(UPBEAT PERCUSSIVE MUSIC) - Malo mu'a 'etau ma'u e pongipongi ni. Aloha kakahi aka and welcome to Tagata Pasifika. On the show today ` how bowel screening for cancer can save lives... - If we're screening earlier, if we're listening to our symptoms earlier, we don't have to see as many deaths. - ...we meet the woman in charge of the Kingdom of Tonga's presence in the UK... - I feel both proud and deeply aware of the responsibility. - ...and in our Pacific News wrap, Israel reopens its embassy in Fiji. - It is dynamic. It is tech-driven. It takes on board today's reality, the emerging issues of our time. - Ni sa yadra vinaka. But first, new Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale made his first official visit to New Zealand this week. It kicked off with a reception organised by the Solomon Islands Auckland Wantok Association last Sunday, where he laid out his priorities for his people. They include taking a hard line on corruption and ensuring government transparency. Later in the week, he met with the Foreign Minister and Prime Minister Luxon before heading home. We'll have more on Prime Minister Wale's visit in our Pacific News Wrap later in the show. To the arts now ` and the annual Pacific Dance Festival returns this month to celebrate artists, storytellers and cultural leaders from across the moana. Among those taking part are the Marewen Kiribati Youth Group, and for its leaders, the festival's all about getting our young people connected with their roots. - Growing up here in New Zealand, it's different, you know? It's a different, um, environment, you know? And, um, a lot of them are, you know, disconnected from culture, and for them to come to Marewen Kiribati Youth and stuff, you know, we kinda try keep them back, back to the roots, you know? To... With language-wise, singing and how we dance, and, you know, it's just all those things that relate to being I-Kiribati. Yeah. - Ko bati n rabwa. To health ` June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month here in Aotearoa New Zealand. It's a time to shed more light on the second-highest cause of cancer death here in New Zealand. Recently, the New Zealand Government announced they'll be lowering the eligibility age for free testing from 58 to 56 in September as more Maori and Pasifika are getting diagnosed much earlier in life than expected. They say the kitchen is the heart of the home. - Eh, Leilani? Eh? Mwah. Hello, bubba. - In this house, there is plenty of love. - Family's everything. Especially, you know, in our island communities, it's everything, but even more so now with baby. While I'm grateful to be here and have a baby, but that, um... she's got her full-time babysitters on call and that they're here and that we get to make memories. - And it's her family that's helped Anna through the tough times. Five years ago, she experienced severe back pain, suspecting kidney stones. - I went to my GP and he said, 'Just to be safe, let's book you in for a CT scan,' just to make sure there was no kidney stone. The doctor still didn't flag it to me. I think I was quite naive at the time. So I had the faecal test and the blood test. All was normal. But because I had all the other symptoms and the radiologist had seen a shadow on my bowel at the CT scan, they booked me in for a colonoscopy. About two weeks after that, I had a limited colonoscopy, and the doctor said the words I'll never forget, is ` we've found a tumour and we're 99% positive that it's cancer. - At only age 32, it was the news that changed her life forever. she now had to find the courage to tell her loved ones. - When we find it, people can find it embarrassing to talk about the symptoms ` especially our island people, they can find it quite ma to talk about blood, and, yeah, no, don't wanna talk about it, and I think that was the biggest thing, is ` these symptoms are nothing compared to the... you know, sitting down with my parents, with my mother-in-law and my father-in-law and all our siblings and then telling them that I've got cancer. - When Anna told me, it was the shock of my life, eh? Cos as soon as you hear the word 'cancer' ` cos my mother had cancer and that's what she died from, and it was a shock, so it took a while. - Things moved quickly to prevent the cancer from spreading, and about 6cm of the tumour was removed from her bowel. - I'm really lucky and really blessed that they caught it really early and I didn't have to go through chemotherapy or anything. But telling them that diagnosis, you know, really took everyone... took them for six. - Bowel cancer is the second-deadliest cancer in New Zealand, killing 1200 people each year. The most worrying part is the growing number of younger Maori and Pasifika people being diagnosed far too late, losing their lives too soon. - Usually, bowel cancer, um, is regarded as old people's cancer, because they usually... Uh, it peaks around late-60s