11:50 AM |
Pacific people honour pioneers to Aotearoa
By ROMY UDANGA - Manukau Courier
HERITAGE CELEBRATION: Pacific heritage event organisers, from left: Caroline Harris, Lusi Schwenke and Lydia Sosene, say the pioneering spirit the Pacific people over the last 50 years will continue for another 50 years or more.
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The pioneering spirit of the Pacific people who braved the first wave of mass migration to New Zealand 50 years ago will be celebrated tomorrow.
Pacific Heritage Movement event co-ordinator Rev Obed Unasa says the event will honour those who worked tirelessly to lay the foundations that made it easier for others to follow.
"Today we stand on their shoulders. They have left a great legacy for the next generation," Rev Unasa says.
New Zealand was one of the first countries to support the United Nations refugee quota introduced in 1959 to help countries experiencing labour shortage during the Cold War period.
Since then Pacific peoples from Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Niue and smaller nations have made a considerable contribution to New Zealand society.
But Rev Unasa says many members of the early families are passing on and a committee has been formed to honour them.
Committee members Lusi Schwenke, Caroline Harris and Lydia Sosene are helping to organise the event.
The achievements of the community today would not have been possible without the pioneering spirit of specific families, Ms Schwenke says.
"They have laid the foundations of diverse pathways in the areas of academic, sports and community leadership," she says.
Ms Harris says tomorrow's event will acknowledge and pay tribute "to those who are still with us and to those who have passed on".
"The challenge to our young Pacific peoples is to sustain that pioneering spirit," she says.
The event is also about looking to the future, Ms Sosene says.
"While we celebrate the past, we also look forward to the next 50 years. As we look ahead to the next part of our journey, their voices will be echoing, echoing over us."
Tomorrow's event is on at the Otahuhu Recreation Centre from 2pm to 4pm. For information, call Rev Unasa on 027-555-1311 or Ms Harris on 021-187-4316.
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