KEKE PUA'A - BEST TASTING

by Vinepa Aiono

You're not a Samoan if you haven't cultivated a taste for Keke Pua'a aka Pork Buns. On a typical hot afternoon my cousin and I used to walk to Pinati's in Apia and buy ten Keke Pua'a each and shamelessly walk home munching on the steamed buns that encased balls of oily pork fried in garlic and onions that trickled down the sides of our mouths. Aaaah!!! anyone who has tasted Keke Pua'a will know that it is the food of the Samoan goddess Nafanua.
Last week a friend and I went seeking Keke Pua'a in south Auckland. We came across Pinati's in Otahuhu. Not real pork but still the best tasting lamb in steamed buns - Keke Mamoe is really what it should be called. I have tried many a Keke Pua'a in south Auckland, some are filled with fatty pork skin, others with diced lamb fat but Pinati's in Otahuhu is truly the best.Technorati Profile

CONFERENCE - PACIFIC ISLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Pacific Island Chamber of Commerce is holding a conference on the 23rd October 2008 and will focus on Pacific Peoples Economic Development in the region. CLICK HERE for more information on the Pacific Island Chamber of Commerce.Technorati Profile

CONDOLEZZA RICE LANDS IN THE PACIFIC

PHOTO-OLA THORSEN

Referred to as the most powerful woman in the world, and perhaps the only person who may have beaten Barack Obama in the popularity stakes had she chosen to run as a candidate in the USA elections, arrived in New Zealand last night. She stops off in Apia on Sunday to attend the Pacific Islands Forum. What better way is there for USA to light the fires again with New Zealand after the historical nuclear fallout of last century, than for Condolezza Rice to stir up the diplomatic friendship that was for years a "pot of cold soup". Rice's visit is a symbolic message to Asia that USA still has a strong presence in the Pacific. This is a message (despite the Free Trade Agreement with China) that USA is an ancient friend of NZ, the small nation known as for it's Treaty of Friendship with the Pacific. And what better way but for Condolezza Rice to complete her final journey with her last Pacific Islands Forum meeting as second in command to USA President Bush. Is she really the most powerful woman? I think - perhaps the most impressive Black woman in American political history who really should have been the USA president rather than the President's adviser. My dream was to meet her in person.Technorati Profile

DWAYNE JOHNSON HONOURED WITH CONGRESSIONAL AWARD 2008

All Pictures - Credit: (Mandatory): Carrie Devorah / WENN




This news is about three weeks old but hey! I thought it was still worth drawing attention to an exceptional Pacific person.
Who hasn't heard of the Rock? Who doesn't know that this man has roots in the soil of the Pacific? Imagine - he even spent part of his childhood growing up in Grey Lynn. And now he has been recognised for his contribution to American life and society. Pacific people from all over the globe can take pride in knowing that even from small tiny island nations are those who can also impact the world positively. That is our destiny.

I came across this You Tube segment in which Dwayne Johnson discusses his Samoan ancestry. Great to listen to.

NATASHA URALE BAKER

Picture taken from www.myspace.com/natashauralebaker


So there I was sitting at my desk writing up a report when an email sailed past my screen with news of Natasha Urale Baker and her Release Party launch for her new album "Across An Ocean". Of course I emailed her instantly with all sorts of questions that are supposed to fill a twenty year vacuum since the last time we spoke in person. And true to the test of friendship, like others who have responded to me on this blog, she emailed me her phone number within the hour. Always courageous and clear about her goals, "Across An Ocean" plays like a testament to Natasha's travels, learnings and accomplishments. Also another one I met at university in the last century, I almost feel the necessity to boast about the achievements of those from the class of the 1980s. But in this instance Natasha Urale Baker is another who keeps achieving in the 2000 and beyond. It's no wonder that "Where are Your Dreams" is my favourite from her album ACROSS AN OCEAN.

Support NATASHA URALE BAKER & her new album "Across An Ocean" - Release Party 15th July 2008, Safari Lounge

Wikipedia Edits

Watch WIKIPEDIA EDITS occurring around the world - I copied this link from another blog it's fascinating.

