NiuZila: Land of full fat milk and welfare money

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.”

At the Otara Flea-markets, I always whip around to the t-shirt stalls to see what witty slogans and images people have come up with.  “The Sapelu’s” in the font of the TV show “The Sopranos”.  “Freshy” in the font of the drink “Fresh up”.  The “My mum can beat up your dad” t-shirt.  But one of the more popular t-shirts, and my personal favourite I bought a few years ago, is the one stating:  “There are two kinds of people in this world.  Samoans, and those who wannabe.”

Being involved in a few Pacific Island student bodies at Uni, I noticed a lot of resentment against Samoans.  Actually, let me rephrase that.  I noticed that, we Samoans have a superiority complex over other Pacific groups (including Maori), which make some resentful of us.  In Niu Sila / New Zealand, Samoans make up almost half the Pacific Population (131,100 or 49% of 265,974: 2006 Census).  87,003 Samoans live in Aukilani / Auckland alone. 

We have Samoan judges:  Judges Ida Malosi and Semi Epati.  Samoan Members of Parliament: Luamanuvao Winnie Laban, Sua William Sio, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, Carmel Sepuloni (all currently sitting), Taito Philip Field, Anae Arthur Anae, Vui Mark Gosche (former MPs).  Samoan All Blacks Rugby players: Bryan Williams, Olo Brown, Frank Bunce, Christian Cullen, Alama Ieremia, Ma’a Nonu, to name a few.  Including Tana Umaga, Jerry Collins and Rodney Sooialo who all captained the All Blacks.  Other Samoan sportspeople include: Bernice Mene, Maria Tutaia (Netball),  Beatrice Faumuina (Olympian - discuss thrower), Ray Sefo (K1 Kick boxer), David Tua (Heavy weight boxer)… and the list goes on to other avenues in art and entertainment, education and academia.  Samoans are everywhere.

I’m not sure if it was exactly brainwashing by my parents, but growing up us kids we always felt proud to be Samoan.  But it always seemed to be more than a feeling.  It felt like it was in our blood.  This supposed biological trait ’special only’ to Samoans were confirmed by the reaction of other Samoans I met throughout my life.  We all felt there was something special to being Samoan, something inherent, something born in us. 

Therefore, it isn’t hard to see how other people could interpret that Samoan pride into Samoan arrogance.  Of course some of us Samoans would cheekily quip back with that line on my favourite t-shirt: “you’re just a wannabe Samoan”.  Hence the popularity of the t-shirt.

But here in politically correct Niu Sila, when we talk straight faced to other people, we wouldn’t admit to our supposed superiority complex, but deep down in our dark little subconscious closet, we tuck under the third shoe box from the left on the top shelf, that idea that because we are Samoan, we can do great things.  And I guess that’s where it starts from.  We Samoans don’t think other people are inferior, just that being Samoans is the best thing to ever happen to us!  I’m not sure I’m doing it justice in my attempt to describe this inherent feeling Samoans have about ourselves.  But it’s there, built in us.  And unfortunately we flaunt it around a bit that we tend to be blind to the others we knock over with it.

Pacific Islanders only make up 6% of the total 4.3 million population of Niu Sila.  Therefore, only 3% of the total population are Samoan.  Cutting the small piece of the pie into smaller pieces is always going to cause some friction.  But for many Palagi bureaucrats, lumping us all into one label, “Pacific Islanders”, was suffice for them to administer us brown folk.  Therefore any policy developed in the last 20 years for Pacific peoples in Niu Sila was often heavily influenced by Samoan New Zealanders, as we are the largest group and occupied many of the roles that formulated policy. 

Soon the word “fono” was being used for any type of Pacific Island meeting with Government agencies.  The customary process of forgiveness in Samoan culture, “ifoga”, also entered the Palagi legal consciousness.  Everything Pacific Island in Niu Sila really meant ‘Samoan’.  Even on a colloquial level, after influences by Samoans on TV (BroTown, The Semisi’s etc), “Talofa”, “sole”, “Fa!” and even “fafafine” all entered the Niu Sila vocabulary.  And to us Samoans, we were largely oblivious to it, while some people in the smaller Pacific groups were not. 

Nowadays, cultural sensitivities amongst Pacific peoples has seen some change, with a Ministry of Health initiative to get Pacific peoples exercising called Lotu Moui (Tongan), and a move away from using the term Pasefika (Samoan term) to Pacific peoples.

But this sub-conscious self belief in being Samoan is by no means restricted to Samoans here in Niu Sila.  We point to Amelika / America where there are Samoans: The Rock Dwayne Johnson, Mufi Hannemann (Mayor of Honolulu City), Eni Faleomavaega (Congressman) Troy Polamalu and Mosi Tatupu (NFL players), and the Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E.

Even our very own Samoan Palemia / Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has been showing a bit of that Samoan arrogance lately, against Commodore Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama of Fiti / Fiji. 

