Photography from Pasifika: New Digital Storytellers in Aotearoa

News
March 15, 2022

VII Academy recently partnered with Creative New Zealand to provide a program for Pasifika creatives from Aotearoa. In the first workshop in the program, which was recently completed, VII photographer Christopher Morris, supported by Pacific photographer Raymond Sagapolutele, worked with nine emerging storytellers to develop new skills and new stories.

To see and discuss the Pasifika perspective, VII Insider’s David Campbell interviewed some of the participants, regarded as emerging storytellers, including Frank Falaniko Talo, Jasmine Tuia, and Siniva Williams who recently participated in this VII Academy workshop. The full recording of this discussion can be viewed on VII Insider (free membership required to view).

The group discussed questions such as, is there a Pasifika perspective in photography? How does a Pasifika perspective challenge conventional visual representations of Aotearoa? What stories are emerging from a Pasifika perspective?

The photo essays from all the participants are published below.

Mundane ‘Ofa by Emily Mafile’o

‘Enii of Hutt.d Familia 86 and the girls, at Dead End. Aotearoa New Zealand born Tongan mother of 5 children. Manurewa, Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand, February, 2022 — ‘Enii of Hutt.d Familia 86 and the girls, at Dead End.
Aotearoa New Zealand born Tongan mother of 5 children.
Manurewa, Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand, February, 2022

Loni of Hutt.d Familia 86, at the Dead End. Aotearoa New Zealand born Tongans, creating their own spaces for their collective va’s. Dead End, Manurewa, Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand, February, 2022. By Emily Mafile’o — Loni of Hutt.d Familia 86, at the Dead End. Aotearoa New Zealand born Tongans, creating their own spaces for their collective va’s.
Dead End, Manurewa, Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand, February, 2022. By Emily Mafile’o

Pino of Hutt.d Familia 86 at the Dead End, a street that goes no where on the edge of the industrial part of Manurewa. Dead End, Manurewa, Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand, February, 2022. By Emily Mafile’o — Pino of Hutt.d Familia 86 at the Dead End, a street that goes no where on the edge of the industrial part of Manurewa.
Dead End, Manurewa, Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand, February, 2022. By Emily Mafile’o

Hank the lil tank. A rescue pit bull dog who was being used as bait for dog fights. He is the dog that we never knew we wanted. He has a colourful history of going for wanders to visit old and knew friends, twice being kept by people who found him, one time for over 5 months! Getting picked up by the pound a few times and being neutered for being a dangerous breed and hit by a car and broke his back leg. Feasgate Street, Manurewa, Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand, February, 2022 — Hank the lil tank. A rescue pit bull dog who was being used as bait for dog fights. He is the dog that we never knew we wanted. He has a colourful history of going for wanders to visit old and knew friends, twice being kept by people who found him, one time for over 5 months! Getting picked up by the pound a few times and being neutered for being a dangerous breed and hit by a car and broke his back leg.
Feasgate Street, Manurewa, Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand, February, 2022

Tauamiti boys, swimming in Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake). A family working holiday. They are of Samoan, Tongan, NZ European, Maori ancestry. Rotorua, Aotearoa NZ, January, 2022. By Emily Mafile’o

Talavou Tauamiti swimming in Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake), 0n a family working holiday. Samoan, Tongan, NZ European and Maori ancestry. Tikitapu Lake, Rotorua, Aotearoa NZ, January, 2022. By Emily Mafile’o — Talavou Tauamiti swimming in Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake),
0n a family working holiday. Samoan, Tongan, NZ European and Maori ancestry. Tikitapu Lake,
Rotorua, Aotearoa NZ, January, 2022. By Emily Mafile’o

Bubzie in the dungeon sewing, Hank fed up with waiting patiently for his human buddy. February 19, 2022. Manurewa, Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. Photo by Emily Mafile’o — Bubzie in the dungeon sewing, Hank fed up with waiting patiently for his human buddy.
February 19, 2022. Manurewa, Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. Photo by Emily Mafile’o

Reconnecting the old and the new ta/va’s creating new ones by Thorndon’s lights at 803/111 Molesworth Street, Wellington, Aotearoa, New Zealand, February, 2022. By Emily Mafile’o

Big Poppa rolling his advertisement flyers that he delivers around his neighbourhood of Manurewa. This income is so that he can make the yearly amount required to gift to his beloved Wesley Church of Tonga. February, 2022, Manurewa, South Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand. By Emily Mafile’o — Big Poppa rolling his advertisement flyers that he delivers around his neighbourhood of Manurewa. This income is so that he can make the yearly amount required to gift to his beloved Wesley Church of Tonga.
February, 2022, Manurewa, South Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand. By Emily Mafile’o

The last time we saw each other was over 25 years ago in High School. Lots of things had been left unsaid. It was like stepping back in time in our time now. Connecting the ta’s/va’s times/ place’s. Reina, 803/111 Molesworth Street, Wellington, Aotearoa, New Zealand, November 2021. By Emily Mafile’o — The last time we saw each other was over 25 years ago in High School. Lots of things had been left unsaid. It was like stepping back in time in our time now. Connecting the ta’s/va’s times/ place’s.
Reina, 803/111 Molesworth Street, Wellington, Aotearoa, New Zealand, November 2021. By Emily Mafile’o

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Tahā Māori by Frank Falaniko Talo

‘Tahā Māori’ translates to Māori identity, Māori character, Māori side, Māori heritage, Māori ancestry, Māori descent. It is the connectivity that binds family, friends, cultures and traditions together even across generations.