and 70s. But it has now shifted, uh, not only for Europeans but for Pacific people. If we compare the Pacific people to Europeans, we tend to develop our cancer a lot earlier than Europeans ` at least 10 years earlier. - The concern is Pasifika and Maori have significantly low bowel screening participation and are diagnosed at a more advanced stage. - I think it's critical that we have to increase the participations in the screening programme, because it will be very helpful, because this cancer's avoidable. If we get it early, then we'll treat it, deal with it. And the best thing to do is to` not to detect cancer, but to detect the pre-cancerous polyps. - Your birthday, mate. - It's your bowel screening test. I've done mine. - ALL: Me too! - From September this year, the free bowel screening age will be lowered from 58 to 56. extending the access to thousands of Kiwis to get tested. Anna is in the clear with no reoccurrence of the cancer. Now, she's using her time to encourage others to get tested. - And I think that's why I've become such a big advocate for it, as it can be prevented. You know, bowel cancer is` it can be prevented and it can be caught early. If we're screening earlier, if we're listening to our symptoms earlier and getting in there, is` you know, we don't have to see as many deaths, because we're catching it early and we're dealing with it. And, hopefully, we get to the bottom of why it's becoming more and more common. - Vinaka vakalevu, Anna. If you experience any symptoms, visit your GP immediately. For more info, visit ` OK, ohana. Stay with us. When we come back ` a new way to experience music. But next, we meet the head of the Kingdom of Tonga's diplomatic mission in the UK. - I really do appreciate our Tongan community here in the United Kingdom and in Europe, because we've grown ever so close, despite the fact that we have three major communities in the United Kingdom and also in Europe. (UPBEAT PERCUSSIVE MUSIC) - Si'oto'ofa 'ofa atu, malo e laumalie a hou'eki mo e lelei 'a e kakai e fonua. Welcome back. The royal families of Tonga and the United Kingdom have had a long-standing and respected relationship. The late Queen Salote won the hearts of the British people in 1953, when she rode in an open carriage in the pouring rain to attend the late Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. Today, that connection is maintained by Queen Salote's great-granddaughter, Her Excellency the Honourable Mrs Titilupe Fanetupouvava'u Tu'ivakano, Tonga's High Commissioner to the UK. Fresh from her London trip, Soana Aholelei has the story. (LIVELY MARCHING MUSIC) - A royal connection that dates back decades, and then there's that memorable visit of the late Queen Salote to London in 1953. The High Commission of Tonga has had a presence here in Marylebone for decades, and the current High Commissioner is following in her father's footsteps. - My father, Lord Tuita, was the Tonga High Commissioner to the Court of Saint James from 1989 to 1992, so it is a great honour to follow in his footsteps and continue our family service to Tonga. I feel both proud and deeply aware of the responsibility to uphold the values that he represented. - Her Excellency also credits her mother, Her Royal Highness Salote Mafile'o Pilolevu, the Princess Royal. - We're very proud to have learned from Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal, both culturally and professionally, and she has inspired us in many ways, and she continues to inspire us, just as she does the rest of the country and the rest of our family as a whole. - The High Commissioner's office pays tribute to all predecessors and the Tongan royal family. - The Tonga High Commission in London is accredited to its host nation, which is the United Kingdom, and concurrently accredited to 10 countries in Europe, and this emanates from our reigning foreign policy of remaining friends to all and enemies of none. So, essentially, my role covers representing Tonga's interests in the United Kingdom and accredited states, strengthening diplomatic ties and supporting our citizens abroad. It also includes promoting trade, culture and cooperation between our two countries. - Given Tonga's history as a British protected state, how has the relationship with the United Kingdom evolved since 1970, and what role does it play today? - The role that we play in representing the interests of His Majesty King Tupou VI and the government of the Kingdom of Tonga in the United Kingdom. Notably, the Kingdom of Tonga is the only island in the South Pacific which has never been colonised outright by a foreign power. We did become a British protectorate from 1900 to 1970, but our traditional chiefly and kingship lines date back hundreds of years. So, today, we are a constitutional monarchy, just like Great Britain. Tonga and the United Kingdom have also enjoyed many years of friendly relations. Tonga