NEWSROOM: 11 November - 17 November 2007

Solutions to obesity needed rather than research
17 November 2007 - Source: Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs Press Release
 
“Researchers should stop describing the problem and help us find solutions”, says Dr Colin Tukuitonga, Chief Executive of the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs in response to a latest research from Otago University which stated Pacific Island children have the highest rate of extreme obesity in New Zealand.

“We all know there is a problem. We want to know what works. Work with communities to develop solutions”.

“As a ministry, we acknowledge the input and effort that goes into the development of this research; however, we need to find answers for these problems as a way forward.”

“Understanding Pacific peoples' perspective of health is essential to successfully working with them on health problems and to provide leadership and direction by developing innovative and effective programmes to promote a healthy lifestyle amongst Pacific peoples” added Dr Tukuitonga.

The Ministry continues to provide advice around the importance of identifying key priorities for Pacific Health and to ensure a specific focus on actions to be taken that will address health issues of Pacific peoples.

“I am well aware of the seriousness of these conditions but are we doing enough to improve health outcomes for Pacific peoples in New Zealand, and for improving the health and wellbeing of all New Zealanders?” said Dr Tukuitonga.
 

Prime minister addresses Pacific church and community leaders
16 November 2007 - Source: Community Partnership Pacific Health Conference 2007
 
The Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Helen Clark was recently the guest speaker of the 10th Community Partnership event hosted by a family of Pacific health providers (Health Star Pacific Trust, AuckPac PHO, TaPasefika PHO, Tongan Health Society PHO, Tamaki PHO, Penina Health Trust, Pacific Islands Heartbeat – Heart Foundation, The Quit Group, West Fono Health).

The Community Partnership Pacific Health Conference was held on Thursday 15th November 2007 at the Ellerslie Event Centre, with an attendance of 500 Pacific church and community leaders, representing close to 300 churches and community organisation from the wider Pacific ethnic groups in Auckland.

The conference this year continued its tradition of promoting and building relationships between Pacific communities and the primary health sector. This sets the successful platform to improve access by Pacific communities of health programs and services in Auckland, which in turn will enhance the provider’s ability to deliver health services to Pacific people.

One of the focus’ of this year’s conference was the viewing of a short documentary to promote Healthy Eating Healthy Action. The Pacific HEHA DVD is a joint project between Pacific PHOs, their health providers and church communities; funded by the Ministry of Health to help combat obesity and its related health problems, including diabetes and cardio vascular diseases.

‘Early detection is your best protection’, was another message for our Pacific communities, at the conference during a special Cancer Candle Light service. Pacific people must not be complacent and should attend cancer screening programmes including breast cancer and cervical cancer screening. These are free services for eligible enrolled patients with our Pacific and Maori PHOs and their GPs.

The point of difference with the Community Partnership Pacific Health Conference is the focus on the community as the primary audience, not health providers or government health agencies. To see the world from the community’s perspective, to communicate in the language of the community, to think like the community, to let the community tell their own health story and journey and for us the healthcare providers to learn and respond accordingly.

It is called Community Partnership with communities first!
 

Female presenter wanted for Pacific Beat St
15 November 2007 - Source: Drum Productions Ltd. Press Release
 
From 2005 to 2007, a total of 94 successful episodes of Pacific Beat St were produced for TV3. It is a funky youth series fronted by four presenters that explore and present the latest styles, issues and trends of New Zealand's multicultural youth population from a Polynesian perspective.

Pacific Beat St currently screens on TV3 every Saturday, at 11:30 am.

Pacific Beat St’s next season will commence January 2008 on TV3 as an ongoing series of weekly half-hour programmes targeted at an audience between the ages of 15-30 years.

For more information, visit the Pacific Beat St website: www.pacificbeatst.net

TALENT STATS:
We are looking to cast a fulltime female presenter for this upcoming series.
• Between the ages of 18 to 30yrs.
• Of Pacific Island heritage, preferably of multicultural mix.
• Computer literate.
• Able to competently perform research and journalistic tasks. Educated in or willing to learn television production skills.
• Must have a car and current driver's license.

BRIEF JOB DESCRIPTION:
The successful candidate will
• Research and construct stories for series content.
• Present filmed interviews.
• Be a self-starter who works well in a team environment.
• Be willing to undertake on-the-job training.
• This is a fulltime position, requiring weekend and evening availability. Only those willing to put in the hard work and extra effort need apply.
• Reside or be willing to reside in Auckland where the program is produced.

CASTING DETAILS:
• Please email a CV and photo by Wednesday 21 November, to stan@drumproductions.co.nz
• Applicants will be contacted for an interview.
• Selected applicants must be available from January 2008 through to November 2008.

Drum Productions Ltd. is a successful independent production company focused on telling Pacific stories.
 

