Sa’ili Mālō - Seeking a Better Life

RNZ Originals
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Stories in the Samoan language told by early settlers who came to Aotearoa to seek opportunities & a better life for their families.

Season 1

  1. Episode 1

    Namulau’ulu Tala Cleverly

    Tala left Samoa in 1950 and is now 90 years old, having resided in New Zealand for 70 years. She has been a trailblazer in the Pacific community. Samoan "E leai se nofoaga e tutusa ma lou aiga​." Na tu'ua e Tala Samoa i le Tausaga e 1950. Ua 90 tausaga le matua o lona soifua ma ua 70 tausaga talu ona aumau i Niu Sila. O se tagata e sogasogā ma sa'ili mālō mo le Pasefika. Sa galue faafaipule i le Puleganu'u a Ueligitone, na avea fo'i ma sui o le Norman Kirk Trust ma o ia fo'i sa taulamua i le faavaega o le PACIFICA, o se faalapotopotoga na ta'ita'ia le itupā o tama'ita'i Pasefika e fesoasoani mo latou lava. O le faamuamua a Tala ina ia fesoasoani mo tagata Pasefika. Sa a'oa'oina Tala i le a'oga a Taupousā i Samoa ma na galue faa-shorthand typist ma le book-keeping i se ofisa Loia sa i Samoa i na taimi. Sa malaga mamao mai i le vasa mo Niu Sila i le va'a o le MV Mātua ma na ui mai i Tonga, Fiti, faato'ā taunu'u mai lea i Lyttleton. (O le MV Mātua sa iloa e Niu Sila ma le atu Pasefika o le "banana boat - va'a fa'i") Ina ua taunu'u mai i Niu Sila sa ia matuā maofa i lana vaaiga. I le faagasologa o lona iai i Niu Sila sa taunu'u ai i Ueligitone ma ia galue ai i ni galuega e iai le book-keeping ma le shorthand typing i le Social Security Services ma le faleoloa se'evae o Hannah. Ina ua mavae nai taimi na nofo ai i Ueligitone, sa fai ai loa lana faai'uga ina ia faalelei lana gagana Igilisi ma na fai ai loa ma ana a'oga pō i le Wellington High School. Sa faaipoipo Tala i le 1957 ma e to'a lua o la alo ma le to'a tolu na vaetama mai Samoa. Sa tatala lana faleoloa i le 1970 e faatau ai oloa ma mea taulima mai Samoa. E lē faagaloina e Tala, Samoa, ma e talanoa so'o lava faapea: "E leai se nofoaga e pei o lou aiga". Sa faae'e iā Tala le suafa matai o Namulau'ulu --- English Tala left Samoa in 1950. She is 90 years old, having resided in New Zealand for 70 years. She has been a trailblazer in the Pacific community: a former Wellington City Councillor, and trustee of the Norman Kirk Trust she was one of the pioneers of PACIFICA, an organisation run by Pacific Island women which assists Pacific women. Tala's passion has always been helping Pacific people. Tala was originally educated at a Nuns' school in Samoa, and worked as a shorthand typist and book-keeper at the only law firm in Samoa at that time… Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

