PJ TAYLOR talks with a real individual of the Pacific, who was raised in Tonga of Niuean and Fijian ancestry, and for almost all of her life residing right here in Auckland, town with the most important Pasifika inhabitants. Values that have been instilled in her from an early age, akin to contemplating others, have stayed along with her and play an enormous half in what does serving to individuals in east Auckland, particularly at this Christmas time of the yr.
The place have been you born and grew up?
I used to be born in Tonga within the village of Fatai on the primary island of Tongatapu. Life was nice within the village. It was enjoyable. Plenty of freedom and all the children would play collectively. You’d know everyone.
How a lot of an affect in life was your grandfather?
He was a really massive affect. His title was Sosiua Fale. He was referred to as a large within the village. He was virtually seven-feet tall! [two metres] He was very onerous working and taught me loads. He was one of many elders within the village. He taught me the way to love to provide and to assist others. Each Christmas we might give watermelons and pineapples to all of the households within the village.
When and why did you come to New Zealand? And what did you do within the early years right here?
I got here to New Zealand in 1985, for my schooling and to stay with my dad. He was already in Auckland. I attended Penrose Excessive Faculty, now One Tree Hill Faculty. We lived in Ellerslie initially after which moved to Mt Wellington. I performed numerous totally different sports activities – athletics, netball, basketball, contact, rugby and so forth, and studied in between.
Netball has performed an enormous half in your life. What have you ever finished within the sport?
I represented Howick-Pakuranga after which Auckland. I additionally performed for the Faculty Rifles membership’s prime workforce when these video games have been on tv, earlier than the franchise mannequin now we have now. We have been sponsored by Desk Discuss Hen and our mascot was a younger Jeremy Wells, who used to decorate in a yellow hen outfit on the video games. I additionally performed for the New Zealand combined indoor netball workforce within the Nineties and performed checks towards Australia. When my husband and I have been first in the UK I performed for the Surrey prime workforce within the county competitors.
How did you meet your husband, Chris?
We met within the mid-Nineties at a lavalava get together in Parnell placed on by my Fijian pal. My husband reckons we had the identical sense of rhythm however that’s extremely questionable. We married in 1996 after which did our OE collectively for six years in London. We have now additionally lived and labored in Dubai and, in fact, again in New Zealand. We have now two boys who’re Matthew, 24, and George, 20, and we’re newbie empty-nesters now.
What’s your position with the All Saints Church Foodbank? How has its yr been in 2025?
I’m the coordinator on the foodbank and have been concerned with it for 13 years. I completely like it. We’re blessed to have nice help from the church management, and now we have an exquisite workforce of helpers who make all of it occur. We’re additionally so very lucky to have an enormous quantity of help from our congregation and native help from companies, faculties and east Auckland Rotary golf equipment. This yr we entered right into a memorandum of understanding with Kiwi Harvest who’ve preparations with native supermarkets. They provide us each week with bread, meat and greens and so forth. This yr has been probably the most difficult ever that I can recall. The necessity for our companies in our group has by no means been higher as a result of economic system. A number of different native foodbanks have additionally closed. Our conventional essential supplier, the Auckland Metropolis Mission, now focuses on different actions and so doesn’t present meals to Auckland foodbanks. So, now we have needed to stand on our personal two ft and ask for help from our congregation and regionally. The response has been really humbling, and I really feel privileged to be concerned and to have met so many variety and giving individuals.
You might have Christian religion. What does Christmas imply to you?
Christmas is probably the most significant time of the yr for me and Christmas is the inspiration of my religion. It’s a time for households to get collectively, break bread and share our love.
Are you able to inform us about another involvement you could have within the east Auckland group, together with with Rotary.
I’ve not too long ago develop into a member of the Half Moon Bay Rotary Membership. The members are very beneficiant supporters of the foodbank, they usually have been very welcoming to me. Early morning conferences are difficult for this Tongan woman however I’m actually having fun with it. I additionally coach netball and basketball.
In your downtime, the place are a few of your favorite locations in east Auckland to go to and actions to do?
We love strolling round our place and right down to the Half Moon Bay Marina. I really like gardening. We’re so fortunate to have heaps of nice native cafes and eating places. We particularly love Daisy Chang and Despensa in Picton Road, Howick.
If there was one factor you’d prefer to see change in New Zealand society, what wouldn’t it be?
I’d like it if our foodbank was not wanted.
