ministry, and not just in Aotearoa. I believe that the home countries need to embed that wherever` whether it's in Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Rotuma, the languages need to come across. As we know, the risk of our languages continues to go down throughout` English has been the dominant language that we use now. - Yeah, and I think there is a beauty in bilingualism. Doesn't it mean that you're even more knowledgeable and even better looking if you speak many languages? - Yes. And I always say this when I present ` is to think of the language as being sexy. - Yes. - Only because we have to see it when we speak our own language, our own reo, gagana, lea fakatonga ` all of that. - I need to learn more languages. - Yeah, you sound more sexier than even... - (LAUGHS) - ...you know, thinking that it's not important. It's not only important; it's crucial right now for us to fight for our language so it continues to thrive sustainably for the future. But also, you know, you have to look at our young people to see the language as something that they are proud of, you know, to value it, that nobody else will value it except you and I. Yeah. - Now, in my bid to be better looking, we've got a few more seconds to go. But, please, I'm going to be one of your students. Uh, please teach me. Maybe let's begin with the Rotuman greeting, Uh, please. - Yes. Noa'ia e mauri. - Noa'ia e me-uri. - Yeah, mau-ri. - Mauri. - Yes! - Noa'ia e mauri. - Good. And if you're asking, 'How are you?' - Io. - Ka 'ae taptapen? - Ka 'ae taptapen? - Lelei pou. That means 'really good'. So when you say, 'Ka 'ae taptapen?' I will say, 'Faiakse'ea gou e lelei.' - God bless. Malo 'aupito. - Malo. Faiakse'ea. - Faiakse'ea. All right, stay with us. When we come back, we have our Pacific news wrap. And this week, New Zealand's Police Commissioner visits Samoa. - We all have to own this, because the sad reality is that the impact of addiction, corruption and money, which is the motivation, presents us with challenges that are hard to overcome. - Malo e lelei, and welcome back to Tagata Pasifika. It's time now for our news wrap from the region, thanks to our partners at Pasifika TV, PCBL. Now, this week our Police Commissioner makes a visit to Samoa; and Niue welcomes back its iconic arts festival; but first, there are concerns in Fiji over the rise in cannabis cultivation on the remote island of Kadavu. John Utunga has the details. - On Kadavu Island, marijuana cultivation is concerning local leaders. - The High Chief called out the growing threat of marijuana in Kadavu, saying it doesn't just affect the island, but casts a dark shadow over all of Fiji. - TRANSLATOR: Kadavu is in the headlines this week for unfortunate reasons. My intention is not to portray Kadavu negatively, but to raise awareness and guide us in the right direction. - This team brings together officials from various ministries to crack down on marijuana cultivation in the province. - To Samoa, where New Zealand's Police Commissioner discussed efforts to combat drug trafficking with local officials. - Police Commissioner Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo says Pacific countries such as Samoa, Fiji and Tonga are increasingly being used as transit points for major drug trafficking operations targeting markets in Australia and New Zealand. Auapa'au told Tala Fou that the New Zealand Police has approved Samoa's request for two additional sniffer and tracker dogs, to assist in combating the spread of illicit drugs. - So, what I want to do is to better understand what that looks like here for Samoa. It's not just a police issue. It's very, very much also customs; it's communities. Now, we all have to own this, because the sad reality is that the impact of addiction, corruption and the, um... and money, which is the motivation, presents us with challenges that are hard to overcome. - Commissioner Auapa'au assured the public that Pacific police leaders are committed to tackling the drug crisis. This includes strengthening maritime security, and boosting regional collaboration to disrupt trafficking routes. - In Niue, the return of the country's arts festival showcased its unique material culture and talent. - Thank you for being here. It certainly has been a busy couple of years for us here after Covid, but we can see ` the numbers is back, and that's... due to you people, and also my own people here that... They are the ones been holding the fort. As I always say to visitors, what you see here is what you get. Enjoy yourselves. As you can see already, these are some of the traditional cultures, whether it's from weaving or whatever it is, but more so the young talents of tomorrow, in front of us. - Beautiful works of art lined the foyer as people admired artwork from artists like John Pule, as well as the students. The Fitimotu band, made up of Niue Primary School students, serenaded the crowd with their ukulele skills and songs. Music teacher Jackson Hekesi could not be more proud of his students. - Oh, the kids did very well. God, all the practice and the hard work we put into it ` the time. They did very well, cos there were some new players. Uh, so... For tonight, I'm very excited. - Three ukuleles were also auctioned, with proceeds