Transcript
It's the 5th Pacific Cultural Exchange Programme that Creative New Zealand has run, with master artists from Samoa, Tonga, Niue and the Cook Islands taking part previously. Selina Alesana Alefosio is a community liaison with Creative New Zealand.
"The idea is preservation of Pacific heritage arts as well as bridging or the exchange, bringing them to from the Pacific nation to Aotearoa."
Tokelau takes centre stage this year with weavers Makalita Ineleo, Hili Sakalia and Tavapele Gasolaga representing the three atolls of the island nation. Ms Alefosio says master carver and navigator Vasefenua Timo Reupena was also specifically targeted for the trip.
"They thought that it was important to bring him here to showcase because there aren't many in terms of that talent, that preservation of the Tokelau carving. So it was important for them that Vase comes."
Mr Reupena headed efforts to carve a traditional vaka which was launched in Porirua harbour on Thursday. However he says he is bringing more than just his skills with his hands to share.
"What I am bringing is Tokelau Pacific heritage and what is important. Not just my carving but also the Tokelau language. That is the important thing in terms of this exchange."
Mr Reupena recognises the weight and importance of the knowledge he carries.
"The important thing is that this is inherited and learnt from my father before me and I acknowledge and pay homage to my elders who have also had this talent or this gift. My learnings have been from my father and elders before me. It hasn't just come from anywhere. I carry this with me wherever I go. Regardless of my health or anything, that is what keeps me going, to continue to share the knowledge because it comes from elders and my father before me."
Mr Reupena says the difference of Tokelau vaka to other Pacific work is the joining of pieces which create width, size and height, whereas other models don't provide the same opportunity for expansion or strengthening. The master carver says he noticed a thirst for knowledge among the New Zealand community.
"Yes I have witnessed that it is very strong here and people are actually searching and wanting to know more of the preservation of our Tokelau heritage arts."
Selina Alesana Alefosio agrees and says the visit has impacted the local community in a big way.
"Seeing the faces of our Tokelauan people. The pride. Even out on the harbour, there are schools that are actually having turns on the vaka and there is so many Tokelau young people there, so for them to recognise themselves in terms of the Tokelau there. Even the feedback we have received, because we attended the New Zealand Creative Pacific Awards and an amazing, amazing spotlight on Tokelau,"
The visiting artists were special guests at the Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika Awards in Wellington and are touring the Māori and Pasifika collections at Te Papa and the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
