NiuZila: Land of full fat milk and welfare money

Last year 33 of the 51 house members of the Hawaiian House of Representatives voted in favour of a bill that would create same-sex civil unions in the state.  However, on Friday last week, the House leadership postponed the bill indefinitely after a large campaign by many conservative Christian groups to have the proposed law stopped.

The bill would have granted homosexual partners all the legal benefits of marriage, except the name itself, and would have made Hawaii the sixth state with a similar law.  As many of you would know, Civil Unions were successfully made into law in 2004 here in Niu Sila/New Zealand - something I supported back then, and still support now.  Six years on, the world hasn’t ended, the sky hasn’t fallen through, and any moral decay already existing in society hasn’t increased since many New Zealanders have taken on Civil Unions.  In fact, life has gone on as normal.

I think the Hawaiian legislature, and the conservative Christians who opposed the bill, are wrong. 

Firstly, Civil Unions are not marriages, although I wouldn’t have a problem with marriage for same-sex couples either.  So on one hand, the ‘institution’ of marriage is protected if same-sex couples can only have Civil Unions.  However, on the other hand, why should the State deny same-sex couples the right to be married?  Anything less, even by name, seems discriminatory.  I know many of our people are quite conservative when it comes to this topic, and would retort that marriage is between a man and a woman, made before God - “It’s Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.”

But such an argument leads me to my second point.  The separation of Church and State.  The State should not have a preference of religion.  Secular States cannot be biased to one religion especially in an increasingly diverse population.  Therefore we can’t or shouldn’t use our own personal morals and impose it on everyone else.

And thirdly, as I mentioned above, same-sex couples being married doesn’t hurt anyone, unless you have your own prejudices or bigoted views.  If Aunties Tom and Dom from down the road decided to get married/have a Civil Union, how does that change anything for you?  Do they suddenly smell really bad?  Do they impinge on your right to walk down the road?  Do they hurt your eyesight now they are in union of some kind?

At my old job there were a couple of openly gay men.  To be honest, I initially was disgusted.  They were loud and flamboyant, always wanting to know everybody’s news.  But during my time there, they were the most understanding of people, and very loyal friends to not only myself, but everyone else too.  I’m not saying every gay person is flamboyant or loyal, but my initial feeling of unease was unfounded and to this day we have good friendships, just like the many other friendships I have made over the years.  I realised they are normal people. 

Soon after the passing of the law in 2004, the couple had a Civil Union.  And guess what?  We are still friends.  Nothing changed in our friendship, in our interaction, in their attitudes to others.

At the societal level, why must we deny normal the right to be in union of some sort afforded to other normal people?  On the theological level, let God be the sole judge on ALL of us for ALL our actions, including how we treat same-sex couples.

Survivor has been named the television programme that has defined a decade.  Arguably other reality TV shows (such as American Idol) would not be far behind.  But these shows are hugely popular for a reason.  It’s real people, putting themselves before the world, revealing human frailties and strengths; the weaknesses and triumphs of humanity.  Pretty good for the producers too.  But there’s no denying there is so much intensity in these programmes because we are seeing the familiar.

(Reality TV is a fascinating area to blog about, but I’ll leave my critique of it for another time - in terms of subjecting indigenous cultures into the ‘exotic’ for economic gain.)

Survivor Samoa was no different.  And man was it intense.  Not sure how it was aired elsewhere, but in Niu Sila/New Zealand, TV3 screened the last three days of the Survivor Samoa competition.

I had only been watching the show sporadically, but last night’s finale was exhilarating!  For those not familiar with the contestants, the most controversial and polarising finalist was Russell Hantz - an oil company owner and self-confessed millionaire.  He is the man!  He masterminded his way to the finals, whether by making various alliances, making promises, breaking promises, lying, manipulating his team, tough playing in challenges, and finding immunity idols with no clues!  He is probably the best Survivor contestant in the history of the show.

Unfortunately, getting to the finals is just not enough in Survivor, something Russell failed to appreciate.  While he was successful in getting to the finals, there is the social element that he either was too cocky about and took for granted, or misread the impact of his actions on the contestants that eventually became his jurors. 

So who did the greatest Survivor contestant lose to?  Natalie White, a 25-year-old pharmaceutical sales rep from Arkansas.  Her strategy, many would say, was to ride on the coat tails of Russell’s master plan.  Natalie said aligning with stronger players was a necessity to make it to the end. “There were a lot of things to my game that I did right, starting off by assessing the cast right,” she said.

