Christmas lights lite-up and drive through in Otara...

 

Last night, my eldest encouraged our family to visit a stretch of Christmas lights in the Otara suburb of South Auckland, which was lit for public viewing and received local council funding.

It was a fantastic idea, with food stalls lining the streets for blocks. Most houses were lit up, some going overboard. Some of the residents acted as security, ensuring that the public was safe.

There were also two options: either walk through the streets and access some roads that were closed to drivers but open for walkers, or, of course, for drivers.

What I particularly enjoyed was watching families bring along strollers for their children, Christmas songs blasting from various sound systems. 

Some even had special photo-op sections where you could take photos with your friends and/or family in front of their house, with chairs and everything lit up. It was definitely a family-friendly space. My family even took photos in front of a lit-up sign that said, 'Merry Christmas'.

One of the families even had their guitars out and were singing Christmas carols whilst selling Otai, a popular Tongan fruit drink. My eldest shouted at us and bought us Otai, chocolate cake, brownies, chips, and nuggets, along with a special dessert: Black Forest trifle.

It was such a neat affair that I'm going again. Still, this time I'll take my family on the one-way route (perhaps for a couple of rounds), as it's definitely worth seeing the terrific effort most residents put into creating a family-friendly ambience.

It was also neat to see so many different people driving out to this part of town, as roads were at a snail's pace with us walkers taking our time and taking photos with many other families buying up foods of all types by the roadside. I'm also glad that residents were able to profit from the initiative, especially before Christmas. 

Well done to the organizers! They deserve a pat on the back and some extra credit for making this initiative possible. All power to them and I'm even looking forward to what next year will bring for their Christmas block lite-up...

10 year Indie-publishing journey and end of year celebrations....

 

It has been a crazy, busy last couple of weeks as I race to the finish line with a celebration of the 10th anniversary of my Indie-publishing journey since 2015.

My family had a small celebratory cake, and I was thankful for how far we had come in the 10-year journey with some 20+ books now indie-published, which makes that around two books per year, which is not too bad, counting that I have a full-time job and studies as well as looking after my family first and foremost.

I've also taken stock of the books that have been produced so far and have some ideas and challenges for another poetry book, picture books, and a novel/s or two to be indie-published over the next year.

On another note, I've finished teaching my class and am ready for graduation in 2026, which means that I've completed my marking! Yay! And now recruiting, interviewing and collating information for my 2026 class cohort to start early next year in late February.

I'm also now considering putting up our Christmas tree, as when we were in Fiji last month, I noticed that Christmas decorations were already on display in their shops and at the Wyndham resort where we were vacationing (such an American word).

Now that it's festive season, it's time to take up the challenge and to reflect that at home and in my posts in looking forward to coming together with my family for a Christmas and end of year celebration with 2026 just around the corner...

Wicked 2 - too many moving parts...

 

I forgot to mention that during the WIPCE conference, I took my elder two to watch the highly anticipated second movie in the Wicked series. I had already (spoiler alert) predicted that the Wizard was Elphaba's father (the writer in me), which my children didn't agree with initially.

Having watched the movie in the city movie theatre, complete with reclining chairs, it was a let-down for me. I missed the amazing songs from the first movie, and I found there were 'too many moving parts', i.e., lots of subplots that took away from the simplicity of the first movie.

I did, however, read that in its first week, it was still a box office hit in the States with many anticipating fans wanting to see whether the second movie would live up to the hype of the first movie. I didn't think so but many others might disagree with me.

Instead, I'm now looking forward to watching the eagerly anticipated third movie to in the Avatar series. I'm really interested in how the storyline will develop as the family moves to another space/place. I'm finding more time to do the things that I enjoy now that the holiday season is just around the corner...

Back home to Aotearoa NZ...

 

It is nice to be back home, with so much to do as we come to the end of the year. I have dinners to attend to, planning for next year and lots of marking to complete.

I also have unpacking to do (firstly) and to catch up on things at work, as we had a major restructuring that was quite a shakeup for many staff.

The pic shows the airport arrival area when we have cleared the transit area and are moving towards the Duty Free and Passport/Customs area.

The Gateway is quite significant culturally, as a Māori welcoming area symbolic of having a powhiri (Māori welcoming ceremony) that I often observe at work. It also depicts carvings of significant historical or symbolic figures. Sometimes, as you walk through, you can hear the karanga (a special welcoming call of a Māori woman), which is a reminder that we are entering historical Māori land as tangata whenua (people of the land)...

Birthday specials in Fiji...

 

Yesterday was my birthday celebration, and in Fiji, they do it with style! We had a countdown (NZ time), and two younger children made a black forest cake, which was amazing to find in Fiji.

We then all went for a family package massage or facial. Four of us chose the one-hour massage, which was simply divine, especially since I fell asleep during mine while my youngest smiled as she also had a massage alongside me.

We then went shopping in Nadi township, and I was able to pick up a few tapa (material) shirts, except that my beloved wanted what I call an 'ugly' shirt.

After that, we swam in the longest pool in the South Pacific at our Wyndham resort on Denarau Island and had an enjoyable time with a beach ball.