soldiers fought and died along British allies in the First and Second World War, and Tonga has been a proud member of the Commonwealth family of nations, which is headed by His Majesty King Charles III. - The Tongan diaspora in the United Kingdom is growing, with communities in London, north of England and Wales. - I really do appreciate our Tongan community here in the United Kingdom and in Europe, because we've grown ever so close, despite the fact that we have three major communities in the United Kingdom and also in Europe. - The High Commissioner has settled comfortably into life in London with the help of her family and community. - My children are going to school, and my husband, Major Kiu Kaho, who is an army officer in His Majesty's armed forces, he helps the office as well. We're quite short-staffed, but we manage and we prioritise, so we keep ourselves busy with our consular duties here at the office, and so far, it's been smooth running. - Malo mo e ngaue, ta'ahine. Now, from his early days as a church pianist to now producing and curating massive music projects across the country, Faiumu Matthew Salapu has always been one to push the boundaries of his music. His latest project, SLS Listening Room, is helping to elevate the music fan listening experience to a whole new dimension. Neueli Mauafu went along to find out more. (RELAXED MUSIC) - From the moment he became a faipese at the Mangere Samoan Methodist Church, Faiumu Matthew Salapu, aka Anonymouz, began pushing his creative boundaries as a musician. - Any mekokisis out there will kind of recognise me from back in the day. I was always... putting Tupac beats on our peses, talkboxing over something or, like, just taking traditional hymns and the recognising, like, yeah, that's the melody, that's the related minor, I Ain't Mad at Cha underneath that, and... So that was always my thing. - VOICE PLAYS: Tonight is about honouring the music that comes from human intention and application. - His latest project focuses on the art of listening to music as a fan, creating a space which he calls the SLS Listening Room. - The best way to hear music is on a pair of headphones, and you see the whole sonic spectrum, but you're closed off from the world. On the other end of the spectrum, you're in a big arena with everyone, but you lose the fidelity of the version that you fell in love with. That's how we've been trying to curate this, as kinda sitting in that middle zone. We still get the loudness, the bass, the physicality, the fidelity of a pair the headphones, but you still get the ambience and the amplification of the people in the rooms. And it's in direct correlation, too, to the digital overload that society is experiencing, you know, and it just feels like we need to do the opposite and slow down and just listen. - SLS held one of its first test events a few weeks back, hosting a private listening session of hip-hop artist Mareko's latest album, ACT 2. - So, we're currently in the studio, the production studio. So this is where the process of music starts. Upstairs in the listening room is where we hear the final product, so it's part of how we're setting up the way we do listening rooms, is we kind of have the listening experience, but we also integrate the production experience by kind of highlighting what goes into it. A lot of audiences really appreciate that. (HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYS) - Matt shared the vision with me that they wanted to create a place literally where you can have an album listening session. You know, most of them are done at the clubs, and half the time, you don't even get to hear half the album, or everyone's yelling over each other and its not really a nice environment for people or fans to, one, engage with the artist one-on` one-to-one. - Having these sorts of places where someone like Matt can set up the quality to the point where it's like being in the studio with the artist is just a way to really honour that artist and their craft. Yeah. I love the idea that this is happening, and I'd like to see more of them. - Faiumu says that SLS still has small tweaks to be made before opening up its doors, but hopes, through his work, more Pasifika creatives are able to push the creative boundaries just like himself. - In music, you realise that it's not about the left and the right; you need both. On a pair of headphones, you need the left and the right to have the full picture. And that's how I feel about music production as a career and music as a fan ` you need both sides of these conversations to have balance. Everything I'm involved with right now, as imperfect as I am, I'm just trying to play my part in envisioning what we need to do now to make sure that it's safer for our kids and our families and our communities and our cultures moving forward. - Just removing my headphones right there. Coming up after the break ` we have our Pacific