“I built really strong personal relationships, and they were genuine. I will be friends with these people for the rest of my life.”  Staying “humble” was also the key to winning, Natalie said. “In this game if you get overconfident it’s a huge mistake, especially this season. Any time anyone was overly cocky and arrogant it seems like it didn’t work out for them.”

If being the passive member gets you to the final and the jury is more sympathetic to you, then yes, Natalie did outwit, outplay and outlast Russell.

And it wasn’t all a one way road in this allegiance of Russell and Natalie.  He needed her, because as he calculated, Russell needed a “weaker” player as oppose to Brett who was voted off Survivor just before the finals.  Russell believed people would respect him for his ruthless tactics.  Unfortunately either hated those tactics, or they did respect Russell, but respected Natalie even more.

When the winner was announced, Russell was visibly upset.  Russell even tried to buy Natalie’s title of Sole Survivor from her during the reunion show for $10,000, but she refused.  It was clear how much the title of “Sole Survivor” meant to him.  It appeared as though the motive was not about money.  At that point I thought to myself, hmmm perhaps he did deserve to win.  He’s a millionaire, so perhaps he wasn’t doing it for the money.  Russell was adamant his personality on the show was not the same as that in the real world.

However there is a consolation prize for the person who receives the most votes from the American public.  The three finalists were Brett Clouser, t-shirt designer (who almost toppled Russell’s master plan by winning the immunity challenge), Russell, and Shannon Waters aka ‘Shambo’.  Shambo served her country for five years, and went onto become a chef before changing gears to be a sales representative for a food service company.  Russell won the consolation prize of $100,000.

What would’ve confirmed to me that Russell was only in it for the title, and money was not a goal, would’ve been if he had offered that $100,000 to either the popular young Brett to help him with his t-shirt business, or the equally popular Shambo, a sales representative, both a long way from being an oil millionaire.  Then I would agree with the millions of Russell fans, that he truly did deserve to win the competition.

Yip, this is human drama in the 21st century, broadcast to millions who only want more.

The recession is over!  Yeah right…

One of the responsibilities of a Niu Sila/New Zealand Government being voted in by the public, is for that Government to look at the bigger picture - to make policies, plan for the future, implement changes - things the average Sione and Sina have little power to do themselves.  Yet this Government, with a Palemia/Prime Minister who was a former market speculator, has had a hands off approach to the economy.  That right wing mantra: the market will correct itself.

Little comfort for the nearly 3000 people who lined up last week, to apply for only 150 jobs at a new supermarket opening in Manukau, Aukilani Saute/South Auckland.  It’s an amazing illustration of how people are desperate, and not just a few, but heaps of people!  The majority were Maori and Pacific Islanders.  But there were also Indians, Asians, Palagi/Pakeha/European, people from across Aukilani/Auckland.

What’s the Government’s response?  Do nothing.  Well that’s not totally true.  They appointed a Tax Working Group made up of rich Palagi males to recommend how to make the tax system more efficient.  Their recommendations?  Tax cuts for the rich, increase the goods and services tax (GST) which will affect the poor the most. 

Again I’m being unfair on my representations on the Government.  The Tax Working Group also suggested a capital gains tax which would be like most western nations, where land and property owners would be taxed for the appreciation in value of their land/property.  Of course that would be too bold a step for the Government to make in Niu Sila/New Zealand, a country obsessed with owning houses as their nest egg.  There’s no incentive to put savings into industries that create innovation, further capital, and more jobs.

So when the public see the Government reject the extreme recommendations of the Tax Working Group (such as the capital gains tax), it would make a GST rise and tax cuts for the rich look more palatable for the public to digest.

Meanwhile, 3000 people await to hear the outcome of their job interviews/applications.  For these people it’s about putting bread on the table, paying the bills to keep a roof over their heads, and getting from week to week.  While those entrusted to look at the bigger picture seem to also be looking out for the rich only.

UPDATE:  The Government announced it will raise the minimum wage by… wait for it… it’s a whopper… it will be raised by “25 CENTS!”  That’s right folks.  Meanwhile the struggling Minister of Education, Anne Tolley, will be spending $26 million on propaganda to charm the education sector of her unpopular National Standards policy! Hmmm….

