Director of Pacific Health at Waitematā District Health Board, Dr Josephine Aumea Herman, was awarded the Tu Rangatira International Award which, recognises instrumental work in advancing and developing Cook Islands community and culture.

More than 1000 Cook Islands performers represented their vaka, enua, and village to celebrate their language and culture at the Te Maeva Nui Festival in Auckland over the weekend.

Tongan father Tu’uta ki Tu’atonga had never touched a laptop before until this weekend, when he attended the Kanorau Digital training in Hamilton.

Wellington nurse and Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) member Sailosa Kabiriera who proudly hails from Kiribati, helped establish a Kiribati women’s group – the Ribanaia Womens Group – to ensure their unique language and culture is retained and celebrated in Aotearoa.

Kiribati migrant Kabwenea Tangiraoi is not shy about sharing stories of the struggles her and her family faced when moving to Tauranga 12 years ago. Along with her husband, Jason, and their four young children, Kabwenea lived in poverty and become homeless.