Transcript
FAKAOKO KAIO: They were missionaries from Samoa to Tokelau. They were missionaries there from the London Missionary Society, LMS, now called the Congressional Christian Church of Samoa. The LMS is one of the Christian movements that brought a lot of Pacific folks to Christianity, right up through China, Korea, but most of the Pacific Islands. I am a child of the mission field in some way.
KORO VAKA'UTA: And in terms of being not just a child of the mission field, but also of the Pacific, how has that impacted your journey up until now?
FK: I have always known that you have to stand up for who you are but you have got to also treat everyone the same. You are not there to fight anyone, you are there to help people to know the word, the good news better. It's been a wonderful journey because I've been privileged to work with so many cultures, so many languages, so many people of different nationalities, not just the Pacific Island. If you see them all mixing, talking, working things through, it is very inspiring.
KV: You mentioned the various cultures you deal with, you are multi-lingual?
FK: Yes. In hindsight I think, it's how God created you I suppose. My parents are Samoan, I was born in Tokelau. I was raised there for 10, 15 years then I was sent to New Zealand to get an education so I was open to the Maori language and to English. Later in life I had a lot of time with Maori people at work but also the Cook Islands and Niuean and other cultures, some from Myanmar. I think it is one of those parts of who I am that I enjoy communicating with people in their language. That builds relationship. If you can say something, especially greetings, good-bye, to people in their language and say their name, their given name in their language, it's very meaningful.
KV: In recent weeks we have had a lot of commentary and conversation about the impact of Pasifika in New Zealand, this is obviously something positive?
FK: I like to think that Pasifika can bring something to the table, can bring ourselves and who we are as a gift to our country here and say we are contributing, we are part of the mix, we are part of this land. Most of the islanders who are here, will die here. We can't keep holding to our culture and say it's the only way. We have to immerse with everybody but don't lose who we are, don't lose who you are. I think that's important. If you can be yourself in another culture and respect and treat them as you hope to be treated, I think that's all that is asked of you.