Back in February, Tuilaepa was unsure of what state of mind Bainimarama was in when he made comments about Samoa, Samoa’s relationship with Niu Sila and the Pacific Islands Forum. “I’m curious if he [Bainimarama] was sober or perhaps there was a full moon out that night,” Tuilaepa speculated.  Asked what he thought of Bainimarama’s claims that Samoa, Ausetalia / Australia and Niu Sila ganged up on Fiti at the Pacific Islands Forum, Tuilaepa giggled.  “No, no, no, I think the good commander (Bainimarama) was misquoted by the media. What he may actually have meant was that the maturity of Samoa’s leadership is on par with that of New Zealand and Australia . That’s obviously what he meant.” Nods head. “Therefore, given that seniority, he should be keen absorb my tit-for-tat.” 

This exchange was over Fiti’s current situation, where military man Bainimarama had overthrown the democratically elected Government of Fiti in 2006 and has since imposed military rule until what he perceives is a proper constitution is in place.  It was also reported that Tuilaepa believed that Bainimarama had a problem comprehending the issues involved.  “Therefore I’ll speak to him frankly from one Pacific islander to another Pacific Islander in a very clear and direct language that I’m sure he will understand.” And why does Fiti need an army for anyway, the Palemia quizzed.  “Perhaps Bainimarama fears a combined canoe attack from Tuvalu and Kiribati, its closest neighbours. That must be it.” Tuilaepa nodded his head.

That was back in February.  And today? 

Samoa Observer reported yesterday Tuilaepa called Bainimarama mentally ill.  “Only the ‘mentally ill’ do what the Commodore has done in Fiji”, the Palemia said.  He said Bainimarama was no different from Adolf Hitler since all dictators think alike.  Tuilaepa made the comments while condemning the latest development in coup-ridden Fiti where the Constitution has been purportedly abrogated amidst a host of nasty incidents.  Tuilaepa believes the military chief forced President Ratu Josefa Iloilo behind the scenes at gunpoint to reappoint him as Prime Minister.

While Tuilaepa’s sentiments would’ve rocked a few boats if it were said by any other national leader, the only rocking of boats amongst Samoans themselves will be from all the giggling in delight.  Tuilaepa may be an arrogant, straight up, no-nonsense man, but Samoan people admire these traits as confidence (which has subsequently scared the recent Samoan opposition into non-opposition parties) and witty one-liners.  It’s not a Samoan saying, but if sticks and stones hurt you, you shouldn’t be in politics.  I think again, it all comes down to that Samoan self-belief that as a Samoan you can do great things, and also say things and get away with it. 

The same self-belief is probably driving another motive for Tuilaepa.  For Samoa to overtake Fiti as the regional Pacific Islands power-house.  As Fiti has stumbled with all the political coups in the last 20 years, Samoa has prospered.  There has always been a traditional rivalry between Fiti and Samoa (and Toga / Tonga).  But Samoa never recovered from the partition of the islands into Amelika Samoa / American Samoan and Samoa i Sisifo / Western Samoa, until recently.  That split allowed Fiti over the years to be the hub of the Pacific, with many of the regional headquaters run out of Suva. 

Fiti is lucky because it is linked to the Melanesian islands through biology, but culturally they are Polynesian.  Therefore, Fiti has allies amongst the Melanesian countries (They also have a loose co-alition under the Melanesian Spearhead Group).  Whereas Samoa’s history in some of those Melanesian nations have only been about Samoan missionaries (EFKS) being sent over to convert the ‘heathens’ into God-fearing Christians.  Samoan Missionaries had the same arrogant and ignorant puritanical zeal that Palagi missionaries had.  Of course that only fed the Samoan superiority complex over other Pacific peoples.  As for a Polynesian alliance?  Well half of Samoa is with Hawaii, under Amelika.  The majority of eastern Polynesian is part of Falani / France.  Niu Sila is majority Palagi, and controls To’elau / Tokelau, Niue and the Lalotoga / Cook Islands.  Toga is undergoing a crisis with it’s monarchy.  And Tuvalu is sinking.  Hmmm?  But Samoa has once again felt the wind of change and wants to capitalise on Fiti’s downfall.

See, it’s all to do with that self confidence we Samoans have.  And again, we leave ourselves open to accusations of arrogance by other people…  And yeah, those other people are probably right. 

But as a typical Samoan, ah well.  Where’s that favourite t-shirt of mine?

Yesterday over 200,000 people attended the 17th Pasifika Festival, held at Western Springs in Aukilani / Auckland.  It is the largest cultural festival of its kind in the world, and aptly hosted in the worlds largest Polynesian city.

(Note: Pasifika is a pan-Pacific transliteration of Pacific, whereas the Samoan transliteration is Pasefika.  Slight difference, but often Samoans are accused of dominating all things Pacific in Niu Sila / New Zealand by other Pacific Islands peoples - but I’ll leave that for another post.)

This year’s theme was the frigate bird.  Pasifika Festival director Ole Maiava says this year’s theme is a tribute to the bird that many have come to love - and respectfully fear - within the Pacific.

