“Full moon alignment of moon, earth and sun gave early high tides and made us wander across the west sand to find the cleansing chill of an afternoon dip, maintaining our circle all the while.” NATIA TUCKER reflects on Va Mokopuna, the final Mana Moana Experience retreat which was held on Waiheke Island in January 2022.
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The moment where my past, present and future collided
“With my mind, body and soul enriched, I have been inspired to reconnect with culture, let go of things I have been conditioned to control, and journey the path that my ancestors paved for me as a proud servant daughter of the Pacific.” BERNADETTE TOVIO shares her reflections after the final retreat for the Mana Moana Experience in January 2022.
Read MoreWalking The Path with Mana
“I feel a deep sense of humility and gratitude, I now walk with Mana, with pride in who I am, how I can continue to improve myself to best support my people, and now I have a why: a purpose, a reason,” says PARANIHIA PRESTON following Retreat Four: Va Hala, Ala, Ara of The Mana Moana Experience.
Read MoreThe Path of Our Ancestors
“Our paths, our journeys, our stories are important reminders of how we got here. Once we’ve faced our past, we can draw strength from it and take it with us on our next steps. Our Hala, Ala, Ara. Our next steps as Pacific Leaders,” shares KATHLEEN MCGHIE from Retreat Four of The Mana Moana Experience.
Read MoreRediscovering life and love in a Pacific Mana Moana way
“The Mana Moana Experience for me is purposeful and liberating. It is deep diving to your core to bring out what has always been there, the treasure of self that has been hidden. A gift from the ancestors. Journeying with my brave Mana Moana family. Hearing and seeing the wisdom and truth from living legends. Rediscovering life and love in a Pacific Mana Moana way,” enthuses APOUA FUATAVAIL-MCBRIEN.
Read MoreBeing 'Leaderful' with Vision and Strength
“I am encouraged to be ‘leaderful’ in the spaces that I occupy with others. Meeting some of the most incredible leaders (in the space of a few months) who lead with a clear vision in their spaces has given me the strength to seek, learn and speak up for our indigenous people,” enthuses SELINA ROIMATA PATIA after Retreat Two of The Mana Moana Experience.
Read MoreJourney of Self Pacific Discovery
“I was ready for change. I was ready for a new but old narrative. A narrative of power, of prowess, a narrative where our ‘Ancestral Intelligence’ was recognised as equal to if not better than the current dominate thinking and theories of today and boy did I find it in Va Tūpuna,” enthuses EDWARD (TED) POGAI following Retreat One of The Mana Moana Experience.
Read MoreTofa My Feleni
“At Retreat One (Va Tūpuna), you meet the other Pasifika leaders and learn of their journeys. I thought to myself: even Ashley Bloomfield would be impressed! Then your voyage begins,” shares JACK SCANLAN on boarding the vaka that is The Mana Moana Experience.
Read MoreStanding in Solidarity with my People
“Retreat One of The Mana Moana Experience has given me time and space (and a beautiful setting) in which to reflect on why I do the things that I do: I have sat on my fala / mat and meditated; I have shared kava and stories; I have thought about what I needed to receive and what I wanted to give to each speaker; I have laughed, cried, got angry, and laughed again,” shares RENEE DINGWALL.
Read MoreStanding Intently In My Truth
“Every day I wake up with the intent of Makawalu: to stand boldly in my every facet and to harness the power of my vulnerability - not only to see but to deeply feel. Born of alofa into a place of va, I welcome you home again,” reflects FLEUR RABANAL on Retreat 3: Va Hala of The Mana Moana Experience.
Read MoreStorm Birds
“The storm birds are flying in, but I am awakened to the point of no return, and am compelled to act, even if it means leaving my comfort zone and walking into storms,” shares ROBERT LUISI on Retreat Two: Va Fonua, Fanua, Fenua, ‘Enua, Whenua of The Mana Moana Experience.
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White board reflections developed during Retreat Two: VA FENUA
Past, Present and Future
“When looking to the future, we must be strategic and strengths-based. Seeds of leadership and seeds that are planted in the enua require nurturing, akono, manaaki (caring) and protection to grow and flourish,” reflects ROBBIE ATATOA on Retreat Two: VA FENUA of The Mana Moana Experience.
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Answering the call of our people
“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,” says JONATHAN SELU about Retreat One of The Mana Moana Experience.
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The vaka/waka of collective healing
“We journey collectively towards healing, so that we can transform Leadership into this amazing Pacific Experience,” reflects MAGGIE TULISI on Retreat One of The Mana Moana Experience.
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Reclaiming our Identities and Lives
GRADUANDS' SPEECH from Dr. Cherie Chu-Fuluifaga; Titiimaea Eugene Elisara; Tuiloma Gayle Lafaiali'i; Sione Taunga; Shimpal Lelisi; Emelita Rosita Simeaanamulu Luisi and Ma'ara Maeva on behalf of the Class of 2019, The Mana Moana Experience.
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Alumni Journeys - Duane Stanley
"The Programme helped facilitate better awareness of the diversity of leadership within Aotearoa New Zealand,” says DUANE STANLEY, Alumnus 2018 of The Mana Moana Experience.
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Grounding ourselves
“Empowered indigenous leadership is being connected to your history and grounded in the fanua,” shares BELINDA BETHAM-RAUTJOKI on Retreat Two of The Mana Moana Experience that took place in Northland.
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A Passion and Responsibility to Lead
“At this retreat, I realised that my well-meaning, often private yet genuine, heartfelt support for political ideology needed to step up into outward, political participation and that my voice was critical and could influence change,” shares TUILOMA GAYLE LAFAIALI’I.
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Where Does Our Heritage Take Us?
“This retreat was a reminder of many small and large steps of courage taken to get us here. It also showed other steps that might improve the space we’re in - for ourselves and our loved ones and our communities,” writes EUGENE ELISARA.
Read MoreNew paths. New eyes. New connections.
“New paths are being built, new eyes are being opened and new connections are anchoring me in a way I had never considered prior to taking the leap into this vaka with these amazing contemporaries and all of our ancestors,” reflects RAYMOND SAGAPOLUTELE on the first retreat of The Mana Moana Experience.
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