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Scoop
11 hours ago
- General
- Scoop
Milestone Moments: Profiling Pasifika Graduates
Article – RNZ For many Pacific Islanders, academic graduations are momentous familial moments. , RNZ Pacific multimedia journalist For many Pacific Islanders, academic graduations are momentous familial moments. Whether it's a high school, or university graduation, you'll often see entire families – mothers, fathers, aunties, uncles, grandparents, siblings and cousins – gathering in full force to celebrate, and in classic Pacific fashion; with pride, leis, and traditional dress. In recent years, universities have seen more Māori and Pacific students not only graduating, but thriving at exceptional levels. RNZ Pacific spoke with a group of recent graduates who shared insights into their academic journeys: the challenges, highlights and hopes for the future. Tina Vao 'In 2023, I lost my 10-year-old son and, shortly after, my mother. Their deaths broke me. I lost the will to study and nearly gave up completely. But even in those dark moments, I remembered why I started this journey.' For Tongan-born mother of six, Tina Vao, the path to graduation has been steeped in unimaginable grief, resilience, and faith. In early 2024, following the loss of both her son and mother, Vao was involved in a life-threatening car crash. Despite it all, Vao crossed the stage this year, graduating from Massey University with a Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours. 'I've always wanted my education to uplift others, not just myself,' she said. With the support of her whānau, her culture, and her faith, Vao said her graduation was more than just a celebration of academic achievement – it also helped her heal. 'It wasn't just about receiving a degree; it was about everything I had overcome to get there,' Vao said. 'My whānau were there in spirit, especially my late son and mother. My other children were there in person, and seeing them watch me graduate meant everything. 'This degree is a testimony of God's faithfulness, of resilience, and of the sacrifices made by my family for me to succeed.' Looking ahead, her focus remains on service. If she secures a scholarship, Vao hopes to return to Massey next year to begin postgraduate study, with an emphasis on food safety and nutrition for vulnerable populations, especially in the Pacific. Long-term, she wants to bridge science with real-world community needs. 'Perhaps even developing culturally safe food solutions, or leading education programmes in the Pacific region,' Vao said. Her experiences of hardship, healing, and perseverance have shaped the message she hopes to share with others. 'I want Pasifika, especially mothers, caregivers, and those facing hardship, to know that their dreams are valid. 'Our voices are needed in spaces like science, food innovation, and healthcare. Your background isn't a barrier – it's your superpower. 'Ask for help when you need it. Surround yourself with people who believe in you. And most of all, remember why you started. 'For me, my 'why' was my children, and it kept me going through everything. You have something special to offer the world. Education can open doors, but your courage is what walks you through them.' Arama Tairea 'I seriously decided, what can I do with my life? I can finish my degree. I went back to finish that off, and six years later, I've picked up three degrees.' Arama Tairea has graduated with a Masters of Arts in religious studies. Tairea, who is Cook Island Māori, did not follow a conventional academic journey. 'I never got Level 2 in high school. My mum said I could drop out and work, or finish,' he said. 'So I finished, and didn't really know what to do with my life. I worked as a forklift driver, but a year later, I knew I wanted to do something else. So I went to uni.' While Tairea enrolled, his initial stint was short-lived. 'I wasn't as mature as I needed to be,' he said. 'After two years, I just felt like it wasn't working. So I left.' For the next decade, Tairea spent time between different jobs. In 2019, he was over it. 'I seriously decided, what can I do with my life? Well, I could finish my degree. I went back to finish that off, and six years later, I've picked up three degrees,' Tairea said. But the road wasn't easy. Tairea questioned whether he was making the right move. 'I looked at where all my friends were in life. I was older. Should I be going back?' he said. 'But I thought, I've got nothing to lose, and everything to gain.' His undergrad included philosophy and religious studies. 'I wasn't brought up religious in the traditional sense,' he said. 