Finally, we got ready for our dinner and fire show just in time for my birthday, and that was so great to be able to see the ocean whilst dining with the family. 

The staff sang me a happy birthday song, and we had birthday cake, which we then gifted to the rest of the staff. We already had cake at home, and I also received another in-house birthday cake gift and a towel set, which was another treat. Really felt spoiled on my birthday.

The fun didn't stop there as we then got ready for Karaoke. I had my song ready: Michael Jackson's "Rock with You". I was number three on the list and danced to the beat.

My husband then sang one of my favourite songs called "Sosefina" except I keep asking who's Sosefina? (an inside joke :). It was an enjoyable time, and there was much laughter as many guests sang but were (a little?) off-key.

The highlight of the night was that our two youngest decided to sing "Kiss me through the phone", and it brought the house down with their dance moves and antics. It was such a laugh that even the staff were dancing along. It was such a laugh, as they were so loud (and mostly in tune, ha ha), and it was neat that we were buzzing on the way to our rooms and watching the recording.

Gonna miss Fiji as it's our special spot for R&R rest and relaxation, and they never fail to me us feel at home. Lots of families were holidaying here and especially from Australia, although there were a few Kiwis (New Zealanders) too. Vinaka Fiji we will miss you until the next time Lord willing...

Wedding Anniversary Dinner of 24 years together...

 

Yesterday, I went to a church service beside the pool and next to the open ocean that you see in the pic. It felt like a place of serenity I needed to go after a hectic year, and as I neared the end of my nemesis journey with my PhD.

The message of the day was that we were created to do essential things for which we were gifted. Or rather, that was how I interpreted the Fijian preacher's sermon.

I was joined by other New Zealanders and tourists from around the world. It was amazing to see how that moment of quietness was just what I needed to realise the hectic year I had been through.

Now I can just relax, whilst in Fiji, and take a well-deserved couple more days' respite before returning home to a load of marking and finishing the recruiting for next year's class. I'm enjoying our soft approach to enjoying our days with a family massage package this afternoon, before our Anniversary dinner tonight.

These last couple of weeks have been amazingly blessed with many people from all over the world interested in our family bookstall. The picture book sets were the most popular, with many interested in poetry (oops! thought I'd had enough to sell but sold out) and considering to continue selling at our local markets back home too...

Bula vinaka from Fiji with intergenerational family...

 

Bula vinaka from Fiji! Yes, you heard it right, as I'm currently in Fiji with my family of five. Initially, we had six travellers, but our eldest needed to stay for summer school to finish off her law degree.

It's an intergenerational party, with my mum, my beloved, and our three children. I've enjoyed visiting Fiji over the years as I got married there with my beloved and our close family, friends and some who just wanted to come along for the ride.

We are also going to be celebrating our 24th wedding anniversary on the 24th of November and my birthday the following day.

Today I got to spend time at a morning church service by the sea, and it was a real blessing too. It's one of my favourite holiday break destinations as they truly know how to take things easily.

We're considering going to the Spa to have a body massage or facial, and quite possibly a boat ride to a nearby island for a quick, enjoyable trip.

There's definitely so much to do that I don't think there's going to be enough time to do everything and just enough make it enjoyable.

Another reason we're here is to celebrate my thesis finally approved for examination. This is daunting as I did do things a bit origin in not wanting to follow standard academic western thinking paradigms and will soon find out what the three examiners think of it i.e. one from Samoa and two from NZ.

Safeguarding measina a Samoa Presentation at WIPCE conference 2025...

 

It has been a whirlwind week! Firstly, with completing my WIPCE presentation (30 minutes) on Thursday, I elongated my 10-minute presentation accordingly.

The auditorium was packed, which was quite surprising for me, as I had expected only a few people to attend on the last day of the conference, but many were interested in the topic. I took a pic for myself to remind me of the venue, etc.

I was also honoured to be able to share some of my journey in safeguarding our Samoan cultural treasures, and gave some tips from my study journey and also from my work in my Samoan and indigenous communities, supporting our communities in their lifelong intergenerational learnings.

It was my first International conference presentation, so I was pleased and blessed by the many questions asked, especially those who came to see me before and after my presentation to share ideas at our family bookstall. It was quite overwhelming and very humbling.

I'm also blessed to know that my well overdue thesis was approved by the wānanga (Māori tertiary higher learning institute) to go to examination. This is such a miracle, as it has given me hope to bring this part of my journey to an end and see where it takes.

This is super exciting, as it's been a 7-year journey (part-time) since 2018, and now I'm awaiting the verdict of three examiners: one from Samoa and two from New Zealand. It's a creative, practice-led thesis, distinct from the usual academic theses, as I wanted to challenge mainstream ideas about what constitutes valid indigenous knowledge and ways of doing.

Let's see if my examiners agree with my approaches as a diaspora Samoan, i.e., one living outside the 'homeland'...

Opening at WIPCE with book stall...

We're finally here at the WIPCE World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education. It was the opening day with a powhiri (Māori welcome) and a parade of nations with 26 nations represented at the Conference.

