Season 2 – 2021

Sometimes we get forgotten by the very powers that be, or you hear things spring up but we haven’t been consulted, or at least been invited to come to the table.Tofilau Bernadette Pereira

In terms of the needs for the wider Pasifika community here in my city and in New Zealand, it’s about actually meeting the needs that other communities wish to have for their people. It’s about ensuring that we are all healthy, that we have opportunities and access to education, that we are able to celebrate our cultural diversity, what makes us different.Tangi Utikere

There’s just not nearly enough diversity, diversity of thought, diversity of perspective or even experience in the public sector and in policy. Specifically there’s not enough people of colour. There’s not enough Pasifika, not enough Maori people who are at decision making tables or even actually holding the pen on issues and that ultimately is what policy has the power to do, address issues, address problems, and create solutions.Christian Baledrokadroka

We, doctors, nurses, Pacific health providers have continued to try and maintain the focus on those other [health] challenges that we have, but inevitably, as I say, the focus will be on the pandemic.Dr. Colin Tukuitoga

You bring in a different contribution when you speak another language. It’s not just the language that you speak,  you bring in the culture. I tell people it’s cultural intelligence because with that intelligence you don’t go to a school to learn it. You learn that as part of your life growing up.Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki

I think if we can find the right why, I think that comes from just being present connecting with people building relationships sharing our narrative, sharing our lived experience because learning begins with a vision.Rose Marsters

It shows that our community really cares about our language especially the first, second, and even third generation New Zealand born Tagata Niue who are being encouraged to learn their Vagahau Niue and culture. Ioane Aleke Fa'avae

I am always grateful for today. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow but I want to be a part of the team that is planning. If we can communicate, and if we can support one another when we are making decisions and implementing some of those decisions, that’s got to be a good thing.Lemauga Lydia Sosene

So you’ve got the qualification, you’ve got the experience so you’ve got the job right? Why then are you being paid less than others and there’s no reason for it so that is a problem.Saunoamaali'i Dr. Karanina Sumeo

We have a saying at the agency – the three Hs – Hustle, Hungry, Humble. We have to be hungry, never forget where we come from, always have a sense of hunger that we’re fighting for something greater than us, and third, through it all remain humble. We don’t want to be showing off about whatever we’ve done because what have we done? We haven’t done anything. There’s still a lot of work to be done, so we are humble hungry hustlers for our communities.Laulu Mac Leauanae

Everything the Police do I put my Pacific lens over it and determine how is this going to affect our people and if it looks as if there’s a risk that it might adversely affect our people. It’s my role to speak out from the heart of our community to our organisation.Superintendent Fata Willi Fanene National Partnerships Manager for Pacific Peoples for NZ Police

We can all take action every day however small it might be for people and small communities, small changes can have quite an impact.CEO Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission, Karen Ornsborn

Because when people unleash their greatness they can be more and do more for themselves, for their families, their communities and also the businesses that they work for. Managing director and founder of Zeducation Pasitaua Haufano

We need each other to make sure that we reduce inequality and poverty because nobody else will care about usFala Haulangi

We need to be there we need to be lending our voices to it, if people in the country and New Zealand, perhaps the government or local agencies are talking about Pacific issues, how can you do that without Pacific input, without realising what it is to be Pacific, with the lens of a Pacific person?President P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A Inc Rev. Alofa Lale

Our language must survive and we have a responsibility as parents, as communitiesLise Hope-Suveinakama

It’s quite empowering knowing that they are already negotiators, but knowing that when they take their place at the table, when these negotiators move on, their training ground has been the actual COP. Quite different to my time where at that age we didn’t have that type of access or platform.SPREP Director Climate Change Resilience Tagaloa Cooper

I am grateful now that we are being asked “what does Wellbeing mean to you?” and it’s not “different”, because I don’t think anything is different,  it just adds more strength and perspective to mainstream, if not betters it. Dr. Jemaima Tiatia-Seath