In the words of Hawaiian navigator and President of the Polynesian Voyaging Society Nainoa Thompson, “when embarking on a journey, you can choose to go forward in fear or courageously”.
Speaking at a function hosted at the Residence of the New Zealand Consul General in Honolulu in conjunction with Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited (PCBL), Chief Executive Officer Natasha Meleisea emphasises her organisation and its partners have chosen ‘courage’ as it begins its newest journey of launching its expanded programme.
“My Board members Chair Brent Impey, Deputy Chair Caren Rangi and I attended the Hawaiian International Film Festival (HIFF) opening film, The Navigator, and listened to Nainoa Thompson speak afterwards, and his words resonated with me in our latest mission,” Natasha says.
“We’ve set course on our toughest challenge to date; to bring together the strengths of the north and south Pacific, so our Pacific storytelling transcends time and oceans reaching those who have an affinity, connection, or interest in our beautiful blue continent, while also navigating the digital transformation taking place.
“The journey to launch a digital streaming service featuring curated Pacific content from our broadcasters and creatives throughout the region, showcasing our stories, our voices from our people, begins here in Hawai’i, as the northern apex of the Polynesian triangle, culturally a gateway to our north Pacific, with strong heritage links to Aotearoa.”
North Pacific part of the journey
Just as our ancestors set off from Hawai’i many years ago on their voyage of discovery across Moananuiākea/Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, Natasha says the content gathering also begins in Hawai’i.
“We have been humbled by the response received already from this part of the region who have offered content for the platform or merely want to be part of the journey,” she adds.
New Zealand Consul-General staff, Pacific Island Development Program (PIDP) and East West Center personnel, Hawai’i media, Hawai’i and Kiwi filmmakers, producers and actors, government representatives, University of Hawai’i faculty members, HIFF and Pacific Island Film Festival (PIFF) directors were among the guests who attended the event, and warmly welcomed by New Zealand Consul-General Stuart Horne.
The Consul-General reaffirmed the place of the Consulate in supporting Aotearoa-based relationships with Hawai’i – country, people, organisations, while encouraging guests to network, connect, learn, and grow from each other.
The event marks a milestone in Pasifika TV’s decade long history, with the organisation having more presence in the North Pacific and nurturing future partnerships with media and creatives, education institutes, government organisations, and a bolstered partnership with primary funders the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), and the New Zealand Consul General in Honolulu.
Shared vision
Natasha adds it is an exciting time for PCBL, as it connects media and content creators across the entire Pacific, bound by a shared vision, together with new audiences on a shared platform to build a sustainable eco-system.
“Te Moana nui-a-kiwa binds us together, but our stories connect us across oceans and continents,” she says.
The journey continues, with the next stop in Papua New Guinea in November, followed by Samoa and concluding in Aotearoa in December.
Visit Pasifika TV for more information.