Latest news with #Samoan
Otago Daily Times
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Celebrating connection with homeland
Cleo Cole, 4, performs during the Samoan Independence Day celebrations in the South Dunedin Community Hall yesterday. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH Providing a space for Samoans living in Dunedin to connect with their homeland is the goal for the community when celebrating Samoan Independence Day. Yesterday, the Samoan community came together in the South Dunedin Community Hall to celebrate Samoa's independence. Fono Faufautua Samoan Advisory Council Dunedin chairman Afamasaga Pavihi said he was happy to see about 300 people attend the celebrations. "It's a forum to bring our people together ... and also to benefit the people who aren't able to go to the actual celebrations in Samoa." The day started with devotions, before the many performances began. There was also plenty of food, "almost too much", Mr Pavihi said. Most of the different church denominations were also present and had a performance. "This celebration is [about] singing together, eating together and dancing together." For the first time, Su'a Sulu'ape Peter, a traditional Samoan tattoo artist, made the trip straight to Dunedin from a visit to Hawaii, to attend the event. "He has come down to do some tattoo for the young men and young women in the Dunedin community this week," Mr Pavihi said. Samoan Independence Day is celebrated at the very start of Samoan Language Week, which runs from June 1 to 7. Having Mr Peter in town, and celebrating Samoan tattooing, was part of Independence Day celebrations and Samoa Language Week. Today, Mr Peter will be at Tūhura Otago Museum to give a talk on the process, history and significance of Pe'a and Malu — traditional tattoos worn by Samoan men and women. Tomorrow, he will be tattooing members of the Samoan community in Dunedin, including Mr Pavihi's daughter. "We are fortunate to have the celebrating of our independence this year and to have the privilege to have the presence of these artists to mark this celebration," Mr Pavihi said. Samoa achieved independence from New Zealand on January 1, 1962, and entered into a Treaty of Friendship. Since then, it has been celebrated on June 1 to avoid having the special celebration fall on New Year's Day. This year, it landed on a Sunday, so the day was observed in Samoa yesterday as an official public holiday.
Scoop
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Scoop
King's Birthday Honours – ‘This Belongs To The Samoan Community'
Article – RNZ Anae Arthur Anae has been honoured for services to the Samoan community. , RNZ Pacific Journalist Former National MP Anae Lupematasila Lima Arthur John Anae has received a King's Service Medal in the King's Birthday Honours. Anae Arthur Anae has been honoured for services to the Samoan community. 'On behalf of our community, I'm thrilled for it, because this isn't me. This is not mine,' Anae said. 'This belongs to the Samoan community who stood behind and joined the battle to get justice that belonged to us, and the recognition belongs to all of us, because we've all had to hold hands and and fight this for a long time.' Anae has been part of the push for the Samoa Citizenship Bill, which restores a pathway for citizenship for a group of Samoans who had their right to it removed. He led the Mau o Samoa I le Sitiseni committee from 1997, keeping awareness of the issue alive and supporting the activism of transitional Samoans, which culminated in 24,500 Select Committee submissions on the Bill before its passing. Anae was a list MP from 1996 to 2002, initiating several Pacific initiatives during this time. He was a Manukau city councillor from 2004 to 2010 and an Auckland councillor from 2010 to 2016, chairing the Economic Forum for both councils. Besides politics, Anae is an elder of the Pacific Islanders Presbyterian Church and has chaired its development committee. Hailing from the villages of Falelatai, Apia, Si'umu, and Safotulafai in Samoa, Anae reflects on his parents' journey and their challenges after moving to Aotearoa from Samoa. He said he dedicates the King's Service Medal to his parents, who moved to New Zealand in 1951 when he was five years old. 'All our parents, not just my parents… came out here in the 50s for one reason, to give their children an education, an opportunity. 'We tend to overlook, these days, the people who paved the way for us, and our parents had to sacrifice themselves on factory floors to give their children opportunities for tomorrow, and those opportunities are what we're reaping today. 'I was asked the question the other day, well, who's going to run the mantle after you're gone? I said, there's an army of young Pacific people behind me, highly educated, and they won't be drawn back by the fa'a'aloalo [respect] which has always held us back. 'Palangis (Pākehā) have always said – treated us – our fa'a'aloalo and respect is a sign of weakness. They've got a hell of a lot to learn.' The advocating doesn't end here for Anae, who is currently working on getting one million signatures for a petition on visa-free travel for Pacific countries. 'I'm still battling on two things, and that is the recognition of the woman married to these people or the men as well. 'I still believe in my heart that New Zealand owes these people 50 percent of their pension if they stay in Samoa, where they want to stay, and have the freedom to travel backwards and forward as they want. And these are two issues that I will continue to fight with them, because I believe in it and they're things that are right and should be done.' Asked about the future generations looking at awards like this, he said: 'My only advice for all our people is, whatever we do in life, you do it with a clean heart. 'You don't look at any rewards or anything that might come – they never come. 'Your thinking is based on what you're trying to achieve for people, from your heart, that's what you do; win or lose, you do it.'