    20 min

  2. Episode 2

    Muāgututi’a Seve Poualae Tafililupetiamalie Aliota (Harry) Tauafiafi

    Aliota left Samoa in 1966 to help his family in Samoa. He was ambitious & arrived with a strong work ethic which led him to running his own business, work at a bank & the Wellington City Council. Samoan "Faapea lava a'u e lē ola se vao i Niu Sila" Sa tu'ua Samoa e Aliota (Harry) Tauafiafi mo Niu Sila i le 1966. Sa malaga mai i le va'a o le MV Tofua ma sa mafai ona maua taumafa mai le umukuka ao malaga le va'a. O le fia fesoasoani i aiga i Samoa na mafua ai ona malaga mai i Niu Sila. O se tagata finafinau ma galue malosi ma sa avea'i lava faapea lona soifua galue ina ua taunu'u mai i Niu Sila ma na i'u ai lava ina faia lana lava pisinisi. O le galuega muamua a Harry i lenei atunu'u na maua i le fale e faatau ai vaega sipea i Aukilani. O le totogi i nā vaitaimi, pe ā ma le 13 seleni (shillings) ae lē o ni Talā e pei ona tatou iai nei. Mulimuli ane ona ia tu'ua lea o Aukilani ae malaga i Ueligitone i le nofoa-afi ma faigaluega ai i le kamupani e faga ai le vali ona sifi lea i leisi kamupani taavale ma galue ai faa-Panel Beater (e toe faalelei ai 'omo'omo o 'apa o taaavale). Ona 'uma lea faigaluega fo'i i le faletupe ma le Puleganuu a Ueligitone, mo le 20 tausaga. O le naunau o Harry ina ia faamautū loa sona āiga na faaipoipo ai loa ma faatau lo la falemotu. Sa amata ai loa fo'i ona aumai tagata a o la āiga mai Samoa ina ia su'e fo'i so latou lumana'i i Niu Sila. E to'alua ona alo tama. E toa'tasi e fai lana ia lava pisinisi ae o le isi, e faigaluega i le ofisa o le Defence. Ua 73 nei le matua o Harry ma o le 53 o ia tausaga o iai i Niu Sila. E tele suafa matai na faae'e iā Harry e aofia ai: Muāgututi'a, Seve, Poualae ma Tafililupetiamalie. --- English "I thought grass did not grow in New Zealand" Aliota Tauafiafi, known as "Harry", left Samoa for New Zealand in 1966. Harry made his way to New Zealand over the sea, onboard the MV Tofau, where he managed to secured work in the kitchen during the journey. He wanted to come to New Zealand to help his family back in Samoa. He was ambitious and a hard worker and came to New Zealand with a strong work ethic which led him to running his own business, work at a bank, and then the Wellington City Council. Harry's first job in this country was in Auckland, at an automotive parts company. Back then his pay was about 13 seleni (shillings), this was before New Zealand adopted the dollar as its currency… Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

    21 min

  3. Episode 3

    Vaafusuaga Tupuola Masunu Tuisila

    Masunu Tuisila arrived in New Zealand as a youth, making the journey by air with his grandmother & sister via American Samoa & Fiji before arriving in Auckland during Christmas of 1972. Samoan "O taimi o Dawn Raids e lē o se vaega fiafia o lo'u soifuaga."​ Na taunu'u mai Masunu Tuisila i Niu Sila a o faato'ā 17 tausaga lona talavou. Ma malaga mai i luga o le ea ma le tinā o lona tinā ma lona tuafafine ma sa ui mai i Amerika Samoa, faato'ā taumnu'u ai lea i le aso Kerimasi i le 1972 Sa faatumulia Masunu i le fiafia ma na lē mafai ona faatali lona fia 'ai sukalati ma 'apu. Sa a'oga Masunu i le Kolisi o Samoa ae le'i tu'ua Samoa, e faaauau ana a'oga i le Auckland Grammar i Aukilani. Sau lau ia o le "coconut" i le a'oga ma na te le'i iloaina o se 'upu faifai i lenā taimi. Ina ua ma'ea ana a'oga i le Kolisi, sa manana'o lona āiga e alu e a'oga i le Iunivestē mo se tusi pasi faa-loia ae peita'i sa talia o ia e galue faaleleo i le Matāgaluega o Leleo i Niu Sila ma sa galue ai i le taimi o Dawn Raids. O se vaega lea o lona soifuaga e le'i fiafia i ai. Na toe fo'i i Samoa i le 1981 ma faaipoipo ai. Ona malaga lea ma lona to'alua i Amerika ma nonofo ai mo le 10 tausaga ae le'i toe fo'i i Samoa. Sa galue Masunu mo le Iuni Lakapi a Samoa. Sa avea fo'i ma pule (team manager) o le 'au lakapi a Samoa mo se vaitaimi ma sa filifilia fo'i e lafalī mo lakapi faavāomālō. Na toe fo'i mai Masunu i Niu Sila i le 2005 ma o lo o galue i se kamupanī vaa. O lo o ia fiafia e mafuta ma lona aiga i Ueligitone, le fanau ma fanau a lana fanau o loo nonofo latalata ane. Na faae'e suafa matai o Vaafusu'aga ma Tupuola iā Masunu. --- English "The Dawn Raids was not an enjoyable part of my life." Masunu Tuisila arrived in New Zealand as a youth, only 17 years of age. He made the journey by air, flying with his grandmother and sister from Samoa to American Samoa, and then to Suva, Fiji, before arriving in Auckland, during Christmas of 1972. He said he was excited to come to New Zealand, and couldn't wait to eat chocolate, and also apples. Masunu had studied at Samoa College before leaving the Islands and continued his studies at Auckland Grammar. He said he was called a coconut at college and didn't realise it was an insult at the time. His family wanted him to go to university after college to be lawyer but instead he was accepted into the New Zealand Police. He served as an officer during the difficult Dawn Raid period, which he described as "not an enjoyable part of my life."… Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