'I always had this curiosity about why religion holds such a place in our culture, and why does that seem to be shifting?' Tairea's thesis looked at the evolving relationship between Cook Islands Māori identity and Christianity in Aotearoa. He spoke to people across the country, in their early 20s to their 70s, and asked them what religion meant to them, and how it intersected with culture. 'Traditionally, the church supported our culture. But as more of us move away from the church, it raises questions about culture,' he said. His research also became a personal journey. 'My master's was a journey of self-discovery. It helped me make sense of my own upbringing, of where I sit within my culture and faith.' Tairea regretted not taking Pacific studies earlier on in his academic career; however he remedied this during his honours year. 'I thought, being a Pacific person, I knew everything, but I didn't. There was so much more to learn.' While a PhD is on the horizon, for now, Tairea is focused on other goals. He's working in research ethics and is passionate about creating spaces where Pacific voices are heard and valued, particularly within academic and institutional settings. 'I think about my nieces and nephews, coming to the end of high school, figuring out what to do. If I can show them that there's no one right way to succeed, that our journeys can be messy and still matter, that's enough.' Tairea encouraged all Pasifika to find their passion and 'go hard'. 'I think my biggest mistake the first time was not asking for help. But that help is out there now, more than ever,' Tairea said. Josephine Ripley 'Don't make yourself whiter; make the room browner.' 'Don't make yourself whiter; make the room browner.' That was the advice from a prominent Pasifika judge that has stuck with Josephine Ripley; a call to resist assimilation and instead make room for representation. It's fitting, then, that Ripley, driven by justice from a young age, recently graduated from the University of Otago with first class honours in law and a Bachelor of Arts in Pacific Island studies. 'It was one of the best weekends of my life. I felt overwhelmed by the significance of it,' she said. 'The moment was as much my family's as it was my own.' Now a law clerk at Buddle Findlay, a leading firm in Aotearoa, Ripley comes from a family of advocates. 'My parents have always role-modelled empathy, kindness, humility and honesty,' she said. 'I always had a strong awareness of how not everyone has the same chances in life, and injustices always bothered me. 'We don't all start on a level playing field, and being compassionate and empathetic is a key driver in understanding other people's issues and problems.' Her grandfather, a lawyer who dedicated nearly 70 years to serving his community, was a powerful example of what compassionate, community-focused law could look like. 'My grandfather was an amazing lawyer, who worked to give free advice to those who needed it, with integrity and kindness.' Alongside law, Otago's Pacific Island studies course gave Ripley a deeper connection to her culture. 'As a product of the Pacific diaspora, I wanted to learn more about my culture, and the beautiful Pacific region,' she said. Perhaps the most transformative part of university was finding community through PILSA (Pacific Islands Law Students' Association), and UOPISA (University of Otago Pacific Islands Law Students' Association), where she was deputy president. 'Being a part of these associations completely changed my experience as a Pacific student at Otago. 'I was nurtured and supported by them as a first and second year, and then able to give back as a senior student. It's so important to create safe spaces for Pacific students to really thrive.' A milestone in her academic journey was completing her dissertation, supervised by academic Jacinta Ruru and second-marked by Metiria Turei. 'I really admire both of these wāhine toa and the work they do, so it was a real privilege to be able to work with them.' Her dissertation, titled 'Tangata Moana for Tino Rangatiratanga', explores how Pacific peoples can support Māori aspirations for constitutional transformation. Looking ahead, Ripley hopes to complete her professional legal studies and be admitted to the bar by the end of 2025. Further study is also on the horizon. 'Long term I would definitely consider doing further postgraduate study. I'd love to do a master's in Pacific studies and I'm also really passionate about creative writing and it's something I want to pursue seriously.' Her passion for law remains focused on constitutional change and social justice. 