And we reflected on what it is to be known, to be understood. He said, there’s something about iTaukei Fijians, something deeply engrained to recognise faces and find connection. I loved this today, and I’m so grateful for 25 years of connection in this place.
I was in an uber earlier today and I recognised the driver, Chandrika, because he used to work at the BP where I would buy coffee. I remembered that he was from Sigatoka & we laughed & chatted about Fiji & Labasa, the hopes for our children & his $100 bet that there is an Indian in every town in NZ.
I will miss seeing mamas on the bus, seeing unapologetic expression of Pacific Island identity worn and exhaled into the atmosphere. I will miss being reminded that ‘extra’ is our normal; exuberance is close to the surface, always. I’m sorry to be a bus sneak but this mama made my heart beat faster.
There’s a house in Papatoetoe where I have had an emotional anchor for almost 15 years. I was at a house party here with kiddo’s dad and when he put his hand on my hip that night, and I fell completely in love with him.
Idiot. lol. Amazing child, but co-parenting mental exhaustion followed. #Sold
As I wind down almost 25 years of living and working in #southAuckland, I’m overcome by sentimentality over such small things 🥲
Catching the bus today, looking at Middlemore Hospital’s Galbraith Building, where I’ve experienced the darkest & most euphoric moments of life and death. Bye girl.
Makes me miss Twitter haha
*Povvo smirk* This govt has to gooooo.
Such a rich and nuanced conversation 🤲🏽
Discussing the disconnect and political misalignment of factions within the diaspora is something we don’t speak about openly in the Pacific so much, but we should.
The burning Princess saved by bats.
This story is so tragic and yet still so powerful. Pati's re-telling is like a horror where the woman bewitched by love and grief takes back her power. Burning at the stake, nature picks a side in the mortal conflict of humans, and chooses Leutogi to live.
The lonely cry of Pacific Islanders on Bluesky 🫠✊🏽
Russia the only ‘winner’ of US-Israel war on Iran: EU Council president
Russia the only ‘winner’ of US-Israel war on Iran: EU Council president https://aje.news/gpku4b
1/5 As we hope for the end in Iran & MENA, now's a good time to remind everyone what happens when women are included in peace negotiations:
✌️ Stronger conflict resolutions emerge
🤝 There's a greater focus on social reconstruction
🪶 Policies address communities' needs, not just armed actors
Because the Arab world is coming up in daily conversations, prayers and group chats filled with updates from family in Qatar, this article has been valuable.
REEEEEMIXXXX
#PapaToeToe #SouthAuckland #ByElection
🗣️🗣️🗣️ PAPA-TOE-TOE 🗣️🗣️🗣️
I was so ill on Saturday night after a week of multiple medications ripped up my stomach, and propped up with cushions, trying to find peace between cold sweats, I listened to waiata on YouTube and they soothed me so much. Beyond grateful for this beautiful rendition of "Tiaho Mai Ra" ❤️🔥
An Uber driver told me yesterday that he's been in NZ for 10 years and eligible to vote for four, but he's never voted because he's too busy working to SURVIVE, and all the stories that this government tell are feeling like bullshit. He's excited to vote for his Labour candidates this month.
#Papatoetoe is ready for vote in the by-election that has 20 prospective candidates vying for their votes. I’ve loved talking to ppl in Pap about who they’re voting for, how vigilantly they’re looking for their ballot papers and how utterly shit everyone thinks the postal voting system is…
I have mixed feelings about this ad 😑
Quick reminder that The Dawn Raids only targeted brown people at a time when our largest group of overstayers came from England.
Counties Manukau also has four times the national average of meth in wastewater testing.
Four times.
Also on the rise is MDMA and cocaine.
I was in a meeting today where the Counties Manukau Police stats for January were shared and in the area of family harm related callouts, of which January 2026 was much higher than Jan 2025, a huge amount cite the reason being lack of food. And it just hits so hard. Poverty & deprivation is brutal.
Unravelling the fuck out of capitalism.
Lollll
