The logo of the Sounds of La Salle band with various musical instruments in the background.

Mana Pasifika

The boys from Sounds of La Salle create a powerful track around reaching out and checking in on our brothers to make sure they are ok. Written and performed by the Sounds of La Salle band.

The boys from Sounds of La Salle create a powerful track on reaching out and checking in our brothers to make sure they're okay. 

Mana Pasifika: "Dear Brother" - SOLS | The Lowdown Aotearoa 

"Dear Brother" - SOLS

Hey Uce
I know you find it hard to speak
thinking this act of speaking up will only make you weak
Kaukala mai 
I know we were taught to be strong
And I mean all affection implanted into this song
I'm here for you
E ui iga kigā lau faku
I just can't stand to see you hurt 
Kaumafai gagā magakau
I know you're feenin and you're feeling for some love 
So you keep dreaming uce 
I've seen it in your tears there's so much pain
Kakou ola ma le magakau e fu’e I kakou le fusipau 
If we ever decided to let it rain, 
but I'm just sayin
I love you uce and I don’t want you hurting yourself
As this facade of being strong only hurts your mental health
But take your time uce
Take all the time and space you need
Just text up when you're ready.
I see you sitting there
Catching your tear drops in your hands
Hiding behind that mask
Crying out when will this all end
You don’t have to struggle in silence
You’re more stronger than you seem
We can both get through this temporary suffering
At every tunnel's end
Just know that there is light 
Know that you got a friend
Just know that everything will be alright
Alright
You don’t have to struggle in silence
You’re more stronger than you seem
We can both get through this temporary suffering 
You don’t have to struggle in silence
You’re more stronger than you seem
We can both get through this temporary suffering 
You don’t have to struggle in silence
You’re more stronger than you seem
We can both get through this temporary suffering 
You don’t have to struggle in silence
You’re more stronger than you seem
We can both get through this temporary suffering 
At every tunnel's end
Just know that there is light 
Know that you got a friend
Just know that everything will be alright
Alright

Te kore, Te po, Te ao Marama by Ivy Lyden-Hancy

The Lowdown

In Te kore, Te po, Te ao Marama, 17-year-old poet Ivy Lyden-Hancy's words speak to her identity as a wahine Māori in a changing world. Surrounded by the lasting impacts of colonisation, Ivy paints a picture of the Aotearoa that was, and that one day could be.

In Te kore, Te po, Te ao Marama, poet Ivy Lyden-Hancy's words speak to her identity as a wahine Māori in a changing world.

Te kore, Te po, Te ao Marama - Ivy Lyden-Hancy | The Lowdown Aotearoa

Te kore, Te po, Te ao Marama - Ivy Lyden-Hancy

i walk through concrete rivers 
Wairoa lingering through powerlines
surrounded by rakau 
which has been manufactured 
manipulated 
into the warmth of one’s home 
many homes 
white picket fences and 
sky tower brown 

as i look up to pukekiwiriki 
laying at the sickle of this maunga 
i imagine i am my tupuna
our tangata from before
surrounded by rakau of lush forests 
While melodies of te manu engulf me in its mana 
While wahine moving through grub and fern 
stripping the white man's grass off all infinite crossways 
i replace it with kowhai 
                                  pohutakawa 
                   kauri
pikopiko
all things Māori 

to be Māori is to imagine aotearoa before colonisation 
to be grounded amongst papa 
amongst the kumara pits
their flagstaff will fall 
a tohu that we have taken our whenua back 
our tikanga 
our tangata
holy hands of concrete statues will reach out to me 
amongst the rubble
 they will speak reo pakeha 
a constant reminder of what they have taken from us 

in that we will remove the ink of our ta moko
unbury the mass graves 
remove our taonga from the museums 
reclaim our reo 

they will be at the end of our pū
our rangatira behind us on the path they have paved 
tapu tinana 
tapu wairoa 
aotearoa te tapu whenua 
amene

In 'A Body Apology', 16-year-old Angelina Faupula addresses the struggles that we face to accept our bodies with their flaws and differences, the impact of a society that tells us that only their version of 'perfect' is acceptable. 

In 'A Body Apology', Angelina Faupula addresses the struggles that we face to accept our bodies with their flaws and differences, the impact of a society that tells us that only their version of 'perfect' is acceptable.

A Body Apology - Angelina Faupula | The Lowdown Aotearoa

A Body Apology - Angelina Faupula

Iho u’afa sisu kalaisi
in his name 
formless yet formed us 
in his image

But the image I see is not what I like 
And these thighs i see are too big 
And this face i have is not small enough 
And the stomach that I have is not small enough
Expect me to trust a mirror that only sees skin deep 
A mirror that responds only with what it sees 
But doesn’t learn how i've carried myself 

Confusion stench 
Wondering why people mock 
Gods greatest creation 
Judgemental outcomes of envious lions 
And tigers claw scratches 
On our hips 

The reflection of the sea 
Embedded deeply into my skin 
That rips through 
This sacred temple 

Sacred 
‒‒a word only given to women 
To hide the fact they do not want you to see all of them 
Tremble in fear incase giving pieces of them will break a part of us 

To camouflage this God given gift 
they replace with hate they have for this body 
The same body that's carried the weight of my heart 
Even when my legs were giving up 

But even still
We criticise this imperfection that makes even the angels jealous 
My body scarred with more comment than scars 
I’ve apologised more times in my head then i have out loud 
But i get you’ve never gotten an official apology 

So I apologise to this body that was made by god
But still somehow not made to feel like it was enough
I apologise to this body for the moments I have forgotten to give gratitude
To the quiet times it has held me up

I apologise to this body for all the lies that I took as truths

My body is not an apology
And I will no longer apologise

In 'NWA', 17-year-old Lisa Tuulima emphasises the importance of friendship as a source of comfort and connection in a world that can often feel isolating. The poem speaks to finding support in each other's company and being able to be yourself without fear of judgement.