Te Korowai ō Maikuku (waka house) near Hobson Beach shelters a ceremonial waka named Ngātokimatawhaorua, the world’s largest of its type. Waka have always played a vital role in Māori culture, essential for travel and uniquely constructed and carved as symbolic representations of each iwi’s (tribe’s) identity and spirituality. Ngātokimatawhaorua was built to mark the centenary of the Treaty of Waitangi’s signing in 1940 and was built by members of New Zealand’s northern and Waikato iwi (tribes). Ngātokimatawhaorua is launched every year in February as part of Waitangi Day commemorations. — Te Korowai ō Maikuku (waka house) near Hobson Beach shelters a ceremonial waka named Ngātokimatawhaorua, the world’s largest of its type. Waka have always played a vital role in Māori culture, essential for travel and uniquely constructed and carved as symbolic representations of each iwi’s (tribe’s) identity and spirituality.
Ngātokimatawhaorua was built to mark the centenary of the Treaty of Waitangi’s signing in 1940 and was built by members of New Zealand’s northern and Waikato iwi (tribes).
Ngātokimatawhaorua is launched every year in February as part of Waitangi Day commemorations.

Ōrākei Marae is the cultural hub for Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. Located above Ōkahu Bay on the shores of the Waitematā Harbour, Ōrākei Marae is just a 10-minute drive from downtown Auckland. Takaparawhau (Bastion Point), where the Marae is based, is steeped in history and boasts spectacular views of the Waitematā Harbour and the greater Auckland area. Ōrākei Marae is a living breathing part of the Ngāti Whātua people. Tumutumuwhenua, the ancestor the house represents has connections to all the major tribes throughout Aotearoa. — Ōrākei Marae is the cultural hub for Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.
Located above Ōkahu Bay on the shores of the Waitematā Harbour, Ōrākei Marae is just a 10-minute drive from downtown Auckland. Takaparawhau (Bastion Point), where the Marae is based, is steeped in history and boasts spectacular views of the Waitematā Harbour and the greater Auckland area.
Ōrākei Marae is a living breathing part of the Ngāti Whātua people. Tumutumuwhenua, the ancestor the house represents has connections to all the major tribes throughout Aotearoa.

Te Manukanuka o Hoturoa Marae was opened on 11 November 2006. It is a Marae that is adorned with magnificent carvings and tukutuku panels that have been handcrafted by master carvers and weavers. It bears the name of the captain of the Tainui waka Hoturoa who was a great navigator who led the Tainui people to the lands of Aotearoa, New Zealand. The Marae stands proud overlooking the Manukau Harbour and its ancestral lands.

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Aiga by Jasmin Tuia

Waking up to our last breakfast with my cousins before they return home

Siblings folding our weekend washing in our living room

Visiting aunty Fue and uncle Mike in Opotiki

Festive season means visiting our 'aiga' or families. — Festive season means visiting our ‘aiga’ or families.

Christmas hangs with my aiga, snacking and watching Samoan music videos.

Early wakes to say goodbye to more cousins going back home.

Aunty Si'u and uncle Ben's home for Christmas. — Aunty Si’u and uncle Ben’s home for Christmas.

Cousins swims at aunty Fue and uncle Mike's place. — Cousins swims at aunty Fue and uncle Mike’s place.

Cousins' movie sessions — Cousins’ movie sessions

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Photo essay by Nick Netzler

This series of images follows Andrew Davy, a retired farmer from Taranaki as he continues to find balance between family and farm work. The 80-year-old has dedicated his life to working on the land that his own father did before him. This land is situated in the shadow of a mighty volcano–Te Mauga-o-Taranaki–on the west coast of the north island of Aotearoa. Andrew remains the oldest living resident, who was born and is still living in the district of Auroa in Taranaki.

Retired Farmer Andrew Davy steps though grass on his farm as he feeds the small number of cows he keeps. 7th January 2022. Auroa, Taranaki, Aotearoa, New Zealand

Farmer's hay buggy drives towards a row of macrocarpa trees. 24th Janurary 2022, Auroa, Taranaki, Aotearoa. New Zealand. Photo by Nick Netzler — Farmer’s hay buggy drives towards a row of macrocarpa trees. 24th Janurary 2022, Auroa, Taranaki, Aotearoa. New Zealand. Photo by Nick Netzler

Farmer watches nighttime television in his home. 4th February 2022, Auroa, Taranaki, Aotearoa, New Zealand

Andy Davy throws hay into a paddock. 7th February 2022. Auroa, Taranaki, Aotearoa. Photo by Nick Netzler

Retired farmer sits with a cup of coffee. 7th February 2022, Auroa, Taranaki, Aotearoa, Photo by Nick Netzler

Beverley and Andrew Davy (husband and wife) relax watching television as Maggie the dog spots the camera. 4th February 2022, Auroa, Taranaki, Aotearoa. Photo by Nick Netzler

Retired Farmer Andy Davy looks at the camera as he drives his hay buggy. 24th January 2022 . Photo by Nick Netzler

80 year old retired farmer Andy Davy watches television from the couch as 18-year-old grandson Elias Mataitini stands in doorway, 5th february 2022. Auroa, Taranki, Aotearoa. Photo by Nick Netzler.

Three generations at breakfast. Twenty-year-old grandson Abraham Mataitini, 80 year old retired farmer Andy Davy, 51 year old son Aaron Davy. Arty Tarts cafe, Opunake, Taranaki, Aotearoa. Photo by Nick Netzler

Retired Farmer Andy Davy stands in the shadows of Macrocarpa trees. 21st January, Auroa, Taranaki, Aotearoa. Photo by Nick Netzler

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Alofa by Penina Momoisea

“Alofa” translates to ‘love’ in Samoan. Alofa is the connectivity that binds family, friends, cultures and traditions together even across the moana (ocean).