Scoop
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Scoop
King's Birthday Honours – ‘This Belongs To The Samoan Community'
Former National MP Anae Lupematasila Lima Arthur John Anae has received a King's Service Medal in the King's Birthday Honours. Anae Arthur Anae has been honoured for services to the Samoan community. 'On behalf of our community, I'm thrilled for it, because this isn't me. This is not mine,' Anae said. 'This belongs to the Samoan community who stood behind and joined the battle to get justice that belonged to us, and the recognition belongs to all of us, because we've all had to hold hands and and fight this for a long time.' Read more: Anae has been part of the push for the Samoa Citizenship Bill, which restores a pathway for citizenship for a group of Samoans who had their right to it removed. He led the Mau o Samoa I le Sitiseni committee from 1997, keeping awareness of the issue alive and supporting the activism of transitional Samoans, which culminated in 24,500 Select Committee submissions on the Bill before its passing. Anae was a list MP from 1996 to 2002, initiating several Pacific initiatives during this time. He was a Manukau city councillor from 2004 to 2010 and an Auckland councillor from 2010 to 2016, chairing the Economic Forum for both councils. Besides politics, Anae is an elder of the Pacific Islanders Presbyterian Church and has chaired its development committee. Hailing from the villages of Falelatai, Apia, Si'umu, and Safotulafai in Samoa, Anae reflects on his parents' journey and their challenges after moving to Aotearoa from Samoa. He said he dedicates the King's Service Medal to his parents, who moved to New Zealand in 1951 when he was five years old. 'All our parents, not just my parents… came out here in the 50s for one reason, to give their children an education, an opportunity. 'We tend to overlook, these days, the people who paved the way for us, and our parents had to sacrifice themselves on factory floors to give their children opportunities for tomorrow, and those opportunities are what we're reaping today. 'I was asked the question the other day, well, who's going to run the mantle after you're gone? I said, there's an army of young Pacific people behind me, highly educated, and they won't be drawn back by the fa'a'aloalo [respect] which has always held us back. 'Palangis (Pākehā) have always said – treated us – our fa'a'aloalo and respect is a sign of weakness. They've got a hell of a lot to learn.' The advocating doesn't end here for Anae, who is currently working on getting one million signatures for a petition on visa-free travel for Pacific countries. 'I'm still battling on two things, and that is the recognition of the woman married to these people or the men as well. 'I still believe in my heart that New Zealand owes these people 50 percent of their pension if they stay in Samoa, where they want to stay, and have the freedom to travel backwards and forward as they want. And these are two issues that I will continue to fight with them, because I believe in it and they're things that are right and should be done.' Asked about the future generations looking at awards like this, he said: 'My only advice for all our people is, whatever we do in life, you do it with a clean heart. 'You don't look at any rewards or anything that might come – they never come. 'Your thinking is based on what you're trying to achieve for people, from your heart, that's what you do; win or lose, you do it.'
Scoop
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Scoop
King's Birthday Honours - 'This Belongs To The Samoan Community'
Former National MP Anae Lupematasila Lima Arthur John Anae has received a King's Service Medal in the King's Birthday Honours. Anae Arthur Anae has been honoured for services to the Samoan community. "On behalf of our community, I'm thrilled for it, because this isn't me. This is not mine," Anae said. "This belongs to the Samoan community who stood behind and joined the battle to get justice that belonged to us, and the recognition belongs to all of us, because we've all had to hold hands and and fight this for a long time." Anae has been part of the push for the Samoa Citizenship Bill, which restores a pathway for citizenship for a group of Samoans who had their right to it removed. He led the Mau o Samoa I le Sitiseni committee from 1997, keeping awareness of the issue alive and supporting the activism of transitional Samoans, which culminated in 24,500 Select Committee submissions on the Bill before its passing. Anae was a list MP from 1996 to 2002, initiating several Pacific initiatives during this time. He was a Manukau city councillor from 2004 to 2010 and an Auckland councillor from 2010 to 2016, chairing the Economic Forum for both councils. Besides politics, Anae is an elder of the Pacific Islanders Presbyterian Church and has chaired its development committee. Hailing from the villages of Falelatai, Apia, Si'umu, and Safotulafai in Samoa, Anae reflects on his parents' journey and their challenges after moving to Aotearoa from Samoa. He said he dedicates the King's Service Medal to his parents, who moved to New Zealand in 1951 when he was five years old. "All our parents, not just my parents... came out here in the 50s for one reason, to give their children an education, an opportunity. "We tend to overlook, these days, the people who paved the way for us, and our parents had to sacrifice themselves on factory floors to give their children opportunities for tomorrow, and those opportunities are what we're reaping today. "I was asked the question the other day, well, who's going to run the mantle after you're gone? I said, there's an army of young Pacific people behind me, highly educated, and they won't be drawn back by the fa'a'aloalo [respect] which has always held us back. "Palangis (Pākehā) have always said - treated us - our fa'a'aloalo and respect is a sign of weakness. They've got a hell of a lot to learn." The advocating doesn't end here for Anae, who is currently working on getting one million signatures for a petition on visa-free travel for Pacific countries. "I'm still battling on two things, and that is the recognition of the woman married to these people or the men as well. "I still believe in my heart that New Zealand owes these people 50 percent of their pension if they stay in Samoa, where they want to stay, and have the freedom to travel backwards and forward as they want. And these are two issues that I will continue to fight with them, because I believe in it and they're things that are right and should be done." Asked about the future generations looking at awards like this, he said: "My only advice for all our people is, whatever we do in life, you do it with a clean heart. "You don't look at any rewards or anything that might come - they never come. "Your thinking is based on what you're trying to achieve for people, from your heart, that's what you do; win or lose, you do it."
