Fono
A diverse gathering of Pacific communities came together with a single goal in mind: to open the conversation around addressing family violence in our communities.
The Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu: Pathways to Wellbeing fono was held on the 22nd February 2019 in Auckland to provide a platform for Pacific people to talanoa the important role that culture plays in preventing family violence in Pacific communities and how principles and core values in the different Pasifika cultures can protect as well as restore wellbeing to Pacific individuals, families and communities.
The fono was opened by Hon Carmel Sepuloni, the Minister for Social Development but a pre-fono breakfast session was led by the Minister for Pacific Peoples, Hon Aupito Tofae Su’a William Sio.
The one-day event also included international keynote speakers, Samoa Ombudsman, Maiava Iulai Toma from Samoa and Academic Professor Konai Helu Thaman from the University of the South Pacific in Fiji. Alongside them were policy influencers, Charles Waldegrave and Tafaoimalo Loudeen Parsons from the Family Centre Social Policy and Research Unit and Salu Uepa who shared her personal experiences with sexual and family violence.
The fono ended with a dinner with special guest, MP Jan Logie, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for sexual and domestic violence issues.
The eight Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu Cultural Frameworks create an opportunity to return to the beauty and richness of Pacific culture, and holds the solutions regarding ways of knowing, and ways of being. Bringing these to the fore in our practice and using culturally appropriate tools to engage with Pacific families, allows us to return to a state of wellbeing.
Nga Vaka is an authentic and genuine community response, developed and run by the community. The cultural frameworks are a solution to re-establishing positive relationships within Pacific families
Fono Keynote Speaker
The Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu: Pathways to Wellbeing fono was held on the 22nd February 2019 in Auckland to provide a platform for Pacific people to talanoa the important role that culture plays in preventing family violence. Some of the keynote speakers speeches are available for download.
Maiava Iulai Toma
Maiava Iulai Toma is one of the longest serving public servants for the Government of Samoa. He previously worked as Secretary to Government, CEO Department of Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs & Cabinet, Samoa Permanent Representative...
Maiava Iulai Toma
Maiava Iulai Toma is the current Ombudsman for Samoa. He recently led the Pacific’s first ever national public inquiry into Family Violence. The Office of the Ombudsman identified family violence as a priority human rights concern and determined that its complex nature meant a National Public Inquiry should occur. Due to the broad scope of violence in Samoa, the Office chose to place particular emphasis on violence against women and girls and the impact of violence on the upbringing of children.
The report which was presented to Parliament in June 2018 was based on written submissions and public and closed hearings allowing survivors, perpetrators and other witnesses to come forward and tell their stories, their understanding of family violence and how it could be addressed.
Maiava Iulai Toma is one of the longest serving public servants for the Government of Samoa. He previously worked as Secretary to Government, CEO Department of Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs & Cabinet, Samoa Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador to the USA and High Commission to Canada.
Dr Konai Helu Thaman
Dr Konai Helu Thaman is one of the longest serving staff of the University of the South Pacific, Konai is currently Professor of Pacific Education and Culture and was the UNESCO Chair in Teacher Education and Culture from 1998-2016.
Dr Konai Helu Thaman
Dr Konai Helu Thaman is one of the longest serving staff of the University of the South Pacific, Konai is currently Professor of Pacific Education and Culture and was the UNESCO Chair in Teacher Education and Culture from 1998-2016. She recently joined the USP’s Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture & Pacific Studies. She was born and raised in Tonga where she received her primary and secondary education. She studied at the University of Auckland (BA in Geography), Auckland Secondary Teachers’ College (Teaching Diploma), the University of California at Santa Barbara (MA in International Education), and the University of the South Pacific (PhD in Education). She taught in Tonga and has been on the staff at the USP since 1974. She has researched and published widely in the areas of curriculum, teacher education, indigenous education, women and university management, and more recently Pacific research frameworks and education for sustainable development. Internationally respected for her insights and research, for the Pathways to Wellbeing Conference, we will be drawing on Konai’s expertise and research into culture, cultural structures and how these areas contribute to positive relations within families.