MEDIA ANALYSIS - CLYDESDALE REPORT

This might have been a good interview had there been a Pacific panel capable of deconstructing Clydesdale's report. Much as I admire Barbara Dreaver's journalistic professionalism and the witty and incisive Oscar Kightley, so much more might have been achieved had a panel of Pacific business experts or Pacific economists been invited to provide an informed analysis of Clydesdale's report. Simply dismissing the report as unacademic is foolish and naive.

MANUREWA - TERROR FIRMA - What's the Answer?

Regrettably I wanted to cringe when I heard the Pacific sounding names of those responsible for Mr Singh's unfortunate murder in Riverton Drive, Manurewa. I blogged about crime in Manurewa earlier in the year and never once thought that a similar incident would arise again in this diverse community of mine known as Manurewa. Is this the beginning of a deliberate move to oust the Indian community. I think not. Hooliganism gone mad on the end of alcohol and drugs (A&D). I am almost certain that an A&D cocktail mix was central to the minds of the offenders who brought about Mr Singh's death.

What led these young men to engage in a senseless act that now holds this community up as the 'terror firma' of the nation? Who was responsible for their nurturing? What led to each of them becoming destructive beings of 'the dark side' dedicated to ending the sacredness of Mr Singh's life? Is it the fault of their families? Perhaps their schooling years failed to instill the importance of compliance. Perhaps they were failed by their parents. So what went wrong? That story will no doubt unfold itself over the next few weeks in the media. Why is it that for many young Pacific offenders today, the cultural pressure to conform and honour one's family name is now of little relevance?

The notion of individualism and the exclusion of responsibility to others is common place now. I remember being taught to love my enemies in Sunday school and honouring my parents was part of the holy package. Since the 90s I have listened to so many young people talk about their rights as if it were one of life's givens that caregivers or parents could not remove. The right, at a state legitimated age of consent to have protected sex without informing parents. Such rights have gone further and allowed young people to abort a 'mistake' without parental or caregiver consent or notification. Somehow young people drinking alcohol are perceived as far worse than those buying condoms and instead store owners are prosecuted for selling cigarettes or alcohol to under age children. Selling condoms and contraception to young people is deemed normal. But - How on earth does the value of cigarettes and alcohol supercede the value of creating life? It seems so back to front.

Our first generation settlers were battlers, pioneers who recognised the importance of developing urban village connections through church, village, island, sporting and musical affiliation. We need to establish new social forums that are not driven solely by problem issues such as poor health or low educational achievements and so on. And that is not to say that such initiatives are unimportant but we need to divert more attention toward becoming innovators within the national economy. Manurewa Harvest church pastored by Chris and Seira Sola, operates a choir challenge each year that brings together thousands of young Pacific people to show case their talents. When such initiatives are driven by the community and not imposed as issues that church and other agencies should invest and participate within - change happens. Families attend, friendships are formed and communal networks are established to support interdependent webs that promote positive lifestyles to meet the new challenges of today. Setting up initiatives that mirror the host population will not work for Pacific peoples because only the educated and the middle class will survive. We must engage our young Pacific parents in initiatives that are technologically challenging, business environments that are driven from within our own communities and cultural and heritage activities that recognise the innovative expertise of our practitioners. We need to rethink the importance of our Pacific "ways of being" for the sake of the next generation of Pacific leaders and rely once again upon developing the ingenuity that our first generation settlers applied in navigating their own spatial location in Aotearoa New Zealand. We must become competitive, smart, entrepreneurial and develop a culture that values financial independence. Imagine banking within your own community. My Muslim friends never borrow from trading banks or borrow from loan sharks. Imagine the possibilities for Pacific people. If we don't change, we run the risk of losing of our children to urban gangsta family life dependent upon criminal activities to feed anti-social leisure habits.

BARACK OBAMA SAYS THANKYOU

Should he win the USA presidency - HOW WILL HE IMPACT THE PACIFIC?