going to the Niue Primary School musical programme. Prizes were also given out to students who were part of the ukulele workshop and artwork in the open age youth and people's choice award category. Mere Satakala, BCN News. - To the Cook Islands, where the government is raising awareness around the importance of plants and the environment. - The 2025 theme 'the importance of plants' health and one health' emphasises the deep connection between healthy plants and the health of ecosystems, people and animals. Plants are life. We depend on them for 80% of the food we eat, and 98% of the oxygen we breathe. - It's important that we look after our plants because it gives us life. Without them, our life diminishes, right? As we know, in this world 80% of our world is covered by plants. Right throughout the world. If we don't manage our plants, our world, our nature, the food that we eat, diminishes; the quality of food that we eat, diminishes. So it's important that we as a community, as a society, look after our plant, and that could be our fruit trees, our grass, our hedges, our... vegetables, our mountain; whatever is green and planted, that is plant. - And finally, in sports, Papua New Guinea youth are being encouraged to play basketball, with an eye on representing the country one day. - In the heart of Port Moresby, the North West Wizards are shaping young talents to basketball. The team started as Gerehu Wizards in 2022, now welcoming kids from across Port Moresby. Speaking to Trukai Sports, coach Jordan Sere shared his insights. - The good thing about the club ` it is very open to everyone, and everyone is eager to learn. Every year we have new intakes. We've been around for quite some time, so when we say Gerehu Wizards are playing, or North West Wizards are playing, everybody wants to play in the club. - With the under-17 championship in Samoa ahead, coach Sere encourages young talents to come along and have fun playing. He says basketball is a game of fun and friendship. Joel Mipari, Trukai Sports. - Maururu. Gosh, I always get so homesick when I see all these beautiful stories from the region. All right, after the break, fasten your seatbelt, cos the Samoan designer behind Air New Zealand's staff uniform is on the show, and the new Pasifika disability support group in the capital. - It definitely feels like you're alone, but that's because that's what the system is set up for. But I think that's why we established this trust. It was more around an enabler for our communities, people's families to come together. (LIVELY PERCUSSIVE MUSIC) - Halo olgeta ` welcome back to Tagata Pasifika. International fashion designer Samoan Emilia Wickstead unveiled the new Air New Zealand uniform recently. The new uniform has included a tribute to her Pasifika heritage, as Soana Aholelei reports. - SOANA AHOLELEI: It is anything but a uniform. - I think when I first put it on, I felt like it was my... my grandmother's korowai. It made me feel... like I was 6ft. I think it actually gave me more of an identity, a personal identity. - A personal identity that international fashion designer Samoan Emilia Wickstead intentionally designed, unveiling the new look reflecting patterns of the past, present and future. - So, we have the Matariki stars, which are actually embroidered onto all of the sleeves of the shirts, the dresses ` everything. And the idea behind that was sort of, you know, I wanted it to feel` well, to talk to growth and renewal, and also about wellness. And also a reminder ` you know, we celebrate every year the day of Matariki, and, you know, I think it's really important that you can sort of wear your heart on your sleeve, almost; like, look down to your sleeve and remember and think about all of those things ` you know, new harvest; like I said, renewal; resilience... It's a very spiritual, um... I think it's a spiritual moment added to a sleeve. - The garments feature bespoke hand-painted prints rich in Maori symbolism. - It was very important for us to work with the crew and try to emphasise and support and empower them in their work, in their practice, and that they represented Aotearoa ` you know, they represented our people, New Zealand ` and a great thing for change as well, you know? - To be able to have a uniform that can adapt to, you know, the culture that we're working within ` I think it's fantastic. And the job that Emilia and Te Rangitu have done ` I think it's exceptional. - Emilia adding a bit of her Samoan culture in the ie faitaga that will be worn on the Pacific routes. - When I designed the uniform, I automatically put it in. I didn't really think otherwise. And so that's the honest truth of how it came about. I still remember when I was part of Polyfest and practising our routine and coming together with everybody that was part of that group and what that meant to me, and I can still feel it, and I can still remember it. And I just think` I just feel, 'How lucky am I? 