Written by Jonathan Selu, Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
‘O le ala i le pule o le tautua’ - Alagaupu Samoa
(‘The pathway to leadership is through service’ - Samoan Proverb)
This proverb is one of my favourites. It’s been with me throughout my journey to rediscover my Samoan language and has been a guiding star on my own life course, leading me to live in service to my family and my community. My understanding of this measina has constantly evolved throughout my life.
Living and working in a mainstream/Palagi environment can make it difficult to hold fast to Samoan or even Pasifika ways of doing and being. I feel a constant need to explain, justify and qualify why and how Pacific communities are non-homogenous and more than just negative statistics that “need” our help. In order to stay grounded, I’ve needed to develop different personas for different spaces: Academic Jono, Professional Jono, Home Life Jono, Community Jono, etc. Of course, it is much more complex than this, but you get the idea. This has worked...for a while. But has quickly become emotionally and spiritually drained and has left me feeling unsatisfied and inauthentic. It is this sense of fractured identity that led me to apply for The Mana Moana Experience, and I am greatly humbled to be able to journey with the Class this year.
On Retreat One of The Mana Moana Experience, we were invited to remember who we are as People of the Great Ocean and what that means for us in a 21st-century Aotearoa context. At first, I assumed this was going to be like a mix of undergraduate Pacific Studies lectures and Western leadership development courses. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
It was a deeply transformative and healing experience. I’ve been reflecting on Retreat One for a couple of weeks now, trying to unpack the gifts of wisdom that were imparted (let alone my bag which is still half-packed and awaiting Retreat Two), but there is so much knowledge to sift through that I’m having to process it slowly and intentionally. If the proverb I began with is a star guiding my way, Retreat One is a looking glass that reveals the wondrous and unending universe that our ancestors traversed.
After three days with my new, once-were-strangers whanau/aiga/famili/ magafaoa/anau, I felt a sense of connection and safety that I haven’t felt for a very long time. I felt like I could rest and regenerate. I felt like I could sit face-to-face with the hard stuff that I’ve suppressed and side-lined for many years in favour of serving others’ needs.
I finally felt like maybe I was...I am...enough. At the same time, I don’t think I’ve laughed with such pure joy in my entire life.
This malaga is not one of professional development. It is one of professional transformation through personal integration and advocacy. A malaga blessed by the legacies of our ancestors with the vision of our grandchildren. An awakening of the essence within us all to answer the call of our people.
And I’m aware, this is only the beginning…
Did Jonathan’s story resonate with you? This is one of many courageous, enriching and impactful journeys on The Mana Moana Experience.
Are you a mid-career Pasifika leader who cares for the future of New Zealand? Do you know someone who is? Applications for our 2021 Experience are OPEN NOW. https://www.leadershipnz.co.nz/applications-faqs