In 2005 online forum friends persuaded me to listen to Obama's speech given at Knox College. He was impressive even then as an unknown. Often there were online forum debates over his suitability and possible likelihood of becoming the 1st black president. Since about mid 2006 he has become a global household name and I often wondered why Condolezza Rice never threw herself in at the forefront of the Republican race as the answer to the Obama-Clinton battle for first place as 1st black and 1st woman to gain the position as front runner and possibly presidency.
Certainly his background as an Hawaiian raised young person and the overwhelming support he received from Hawaii, American Samoa and Guam is indicative of the claim that Pacific peoples have made of him as their own. CHANGE that is positive in terms of uplifting the social health of Pacific peoples not only within America but in and around the Pacific may have a significant impact upon the loyalty that many Pacific island nations are now slowly directing toward Asia. The shift in global political power toward China and Europe may not necessarily be in the long term interests of the Pacific. While the USA may have directed too much attention toward the war in Iraq and that of anti-terrorism, it's political beliefs in fairness and democracy is what makes USA a nation that can be called to account for some of its wrong doings. I am not so sure when I deliberately avoid buying foodstuffs or cosmetics from China or other East European countries that the same standards would be open to examination. Barack Obama has won the first part of the political race. I wonder though if the rest of white America will allow the Republican's to lose and allow minority groups to gain the advantage of limelight and all other benefits and freedoms that might follow.

CLYDESDALE REPORT

Now the dust has settled somewhat and Dr Clydesdale has succeeded in gaining the attention he probably hoped his research might gain but without the media and political negativity it has received. Many of the comments from some the Pacific community and a few other non Pacific academics have labelled the research -lazy - out of date - racist - wanting - and not a true reflection of the achievements that have occurred within the Pacific immigrant population. But should the focus of all academic research be written in a style that is politically correct and in praise of the positive achievements of the population being researched or should it be concerned solely with passing the rigorous tests that are set by the academic discipline it resides within. Is there a duty on the part of the researcher to ensure it does not offend the community or even politicians who believe they have done much to bring about a balance for those less fortunate in our society. Was that Dr Clydesdale's responsibility?
Having read the report, it is easy to get bogged down with references about the emerging underclass of unskilled immigrants. The main thrust of the report points to immigration as a strategy that the nation can no longer depend upon to grow the economy. Clydesdale's research is economically driven and while it largely ignores many social aspects of the New Zealand immigrant community, the purpose of Clydesdale's report is to evaluate human immigration in monetary terms and therefore the reference to humans as human capital is consistent with that goal. I have read comments that identify Clydesdale's reference to 'human capital' as scholastically deplorable. I find the very reference to humans as resources often manipulated by massive HR departments as equally loathesome given humans in that context exist only to further the strategic goals of many large companies.

The findings of any academic research should always be open to scholarly and public scrutiny. Comments from the public and articles by Tapu Misa published in the New Zealand Herald contribute to a more informed debate around the shortcomings or indeed the insightfulness of such research. I do however have concerns when the governing political machinery believe that it is within their ambit of influence to manoeuver it's resources in such way to counter academic research that does not promote the political agenda of the day. Paul Hansen and Paul Callister both state that their responses were politically driven to counter the bad press caused by Clydesdale's report. While I accept that Clydesdale's report is wanting in many respects, and it is certainly not a reflection of Massey University itself as Tuitahi pointed out through the media, his research nonetheless deserves to be responded to in a manner that allows for scholarly due process to take it's course unhindered by political interference. And that it didn't, bothers me.
If anything Clydesdale's research only serves to reinforce the importance of Pacific initiatives so as to reduce the huge economic disadvantages that many Pacific people will continue to experience as the global food shortage rises alongside oil/petrol costs, increasing unemployment and greater stress on Pacific families to cope with incomes that will not match rising costs. And that for me moves into the realm of very real concern.

GET WELL SOON MAYOR LEN BROWN

All the best to Mayor Len Brown - I too am praying for his speedy recovery.