'My dissertation really sparked a passion for me in terms of constitutional change in Aotearoa, so I'd love to do more work in this space too.' Saki Baleivanualala 'I want to inspire Pacific community members to pursue education…and contribute to their communities.' Saki Baleivanualala has graduated with a doctorate in philosophy in microbiology from the University of Otago. Leaving behind the warmth of his tropical homeland, Baleivanualala found himself facing an entirely different challenge when he moved to Dunedin. Not academic rigor, necessarily, but a colder climate. 'I mean, I left Fiji, a very tropical island, and came to Dunedin, a very cold place. So that was hard,' Baleivanualala laughed. Despite the climate challenge, Baleivanualala arrived in Dunedin with a mission: to tackle a pressing health issue affecting the Fjiian region, antibiotic resistance. He has firsthand experience with superbugs and was concerned by what he saw. 'I've worked in various hospitals in Fjii, and saw lots of people being affected by antibiotic resistance, which is a growing thing there. That's why I wanted to continue my research on what the main problem is. 'Why is it so common? Why is it so popular in Fiji? I suspect it is throughout other Pacific island countries as well. That's why I wanted to pursue this study.' With a strong foundation in medicine from Fiji National University and a master's degree in infectious diseases from Australia, his PhD in microbiology at the University of Otago was driven by an ongoing commitment to all Pacific communities. 'We have seen that the Pacific community have been this proportionally affected in terms of health status. I want to bring down that curve. So, if we stop this in the islands, we are saving the Pacific community here in New Zealand as well,' Baleivanualala said. His PhD journey resulted in a major academic milestone: the publication of three peer-reviewed papers directly from his thesis, and an additional paper on mycobacterium tuberculosis. 'That was a huge achievement for me, coming from a small island and having my first academic paper published, then more as I studied. It took a lot of time to research, and figure things out.' Baleivanualala said that certain aspects of the work, like DNA analysis and bioinformatics, were particularly challenging due to their novelty. Support from his supervisors and the University of Otago made it manageable. 'The university environment here is very supportive, not just academically, but also the wider Dunedin community. After a few months, I realised it wasn't so lonely being away from home.' Graduation was an emotional occasion for Baleivanualala, who was joined by his wife and celebrated by the local Fijian community and church groups in Dunedin. 'My wife has always been so supportive of me, all throughout my academic career. The Fijian community here, they've been so supportive, too. Everybody hosted me after the graduation – we had a huge party.' Most importantly, Baleivanualala wanted people to know that this milestone was about giving back. 'I told everyone that this degree isn't just mine, it's for them – for the communities that supported me, and for the people I'm researching for.' Baleivanualala is now training others in Fiji to build local capacity and help set up a genome sequencing facility in Fjii, which he said is critical for early disease detection and prevention in the Pacific. 'If we can detect antibiotic resistance or emerging diseases early in Fiji, we can protect the entire Pacific community and even countries beyond,' he said. Baleivanualala said his message for others is clear. Pursue education and uplift your community. 'I hope my journey inspires others, young and older people, that education can happen at any stage. It doesn't stop – and how we use it, makes such a difference.' Mauatua Fa'ara-Reynolds 'I focused a lot on tapa; how it binds communities, keeps us safe, preserves stories, and as a form of healing.' From Ra'iatea to Norfolk Island, from rural Australia to Pōneke, Mauatua Fa'ara-Reynolds journeyed across oceans before landing at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington. A proud Tahitian and Norfolk Islander, Fa'ara-Reynolds has completed her Bachelor of Arts in Pacific Studies and Cultural Anthropology, where she now plans to pursue a master's in creative writing. Prior to Pōneke, Fa'ara-Reynolds was living in a small, rural Australian town of 1,000 people. There was one Fijian student at her school; otherwise, Pasifika were hard to come by. By the time university came around, Fa'ara-Reynolds was 'over the small-town Australian life'. 'I was in dire need of connection and community,' she said. 