Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest international volunteer agency, operating for almost 60-years. In the past month, it has launched a new and exciting Pacific Partnerships role and established a VSA office in Tamaki Makaurau.

Pacific Cooperation Foundation’s (PCF) continuing partnership with Lagi-Maama Academy & Consultancy (Lagi-Maama), has created further inroads in our ‘Arts of Moana Oceania’ journey in 2022.

The last two years have been incredibly difficult for travel and tourism in the Pacific Region. While health impacts of COVID-19 are still being felt, some islands have started to open to tourism having completed their vaccination programs. This of course varies depending on health status as we know some countries are experiencing active cases, lockdowns, curfews and travel restrictions.

The Pacific Cooperation Foundation has appointed two leading Pacific academics to conduct a study on the impact of the Covid pandemic on youth in Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.

The Minister for Pacific Peoples, Hon. Aupito William Sio, has announced the Pacific Language weeks dates for 2022.

On 10 March, 2022 Pacific Elders’ Voice issued a statement on Pacific security in the region.

One of New Zealand’s most successful and celebrated sportspersons, Tongi Tupe Oe Taua Dame Valerie Adams announced her retirement in March 2022.

The Pacific Cooperation Foundation celebrates Polyfest, the world’s largest Pacific dance festival from 23 to 26 March, 2022. The four-day annual event showcases the vibrant dance, culture, costumes and traditional music of Pacific peoples.

Pacific Cooperation Foundation Celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8. Celebrated each year on March 8, International Women’s Day (IWD) highlights the achievements of women and the importance of a more diverse, inclusive and equitable world.

PCF and the Asia New Zealand Foundation funded Pacific journalists, through Stuff, to deliver some hard hitting articles about issues facing the Pacific Region. Journalists reported from Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.

Congratulations to the finalists of the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards. This year we are excited to see some Pacific faces in the running including Saia Latu, CEO of TROW and the Polynesian Panthers Party.

The Pacific Cooperation Foundation celebrates the achievement of former trustee Professor Dr Katerina Teaiwa on being named the 2021 Australian University Teacher of the Year.

We pay tribute to two legendary Pacific rugby greats, both dynamic wingers who were both magic on the field in their own way. They were instrumental in paving the way for a new generation of Pacific Rugby players.

The Pacific Cooperation Foundation has embarked on a new voyage that will steer its course in a new Future Direction.

It’s been 19 years since PCF came into being. Along the way, the organisation has forged a valuable path in strengthening Aotearoa New Zealand’s relationship and understanding of the Pacific region.

“Agriculture is not in our blood, but our blood is in agriculture.” - Teresia Teaiwa

You may have noticed our vibrant new campaign on social media. Fresh Start aims to raise awareness, engagement and visibility on Pacific issues, especially surrounding climate change in 2022. 

Coronavirus has brought the whole world to a standstill as countries rush to respond to a global pandemic. Even countries with well-developed healthcare systems and funding are still balancing how to provide and care for an increasing number of ill patients.

“Neo-colonialism is imposing white queer identities onto indigenous peoples. The white queer identities often captured by the LGBTQIA+ acronym leave no room for indigenous queerness. My people are vakasalewalewa, fa'afafine, fakaleitī and māhū among others. There is no V, F or M in LGBTQIA+.” – Shaneel Lal

I am a young Kanak woman, a pro-independence and decolonial feminist who wants to stop the injustice and humiliation of my people, colonised for more than a century by France. But this referendum is undemocratic and should be postponed.

Luna-Rossa is a Pacific scholar from Samoa and notes one of her biggest successes as receiving a New Zealand government scholarship to further her education in engineering at the Auckland University of Technology.