My wife and I have recently returned back from a trip to Los Angeles, USA and Mexico.  We definitely aren’t high rollers or anything.  We don’t travel long distances too often (trips to Samoa and Australia or not included, because it’s all in the same back yard!) namely because we can’t afford it.  But those occasions when your savings allow us to, we try make the most of it - coz when’s the next time we’re gonna be in Mexico or London or Bangkok?

Anyway we were in LA to board a boat cruise that went along the Pacific coastline of Mexico and back… and it was awesome!  I reckon that’s the way to travel. 

Firstly, if you’re gonna fly for 12 hours in a plane to your holiday destination, why not travel by water where you wake up every morning in a new port?

Secondly, as a Samoan, I loved the idea that all meals are paid for, and that the cruise ship had 24 hour buffet food outlets, six restaurants and international menus!  My wife mocked me that I would need to declare the extra baggage I had gained around the stomach area when flying back to Niu Sila.

Lastly, these cruise ships are getting bigger and bigger.  They ain’t ships, they’re massive floating hotels.  Within the 12 floors there was a casino, 3 pools, 6 spa pools, 4 night clubs, all the restaurants, an auditorium etc.  I swear, there were times where we’d only left our room for 15mins and come back and all our bedding and towels had been replaced.

There were 3,500 guests on board catered to by 1,200 crew members!  A moving city!

Mexico was amazing!  The cruise stopped at the touristy ports.  But like I said, we don’t have the kaching to do much shopping or the hard out adventurous tours ashore, so we were limited in what we could experience. 

However, we did have enough pennies to do a tour at one of the ports that took us inland to a city that was 160 years old.  Driving away from the city centre it reminded me of Samoa in many ways - the tropical vegetation, the brown skinned locals, the pot holes in the road, the bbq stalls along those pot holed roads etc. 

We were constantly being mistaken for Mexicans - “¿Habla usted español?”  Although I do know a little Spanish, I always responded in English, for the fear they would launch into a full conversation, and I wouldn’t be able to keep up with the translation in my head ha!  I would think in my head when trying to bargain with stall holders: “what’s eight again? Seis, siete, ocho… Ocho!”  And man, they sure love to bargain in Mexico. 

Our first two items we bought, we probably got ripped off - totally our own fault.  But by the end of the trip, some of the stall holders were visibly frustrated at our pushiness in bringing the price down.  And if ever there was a time I appreciated the fact my wife and I speak Samoan, is when we’re bargaining in foreign countries.  The stall holders know English, and follow the conversations tourists would have with each other on whether they should buy a product off the stall holder or not.  However, my wife and I would have spitfire conversations in Samoan to each other from one side of the market at the other - “Fai aku sefulu kala”  “Laikiki kele, ae a le sefulu lua?”  “Leai, fesili aku pe e lava le sefulu kala.”

To the intrigue of some Mexicans, they would ask what language we were speaking.  “Samoan.”  “Oh, where is that from?”  “Samoa, near New Zealand.”  “Where’s that?”  At that point I laugh and I feel like saying - What?  You don’t know where New Zealand is?  New Zealand?  Aotearoa?  The land of the long white cloud?  The land of Lord of the Rings?  Once were Warriors?  Jake and Beth?  You know the All Blacks?  Man, we are an obscure little nation tucked away at the bottom corner of the globe.  I had no hope of explaining where Samoa was if people hadn’t heard of New Zealand hehehe.

Every now and then we had random people say to us random things as we walked passed.  We’ve had a few people say “Mahalo” or “Aloha”.  Close, but not quite.  A coupleof people said “Kia ora”, with one Mexican adding on “Tena Koe? Haere mai.” gesturing we enter his stall.  I was pretty impressed with that guy, unfortunately we were in a rush and couldn’t stop.  An African American man, thought we were “Tong-gan”.  Man, he was almost dead right… so near and yet so far.  Then one day, out of the blue an old palagi lady on the cruise turned around said, “Samoa?  Are you guys from Samoa?”  Amazed at her accuracy, we grinned widely and say “Yes, we are Samoans, although we live in New Zealand.” 

She replied “You’re a long way from home.”  Shortly after that conversation my wife and I sat down to have lunch trying to figure out how the little old lady knew we were Samoan.  My wife stared at me, then suddenly whacked my over the head and said “Look at your t-shirt!”  I forgot I was wearing my ‘Samoa mo Samoa’ tee that day hehehe.