Awards celebrate Pacific excellence in the arts
14 November 2007 - Source: Creative New Zealand Press Release
 
New Zealand's Pacific artists were honoured on Monday night at the Arts Pasifika Awards 2007, which encourage and celebrate excellence in Pacific arts in New Zealand.

Creative New Zealand's Pacific Arts Committee Chairperson Pele Walker said the annual Arts Pasifika Awards celebrate the rich and diverse range of Pacific art in New Zealand.

"This year's award winners come from a range of artistic backgrounds - from opera to theatre, film, dance, visual art and literature. Their work illustrates not only the richness and diversity of Pacific arts, but also the valuable contribution it makes to New Zealand's profile as a creative Pacific nation," Pele Walker said.

Auckland-based filmmaker, producer, director and writer in film, television and theatre Justine Simei-Barton (Samoa) was awarded the $7000 Senior Pacific Artists' Award. As the owner and director of New Zealand's first Pacific independent professional film company, Tala Pasifika Productions Ltd, Justine has been a mentor for young emerging indigenous theatre practitioners.
Auckland-based academic, writer, poet and performer Dr Okusitino Mahina (Tonga) was awarded the $5000 Pacific Heritage Arts Award for making a major contribution to maintaining, reviving and promoting Tongan heritage artforms in New Zealand.

Critically acclaimed theatre director Nina Nawalowalo (Fiji) of Wellington received the $5000 Pacific Innovation and Excellence Award. Her theatre production, Vula, was performed at the Sydney Opera House and will tour to Europe in 2008.

Visual artist Sale Pepe (Samoa) was awarded the $3000 Salamander Gallery Award for Emerging Pacific Visual Artists. Currently studying at the Auckland University of Technology, Sale's work has been exhibited in New Zealand and Sydney.

London-based opera singer Sani Muliaumaseali'i (Samoa) received the $3000 Iosefa Enari Memorial Award to support the development of Pacific opera. Sani recently appeared as Froh in Das Rheingold at the Longsborough Opera Festival.

Performing arts troupe WakaUra Dance Group (mixed group) of Wellington received the $3000 Emerging Pacific Artists Award. They have represented New Zealand's diverse Pacific cultural communities both here and overseas.

Creative New Zealand's Pacific Arts Committee hosted tonight's awards ceremony at Auckland Museum.

2007 Arts Pasifika Award recipient information:
Justine Simei-Barton's Senior Pacific Artists' Award ($7000) recognises the contribution of a senior Pacific artist in maintaining or developing his or her artform in New Zealand.

Justine Simei-Barton is the owner and director of New Zealand's first Pacific independent professional film company, Tala Pasifika Productions Ltd. Through her work as a filmmaker, producer, director, writer for film, television and theatre, and as a tutor, Justine is a mentor for young emerging indigenous theatre practitioners.

Dr.‘Okusitino Mahina's Pacific Heritage Arts Award ($5000) recognises an individual artist or cultural group who has made a major contribution to maintaining, reviving or promoting a Pacific heritage artform in New Zealand.

A lecturer in social anthropology at the University of Auckland, Dr Okusitino Mahina is part of the Tongan Heritage Association and has contributed to numerous Tongan heritage arts projects and publications. His work has been instrumental in reviving many traditional Tongan arts such as poetry, dance, singing and oral tradition.

Nina Nawalowalo's Pacific Innovation and Excellence Award ($5000) recognises an established Pacific artist or group who has demonstrated innovation and excellence in their artform.
Nina Nawalowalo founded the acclaimed Pacific Island theatre company The Conch, whose award-winning production Vula - most recently performed at the Sydney Opera House in 2006 - will tour in 2008 to the Barbican Centre in London.

Sani Muliaumaseali'i's Iosefa Enari Memorial Award ($3000) recognises the contribution of the late Iosefa Enari to the arts and in particular his pioneering role in Pacific opera. This study/travel award supports the development of Pacific opera singers.

Sani Muliaumaseali'i, who grew up in Auckland, is now based in London where he teaches vocal technique. He recently made his Wagnerian debut as Froh in Das Rheingold at the Longsborough Opera Festival and is currently preparing the title role of Siegfried, also for Longborough Opera in 2009.

WakaUra Cultural Dance Company Ltd's Emerging Pacific Artists' Award ($3000) recognises an emerging Pacific artist or group showing promise in their chosen artform.

The WakaUra Cultural Dance Company has represented New Zealand's diverse Pacific cultures in a range of settings, from performances at high-profile rugby games to being part of a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade delegation to French Polynesia.

Sale Pepe's Salamander Gallery Award for Emerging Pacific Visual Artists ($3000) recognises an emerging Pacific artist showing promise in the field of visual arts.

Currently studying towards a Bachelor in Visual Arts at Auckland University of Technology, Sale Pepe has had his work exhibited in galleries in New Zealand and Sydney.
 

Waitakere Pacifica Living Arts Festival
13 November 2007 - Source: De Liv It Ltd.
 
