CONFERENCE 2009 - END OF AN ERA, NEW BEGINNINGS

Our National Conference 2009 was held in Auckland 20 - 22 February and was attended by 4.5 Tiare Ahuriri members (Maryanne, Berry, Diane, Caren and Caren's baby Kaiata - a junior PACIFICA member!) - and we were accompanied by Tangiia Nui President Aunty Taime Pareanga Samuels.

The Conference marked the end of Diane's term as National President, but also heralded the beginning of our Branch President's rise in the ranks - congratulations Maryanne on being appointed to the National Executive as Assistant Secretary. The Conference was a great opportunity to meet and network with our PACIFICA sisters from all around the country, be addressed by our new Minister of Pacific Island Affairs Georgina te Heu Heu, discuss important issues such as support to our communities during the recession and celebrate in true PACIFICA style the many things we have to be thankful for; these include Diane's contribution to PACIFICA during her term, the talents of our women in the PACIFICA fashion show, not to mention the cultural items ! Thanks to the Northern Region for organising a fantastic weekend for us all. Lastly we are pleased and excited to welcome and congratulate our new National President Sally Dalhousie and her talented National Executive Team - Josephine, Peggy, Debs, Metua, Ngatokoa, Ta'i, and Maryanne - and we wish you all the best!

AN MLIS FOR MS MARSTERS!

What a great year it has been for Tiare Ahuriri - and especially for our President Maryanne Marsters who in early December was awarded the MLIS from Victoria University Wellington. In addition to working hard towards attaining her Masters in Library and Information Studies, Maryanne has also been instrumental in corralling together those Pacific people who are working in the library informations systems sector around the country. Those of us living here in Hawkes Bay see firsthand the impact that Maryanne has had in her position at the Learning Centre at the Eastern Institute of Technology, and the large numbers of students (many of them our own Pacific students) she has helped.

Tiare Ahuriri is very proud of Maryanne and her achievements and we were able to celebrate this with a lovely brunch at The Thirsty Whale on December 13th. Well done Maryanne!!!

CONGRATULATIONS AUNTY TAIME ON YOUR QSM

Also making the New Years Honours List is another Hawkes Bay PACIFICA member - Taime Pareanga Samuel, who was awarded a Queen's Service Medal for services to the Cook Islands community in Hawkes Bay.Read page 3 of the Hawkes Bay Today or go to http://www.hbtoday.co.nz Well done Aunty Taime we are very proud of you too -congratulations from Tiare Ahuriri!

OUR DIANE MAKES THE NEW YEARS HONOURS LIST!

Our Diane made the front page of the Hawkes Bay Today today in the New Year's Honours List as she was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit. We are very proud of her and what a fantastic boost for Pacific women everywhere! Here is the article.

EDUCATION CHAMPION PUTS CHILDREN'S WELL-BEING FIRST

DR DIANE MARA, MNZM
When Taradale-based educationalist and Pacific women's affairs leader Dr Diane Mara came to Hawke's Bay without a job, it was a reasonable bet her CV would sooner or later do the trick.
She soon found herself lecturing in early childhood education at the EIT.
But two years later the near-same CV has also pulled in a somewhat bigger fish, a New Year honour in the form of being made a Member of The New Zealand Order of Merit.
A first generation New Zealander of Tahitian descent, she was born in Auckland 57 years ago. A Kelston Girls' High pupil who moved from out west to teach in schools in South Auckland, she has been recognised for her service to the Pacific Islands community.
Education has clearly been the focus, and still is, whether it be a Victoria University doctoral thesis taking eight years' interviewing and assessing Pacific Island women in tertiary education, or her appointment this year as senior research manager for a three-year EIT project aimed at improving the well-being of children and youth in Hawke's Bay.
Somewhere, she hopes to turn her thesis into a book, but has published work that continues to be used in teacher-education courses throughout New Zealand.
Armed with a BA (education and psychology), she entered teaching at training college in Auckland, before 13 years in primary schools, conceding it was teaching not administration for her.
She lectured at the training college and, before coming to Hawke's Bay, was senior researcher at the New Zealand Council for Educational Research.
She will soon end four years of presidency of the Pacific Island women's council PACIFICA and looks forward to developing the recently established Napier branch, Tiare Ahuriri.
There's a similar type of national-local comparison between a former significant role with the National Screening Unit, and joining the Napier Family Centre, as a representative of All Saints Church.
Having moved to the region to be near her 17-year-old son, a Hohepa Home resident, Dr Mara has found even more reason to stay and says: ``Having come from Auckland, and Wellington for the past eight years, I thought it would be different here, but I love it. There's lots to do.'