We have a family bookstall at the conference, with my family members helping to man it (the white peaks are the roofs).

It has been so interesting with so many people visiting from around the world. I've met with Native or First Nations peoples from Canada, the USA, Hawai'i, New Mexico, Australia, Germany, Kiwis, etc.

It's been interesting to have so many people interested in my books, and I, in turn, encourage many of the indigenous educators or visitors to try making their own and sharing their resources with others as well.

This first day was a full day for me, our eldest and my beloved as we manned the stall from 11am until the Festival closed at 9pm. I couldn't wait to go home, have a bite to eat and also to do some marking as I still have marking to do before going overseas on Friday!...

 

Gearing up for WIPCE 2025...

 

Yesterday evening, I went with my middle child to the compulsory stallholder's meeting in readiness for the WIPCE conference called "Te Ao Pūtahi" Festival.

At the meeting, we were told that with the 3,000+ delegates arriving in the next 2 weeks in readiness for the conference that already it boasts being the largest conference that New Zealand has ever hosted.

In looking at the conference programme, it is jam packed with so many events and offerings to attend. I've already decided on some of the events that I'll be attending but I'm also attending to our stall of selling books and answering any questions that readers have.

We're starting to consider what we'll be packing in for our stall and the different products that we'll be offering as well as checking out what other stalls are offering too.

This is getting really exciting as it's the first international conference type setting that I'll be selling my books at and I'm very grateful to the conference organisers for accepting our application to be present at this auspicious occasion.

I'm also grateful that I have my family there with me as it's a family business. In fact, on the last day of the conference where I'll be presenting, the next day we fly out to Fiji for a bit of R&R after a crazy year and especially with my birthday on the horizon...

2025 Kaitiakitanga conference complete...

 

This weekend has been so busy with our in-house conference with students presenting their models of bicultural practice in supervision.

There were six rooms operating with a speaker in each and we had 31 students presenting a 20 presentation. I was so proud of the many who were able to stand and share their visions.

The mini kava bowl that is on the desk in the foreground was a replica of a very large Tongan kava bowl indigenous story that the speaker wove into her presentation with a gift as a souvenir for the markers.

In fact, there were so many indigenous stories that I was privileged to hear about which both was encouraging and satisfying to learn about.

After the conference we had a conference dinner complete with speeches and a lot of happy and relieved students. I think what was so encouraging for me was the transformations that had taken place during class times from the very start with some hesitancy and then to full confidence in their created models of practice.

As an educator, it's a space that I feel very blessed to be in to support the dreams and visions of indigenous peoples for their families but also in partnership with non-indigenous peoples in being able to work together to make this world a better place...

Conference preparations and lanyards...

Not only am I getting ready to present at the WIPCE conference but am also getting my students ready for their in-house conference presentations this weekend.

That's me busy completing the lanyards today, I mean what is a conference without lanyards right? I think it's supposed to make you feel important and 'official' when arriving at a conference with lanyards so it was really neat to be able to let my creative side go to town.

It's all on this weekend with an opening on Friday morning with each presenter picking up their conference pack with lanyards. 

Then the conference proper starts on the following day, on Saturday, starting with a powhiri or a Māori welcoming ceremony at 8.30 am. A cup of tea afterwards with the first presenters starting at 9.30 am and the last at 3.30 pm.

Each presenter has a 20 min' slot to discuss their model of practice and then there is time for the markers to ask questions or clarify things. Afterwards, the whānau or family including friends whom they've invited to watch their presentation can also make comments and then their time is complete.

For this weekend we are having a conference dinner at 6 pm whereby the presenters are able to bring along a +1 or one other guest and then we have a pre-Christmas-like dinner. Some speeches from the valedictorians will be delivered and then we complete the evening with a poroporoake which includes final comments and a karakia or prayer.

It's going to be a very busy weekend with so much going on so I'm really looking forward to Sunday evening when all is complete and then I can relax and put my feet up for a bit before pacing to the next event...
 

Another books.by/pacific-hibiscus...

 

books.by/pacific-hibiscus

This is another offering as an updated reprint on our online bookstore for Pacific Hibiscus. I'm so 'over the moon' that I'm now able to offer books to overseas readers that are 'print on demand'.

It's definitely a lot easier than having inventory with storage needed. This way it's a lot more easily accessible and cuts out all of the running around for me as an Indie-publisher.

I would be interested to know, for those who do decide to buy online what the experience is as I'll also be testing and ordering some online to see how it is for me.

I'm also considering to also Indie-publish on this website a long-awaited novel that I wrote some years ago for my second master's degree in creative writing with AUT Auckland University of Technology.

It's called "Catch him when he falls" it was initially over 100,000 words a longer novel with different perspectives, but I've since separated the perspectives to have a novel for each one. But that's another story and looking forward to the outcome by Christmas.

Meanwhile, I'm enjoying being able to offer this book online through our bookstore on Books.by and looking forward to adding so much more over the weeks leading up to Christmas. Yet another new journey and looking forward to new opportunities...