Group photo of presenters, broadcasters, and producers at the workshop. Source: Coconut Wireless
The 28th and 29th of February has seen 10 teams of Pacific producers/broadcasters and New Zealand based Pacific producers meet for the first time as part of the NZ On Air Aotearoa New Zealand Pacific Regional Media Fund (ANZ PRMF).
Following on from three virtual meetings laying the foundation for this workshop, the teams participated in the two-day fono hearing from industry leaders about the storytelling process, music composition, and considerations for co-production.
Central to the why of the ANZ PRMF, is collaborative storytelling and co-production of Pacific stories through a Pacific lens.
Panellist Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa, the creative mind behind Three Wise Cousins, spoke with a deep reverence and passion for his learnings in creating the movie and how the idea of co-creation has changed his process.
With the film about connecting to your Pacific roots, Stallone said that he realised the writing process needed to be extended to the rehearsal process with the actors who were raised in Samoa to truly reflect the where and why of the story told. Fostering a safe space for their creative contributions was crucial.
“I realised that I needed to share the creative space for collaborative storytelling to get the actors’ voices heard,” said Vaiaoga-Ioasa. “As I wasn’t raised in Samoa, the story needed their creative input to have authenticity.”
Vaiaoga-Ioasa’s experience and clear passion resonated with the Pacific broadcasters, striking a chord with the need for, and underrepresentation of, Pacific voices in Pacific storytelling.
The key driving force behind delivery of the ANZ PRMF has been NZ On Air Senior Funding Advisor Nicole Rex.
“We’re so excited for this amazing fakaholoaga,” says Rex. “In the Niue culture we have a fakatai “Tao e umu ke moho” which basically means, if you’re going to do something, do it right.”
“This initiative is so important for our Pasifika people here in Aotearoa and in the Pacific Islands. The craft of oratory and storytelling is intrinsically in our blood so to be in a room full of Pasifika producers and creatives these past two days was truly electric.“
The 10 co-production teams are:
| New Zealand-based Pacific Producer | Pacific Broadcaster/Producer |
| Nua Finau-Tavake Productions | Tonga Broadcasting Commission Lead Producer: Sharon Elone |
| Sandra Kailahi – Kingston Productions | BCN (Niue) Lead Producer: Esther Pavihi |
| Abba-Rose Vaiaoga-Ioasa – Cadness Street | TV3 Samoa Lead Producer: Pule Puleina |
| Adrian Stevanon – Great Southern Television | VBTC (Vanuatu) Lead Producer: Moses Willie |
| John Utanga – Sunpix | Araura TV (Aitutaki, Cook Islands) Lead Producer: Nick Henry |
| Tuki Laumea – Nine Islands Media | Elizabeth Osifelo, Solomon Islands Freelancer (nominated on behalf of Telekom TV) |
| Nina Nawalowalo – The Conch | Mai TV (Fiji) Lead Producer: Stanley Simpson |
| Tagaloa John Tapu – Kava Bowl Media | Samoa TV1 Lead Producer: Mai Roebeck |
| Ursula Williams – Four and Five Films | FBC (Fiji) Lead Producer: Amelia Rigsby |
| Maria Tanner – Neon Lunch Club Tianna Haxton – RNZ |
CITV (Cook Islands) Lead Producer: Mareva Cameron |
