N.Z.’s multicultural identity

Press, 4 April 1987, Page 18

N.Z.’s multicultural identity

“Tagata Pasifika,” a new half-hour programme which begins screening today (Saturday) at 11.30 a.m. on Two, is aimed primarily at the 100,000strong Pacific Island community living in New Zealand, but producer Michael Evans hopes that it will have a strong appeal to everyone who is interested in New Zealand’s multicultural identity. “The programme will aim to present some of the more positive aspects of the Polynesian community, often overlooked in the media, which concentrates so often on a small .minority of troublemakers.”

“Tagata Pasifika,” which means "People of the Pacific,” will look at the lives of the island people as they work, worship, and pursue cultural, social and sporting activities. The programme replaces “See Here,” which ran for seven years, catering for both Island and Maori people. It will use a f magazine format, with a mix of film, news, studio interviews and musical items which will cover the six main groups in New Zealand: Samoans, Cook Islanders, Niueans, Tongans, Tokelauans, and Fijians. ! English will be the

main language used except for a local news segment at the end of the programme which will feature each of the different Island languages on a rotating basis. Foufou Susana Hukui, formerly the presenter of "See Here,” a Niuean with a background in social work, education and radio, will be the main presenter, with Maligi Evile presenting the Pacific news and Samoan local news segments. Evile is a broadcaster from Radio New Zealand’s “Te Reo o Aotearoa” and was the newsreader for “See Here.”