Samoan

Samoan youth entrepreneurs encouraged to accelerate their business

The programme is supported by the UK and United Nations Development Programme.

UNDP said funding for the eight-week programme was officially approved by the UK High Commissioner to Samoa, David Ward and the Resident Representative of the UNDP in Samoa, Jorn Sorensen.

Fepulea'i Margie Apa named Chief executive of interim Health New Zealand

Fepulea'i Margie Apa said her work with the Counties Manukau community has prepared her well for the role.

"Working with you [Counties Manukau] over the last 14 years and more proudly the last three as CEO, through measles, through Whakaari, through Covid on top of our usual pressures serving a high needs community, who are deserving and entitled to so much more," she said according to RNZ.

Margie Apa has about 25 years' experience in the health sector.

New Vice Chancellor for AUT encourages young Pasifika to pursue education

Toeolesulusulu Damon Salesa, who is currently a Pro-Chancellor at the University of Auckland takes up his new role at AUT in March next year.

He is the first person of Pacific descent to head a university in New Zealand.

Toeolesulusulu said the past two years of the Covid-19 pandemic have been the most difficult for education in a long time.

He said part of the reason he chose to take up the new role is that AUT's provides a pathway to education for people of all ages, backgrounds and races, regardless of the life stage or academic credentials.

Ray Sefo: From milk boy to MMA boss

Sparring was adopted almost immediately with other family members, but it was a movie night at the Sefo's home in Kingsland that saw him fall in love with mixed martial arts. 

"I remember at the age of seven I think it was, my dad had rented a Bruce Lee movie and a Jackie Chan movie, one was Fist Of Fury and the Jackie Chan movie was Drunken Master," he recalled. 

New Samoan police officer eager to serve South Auckland community

Constable Leonardo Wright, proudly wearing his 'ulafala, was one of the 36 new constables of Wing 347 to be attested at the Police College in Porirua. 

The 21 year old says he's "stoked and over the moon" to be graduating after a gruelling 16 weeks of training and induction. 

"Being the eldest of five, being the first in our family to be a cop in New Zealand is a pretty big acheivement. I just want to make my family proud."​

Porirua City names street after late Reverend Perema Leasi

Ixion Lane has been renamed to Perema Leasi Lane.

A small blessing was held on Monday 2 August to open the new laneway.

“Naming this street for him is a small token, but one that will ensure that his memory and the work he did in this part of Porirua will forever be commemorated,” says Porirua City Mayor Anita Baker.

Reverend Perema Leasi who was from Saipai, on Savai'i, Samoa was the solo minister at Christ the King Pacific Islands Presbyterian Church in Porirua.

State care abuse even resulted in hatred of his culture, Samoan tells inquiry in NZ

Fa'amoana Luafutu, 69, has shared his story at the inquiry into historical abuse in care sitting in South Auckland.

The Royal Commission has opened a two-week hearing into the harm and impacts on Pasifika peoples of abuse in state or faith-based care.

The hearing opened on Monday with a traditional Pacific welcome at the Fale o Samoa in Māngere.

Fa'amoana Luafutu came out from Samoa at the age of eight in 1960.

On his first day at school, the teachers said they could not pronounce his name and immediately changed it to John.

Auckland's Polyfest allows students to take 'first step' in their cultural journey

For many students, this year’s ASB Polyfest was their first chance to embrace their heritage on the grandest stage of them all.

With the Samoan and Tongan stages kicking off, it was natural some had butterflies.

"It feels good but I’m nervous at the same time," says a Year 7 St Peter's College Samoan student.

While for others, their competitive side was on show.

A Tongan student at Sacred Heart College says he joined the group to "make history, take home the dub and rep the culture".

Polyfest 2021 day two: 'It's all about language'

While cultural dance performances are usually the spectacle of the show, some students opt for a much smaller component of the festival.

One of the Samoan stage coordinators Melegalenu'u Ah Sam said the idea of running a speech competition was initiated well over a decade ago and had been going strong since.

"The teachers of the Samoan language were looking at it and thought, 'how can we use the language, besides singing and dancing?' so we decided to give it a go," she said.

Samoan in NZ prison for murder to be deported on release

Esau Vailagilala was 19 when he tackled John Li'a to the ground after a birthday party in Mt Roskill in 2011.

He was joined two other men and they used weapons to attack and stab the victim, who bled to death.

RNZ reports Vailagilala, now aged 28, arrived in New Zealand in 2009 through adoption by his aunt.

Among family he will leave behind in New Zealand when he is released from his 13-year sentence for murder in 2026 and deported, is his twin brother.