Against a global backdrop, people from the Pacific Islands raises their voices to be heard once again, at COP27 - the UN Climate Change Conference - held this year in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Applications are now open! Awards are open to early and mid-career researchers in the Pacific and doctoral candidates and masters students studying at Pacific Island universities with the support they require to complete their field research.

In October of this year Auckland celebrated its first Melanesian Festival in West Auckland. The festival celebrated the people of Fiji, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and New Caledonia. We spoke with the incredible Ema Tavola, owner of Vunilagi Vou, who had a stand at the festival in collaboration with neighbouring business Koleta Pacifika Boutique.

After a two year delay due to Covid-19, The Sunpix Pacific Peoples Awards was held at the Trusts Arena in Auckland on Friday evening.

It’s Niue Language Week Faahi Tapu he Vagahau Niue and this year the theme Fakatūleva e Vagahau Niue mo e Tau Aga Fakamotu ma e Tau Atuhau, which means - Sustain Niue Language and Culture for Future Generations.

Celebrate Fiji Language Week with PCF and TupuToa at an event hosted by Simpson Grierson.

Celebrate Tuvalu Language Week with PCF and TupuToa at an event hosted by Yellow.

Celebrate Tonga Language Week with PCF and TupuToa at an event hosted by Auckland Transport.

Te Moana-nui-a-kiwa, “The Great Connector” of all Polynesia, linking the Pacific to Aotearoa. Our Pacific ancestors were unrivalled navigators who explored and extended the known bounds of the Pacific. Te Moana-nui-ā-Kiwa, the Pacific Moana, was one of the last areas of the earth to be explored and settled by humans.  The early Pacific expansion took with it a meld of cultures and evolving languages.

A very special event is taking place this month – the first Melanesian Festival in Auckland. The festival celebrates the beauty and culture of the Melanesian countries of Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji, New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands.

Heritage Gallery Te Koputu a te Whanga a Toi Whakatāne Galleries at Te Kōputu a te whanga a Toi Whakatāne Galleries warmly invites you to view the exhibition Hina Sings by Sue Pearson and Pauline Reynolds.

Pacific Cooperation Foundation congratulates Laulu Mac Leauanae on his appointment to the position of Secretary for Culture and Heritage and Chief Executive, Manatū Taonga – Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

On 27th August a special event marks the one-year anniversary of the Government formally apologising for the impact on Pacific families during the Dawn Raids in the early ‘70s. We spoke with Josiah Tualamali’i, former PCF Board Member and Pacific youth advocate about his thoughts one year on.

PCF was delighted for the second year to partner with the Lagi-Maama Academy and Consultancy in the delivery of ‘Arts of Moana Oceania’ - ‘Tok Stori Tuesdays’ - Phase III’, 2022 series. Lagi-Maama have now documented this series to share, with the first release featuring Pitcairn Islander Meralda Warren, supported by her ‘Ahu Sistas – Norfolk Islanders Jean Clarkson, Sue Pearson and Dr Pauline Reynolds.  

The Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) event, ‘Voices of the Pacific’, hosted by Horticulture NZ at the Sky Stadium in Wellington from 27-29 July, received an excellent response from attendees. The conference brought together Pacific and New Zealand Government Ministers and officials, RSE employers and horticulture industry groups to celebrate 15 years of the RSE scheme in New Zealand.

When communicating ideas such as colonisation, climate change and being part of the Pacific diaspora, world renowned poet Dr. Craig Santos Perez, chooses poetry as his vehicle to disrupt apathy and raise the Pacific voice.

In the next instalment of our Pacific Language Week celebrations, Pacific Cooperation Foundation and TupuToa were hosted by Microsoft.

US Senator Caroline Kennedy travelled to Guadalcanal this month to pay remembrance at a special dawn service. Ms Kennedy’s father, the late US President John F Kennedy arrived in the Solomon Islands shortly after the six-month long Guadalcanal campaign.

For Cook Islands Language Week, Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani, we interviewed well-known Cook Islander Tauraki Rongo and asked him what makes the Cook Islands so special.

PCF have partnered with TupuToa to showcase Pacific Islands Language Weeks in 2022. Learn about what is happening for upcoming Kiribati and Cooks Islands Language Weeks.