Stories From The Pacific

Matt Howard was excelling in his career as a paralegal in the military, but after falling in love with the storytelling tools of a camera, he risked it all to follow this new found passion.  Living on the beautiful island of Pohnpei, Matt was raised by matriarchs and says his childhood was rich, full of imagery, stories and memories that should be captured for all to see.  Later in his childhood,...

Danielle Morgan's singing career reached its heights following her win as the first female singer of the Pacific Break competition in 2022.

Feleti Lotulelei did not intend to be working in social work. But since working in a youth-support program he has never looked back. He shares how important it is for youth to feel supported in learning and strengthening their cultural identity as a way of feeling connected to a community. Feleti talks about how his work incorporates the values around 'it takes a village to raise a child' and 'you...

Kumu Michelle Manu teaches her students to live a life of "intentional movement". These students are learning the ancient combat martial art of Lua which was once practiced by many Hawai'ian women warriors before it went into hiding in hula dancing. By reviving this practice Kumu Michelle hopes to break the stigma that femininity could only ever mean fragility. She hopes to encourage others to bri...

Graham Tipene's canvas is not limited to just paper, his skill as a Māori design specialist, extends to everything his children can see across their landscape - architecture; motorways, pathways, and the people that walk out of his moko (tattoo) skin marking studio with a 'new face'. Graham's artistry and wisdom is a reflection of the lessons of his adopted Mother and his deep-rooted connection to...

Stories From The Pacific

Jasmine Stole Weiss' early-journalism career found her in a crime reporting job which saw her reporting daily on the worst days of peoples lives. It took the pause of the global pandemic to allow Jasmine to reflect on where she saw wanted to take her skills as a storyteller. So, she left the newsroom and began publishing wholesome and positive feature stories in her own newsletter with a sole focu...

Jemmason Power has always been a career driven woman and this drive has certainly paid off. From being a pro-netball player, to working for modelling agencies, being a professional facilitator for her community and then landing a role in the television series, 'Black Snow', Jemmason is no stranger to hard work and success.  But, at the peak of her career in the television and film industry some ha...

This edition of Stories from the Pacific was a repeat of the program broadcast on 31st May 2023 When Samoan-Tongan Thomas Fonua was 16, he had a life-changing decision to make. Either play for New Zealand’s under-19 rugby team, the first step towards becoming an All Black, or join Black Grace, New Zealand’s premier contemporary dance company. Thomas' dad warned him against choosing dance over rugb...

Lydia's story of her marriage with her first husband details 12 years of significant abuse, but she's using it to educate others who may be experiencing something similar.

When Visila Koliqaqaru Lagilagi started boxing, she didn't know where it would take her. She just knew it made her feel strong. It's a strength that she has had to draw on many times, particularly five years ago, when a chance accident paralysed her husband.

Jordan's been drawing since for as long as he can remember. He started by holding children's books up to the window and tracing around the images. It was then that he discovered that drawing offered him an alternate universe, in times when he needed to escape. Now in his mid-20s, Jordan is quickly becoming one of PNG's leading visual artists. This edition of Stories From The Pacific was a repeat o...

Scott Waide never set out to be a journalist. In fact when he was leaving school he wanted to join the army and train as a pilot. But his mother said "no way" and some school counsellors set him on the path of becoming the storyteller he is today. Now he is known throughout Papua New Guinea for holding power to account, promoting media literacy and community-led journalism, and mentoring fellow jo...

This edition of Stories from the Pacific was a repeat of the program broadcast on 7th June 2023 Finau grew up watching her brothers play soccer from the sidelines. When they were short on players, she got to join in. As an adult, she no longer had to wait her turn. Finau went on to represent Fiji in soccer, alongside her two brothers who played soccer and rugby for Fiji. They stood side by side at...

Godfrey Jordan Abage was a grown man when he discovered the West New Ireland custom of shark calling in Kono village, Papua New Guinea. Shark calling has been practiced for thousands of years and Godfrey is one of the locals fighting to ensure that it will continue for generations to come. Right now, the shark population around Kono seems to be growing, but Godfrey and his fellow villagers are wor...

Empathy and social justice have come to define Jioji Ravulo's remarkable career as a social worker, actor and author — and the first Pasifika professor in Australia.  

If there is a problem that needs fixing, mechatronics engineer and author Joyana Finch is your person. Her earliest childhood memories were of repairing broken gadgets in her parent's Cook Islands toy shop — technology always sparked joy. Now she writes children's books to show Pasifika girls like her own that the door is open.

If you catch Peia Patai on dry land, it won't be for long. When he's not out fishing, he's sailing his vaka across Cook Islands, with little more than the clouds, the sun, the moon, and the stars to help him find his way. The master navigator was taught the same techniques his ancestors used, but all that is changing. 

Agapetos Aia-Fa'aleava has always been compelled to speak up against social injustice, and when she learned a law in Queensland had let pubs and clubs deny entry to Pasifika people with facial tattoos, she spoke up once again in the form of a documentary that explores culture and tattoos.

Fighting was considered shameful and something to be avoided on Nissan Island in Bougainville, where Agnes Titus is from. It's this ability to resolve conflicts that has held her in good stead throughout a career defending the rights of women and people accused of sorcery.

At fourteen, Gladys Habu was gifted a camera for acing her exams. She used it to document the disappearance of her grandparents' customary island, Kale, and unknowingly ignited a passion for climate activism. Since then, the former beauty queen, pharmacist, UN ambassador and young mother has worn many hats, always in a bid to improve lives and the land.

As a young girl, Mere Roden dreamed of becoming a doctor, using a pretend stethoscope to tend to her dolls. She wanted to help others. In 2006, after sepsis from an old injury deteriorated her nerves in her spine, Mere had to adjust to a new life that involved the use of a wheelchair. Since then, she has found new ways to help others, championing the rights of people with disabilities in sport and...

This edition of Sista's Let's Talk was a repeat of the program broadcast on 23rd August 2023.  Ann Singeo’s childhood was full of adventure. Each weekend, her dad would take her and her siblings to discover a new island – in Palau there were more than 500 to explore. They would camp, fish and learn about taking only what was needed from the land and sea. These trips formed the foundations for Ann...

When Tau'ili'ili Alpha Maiava plays the nose flute, he is transported back in time. He knows it is the same sound his ancestors heard 400 years ago. But this sound, along with many others, have almost been lost to history. Tau'ili'ili is travelling across the Pacific Islands to gather stories of extinct and endangered instruments like the nose flute. He hopes sharing this traditional knowledge wil...

This edition of Stories From The Pacific was a repeat of the program broadcast on 8th November 2023 Leki Lao started off his photography journey shooting weddings. But on the day of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano eruption, he found himself on board a navy boat travelling across obstructed seas to survey the damage. The photos he took that day of a very different kind, and they were among th...