News Wrap, and this week, Australia's First Nation Ambassador visits the Solomon Islands. - ...the next generation, the generations now that whatever we build and wherever we go, we know who we are and where we come from, and I think that's very important for anything we do in the future. (UPBEAT PERCUSSIVE MUSIC) - Ia ora na, halo and welcome back to Tagata Pasifika. Time now for our news wrap from the region, thanks to our partners at Pasifika TV ` PCBL. Now, this week, Israel opens its embassy in Fiji and Samoa repairs a part of its history. Gladys Hartson has the details and more. - First, to the Solomon Islands, and Auckland's Wantoks welcome their new prime minister to New Zealand. - We are privileged and excited to hear you share your government's vision on the future of our beloved country, Solomon Islands. - Prime Minister Wale shared reflections on the new government's priorities and aspirations. - Certainly, our ambition is great for Solomon Islands and for the Pacific Islands region. We want a region that hemi peaceful... (SPEAKS PIJIN) ...each other as good neighbours. The Solomons is not the source of instability and uncertainty in the region. (SPEAKS PIJIN) But also that in the Solomons itself, that government is to do good. - Still with the Solomon Islands, and Australia's First Nations People Ambassador says culture binds nations together. - Ambassador Mohamed says culture is the foundation of identity, emphasising that stories, songs and dances must be passed on to the next generation. - The next generation, the generations now, that whatever we build and wherever we go, we know who we are and where we come from ` it's a saying that we have in Australia, and I think that's very important for anything we do in the future. And I think with modern technology, that can happen. we can record it, we can preserve it, we can pass it on. We can send that out through many of the means on mobile phones and YouTube and all the different things which are available to us. - To Fiji now ` and Israel opens a new embassy in Suva. - Fiji can draw on Israel's global expertise in agriculture, water management and innovation as the two countries deepen ties built over more than five decades. - It is dynamic. It's tech-driven. It takes on board today's reality, the emerging issues of our time. - We have an embassy here. We will be able to do things more rapidly. We have both ambassadors that will work, and I also instructed on a new future of the head of MASHAV agency, the development agency here in Fiji very soon. - To Samoa ` and the newly refurbished Mau building has been reopened. - Samoa e, aua ne'i galo, Samoa mo le atua, Samoa mo Samoa. Ia manuia tele faamoemoe lenei aso. (APPLAUSE) - This site at Vaimoso holds deep significance in Samoa's history. It serves as the headquarters and central meeting place of the non-violent Mau movement which fought for Samoa's independence from New Zealand's colonial rule in the early 20th century. This morning, government leaders, descendants and members of the public gathered to witness the opening of the newly rebuilt house, which follows the original design of the historic building, as Samoans commemorate 100 years since the establishment of the Mau movement. - To the Cook Islands now ` and the call has gone out to give blood ahead of World Blood Donor Day. - The Cook Islands Red Cross with Marae Ora have joined hands to recognise this day. We learn more from Teresa Tatuava, a senior laboratory scientist based at Cook Islands Red Cross Centre. - Cook Islanders, even our expats, to step forward, to come and... give back to the community, to give back to your people, you know, to your families, friends, workmates, on that day. We're recruiting as well. We are in need of all blood types. - I donate blood because it can save multiple lives and it can help multiple people. Like, one donation can help multiple people. And it's important. - And finally, in Papua New Guinea, provinces do their part for World Environment Day. - Over 70 okari trees were planted by 256 youth participants from all the 11 conservation zones in the Managalas Conservation Area of Afore LLG. - They are life support systems. They provide clean air, clean water, food, medicine, cultural identity and livelihoods for our people. For generations, our ancestors lived in harmony with this forest. They understood that the land does not belong to us; rather, we belong to the land. - That's right. Tankiu tumas. Well, that's the end of our show. If you want to see any of our stories again, or the latest Pacific news, go to tpplus.co.nz or TVNZ+. Marama T-Pole will be back with us next week, but for now, have a great weekend, Aotearoa. Kia orana e kia manuia. - # People of the sun # to our new home bound, # Tagata Pasifika, # born a people proud. # People of the sun... # Captions by Rebecca Scholtz. Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air.