PACIFICA help welcome Breastscreening Mobile Unit to Hawkes Bay

Members of Tiare Ahuriri recently joined with members of the Hawkes Bay Cook Islands Community, the Hawkes Bay District Health Board and BreastScreen Coast to Coast to welcome the Breastscreening Mobile Unit to Flaxmere for the first time. The welcome and blessing ceremony was held on a sunny Hawkes Bay evening at the Cook Islands Community Centre in Flaxmere, where the Mobile Unit will be based to provider mammograms to local women for four weeks. The ceremony, held on 14 November 2008, coincided with the local Takitimu Festival, and the visiting 100 strong Cook Islands contingent (comprising representatives from Rarotonga, Auckland and Wellington) participated in the ceremony singing Cook Islands songs and providing drumming. The highlight was the cutting of the giant pink ribbon by visiting Cook Islands Prime Minister the Hon Jim Marurai. Also in attendance were paramount Takitumu chief Pa Ariki, Cook Islands Speaker of the House Cassie Eggleton, Cook Islands High Commissioner Tepure Tapaitau and representatives of health and community organisations in Hawkes Bay. Pacific Breast and Cervical Screening Health Promoter Berry Rangi (a Tiare Ahuriri member) has been encouraging local Pacific women to take the opportunity to have their mammogram while the Mobile Unit is in the area.

Standing outside the Mobile Unit in the photograph above are (L to R):

Cushla King - Manager BreastScreen Coast to Coast, Jenny Cawston-Health Promotion Manager Hawkes Bay DHB, with Tiare Ahuriri members Caren Rangi (with daughter Kaiata), Diane Mara and Berry Rangi.

Welcome for new National President, Maori Womens Welfare League

On Saturday 1 November 2008, Berry and I accompanied Diane to Pukemokimoki Marae in Napier for the welcome home and acknowledgement of the new National President for the Maori Women's Welfare League, Meagan Joe. The event was attended by representatives of many MWWL branches around the country. Diane made a presentation of a Cook Islands hat and a koha on behalf of PACIFICA and made a lovely speech highlighting the strong links between our two organisations (and we managed to sing a Tahitian song to support her speech). It was also noted that both National Presidents live in Napier - go Hawkes Bay! Here are our two National Presidents together.

Caren Rangi

PACIFICA Council Meeting

Date: Saturday, 18 October, 2008
Time: 9.00am - 4.00pm
Venue: Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs
Host: Vaine Orama (Newtown) Branch

Branch members came from as far North as Whangarei, with Dunedin the most Southern. The meeting was attended by approximately 25 members. The women were a dynamic group who made the meeting interesting and productive.

Of key interest and note is that six of the current National PACIFICA Executive Team will not be standing for their currently held Executive positions, this includes the position of National PACIFICA President, as the current President, Dr Diane Mara will have served her four year term in office at the end of this year.

Diane has done a great job during her term as PACIFICA President. Thank you Diane!

As a branch within PACIFICA Central Region we were pleased to hear that Seinia will stand again for the office of Central Region Vice President.

