Esther Paivihi (left) and Sandra Kailahi are delighted with how the co-production Descendants of Niue - Tau Hologa Niue turned out.
By Michelle Curran
Executive Communications Manager, PCBL/Pasifika TV
Despite Niue having one of the smallest populations in the Pacific, its people have made an extraordinary impact both at home and abroad.
The recently completed Aotearoa New Zealand Pacific Regional Media Fund (PRMF) documentary series, Descendants of Niue – Tau Hologa Niue, celebrates this legacy by following Niueans living on the island, also known as “the Rock”, and across the diaspora.
Descendants of Niue shines a light on “the Rock”.
Aotearoa-based Sandra Kailahi of Kingston Productions, and Esther Paivihi of Broadcasting Corporation Niue (BCN) joined forces to work on the co-production, one of six projects funded by NZ on Air, and Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited (PCBL) for the inaugural PRMF initiative, announced in 2024.
Sandra explains the inspiration for Descendants of Niue – Tau Hologa Niue evolved from conversations with two of the team behind the series.
“Vela Manusaute and Jack Tarrant both spoke about a desire to take their families back to the Rock, so as to reconnect with their homeland,” Sandra says.
“The project truly came to life with the announcement of the PRMF, which brought the team together with a shared vision to tell these stories with care and authenticity.
“Working in collaboration with BCN was a deeply rewarding experience, allowing the series to be rooted in Niue, while reaching Niuean communities around the world.”
Navigating identity, belonging, and purpose
This character-driven documentary series follows six Niueans at pivotal moments in their lives—some raised on the Rock, others returning to it for the first time—as they navigate questions of identity, belonging, and purpose.
From a Niue High School Head Girl standing on the brink of her future, to a celebrated actor reconnecting with his ancestral roots, a climate advocate drawing strength from her homeland, and a renowned storyteller and his son confronting unfinished family history, each episode offers an intimate portrait of what it means to be Niuean today.
Filmed across Niue and beyond, Sandra says the series sparked deeper questions around identity, heritage, and what “home” really means for Pacific people living across the diaspora.
“As we began to explore those experiences, powerful stories of belonging, change, and reconnection naturally emerged,” she adds.
Best-kept secret
The year-long project has featured many highlights for Sandra, including spending time in Niue, which she says is a true joy and blessing.
“Niue is one of the Pacific’s best-kept secrets; if you know, you know.
“Spending time with each participant across the five episodes revealed the island’s beauty through many different lenses and showed what it means to be Niuean across generations.
“There really is something in the series for everyone, whether you’re young or a matua.”
Working with BCN is another highlight for the Kingston Productions team, who also provided camera and sound training while in Niue.
“While we couldn’t offer an in-depth programme due to the demands on BCN’s News team, being able to deliver hands-on training was important to us and a meaningful way for the New Zealand-based crew to give back.”
As with any project, Sandra says there were challenges along the way.
“We booked our travel to coincide with Niue’s 50th Constitution celebrations in October 2024, but initially had no accommodation secured.
“As a result, we could only bring a small crew…until our Pacific producer on the ground, Esther Pavihi, worked her magic and found solutions.
“Coordinating schedules also proved complex, particularly as two of our participants were based in the United Kingdom and the United States.
“While this required flexibility and a few timeline extensions, everything came together in the end, reinforcing the collaborative spirit that carried the project through.”
Then there was the weather.
“Torrential rain postponed the 50th celebrations twice, while storms and high winds affected outdoor filming,” Sandra says.
“It didn’t stop us from filming but did cause a few delays – but that’s the Islands for you—these moments became part of the experience and ultimately added to the authenticity of the story we were telling.”
Series launch
The series, which launches at Mangere Arts Centre on January 29, and in Niue in early February, has exceeded the original vision of the co-producers.
Sandra says while they had a clear sense of the themes they wanted to explore, the openness, generosity, and emotional honesty of the participants shaped the series into something far richer than they could have planned.
“The final episodes feel intimate, grounded, and deeply reflective of the Niuean spirit—capturing both the beauty of the island and the complexity of living between worlds.
“Set against the backdrop of the 50th anniversary of Niue’s self-governing relationship with New Zealand, the stories speak not only to Niueans but to Pacific peoples everywhere who understand what it means to live between worlds.
“We hope audiences see themselves reflected in these journeys and feel a deeper appreciation for Niue’s people, history, and resilience.”
The documentary series will screen on BCN in Niue from February and Pasifika TV will release the series across the Pacific, with plans underway to make it available in Aotearoa New Zealand as well.