A lot of people did stare at us, I guess because they haven’t weren’t familiar with the beautiful Polynesian physique haha!  We were brown - but not Hispanic.  We were a lot bigger in size than others, but my wife and I are not obese.  We weren’t bothered - just means on this massive ship we’re unique!  I guess the inquisitive look we received are the same looks us islanders give the new Somalian families that have moved into our neighbourhoods.

By the tenth day on our holiday, we began to feel homesick.  We missed seeing familiar faces, not only our friends and family, but missed seeing our own people.  As we disembarked from the cruise I was saddened we hadn’t spent and wouldn’t spend more time in LA.  I was also surprised we hadn’t met any Samoans our whole trip, although we were staying in a hotel in Long Beach.

However on our last day, my wife and I decided to go to a mall in Willow to have lunch before going to LAX.  We walked passed an L & L Hawaiian BBQ shop, and thought we’d try it out, and see if it was similar to the L & L in Otahuhu, Aukilani/Auckland.  As I busily looked at the menu, licking my lips, and I asked my wife pretty loudly “Auoi, ou ke fia ai.  E lava ka kupe?” (Man, I am hungry.  Do we have enough money?)  After a week of speaking Samoan to each other without worrying about people eavesdropping into our conversation, my wife looked embarrassed and whispered something back to me.  As we had entered the shop my wife had immediately noticed people who she thought could be Samoans.  And sure enough, as I turned around I saw that a young Samoan guy had heard me and giggled with his sister.  Man I was shamed hehe.

Another Samoan lady greeted us and asked if we were from “out of state”.  She welcomed us, after telling her we were from Niu Sila - yip definitely from way out of state!  That whole lunch meal we sat eating and talking, smiling.  Because at the same time we could hear a couple of lo’omatutua (elderly women) talking in Samoan about this person and that person at church; a few minutes later one of the younger Samoan boys walks to the door to greet some other Samoan boys “Malo uce!” 

Yip - not only did the food taste the similar as back in Otahuhu, but there were familiar people in L & L’s too, albeit with an American twang added in.  I felt like I was back home already.

It’s been an interesting political year for Labour. After losing the elections, former leader Helen Clark appeared to have saved the party from internal squabbling by immediately stepping down, allowing for the new leadership to step in. However, this new leadership: Phil Goff and Annette King, have struggled to make traction with the voting public.

This is in contrast to the ruling Government. There’s no denying that the current National Government is popular, if the regular polls are anything to go by. While there have been hiccups along the way, National has stayed ahead. More specifically, Palemia/Prime Minister John Key is very popular. With this backdrop, it must be very fustrating for the Labour leadership seeing that no matter what they do, or how hard they try, nothings happening for them.

Because of this, the Labour leadership has apparently been asking itself some hard questions, as they should. However, the answers the leadership have come up with, I’m not so sure on. A lot of commentators, including some in the Labour ranks, have decided the electoral defeat for Labour was a rejection by the Niu Sila public, of the progressive/social liberal movement. Apparently, the Niu Sila public had become more conservative, and if Labour were to gain support, it would need to contest for that conservative support from National.

Goff has always been from the “right” of the Labour party, and there are quite a few traditional Marxists, such as commentator Chris Trotter. Along with strategist Pagani, there has been a slow movement from the Labour leadership towards laying down the platform in which Labour will preach from in 2010 going into election year. Earlier rants this year by Trevor Mallard were early warning signs of things to come. And recently Goff made a speech entitled “Nationhood”, further building on that platform.

While the speech had some very good points, regarding the role of the Maori Party in coalition with the National Government, some of the wording was clearly catering for the conservative/red neck voters, such as “grievance industry” and “birthright to the beaches” populist slogans. Now Goff and his leadership/strategists are not stupid, and know they are engaging important substantial political and philosophical issues (ie identity politics vs class politics), they are also taking the opportunity to grab the superficial political points from the conservative/red neck vote at the same time.

Unfortunately, I think they will lose using either or both strategies. Political point scoring from the conservative/red neck vote can only get you so far on the left. While Trotter believes there are more social conservatives than social liberals on the left, I think that’s all too simplistic a view. I think I am sociall conservative in many ways. I am a Christian, but I am also Samoan. I have a tertiary education and currently hold a professional occupation, but my background is from a working class family. I have some socially conservative values, but I have some strong convictions against neo-liberal economic theories. And thus, this is the reality of post-modernism. There are many more layers to an onion, than just class or identity.

And so this is the basis of social liberalism/progressivism. Whether we are male/female, hetero/homosexual, indigenous/immigrant, religious/atheist, the social liberal/progressivism strives for a society that is inclusive of all peoples, where there is an equality amongst all irrespective of background.