West Australian
a day ago
- Sport
- West Australian
‘He might have cried': Nathan Cleary braces for ‘weird' showdown with Jarome Luai as great mates prepare for first NRL meeting
Nathan Cleary has beaten Jarome Luai in a World Cup final and recalls being part of 'the biggest upset in junior footy history' when they were teenagers coming through the Penrith system, but on Sunday the great mates will come up against each other for the first time in the NRL. 'It will be weird,' Cleary said after leading Penrith to victory over Parramatta on Sunday with a couple of huge plays in the final 20 minutes. Cleary and Luai were the Batman and Robin for so long, with the pair putting on the cape time and time again to thwart any team foolish enough to get in their way at the business end of the season. They won four premierships together and formed a bond for life as one of the most successful halves pairings in rugby league history, but the band has broken up with Luai now at the Wests Tigers where he's gone from the support act to the main man. It's been an interesting few months apart, with the Panthers finally getting off the bottom of the table, while Luai has seen halves partner Lachlan Galvin leave to join the Bulldogs. It sets up an enthralling clash on Sunday between two teams separated by just one point where two best friends will line up against each other for the first time since Australia beat Samoa in the 2022 World Cup final. 'I think there's just always that mutual respect there,' Cleary said. 'We don't talk all the time, but whenever we do or whenever we see each other, it's always love. You'll never be able to take away what we've been able to achieve together. It's always respect and love whenever we see each other. 'The last time I remember playing him was the World Cup final and before that, we would've been about 16 (when) he was playing for St Marys and I was playing for Brothers (Penrith). 'We had a few duels back then but obviously it's been a long time. I'm looking forward to it. 'He's an outstanding player and you want to test yourself against the best. It will be a bit weird at NRL level but I'm looking forward to it.' Cleary remembers enjoying a shock victory over Luai back when they were kids. 'I do remember probably the biggest upset in junior footy history, we beat them one day and they were stacked. They were so good. He might have cried,' Cleary laughed. 'I'm not sure that'll happen again. 'They used to beat us just about 50-0 every time they played us and one day we got them.' The battle of the sevens will test how far Luai has come as a chief playmaker, with the Samoan star taking the reins at Penrith last year when Cleary was injured. And while he'll want his footy to do the talking, Cleary won't be shocked if Luai's sharp tongue fires up on Sunday. 'Maybe, we'll see (if there's chirp). I don't really start the chirp but if he starts it then we'll see how it is,' he said. 'Last year really prepped him well for this year. His hands are on the ball a lot for the Tigers at the moment. Why wouldn't you? He's such a great player. 'Just his energy alone has lifted a lot of players around him. That's probably his greatest asset. 'I tune in for the Tigers boys I know well, obviously Tito (Sunia Turuva), Terrell May and Romey (Luai) in particular. 'I always enjoy watching them and keeping an eye out on them. It's been good to see them playing some good footy, particularly when they've got momentum, they're one of the best teams in the comp.' Sunday's showdown will be Cleary's second game back after helping the Blues to a pivotal win in the State of Origin opener in Brisbane. It was an emotional return for a man who missed last year's series through injury, and while he ran the ball brilliantly, Cleary had a very rare off night with the boot as he sprayed several conversions that he would normally nail. The Cleary of old would have obsessed over that and spent the next few days trying to fix everything at training, but he limited himself to 15 attempts on Saturday to not overstrain his hamstrings. It paid off as he landed two clutch conversions from out wide to go with a late 40/20 to see off the Eels. 'I think that's where a bit of evolution has come in,' he said, adding that 'physical reps become embedded in the subconscious' after so many years of practice. 'In the past I would have had as many kicks as I could (on Saturday), but being a bit older and looking after my body, I didn't have too many kicks. 'I need to have a few to flush it a bit, but I can rely on the training I've done. I've kicked so many goals in my life that I can take confidence out of that and rely on that a bit more. 'I just wanted to slow down a bit, and I'm glad that I had a few pressure kicks today so I could practise them.'