In 'NWA', Lisa Tuulima uses the power of spoken word to highlight the unique bond of true friendship and how it provides comfort and connection in a world that can feel isolating. 

NWA - Lisa Tuulima | The Lowdown Aotearoa 

NWA - Lisa Tuulima

Lost
in a world not made for them
thinking all we have is only one another
pieces of ourselves are missing
constantly failing to acknowledge only
I know what pieces fit together
to make me, me
and you, you
to cry without forcing laughter
to drop an outworn mask
is to truly show you the REAL me
it's to show you
I am human
something we use our humour
to replace  
and call "tough love"
the kind of tough love we received growing up
projected all throughout our friendship
with a hit of bus therapy
every now & then
when we realise
we catch up
with everyone else around us
but we never actually catch up
with each other
tho unaware we quite like them
just socially awkward
but we're quite like them
in the crowd 
But it’s less lonely here
Coz at least we have each other
To whisper secrets to through secret glances
And mock each other 


Tapu Vā

Brown Girls Have Sex Too creator and sexual health educator Anatola joins us to talanoa more about her mahi facilitating safe spaces for conversations around sexual health. She shares more about her interview with RenewsNZ, in which she addresses misconceptions about the hymen and debunks sex myths like the white sheet ceremony, which have been practised in some Tongan and Kiribati communities since colonial times and more. Anatola also encourages more young Pasifika women to consider roles in sexual health spaces because there is such a demand for them in the field.

Tapu Vā - Anatola

A group of Pasifika from the 09’ Tāmaki Makaurau join us to talanoa about sexual health. They cover a wide range of topics, including some common Pasifika myths and their relationship with colonialism, their own experiences with ‘the talk’ and the sexual toxic traits prevalent in our Pasifika sports communities. The group also delves into an overarching theme of changing the narrative surrounding how Pasifika approach sexual health, as well as some ideas for removing the stigma or tapu from the subject so it can be openly talked about.

Tapu Vā - Auckland Talanoa

We’re joined by Matt, who gives us insights about his mahi as a sexual health promoter for Te Kaha O Te Rangatahi. Matt shares about the concept of consent and how it should be addressed more often because it can be a grey area in our Pasifika communities. Matt emphasises the importance of discussing healthy communication and relationships in order to create that vā, that ‘safe space’ for whānau and future generations. He also has a special message at the end for his teenage self about sexual health.

Matt, a sexual health promoter from Te Kaha O Te Rangatahi, shares insights on promoting sexual health in Pasifika communities. Learn about consent, healthy communication, and creating safe space for whānau and future generations.

Tapu Vā: Matt Talks Sexual Health | The Lowdown Aotearoa 

Tapu Vā - Matt

We talanoa with sexual health promoter Samora about her upbringing and her own experience with coming out as her authentic self. She shares her expertise on the relationship between sexual health and Pasifika culture, highlighting how thoughts and attitudes around the connection between the two are strongly influenced by faith, pride and image. Samora also shares some important advice for Pasifika parents who are interested in learning more.

Tapu Vā - Samora

Three Pasifika District Health Board workers from Hastings join us to share their views on sexual health. They talanoa about the idea of reframing cultural beliefs, such as the Samoan word ‘tautua’ (service to aiga or any individual to a greater cause), in a way that suits sexual health, the difference between discussing the topic with parents vs. schoolmates and the barriers to discussing sexual health within your whānau, as well as ideas on how to overcome them.
 

Join three Pasifika District Health Board workers from Hastings as they discuss their views on sexual health. Learn about reframing cultural beliefs, discussing sexual health and whānau and schoolmates, and overcoming barriers to promote sexual health. 

Tapu Vā: Pasifika Workers Talk Sexual Health | The Lowdown Aotearoa 

Tapu Vā - Hastings Talanoa

Ever since she was a young child Callida knew she was different to everybody else in her life, but for years she didn't understand what that meant for her. Watch the video to hear Callida share her journey, beginning as a rangatahi, toward understanding and owning her identity as a proud trans wāhine.

Join Callida on her journey towards self-discovery and owning her identity as a proud trans wāhine.

Manioro: Callida's Story | The Lowdown Aotearoa 

Callida's Story

Arataua Media 

We travel down the path to self-love this episode of AI. Our panellists kōrero whare tapawhā, self-care methods and techniques and more. Māori & Pasifika business owner Arby Manukau talk more to the subject, sharing her personal journey, what self-love means and advice to others on doing the inner work. 

Our panellists discuss where tapawhā, self-care methods and techniques. Arby Manukau, a Māori & Pasifika business owner, shares her personal journey and advice on doing the inner work. 

"Dear Brother" - SOLS

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