'I wasn't ready to go back to Tahiti, but Wellington felt like a step towards home. When I arrived in Wellington, there was a natural homeliness. I just knew I was in the right place.' During her time at university, Fa'ara Reynolds has been a force, stepping into an accumulation of roles as a Pacific studies tutor, researcher, and writer. She wrote for the student magazine, Salient, which included a celebrated piece about Pacific studies. While on that topic, she rejected the notion of Pacific studies being a 'useless' arts subject. 'It's helped me find my place in this world, and was a guiding light for other students, too,' she said. Fa'ara-Reynolds added that her mother, Pacific academic Dr Pauline Reynolds, continues to be a source of inspiration. 'A lot of mum's mahi was around reclaiming and rewriting the history of our tupuna wāhine, rewriting the story of the bounty, the story of Norfolk Islands – so we always had discussions on decolonisation. It was a really present thing in our home,' she said. 'Mum also makes tapa, so I grew up making tapa, too.' In her last two years of study, Fa'ara Reynolds honed in on her knowledge. 'I focused how tapa binds communities, keeps us safe, preserves stories, and as a form of healing. I also focused on the impacts of colonialism and nuclear testing,' Fa'ara-Reynolds said. She now has many lessons under her belt following university. 'Have faith. I have this blind faith in my ancestors and gods, that if they could endure what they did, I can endure this journey. I guess university reinforced that – the power in these stories. 'Sometimes, I think it's easy to forget that – especially in very white settings – but in contrast to that, us Pacific people are so valuable in university settings… so there must be more. More of our stories, our lineage, our knowledge. We contribute so powerfully.'
Scoop
11 hours ago
- General
- Scoop
Pacific Wardens Funding Will Improve Coordination
Article – RNZ Community leaders say a funding injection for Pacific wardens could pave the way for a national structure similar to the Mori wardens model. , RNZ Pacific Senior Journalist Community leaders say a funding injection for Pacific wardens could pave the way for a national structure similar to the Māori wardens model. Pacific wardens are volunteers who provide support at big community events and activities. They operate in different parts of the country, including Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and Waikato. Among this year's budget announcements was NZ$1 million in funding for the Auckland Pacific Wardens Trust. The funding has been allocated over four years, with the trust due to receive $250,000 per year to co-ordinate the service in Auckland and Waikato. Long-serving Auckland councillor Alf Filipaina and Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti discussed the potential impacts of the funding at a community event on Wednesday in Māngere, Auckland. Filipaina said the funding would enable training for volunteers and would improve co-ordination between different groups of wardens across the city. 'It will really get them radios, communication… jackets, so when they are deployed anywhere around Tāmaki Makaurau, they know where they come from.' It would also help support wardens through petrol vouchers and phone cards, he said. In 2010, Filipaina was one of four community leaders who brought together different Pacific warden groups across Auckland into one co-ordinated service. Filipaina said this year's multi-year budget funding announcement was particularly significant for building capacity in the Pacific warden service. He believed there were between 100 and 120 Pacific wardens in Auckland currently. 'You could utilise this money to build that capacity, even a national Pacific wardens organisation,' Filipaina said. 'We're starting [with] this region [and] Waikato. I think there's [Pacific wardens] in Christchurch. But…we need to bring all those together, that's the key thing…and on a very similar model [to] the Māori Wwardens. 'Because why should we start looking at another model when their model works?' Māori wardens have been operating in communities across the country for more than 150 years. They have legal responsibilities under the Māori Community Development Act 1962, and work in a range of ways, including by providing emergency management, being present at big events, and supporting whānau in the justice system. Reti said he wanted to see Pacific wardens providing support across different types of community activities and events. 'My expectations are to have increased visibility of Pacific wardens in the community – not just at events, but generally in the community,' Reti said. 'I would like to think that that could go beyond that, from the one-off big events to day-to-day, weekend-to-weekend presence and visibility of the Pacific wardens, where they could be most utilised and most valued.'