    20 min

  4. Episode 4

    Dr Ali’itasi Su’a Fuimaono Tavila

    Dr Ali'itasi Su'a Fuimaono Tavila grew up in Samoa but was only 14 years-old when she moved to New Zealand in 1975 after winning a scholarship to attend a New Zealand school. Samoan "E ui ina tele taimi sa tauivi ai ma meaa'oga, ae ua tauia lo'u tautigā." E faatāua e Dr Ali'itasi Su'a Fuimaono Tavila le a'oga. O lona talitonuga mau, e taunu'u miti a tagata pe a maualuga le soifua a'oa'oina. Sa soifua a'e Ali'itasi i Gagaifo i Lefaga ma Falelatai i Upolu. O le 1975 na malaga mai ai e a'oga faasikolasipi i Niu Sila. Sa nonofo i Porirua āiga o Ali'itasi ma sa a'oga i le Kolisi o Porirua. Na o ia le teine na fanau i Samoa i totonu o le vasega ma sa lagona lona popole. Sa fai lana tala faapea: "E mafai ona sili atu a'u nai lo isi tamaiti i le vasega" ma o se talitonuga malosi na mafai ai ona faamanuiaina lona soifua a'oa'oina. Na tu'ua e Ali'itasi le Kolisi o Porirua ae ulufale i le Hutt Valley High School ma sa nā o ia fo'i le tagata Samoa, e lē gata i lana vasega ae faapea le a'oga atoa. Na faigaluega faaofisa ina ua mae'a ana a'oga i le Wellington Polytechnic ma sa lafo le tele o lona totogi i lona āiga i Samoa. Sa toe fo'i i Samoa e tausi ona mātua mo le 3 tausaga. O le faanaunauga o Ali'itasi e toe a'oga, na toe fo'i mai ai ma a'oga i le Iunivesetē ma o se tulaga faigatā mo se tagata matua. Ae o lona lototele ma lona talitonuga mau o lana inivesi lea mo lona lumana'i na faafaigofie ai ana a'oga Sa faamanuiaina lona soifua a'oa'oina i faailoga o le: Bachelor in Social Work, Masters ma le PhD. I le taimi nei o lo o avea Dr Ali'itasi ma Faia'oga Sinia mo le faailoga o le Pasifika Health i le Iunivesetē o Vitoria i Ueligitone. Sa ta'utino e Dr Ali'itasi "e ui ina tele taimi sa tauivi ai ma meaa'oga, ae ua tauia lo'u tautigā" --- English While she struggled many times during her studies, that struggle has been worthwhile. Dr Ali'itasi Su'a Fuimaono Tavila is passionate about education. She firmly believes that higher education is a pathway which helps people achieve their dreams. Ali'itasi grew up in Samoa, in the villages of Gagaifo i Lefaga and Falelatai (Upolu). She was only 14 years-old when she moved to New Zealand in 1975, after winning a scholarship to attend a New Zealand school… Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