For Trotter, he believes there must be a point where the left must decide that one of those identities must take precedence over other identities. For Trotter, and the Labour leadership, that is the proleteriat. The class warfare is the paramount battle to be fought. Identity politics, including Maori/indigenous politics is a distraction to that paramount battle. I believe he is wrong.

It is because of the broad Church of social liberalism/progressivism, that the left finds it’s strength. Unity through diversity. Unfortunately for Trotter and Co, they are banging the drums of divisiveness on the left. It seems as though the beat they are banging too includes: you’re either with us or against us. That might win some votes from the conservatives, but it will alienate so many more on the left. Furthermore, many of the social conservatives on the left, are in fact Maori or Pacific Island. Those on the left that disliked the “anti-smacking” law and civil union legislation were Polynesian. The working class proletariats are again, people of Polynesian back ground. Therefore it kinda only leaves the true red neck Pakeha voters to which Goff will appeal to the most.

But there is an important question that needs to be asked of identity politics. As a Samoan, I can associate myself with the struggle of our fellow Polynesian cousins, the Maori. With a similar worldview, but also our shared experience with colonialism, the struggle to have an indigenous outlook may not grate with Euro-centric theories such as Marxism, but also against aspects of liberalism. Some indigenous academics have often called human rights (a product of liberalism) as another form of colonisation. Not because there is an outright opposition to human rights, but because the authors of mainstream human rights come from a Euro-centric point of view, such as centering around the rights of the ‘individual’. From a communal culture such as Polynesian societies, this form of human rights does not fit well. And so these issues will need to be resolved, but that in no way means one must choose one identity over another.

Identity politics (along with Marxism/class struggle and environmentalism etc) are here to stay. The Maori Party is likely to be around for a while, and therefore so is identity politics.

Ok, that’s my political spiel for a while hehehe. So many more exciting things to post up about soon…

Judge Ida Malosi, Niu Sila’s/New Zealand’s first female Pacific Island judge, was reported in today’s newspapers as saying many young Pacific offenders in Aukilani Saute / South Auckland are “chameleons” who attend church with their family the morning after committing a crime.  “On Saturday night he committed an egregious violent offence.  On Sunday he dutifully did as his mother said, got up and got dressed in his Sunday best and went to Sunday school.  On Monday he appeared in court”. 

In an earlier post, I mentioned how a cousin of mine had been arrested for aggravated robbery with a group of his friends, after the victim identified my cousin months after the incident, when my cousin stopped on the side of the road to assist the victim who’s car had broke down.  My cousin is who the Judge is talking about, and the many other Pacific youth who find themselves in such a position.

On one hand it seems so easy for our youth to get involved in criminal activity, yet it’s not beyond those same youth to do a good deed, as my cousin did.

Judge Malosi was commenting on a study conducted for the Families Commission by AUT University with Otara researcher Efeso Collins and Mangere researcher Ronji Tanielu.

Mr Tanielu said they found that family was still important for almost all the young “gangstas”.  “Most Pasifika youth in gangs did not want to replace their family or home with the gang,” he said. “A lot talked about the ‘blood family’ compared to the ’street family’.”  I think this would explain how easy it is for some of our youth to change hats, if you could call it that.  While they may be involved in criminal behaviour, their connection to family is stronger, but only just.

The researchers found that young people who joined gangs often felt unloved by their parents.  This seems to be the crux of the matter.  Why do our youths join gangs or commit criminal behaviour?  Because there is a need to belong.  And if the family is not that source of belonging, then our kids will look elsewhere.  Of course it’s not as simple as that.

AUT social scientist Dr Camille Nakhid, who led the study, said many Pasifika parents had multiple jobs and worked long hours, so were not at home for their children.  Our parents are not negligent.  In no way are they intentionally trying to push their children away.  While parenting skills can be improved, if parents have to work long hours and more than one job to make ends meet, it doesn’t matter how much communication skill a parent can obtain, it’s useless if they aren’t there to communicate with them.

Mr Collins said many young gang members were concerned about their parents’ poverty.  “A lot of them said, ‘In the future I want to help my parents pay the bills, I want to buy them a house’.  So approaches to young people including ideas about how they want to serve their parents is an important opportunity.” 