The Waitakere Pacifica Living Arts Festival has been promoting Pacific arts, culture and language in Waitakere City for over a decade. The face of the Festival is the Mama’s & Papa’s who over these ten years have developed a series of educational workshops based on oral traditional knowledge to present and promote Pacific Culture to school groups in the Waitakere region and the wider community.

The festival has been based at the Corban Estate Art Precinct, where the Pacific Arts & Cultural centre is based providing a platform to show case Pacific culture through the support of the Mama’s & Papa’s and other Pacifica Art groups and Pacific artists.

The vision of the Waitakere Pacifica Living Arts Festival has evolved through the commitment of Mary Ama, as a ‘Mama’ and renown artist in Tivaevae, but also in her capacity as Pacific Arts Advisor for the Waitakere City Council. Her role has been pivotal in relationship management and co-ordination between the Multi-cultural Schools, the Mama’s, Council and the newly established Trust.

An integral component to the Living Arts Festival, is the Primary School Multi-cultural Festival whose audience has grown from 2000 people attending in 1994 to last year estimated numbers of 15,000 passing through the festival gate to see students perform and participate in a 3 day programme of educational Pacifica workshops and the final festival day on Saturday 17th November which invites the whole community to celebrate Pacific culture through choirs, performance groups, well-known artists and even a bit of comedy to end the day.

There will also be plenty of craft, textiles, music and of course food stalls for everyone to enjoy and you could even come along to kick start your Christmas shopping!

Mark the 15 – 17 November 2007, Pacific Centre, Corban Arts Estate, Henderson in your diary now and remember to tell your family and friends to join you at the best festival in the west Waitakere Pacifica Living Arts Festival.
 

Creative New Zealand calls for Māori and Pacific Artists
12 November 2007 - Source: Creative New Zealand Press Release
 
Creative New Zealand is calling for applications from Māori and Pacific artists to be part of the New Zealand delegation attending the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts in Pago Pago, American Samoa in July 2008. The festival is recognised as the premier event for enhancing regional relations and preservation of the Pacific’s cultural heritage.

Creative New Zealand will select a combination of accomplished and emerging artists from within the Māori and New Zealand based Pacific communities. These artists will represent the best of customary and contemporary arts from Aotearoa to ensure our distinctive voices are heard amongst the many others of the 26 participating Pacific nations.

Chair of Te Waka Toi, the Māori Arts Board of Creative New Zealand, Dr Ngahuia Te Awekotuku says the festival is a significant opportunity.

“New Zealand is participating at the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts at the invitation of the American Samoa government. The delegation will represent Aotearoa and present opportunities for our artists to both share and showcase the best of Māori and Pacific art from this country. Creative New Zealand is committed to investing in this country’s arts and culture at key international events such as this.”

Artists who are interested in being considered for the delegation can access the criteria requirements and application forms from the Creative New Zealand website: www.creativenz.govt.nz, Creative New Zealand offices in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch or from the Aotearoa Delegation Project Manager.
 

Pacific peoples more vulnerable to dependency
11 November 2007 - Source: New Zealand Drug Foundation Press Release
 
New Zealand-born Pacific peoples are twice as likely to suffer from mental disorders, and experience higher rates of alcohol dependency, compared with those born in the Pacific says a leading Pacific psychiatrist.

Dr. Siale 'Alo Foliaki is a graduate of Otago Medical School and one of only three psychiatrists of Pacific descent working in New Zealand.

Speaking to the combined Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs (APSAD) and Cutting Edge Addiction Conference in Auckland, Dr Foliaki said there was no one reason for this discrepancy between Pacific peoples born in New Zealand and those who migrate here after the age of eighteen.

"The younger the age at which they migrate to New Zealand, the higher are their chances of suffering from alcohol addiction and mental health problems."

Dr Foliaki believes this major finding suggests there are two very different Pacific populations in New Zealand - that will experience two very different life trajectories in relation to not only drug and alcohol problems but their overall mental wellbeing.

"Migrant indigenous Pacific peoples face enormous challenges as they transition from third world islands to first world countries. They appear to be more resilient if they spend their childhood years in the Pacific before migrating to New Zealand. If they grow up in New Zealand, they seem to be more vulnerable," he said.

Dr Foliaki suggests the best approach would be to focus on Pacific children growing up in New Zealand from their birth through to their sixth birthday.

"This is the time interventions have the greatest impact on people's long-term wellbeing. Pacific babies and children in this country are at great risk of long-term psychological problems because of the combination of socio-economic deprivation and cultural fragmentation."

The research was carried out as part of Te Rau Hinengaro - the New Zealand Mental Health Survey - which is the largest mental health and substance disorder survey ever undertaken in New Zealand. The survey highlights the significant differences in rates of alcohol abuse and dependence (and to a lesser extent drug abuse/dependence) between Pacific peoples and the total New Zealand population.
 

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