    20 min

  5. Episode 5

    Fereni Pepe Ete QSM

    Fereni Pepe Ete QSM established the first A'oga Amata at the EFKS church in Newtown in 1985 making a huge contribution to the preschool where the Samoan language was being taught. Samoan "E tāua tele le a'oa'oina o fanau a Samoa i la latou lava gagana."​ Sa faavae e Fereni Pepe Ete QSM le A'oga Amata muamua i Niu Sila i le 1985 i le EFKS i Newtown. E telē lona sao mo A'oga Amata. O lana mau "E tāua tele le a'oa'oina o fanau a Samoa i la latou lava gagana." Sa malaga muamua mai Fereni i le 1954 ina ua 14 ona tausaga e a'oga i Niu Sila ae na toe vave fo'i i Samoa ona ua misia lona āiga. E sau mai se aiga e 15 le fanauga. O lona tamā sa Foma'i i Samoa. Na toe malaga mai Fereni ma lona to'alua Reverend Risatisone Ete e avea ma Faafeagaiga a le EFKS i Newtown. Na taunu'u i le masina o Tesema 1974. Sa faaauau e Fereni lana galuega mo a'oga amata a o la tausia le Ekalesia. Sa a'oga i le Iunivesetē i Vitoria mo lona faailoga i le Early Childhood Education. Sa faaliliuina e Fereni le Ta'iala mo A'oga Amata i le gagana Samoa. Sa ia faavaeina fo'i le A'oga mo Faia'oga Amata i Niu Sila. Na faamanuiaina Fereni i le faailoga tauoloa o le QSM i le tausaga e 2014. English "Teaching Samoan kids in their own language is very important." Fereni Pepe Ete QSM established the first A'oga Amata at the EFKS church in Newtown in 1985. She has made a huge contribution to the development of A'oga Amata, a preschool where the Samoan language was being taught. "Teaching Samoan kids in their own language is very important," she said. Fereni first travelled to New Zealand in 1954 when she was fourteen to further her education but felt homesick and returned to Samoa. She is from a family of 15 (8 girls and 7 boys). Their father was a doctor in Samoa. She later travelled to New Zealand with her husband Reverend Risatisone Ete who became the Church Minister for the Ekalesia Faapotopotoga Kerisiano Samoa (EFKS) in Newtown. They arrived in December 1974. During their church ministry, Fereni pursued her passion and attended Victoria University for further studies in Early Childhood Education. She also translated the Early Childhood Education Guideline into the Samoa language. Fereni's achievements in her field also include establishing a Training School for A'oga Amata teachers, working to ensure future generations know their own culture's language. She was recognised for her community work and was awarded the QSM in 2014. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

    21 min

  6. Episode 6

    Taesega Elisala-Sidler

    Taesega never thought about leaving Samoa but in 1958 an aunty asked her to accompany her on the long sea voyage to New Zealand. Taesega didn't have the money, so she borrowed £40 to pay her fare. Samoan "E leai ma sona manatu na te tu'ua Samoa a o laitiiti."​ Na fanau Taesega Elisala-Sidler i Samoa, i le aso 25 July 1930. Ina maliliu ona mātua i le 9 o ona tausaga sa tausi ia e le uso o lona tamā. E leai ma sona manatu na te tu'ua Samoa a o laitiiti. O Tesema i le 1958 na fai atu ai le tuafafine o le uso o lona tamā, la te malaga mai i Niu Sila. I lenā taimi e leai ma sana tupe na i ai ma sa aitalafu lona pasese e £40 mai se loia. Na te manatua se lagona uiga 'ese i le fai Kersimasi ma le Tausagafou i le sami. Na taunu'u le va'a i Lyttleton ona aga'i atu ai lea i Ueligitone ma tulau'ele'ele ai. E pei o isi tagata Pasefika na taunu'u i Ueligitone i na taimi, sa lolotu i le Newtown PIPC. O se tasi o faifea'u o le Ekalesia, o Reverend Pepe Nokise, ma o ia lea na faamau ma lona Aunty o Lili'a. Na maua le galuega muamua a Taesega i le falesu'isu'i ma o i'inā na a'o ai lana su'isu'i ma lana Igilisi. O taimi na, o le tele ia o avanoa faigaluega ma sa faigofie ona sui lau galuega. Sa feiloa'i Taesega ma lona to'alua Siamani i le Newtown PIPC. Na faamanuiaina i la'ua i le fanau e to'a lima. O se tasi e 'aveva'alele, o leisi e foma'i ma le faipisinisi. --- English "As a child she never thought about leaving Samoa".​ Born in Samoa, on 25 July 1930, Taesega Elisala-Sidler's parents passed away when she was just 9 years old. After her parents' departure she lived with an uncle. As a child she never thought about leaving Samoa. However, in December of 1958, an aunty asked Taesega to accompany her on the long sea voyage to New Zealand. Taesega didn't have the money, so she borrowed £40 from a lawyer to pay her fare. She recalls how strange it was to experience both Christmas and New Year's while at sea. The ship arrived in Lyttleton before continuing to Wellington where she finally disembarked. After arriving, like many new Pacific migrants in Wellington, she attended the Pacific Islanders' Presbyterian Church. One of the Church's Ministers, Reverend Pepe Nokise, was her Aunty Lili'a 's fiance. Taesega found her first job in a Wellington tailor's shop where she learned how to sew and more importantly, to speak English. She said that in those days there were plenty of work opportunities and it was very easy to go from one job to another… Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

    21 min
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Stories in the Samoan language told by early settlers who came to Aotearoa to seek opportunities & a better life for their families.

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