This isn’t a lost cause.  Our youth know the struggles our parents are going through.  Our parents are also beginning to understand that tough love isn’t always the best way.  In a world that offers so many good things, there are also plenty of bad things that can attract our youth away.  We just need to find a balance within our families where our youth are valued and feel valued.  At the same time, our parents need to be appreciated more, and given some slack as they work to pay the bills.

Ultimately, the onus is on us as parents and adults to find that balance. Because as Judge Malosi says “Young people, by definition, make mistakes. Adults, by definition, need to mentor and support them through those mistakes.”

Recently I’ve become fascinated with the global phenomenon known as Flash Mobs.  Type the term in YouTube and hundreds of examples will pop up, of ordinary people, strangers to one another, come together and randomly perform a stunt/dance/song in a public place, and just as fast as they appeared, they dissolve back into the crowd, as if nothing ever happened.

There’s one where a couple of hundred people suddenly freeze for a few minutes in the middle of Grand Central Station in New York.  Bewildered passer-byer walk past in wonder.  While others take a quick glimpse and walk off.  Another Flash Mob, this time set in a train station somewhere in Europe, has two couples starting off dancing to “Do-Re-Me”, shortly joined by another couple, then 5 others, then 10, 20.  And you’re never too sure who’s really a stunned innocent passer-byer, or who’s in on the act, as one by one people join in the dance.  Another similar dance happens in Liverpool, England, with the whole station filled with people dancing to a medley of songs, and once the music stops, they all walk off into different directions as if nothing ever happened.

It’s amazing because in these modern western societies we live in, it is the self that is paramount.  Individualism, private rights, self-freedom, are tenants of the modern western civilisation.  While there have been great advancements, many can list the negatives of such a society: materialism, corporate greed, environmental impacts etc.  And yet in this highly competitive world, where the pursuit of the dollar is the driver for many, Flash Mob brings a fun form of anarchy to otherwise mundane lives.  It’s reminding society that although we are a society of individuals, together we can accomplish great things.

I had one of the best experiences in my short life on Monday night at the “I Love the Islands” concert at Vector Arena, Aukilani/Auckland.  In an arena full of 10,000 kiwi’s, we came together to not only enjoy New Zealand/Niu Sila music, but we came together to support the Samoan Tsunami relief effort.  Although not quite a Flash Mob, the coming together of the Niu Sila public to show their support for the relief effort had that strong communal feeling of achieving great things together, just like a Flash Mob.  People from all walks and life, different ages, ethnicities, social backgrounds, all came together to dance and sing with one another.  To our right were two Palagi women in their 40’s, while to our left were a young Maori couple.  Behind us were very noisy young Samoan girls, and directly in front were an Asian couple.  Yet every song we all sang, whether we knew the words or not.  Every act, we danced liked no-one was looking.  Every cheer, we shouted and yelled up to the heavens.

Always keen to be where the party’s at, my wife and I got there early and were near front of the stage.  And sure enough we were head banging through the Rock songs, jumping up and down to the Hip-hop jams, and swaying side to side to the country music.  And they were all Niu Sila performances too!  From Dave Dobbyn, Neil & Tim Finn, to reggae band Sweet and Irie, pop urban Hip-hop Nesian Mystic, Soul sounds of Holly Smith, to the rap battle between Scribe and Savage.  J Williams got the whole arena to wave their cellphones in the air, creating an awesome spectacle for us on the floor.  The sweet sounds of Adeaze singing in Samoan, followed by Feelstyle’s raps in Samoan.  $250,000 was made only on door sales, not including the money put into the donation boxes.  The concert has already performed in Christchurch/Kalaisitete, and Tauranga, and will end in Wellington/Ueligitone.  A smaller scaled fundraiser concert is being planned for this coming Monday (Labour Day holiday), $10 at Telstra Pacific, Manukau.  Other fundraisers included containers full of donated food, clothes, utensils etc, school and church rallies, art exhibitions etc, with one little boy raising $30,000 in his region.

But it was great to be part of a special night, where random people, had come together to show their love and support to our family back in Samoa, while enjoying the eclectic range of music we have here in Niu Sila.  The communal reaction and outpouring of assitance from our homeland here in Niu Sila to our homeland of Samoa allows us to take a little glimpse of the bigger picture.  That sometimes, there’s more to life than being in the rat-race, that life can have so much more meaning, that great things can be achieved when we come together.

Thank you to the performers and organisers who volunteered to make the concerts happen.  But also on behalf of Samoans, if I may, thank you to the people of Niu Sila, for sharing the love.