3 days ago
‘Humbled' to be recognised
Timaru. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
When leaving Tonga over 20 years ago, Siesina "Sina" Latu could never have imagined the life she would build in Timaru.
After arriving with her young family in 2004 and "hardly seeing any brown faces", Mrs Latu has dedicated the last two decades to educating the South Canterbury community about Tonga and providing a platform for Pasifika people in the region.
For her work she has been awarded an Honorary King's Service Medal for services to the Pacific community in this year's King's Birthday Honours.
It was an unreal feeling to have received the honour, she said.
"I was shocked. It's not something that you wake up in the morning and think, 'oh I'm going to get this medal this year or even in the next 10 years'.
"You'd never think in a million years that you would get a big medal from someone, let alone from the King. I'm really honoured and humbled with this recognition."
Mrs Latu was a founding member of the Tongan Society South Canterbury in 2016, and since 2020 has been general manager.
She has also been a part of several groups and boards as an advocate for the Pasifika community.
The driving force behind the work she had done was giving families the support she did not have when she first moved to Timaru.
"I had to educate people about Tonga.
"They knew that we were Pasifika but not that Pasifika has a lot of different ethnic groups or islands that have their own languages and cultures.
"They looked at us and it was 'you're brown so you're Pasifika' and that was it."
Things had come a long way since then and many Pasifika groups wow had their own societies in South Canterbury.
"At the moment we are in the process of creating a Pasifika community leaders forum or collective because now that we each have groups we want to come together and ... work together and support our kainga as a whole."
She loved being a part of the Timaru community and was pleased she had made the decision to move to the region.
She wished to thank God, those who had nominated her, and those who played a big part in her journey to receiving it.
"I dedicate this medal to my family. They are my biggest support system.
"I want to acknowledge their support, resilience and patience in allowing me to do what I do.
"I also want to acknowledge the Tongan society.
"It's good that Pauline [Luyten], who is the co-founder with me, is also receiving an honour.
"It is a big milestone for our Tongan society, for our Timaru Pasifika community and for Tongan women.
"To everyone that has supported me all the way, thank you so much. It's always a collective effort, it was never about me alone. It was everyone's effort."