“It means many things to different islands. It’s known as a long-distance traveller who helps with navigation - to see how far from land you are,” Mr Maiava said.  “In other islands, like Samoa, it’s an omen. When you see an atafa [frigate bird] you know a storm is coming.”

And so the frigate bird has brought mixed blessings to the 2009 Pasifika Festival.  The last few festivals were blessed with great summer weather, and with the Festival villages spread around the lake at Western Springs, brown faces for as far as the eye could see, and the flapping of jandals and the bright colours of the ie lavalava’s, you could mistake yourself for being back in the tropical islands.  But just as the Samoans believed, this year as the sculptures of the frigate bird went up, down came the rain.

Issues around funding also plagued the Festival before it began.  With budget cuts being made by private sponsors and Government agencies (due to the deteriorating economic climate), the Pasifika Festival had to downgrade from a two day event to just the Saturday, pulling the plug on the Friday night opening ceremony.  The Auckland City Council (now dominated by the right-wing Citizens and Raterpayers Association) was all too keen to not top up the Pasifika Festival in the name of cost-cutting (yet approved nearly $2million for the two elephants living at the Auckland Zoo, right nextdoor to Western Springs).  This funding shortfall put the whole future of the Festival in jeopardy.

The frigate bird was flying low, warning of this impending afa / cyclone.  And just as it is in the islands, the Pacific community came together to ensure the community survived from the effects of the afa.  The Pacific Island Board Auckland City (PIBAC), volunteered, donated, fundraised money within the community to save the opening ceremony.

But this exposed an underlying tension between the Festival organisers and many people in the community.  By rescuing the opening ceremony, PIBAC and supporters asked why had the Festival organisers cut an integral and most important element to any Pacific event, the opening.  While Ole Maiava rightly pointed out there was a lack of cash, the prioritisation between the organisers and PIBAC was glaringly different.

However, this gave PIBAC an opportunity to organise and plan an opening ceremony that they believed truly reflected the Pacific, as previous ceremonies had become too glamorised / commercialised / celebrity-ised (and all the other “ised” words).  With no strings attached, the opening ceremony was by the Pacific, for the Pacific.  But the criticisms of previous opening ceremonies was also being aimed at the Festival at large.

PIBAC board chairman Bruce McCarthy commented on Tagata Pasefika (the state-funded Pacific current affairs programme aired on TV1) how the traditional Pacific culture had over the years become neglected.  And I think it’s true.  From it’s early days, the Festival has been a success.  But with this popularity the corporate sponsorship dollar has boosted some aspects of the Festival over others.  The traditional cultures were conveniently tucked away in little villages, where as the contemporary Pacific culture got five massive stages with lighting, sound systems and the largest green areas for audiences.

Countless times I’ve had to walk to the furtherest corner of the Western Springs park to get to the Samoan village, and it is always packed out.  Not enough room, not a big enough stage, not enough access in to and out of the village.  Yet some of the contemporary stages had nice rolling banks for people to lie down on, road-side access, and the technical support on their large stages.

I’m not saying we should stop celebrating our contemporary cultures, but the same level of support should be shown to our traditional cultures.  For a growing number of Pacific children, the Festival is becoming their only interaction with their culture.  Through all the vibrancy and depth of talent, the younger generations are the one’s who need a balanced Festival more than anyone else.  Who cares about what the Palagi tourist enjoys, or the commercial success of this band or that, the Pasifika Festival should stay true to its roots.  Coz the more that is compromised and cut back, the less Pacific the Festival becomes, and the more ‘Big Day Out concert’ it will be.

If anything, the frigate bird might have warned us about the afa, it has also shown us a possible path and a will to navigate in providing a true Pasifika Festival, by the Pacific, for the Pacific.

I suspect that similar to here in New Zealand/Niu Sila, most Samoans in other countries are found in low-skilled/unskilled, retail, hospitality, factory floor, building industry, etc occupations.  As relatively new migrants to these rich Western democracies, these merely play as stepping stones in the story of the Samoan diaspora.  There is an emerging brown middle class here in New Zealand, but generally, our people still occupy the lower rungs on the socio-economic ladder.

So when I read Business New Zealand chief executive, Phil O’Reilly’s comment on Monday that “right now, of all times, you don’t want to make those on the margins of the workforce more difficult to hire” in opposition of a proposal to lift the minimum wage, I knew exactly who he was referring to by “margins of the workforce”.

By the “margins” he meant Maori and Pacific Islanders, the brown work force.  By the “margins” he meant the young and vulnerable.  By the “margins” he meant women.

Yet it seems a bit “rich” (pardon the pun) that O’Reilly and many of the employer members of his Business New Zealand association will benefit from the Government’s planned tax cuts in April.  As the global economic crisis looms, it’s the poor, those on the bottom rungs, that will bear the brunt of its impact.  Those with the least job security, the worst working hours, the lowest paying jobs, the majority being the brown workforce.

Yet again, the business community want the people who are already the most vulnerable in society, to be the shock absorbers of this economic crisis.