Mary Anne Thompson and Pacific Fallout

I have deliberately held off on commenting more on the Mary Anne Thompson saga. One because of the links she had with building Pacific public service professionalism and secondly because I know some of the personalities involved in what appears to be even bigger than the media reports of Taito's alleged immigration 'wheeling & dealing' for some in his community. Strangely, I remember when underground murmurings in the migrant community were popularly rumoured with Taito as the man who helped 'the illegal underdog". I often listened to friends and family refer to Taito as a "good man" to fear stricken over-staying illegal residents. Now as Taito heads off to face the allegations against him in court, he is now one who many believe ought to be shunned. Human compassion can be so expensive. In his case the issues are far more complex.
Similar issues occur again in the Mary Anne Thompson affair. Yes her dishonesty around the non existence of a PHD qualification she claimed as an achievement, deserves the current attention she is getting - but the real losers here are the Pacific community. Once again Pacific people are portrayed as incapable of dealing with great responsibility because of all sorts of pressures - not only internally within the public service but also from friends and family who may perceive some Pacific high risers as all powerful. Unless we are trained to focus on codes of conduct and ethics above the strong arm of our personal cultural environments we will succumb to pressure and take the broad hopes of our communities down with us. That to me is the fallout upon Pacific communities when Pacific leaders do not abide by the rules.
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CONGRATULATIONS - JOSEPHINE BARTLEY

Labour has another Pacific candidate added to their lineup and standing in Tamaki. Anyone who has met Josephine knows that she is hard working, committed and really cares about improving the negative statistics for the Pacific community. While I am surprised that Josephine's calling is in this direction, she nonetheless deserves to be elected. And when that happens I will miss her dedicated emails (over the last five years) from the PACIFICA news desk advising all active and inactive members of important events in the Pacific community. All the best to Josephine Bartley as she steps out into campaigning territory for the 2008 election.

CONGRATULATIONS - MAGILA ANNANDALE

Good news- Magila Annandale is confirmed as the new Director of Communications and Relationships at the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs (MPIA). A changing of the guard at the helm appears to have resulted in new blood being appointed to a number of positions at the MPIA. Magila has a fine track record in delivering a number of government related projects. I remember her well in my university days at Victoria as one who was always meticulously groomed and who was never short on delivering her opinions. Congratulations to Magila and to MPIA for appointing a Pacific 'fire starter'.

Pacific Family Obligations & Public Service Rules of Conduct

MP Philip Field faces trial on counts of bribery and corruption and all the while another prominent public servant Dr Thompson along with others in the Immigration Service are facing an investigation over their roles in the processing of residency applications of some of Dr Thompson's family members. Sadly I think MP Philip Field's days are numbered - he was left out in the cold a long time ago and his recovery rate before the 2008 election will be zilch. But it does little better for the members of the Immigration Service who must now answer questions about why some applications that were processed were given priority over others. Mr Field's court room drama's will now overshadow any other dodgy questions that might embarrass the Service.

I have been wondering why Pacific people continually face problems with divided loyalty issues to family demands / cultural obligations and public service codes of conduct. But a days thinking has brought me to the realisation that these issues plague us all. I have heard of old school boy associations giving special treatment to children of associates and so on, we do it all the time, we try to influence others to give us special treatment. The difference however is that when in public service - it probably is better to tell all concerned of your connections and leave it at that. Human nature is a funny thing. Without being asked to do so, we usually give special priority to those who may pull at our heart strings, because of some narrow connection or because a person reminds one of another close link. In Dr Thompson's case she ought to have publicly revealed her special relationship to the applicants and left it to others in the Department to deal with it through the normal channels.

As more Pacific people move into the upper echelons of public service - there is the realisation that codes of conduct are culturally neutral because the obligation of Pacific public servants is first and foremost to the state and the public it serves.

1st Maori PHD in Art History Reinstated

At a time when the history and heritage of Aotearoa is being preserved, the reinstatement of New Zealand's first Maori PHD graduate in Art History at the University of Auckland is of course a triumph in that field of scholarship but also highlights unfair dealings led to his redundancy. The NZ Herald reports on Dr Rangihiroa Panoho.