National PACIFICA positions are:
- Assistant Treasurer
- Treasurer
- Assistant Secretary
- Secretary
- Vice President South Island
- PACIFICA President

Vice President Central Region
Vice President Northern Region


Branch Report Highlights

Tiare Ahuriri, Tangiianui, Takitumu, & Hastings Branches were all involved in the sPACIFICally PACIFIC event in August of 2008. An event that showcases Pasifika cultural dimensions through Pasifika students in the Hawke's Bay region. Each year it just gets bigger and better, and 2008 retained this continuity. Ngatoka Gifford-Kara, Taime Pareanga Samuel, Maryanne Marsters - Presidents.

Whangarei branch celebrated their 30th anniversary, which was held in early September in the Schnappa Rock Cafe at the Tutukaka Coast. The 40 ladies who attended were treated to a coach trip to the venue, a buffet lunch with gorgeous cake and then entertained by our branch with songs and dances from Samoa, Fiji, Niue and the Cook Islands. Again this event has brought more members on board. I would like to thank Josephine Bartley for her support, for coming along and bringing Seiuli Moria Walker and Evelyn Knowles to celebrate with us. We were pleased with the day and incredibly proud of what has been achieved on that day and how the branch has survived for 30 years. Venee Mortimer - President.

Actions and highlights of the Auckland Central Branch included, but was not restricted to, establishing a new database - in order to maintain accurate records, better ascertain numbers of current and active members vs. those that require a gentle reminder; renewed relationships in Health across three District Health Boards; and developed a calendar of events for 12 months. Each month having a theme with supportive activity. Particular emphasis on supporting members with projects of national as well as local interest to Pacific women. Anne Fitisemanu -President.

Wellington Central Branch big fundraiser for the year was held on Friday, 4th April, 2008 - PACIFICA Passion Evening of fashion, food and entertainment. Held from 7pm to 11.30pm at Marist St Pats Rugby Clubrooms in Hataitai, over 220 people attended and we raised $5,500. The evening comprised a speech by Hon. Winnie Laban, a fashion show, entertainment from the Laughing Samoans, Salsa Magic Dance performance, Moana Ete singing, raffles and an auction. We also received a donation of $2,000 from Capital & Coast DHB Pacific Unit for the project, bringing the total funds raised to $7,500. This will be utilised to raise Pacific women's awareness of breast and cervical cancer screening in Wellington. Mele Wendt - President.

The Palmerston North Branch are pleased to report that our branch is doing really well. Our keen members, even though we are busy with work and studies, we still manage to keep the branch active. We meet when it's required. We're hoping to have a weaving workshop before the AGM so we can enter the Weaving Competition. five of our members attended the Central Region Mini Conference and enjoyed it. Four of our members went to Samoa in May for EFKS church conference. Loau and her husband went to America in July. There are untold responsibilities that we have and yet we're all well and happy and look forward to PACIFICA activities. Lemalu S. Tini Tulitua - President.

And the Tokoroa Branch say that being in a small town community, we are wearing several hats, so members are together constantly, not just for P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A meetings. We lost our esteemed Life Member, Mama Ngakai Pere in June. She had been awarded her Life Membership in Hastings, where Fanaura and I attended. I also was privileged to receive my Life Membership at Hastings. Our thanks to the Tangiianui and Takitumu Branches for hosting our Conference in February 2008. In July, we hosted the Northern Region Mini Conference, which twenty three delegates attended, plus nine of our members, and local women from our tivaevae group, who demonstrated their embroidery art, as each delegate was given a cushion, with applique pieces for successful outcomes. The day was very wet, and cold but there was so much warmth and laughter from our Pacific women, as we are "hot" and happy people, by disposition! We're looking forward to our A.G.M. in Auckland next February, and intend to fund raise for this, so that all of our members can attend. Francis Campbell - President.

Much thanks go to Vaine Orama Branch for the great venue, great food and drink, much warmth and welcomes, which set the scene for a productive and enjoyable P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A. Council Meeting. Meitaki Maata!

NOTE: Other PACIFICA Branches were in attendance at the meeting. Branch highlights contained on this blog were taken from branch reports handed out at the meeting.

Maryanne