'How lucky am I that I have this` this heritage, 'that I have this community 'and that I could be part of something like that?' - Born in Auckland and now based in London with her family, Emilia's clientele boasts A-class celebrities and the future queen of England, to say the least, and her latest work is scheduled to take off in 2026, but the fashion designer says coming home to Aotearoa to see her family keeps her grounded. - It's really important. Um, you know, my dad's not here, but he's here in spirit, and all of my family ` my father's brother, all of my cousins ` are here tonight, and that's very important to me, and it's very important to represent, you know, where I come from. - Oh, ataahua ` very nice. I wonder if they have some suits in my size. Or maybe that's all up in the air. Now, the Alofa Tunoa Trust was set up last month in Wellington to help Pasifika individuals with disabilities. Led by Leota Tanielu and Anna Filemoni, the trust offers a range of programmes designed to provide essential support, advocacy and resources. Here's Soana again. - SOANA AHOLELEI: Last year, we ran a story on a young Samoan family on their journey caring for their autistic son. - We had a good understanding that that's where our path was going, and we also knew that it was gonna change. So for us, um, it was really, um` it was emotional, eh? - Mm. - Cos, you know` Oh, stop crying! (GROANS) Uh, I think, cos` Oh, man. (SIGHS) - Yeah, when we got the diagnosis, um... You know, you have all these plans that you want for your boy, and you're like, 'He's gonna be a rugby player, he's gonna do this,' and then the moment` Even though we knew in our hearts that, you know, he was autistic, the moment they give you that diagnosis, like ` (CLICKS FINGERS) just like that, change. The moment I got told my son couldn't talk ` that was the moment I found my voice. - A year on, that voice inspiring them to help others. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) Here at Chipmunks in Tawa, these families, who are a part of the Pacifika Autism Support Group, have gathered for a special occasion. - So, tonight, we'll be launching Alofa Tunoa Trust. Um, it is a trust that my husband and I founded for our disability` um, neurodiverse and disability peoples here in Wellington. A lot of the parents that come through our support group, as well as our trust, are quite new to the journey. - Anna and Tanielu, who lead the group in Wellington, have established the Alofa Tunoa Trust to make it easier for families to find support systems through community gatherings like this, and also finding the information online. Clicking on the barcode, it will take you to their website, where families can find a range of services. - A lot of work has gone into getting us here, but we know that there's more to be done, and it's a collaborative approach with everyone ` hence why we've got all the providers here. We always hear in our spaces, 'Oh, and what? Where to next?' Well, where to next is part of the provider space. - We've got a few stalls, um, with a lot of information and resources that are out there that our people don't know but can tap into. - Remembering back to when her son was first diagnosed with autism, Tanielu knows only too well of the struggles to find help. - I think the biggest thing for me, as a Samoan father, is you're never alone. It definitely feels like you're alone, um, but that's because that's what the system is set up for. But I think that's why we established the trust ` it was more around an enabler for our communities, peoples, families to come together. - Many parents and caregivers in the group grateful for the work that the trust is giving the children. - Unless you live with autism, you don't know how important this is to our community, our autism community. So just being here or even being a part of it, it's a really... it's a huge deal. Um... You know, my son Matthias, who has autism ` for him, being a part of PASG is... it's actually just nice to be` just to fit in, you know? Fitting in and... and just being a part of something where he can just be himself, and we as parents won't be judged, you know? Um, so this launch is huge. - The Alofa Tunoa Trust creating another safe space for these families. - Having that sense of belonging ` you know, you walk in and you see familiar faces, and then, um, it's nice to have Matthias see familiar faces, and then he sees familiar faces in the kids and he's like, '(GASPS) I know that` Yeah, I know that person.' There are times where the noise does get to him, so he kind of stands off. And if you, um, you know, become a regular to the PASG events, other parents tend to know, like, 'OK, this triggers Matthias and this trig`' Cos not all autism is the same. - So for us, it's bringing it to them to let them know that this is here; you can reach out to anyone, as well as us, and connecting to other parents as well, just to talanoa and share about the journeys. - Malo e ngaue lelei. Well, that's the end of our show, and we are staying with family, because we're also marking Mother's Day. Happy Mother's Day to all our beautiful mums ` and also blessings for the new Pope, Leo XIV. Now, if you want to see any of our stories again or the latest Pacific news, go to tpplus.co.nz or TVNZ+. For now, 'Ohana, have a great weekend. Malo 'aupito ho mou me'a mai, ka mou me'a aa. Tofa soifua, ni sa moce. - # ...to our new home bound. # Tagata Pasifika, # born a people proud. # People of the sun, # to our new home bound... # Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air.