SAMOA PROTESTS AGAINST Right Hand Drive Change

Samoa has spoken against the proposed changes made to changing road rules in a 20,000 strong protest march this week. What will the Samoan government do. I recall watching an hilarious debate last year between PM Tuilaepa and Toleafoa Toailoa about the pros and cons of changing to the right hand side of the road.
I remember Toailoa back in my university days - he was the only Samoan married student on campus, a diligent student and a talented musician, and then I discovered he was also known as Romero. How time moves on ..., now he's at the forefront of the anti- RHD protests.
Which ever way the government wind blows on this issue - it cannot ignore the 20,000 voices that marched this week in Samoa. For my opinion - I would say leave things as they are. What is there to be gained from changing the road rules but more expense to the general population in Samoa. Anyway the US dollar will continue to fall so Samoa will still benefit in the long run.

CONDOLENCES - ELIM CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

Six students and one teacher died yesterday while on a school outdoors trip in Tongariro. What a tragedy to wake up to news like that this morning? Some young people of the Manurewa Assembly of God church I attend are students of that school. So it was with a lot of faith and hope that I waited not to hear their names released over the airwaves and thankfully so as well.

Death is not an easy thing to accept. But I take heart from the strong faith and hope of the Elim College community in God which makes the possibility of despair in a situation like this redundant. School staff, the Principal and their supporters have provided sensible support to their community in allowing them to grieve openly on the school grounds. Mayor Len Brown was on hand for most of the day at the school providing support to the school community and has even offered the Telstra Pacific Events Centre free of charge should it become necessary for a bigger venue. Praise the Lord for Mayor Len Brown. My prayers go out to all of the Elim College staff and students and family members of those who are now in the presence of the Lord.

John 14:18 No, I will not abandon you or leave you as orphans in the storm-I will come to you.

BOB THE BUILDER - CLARKSON yells "Pay The Bill'

As I read the NZ Herald this morning, I developed a distaste for Bob Clarkson who was reported to have kept yelling 'pay the bill' while Luamanuvao Winnie Laban delivered a speech yesterday on the importance of new legislation to prevent another Muliaga incident from occurring again. He did apologise for his outbursts, but it has clearly left a sour taste in my mouth toward that MP and it has not sweetened through out the day. I have similar emotions toward James Coleman on TV3 Sunrise - I don't watch Sunrise because of Coleman's heartless response about the cause of Mrs Muliaga's death last year. If I mistakenly switch the channel to TV3 and catch Coleman, I am reminded of his cold talk back sessions about a poor defenceless corpse Mrs Muliaga and her children who were tormented by her death and the loss of their mother.
For me- both occasions were more than attempts at taking an anti-pacific stance, it was an anti-humane position. What hope is there for minority groups with personalities like that at the fore front of our society. They need to be shut down. The Dawn Raids against Pacific peoples ended in the 1970s. This is the age of Pasifika enlightenment. Auckland celebrates Pasifika month in March. So get with it Clarkson or get lost. And TV3 how about a male presenter like Paul Henry or even a Pacific one - one who believes in the sacredness of life.

MANGERE - NATIONAL CANDIDATE

So the lovely Mita Harris has been selected for Mangere. While I am glad he has won favour again for his loyalty to the party, why on earth allow him to suffer a candidate suicidal experience there. Mangere is a Pacific peoples stomping ground - for second and third generation grandchildren of the original Pacific settlers. Since David Lange a candidate who does not have Pacific heritage has no hope of success in a campaign there. I did hear that Enosa Auva'a threw his oar into the blend for Mangere and he would have been more appropriate. There will be no battle for Mangere at election time. Right now it is securely in the hands of Labour's Su'a William Sio who has demonstrated at a local level that he is more than capable of handling the bigger tasks. Recently I listened to him asking Luamanuvao Winnie Laban a few of those contrived questions that party members ask each other when the answer is always a given "yes we did well". There is no doubt that in time Su'a will surpass Luamanuvao in party rankings who I think lacks that ground breaking presence and punch that we all hope our Pacific candidates will have at the national level.
Back to Mita Harris - I hope National has signed up a large loyal group of Pacific party members to support this young man in his campaign because clearly he will need it. Campaigning life in foreign territory can be very lonely and expensive.