Scoop
11 hours ago
- Business
- Scoop
PNG Faces Deadline For Fixing Issues With Money Laundering And Terrorist Financing
Article – RNZ Papua New Guinea has five months remaining to fix its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing systems or face repercussions. Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent -Analysis Papua New Guinea has five months remaining to fix its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CTF) systems or face the severe repercussions of being placed on the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) 'grey list'. The FATF has imposed an October 2025 deadline, and the government is scrambling to prove its commitment to global partners. Speaking in Parliament, Prime Minister James Marape said Treasury Minister, Ian Ling-Stuckey has been given the responsibility to lead a taskforce to fix PNG's issues associated with money laundering and terrorist financing. 'I summoned all agency heads to a critical meeting last week giving them clear direction, in no uncertain terms, that they work day and night to avert the possibility of us getting grey listed,' Marape said. 'This review comes around every five years. 'We have only three or four areas that are outstanding that we must dispatch forthwith.' PNG is no stranger to the FATF grey list, having been placed under increased monitoring in 2014 before successfully being removed in 2016. However, a recent assessment by the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) highlighted ongoing deficiencies, particularly in the effectiveness of PNG's AML/CTF regime. While the country has made strides in establishing the necessary laws and regulations (technical compliance), the real challenge lies in PNG's implementation and enforcement. The core of the problem, according to analysts, is a lack of effective prosecution and punishment for money laundering and terrorism financing. High-risk sectors such as corruption, fraud against government programmes, illegal logging, illicit fishing, and tax evasion, remain largely unchecked by successful legal actions. Capacity gaps within key agencies like the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary and the Office of the Public Prosecutor have been cited as significant hurdles. Recent drug hauls have also highlighted existing flaws in detection in the country's financial systems. The implications of greylisting are far-reaching and potentially devastating for a developing nation like PNG, which is heavily reliant on foreign investment and international financial flows. Deputy Opposition leader James Nomane warned in Parliament that greylisting 'will severely affect the economy, investor confidence, and make things worse for Papua New Guinea with respect to inflationary pressures, the cost of imports, and a whole host of issues'. If PNG is greylisted, the immediate economic fallout could be substantial. It would signal to global financial institutions that PNG carries a heightened risk for financial crimes, potentially leading to a sharp decline in foreign direct investment. Critical resource projects, including Papua LNG, P'nyang LNG, Wafi-Golpu, and Frieda River Mines, could face delays or even be halted as investors become wary of the increased financial and reputational risks. Beyond investment, the cost of doing business in PNG could also rise. International correspondent banks, vital conduits for cross-border transactions, may de-risk by cutting ties or scaling back operations with PNG financial institutions. This 'de-risking' could make it more expensive and complex for businesses and individuals alike to conduct international transactions, leading to higher fees and increased scrutiny.
Scoop
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Councils Plead For Bipartisan Resource Management Act Reform
Article – RNZ Regional councils want greater certainty and bipartisanship on regulations, as they gear up for an expected spate of rule changes. , Journalist Regional councils want greater certainty and bipartisanship on regulations, as they gear up for an expected spate of rule changes when legislation replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA) next year. The government has announced sweeping changes to the rules governing councils' oversight of everything – from housing, to mining, to agriculture – under the RMA, and these have been released for public feedback. Speaking on behalf of Te Uru Kahika – Regional and Unitary Councils of Aotearoa, Greater Wellington chair Daran Ponter said when policy resets every three years, regulators scramble to deliver the new government's national direction. 'As regional councils we have effectively seen these national instruments landing on our lap as regularly as every three years. The music just has to stop. 'We need certainty, we need to be able to have the chance as regulators to actually bed in policies and rules and provide a greater certainty to people who want to do things – who want to build, who want to farm, who want to mine – because the bigger block on those things at the moment, at national and regional levels, is that we continue to change the rules.' Ponter said bipartisanship on regulations was needed to provide certainty. 