Poet’s Spoken Word Launches Campaign

Samoan Poet Grace Iwashita-Taylor has shared her “Love letter to South Auckland”, as part of a new Pacific health communications campaign on mental health and wellbeing.

The “Our Voice Our Community” campaign, designed and led by Mana Pasifika, aims to sustain Pacific peoples’ wellbeing and encourage them to seek or give help during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its approach is Pacific focused and is underpinned by the core Pacific values of Alofa (Love), Tautua (Service/To Serve), Fa’aaloalo (Respect), Aiga (Family) and Vā Fealoaloa’i (Relationships).

“Its [the approach] by us, for us, with us [Pacific peoples] to make sure it’s a success for our communities,” says Mana Pasifika member and Vaka Tautua Regional Manager, Kristina Sofele.

“The project is about reassuring our communities; letting them know it’s ok if they’re feeling stressed and anxious, and to reach out if they need help.”

Grace’s spoken word called “Wellness is Community, Wellness is Us” speaks to Pacific peoples with alofa, aroa, ofa, loloma, love about the importance of kaiga, aiga, whanau and family; and is set against the recent backdrop of discrimination against our Pacific communities because of the second COVID-19 outbreak.

“Our Pacific peoples’ are feeling stressed and anxious because of COVID-19, the lockdown, their personal circumstances and the unwarranted discrimination and blame [for the outbreak], “ says Vaka Tautua Chief Executive Officer, Dr Amanda-Lanuola Dunlop.

“Grace’s words are powerful. She reminds us that it takes a village to be strong and well. And that wellness is us, caring and looking after one another.”

Grace’s “voice” is part of a series. This week, league legend, Reuben Wiki, opened up about mental illness, encouraging people to speak up and voice their thoughts. More stories are planned.

Mana Pasifika is a collaboration between Te Hiringa Hauora (formerly the Health Promotion Agency), Vaka Tautua, Mapu Maia, the Mental Health Foundation with health leaders Phil Siataga, Stephanie Erick and Tui Tararo. The collaboration and “Our Voice Our Community” are funded by the Ministry of Health.

Vaka Tautua is a national Pacific health and social services provider. It delivers disability, mental health, older peoples, financial capability and social services in the greater Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury regions.