'I don't want to be in the position in three or six years' time that all the rules are going to change again, because the pendulum has swung the other way.' Ponter said in recent years there had been 'more radical swings' in policy under successive governments. 'At the moment, the meat in the sandwich of all this, is the regional councils, who get accused of not doing this, or being woke, of being overly sympathetic to the environment… when all we are doing is following the national guidance that is put in front of us.' The government has released three discussion documents covering 12 national policy statements and and national environmental standards, with the aim of having 16 new or updated ones by the end of 2025, ahead of legislation replacing the RMA next year. The consultation covers three main topics: infrastructure and development, the primary sector and freshwater. It is open from 29 May to 27 July. Doug Leeder, chair of Bay of Plenty Regional Council, has governed through the implementation of four National Policy Statements for Freshwater Management. He said implementing national direction was a major undertaking that involved work with communities, industry and mana whenua. 'Councils contend with the challenge also faced by iwi and hapū, industry, and communities that the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management has changed every three years since it has been introduced. 'When policy resets every three years, it imposes significant costs on councils and communities, creates uncertainty for farmers and businesses, and makes it harder to achieve the long-term outcomes we all want. 'We need to work towards something more enduring.' Could bipartisanship on regulations work? 'That's the challenge for the minister but also for the leaders of those opposition parties, as well,' Ponter said. 'Everybody is going to have to find a degree of compromise if something like that is going to work.' But he said regional councils had worked constructively with successive governments and they were ready to do so again.
Newsroom
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Newsroom
The revival of a genre that never went away
Once considered niche and tucked away in dusty record stores or rural community halls, country music in New Zealand is enjoying something of a golden moment. From chart-topping Kiwi artists to two dedicated music stations in the past 18 months, the genre is striking a heartfelt chord with more people than ever before. Mark Rogers, host of Nashville Babylon on RNZ, grew up listening to country music, from Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash to Marty Robbins, and tells The Detail that it's all about the storytelling. 'As a kid, the songs and storytelling caught my imagination,' he says. 'The songs have no fat on them, they cut to the chase straight away, they are pretty simple, there's nothing too complicated about them, you know exactly where you are. 'And the classic country songs have something in them that will appeal to just about everyone. They hit home. They are easy to get and understand. People can identify with them. 'It's rare that they are talking about big flash cars or billion-dollar jewellery. It's the working man's music – that's been its appeal for many, many decades, and that will continue to ring true.' Kiwis, it seems, are falling more in love with the genre. And over the past 18 months, this has prompted the launch of not one, but two dedicated country music radio stations in New Zealand. First, broadcaster Mike Puru started Southern Cross Country, found on digital platforms. Then this month, NZME launched iHeartCountry NZ, offered on the iHeartRadio app and selected FM frequencies around the country. There are no presenters, just pre-programmed country music. Both stations showcase global legends and local voices. Among those voices, one name stands out: Tami Neilson. The Canadian-born, New Zealand-based powerhouse has been a trailblazer for years and has just won the inaugural Country Music Honour for Contribution to Country Music in Aotearoa, recognising her outstanding impact and unwavering dedication to the country music scene. 'What Tami is doing at the moment is astounding; she has been teaming up with Willie Nelson over in the States, which is a dream come true for her,' Rogers says. 'It's incredible and I'm super proud of what she is achieving…. I would like to think she will get on the (mainstream radio) playlists, because what she is doing is absolutely fantastic. The songs are great, and radio loves a good song, so there is no excuse not to play Tami.' But she is competing for airtime with unlikely country singers, including Beyonce and Post Malone, who have swapped pop and rap, respectively, for country beats. 'This has just exploded, and I think it's a good thing,' Rogers says. 'Admittedly, I'm not a massive fan of some of it, but I'm a big fan of others. 'I don't think it's cheapened the genre at all; it's just music developing.' And it's clear Kiwis want more of it, proving country music in New Zealand isn't just surviving. It's thriving. Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here. You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter.
