Island Roots, Auckland Ways

Just us this week… with our last episode for… we don’t know how long. Making Island Roots, Auckland Ways has been a labour of love. Even as recently as a few years ago, there were no podcasts that represented who we were as Pacific 20-somethings trying to find our way in the world. We hope this has been a safe space for you, as much it has for us. Until next time, alofa tele atu. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is sponsored by Diabetes NZ. This week’s guests are Milan Moala & Susan Moala’eua. Today is World Diabetes Day so Milan and Susan are breaking down a story we know is all too familiar for our aiga. The theme for this year’s Diabetes Action Month is ‘Don’t Sugar Coat Diabetes’. It’s important for y’all to know the symptoms, different types of diabetes there are and knowing there isn’t shame about living with this common condition. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s guest is Samoan singer and actor The Western Guide. Boasting over 80-thousand TikTok followers, he’s all the rage with the kids after playing Demetrius in ‘Inky Pinky Ponky’. The Western Guide also has his hand in a successful country music career, while being heard daily on Niu FM’s night show. His warm, go-getter vibrations show no signs of slowing down. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s guest is Māori broadcaster and reo advocate Stacey Morrison. We’d be here all day listing the TV and radio shows that our Stace has fronted, but she’s currently at Flava - back after launching the station 20 years ago. We take our chat even further to the What Now and Mai Time days. Above all, she is a proud wife and Mum. She lets us know there’s still time for us to create our dream families. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s guest is Tongan entrepreneur ‘Anau Mesui Henry. Kava is shared ceremoniously across the Pacific but there haven’t quite been venues like Four Shells Kava Lounge to casually indulge in this cultural elixir. People can rock up on their own, in a group or gather on the fala.  ‘Anau, who co-owns the lounge, brings her kumete to our fala as we chat about her journey. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s guest is Tongan singer Elena. At only 18, she has two Pacific Music Awards nominations and two festivals under her belt. Elena was supported into living her dreams by very loving parents, transitioning early out of high school and into tertiary study. Raised in Roskill, the Central Okalani sister is shaking up the R&B scene with her fresh energy. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s guest is Māori broadcaster and comedian TimProvise. We’re picking that there is no other interviewer more researched and gifted with the gab like Tim is. From Clendon to basketball coach to teacher to breakfast radio host, he now lives a relatively quiet life on his tūrangawaewae. As host of video series Bakery Run, he’s also tasted his fair share in flakey goodness. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s guest is Tongan comedian Opeti Vaka. He lives in Foxton, a rural town tucked away in Manawatū - where there’s more fish and chip shops than Islanders. He did his first stand-up show in 2018 and in 2019, won the Wellington Raw Comedy Quest. Until Opeti reaches a point where he can comfortably live off comedy mahi, the grind’s on for his family. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s guest is Samoan siapo maker Doron Semu. Once a declining practice, the ancient Pacific artform of barkcloth is being revived. Doron travelled to the motherland, learnt diligently from knowledge holders and teaching others upon his return. He and Allyssa also share what it was like to be each other’s soa in receiving the pe’a/malu. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s guests are Filiva’a and Joseph from band Shepherds Reign. This band was born out of a South Auckland garage, has travelled as far as Norway and received millions of views. Recently the most nominated act at the Pacific Music Awards, Fili & Joe look back on crafting their niche - sharing their talents with the world. Genius to perform the siva tau underneath some metal!  Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s guest is Tongan entertainer Diamond Langi. Several years after featuring on Konecs’ smash hit ‘Lose My Mind’, she’s dropped her debut single. ‘Keep You Here’ is a love letter to her late father, who taught his daughter everything about music. Singing isn’t the only string to her bow - she acts, models and advocates fiercely for the culture. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s guests are pop-punk band MAYJUN. In their early 20s, Jeremiah Fale, Elijah McPherson & Tivoli Levi have their sights set on storied music careers. The idea that Pacific peoples can make music other than reggae is still relatively uncharted, but the usos have risen to online acclaim. MAYJUN are deep into the making of their music with more of it to drop soon.  Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s guest is Samoan-Swedish broadcaster So’omalo Iteni Schwalger. After serving as the night host on Niu FM, he jumped ship to RNZ where he is now the host of The TAHI. Recently, he was made a finalist for the NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award at the Taite Music Prize. So’o shares how dropping out of school set the trajectory for his successful career. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's guest is Samoan photographer Geoffery Matautia a.k.a. Southsides. His candid, community-centric style of portrait photography has landed him in major publications and brand campaigns. But this now fully fledged career was only a hobby once. Geoffery is always capturing others' stories, so we want to know - who is he, how has he gotten here and what keeps him going? Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s guest is Māori comedian Kura Turuwhenua. She doesn’t have to try to be funny, she just is. Kura’s mind is wonderfully abstract, allowing her to channel the lived and imaginative through her craft. Our mate shares how stand-up led her to recently sketch writing for Only In Aotearoa alongside an all wāhine team. Plus, she settles for us: hāngi or boil up? Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s guest is Samoan teacher and influencer Samantha Richards. With nearly 50 thousand TikTok followers, the classroom wizz shares what it’s like to work at school. The daughter of a Palagi dad and Samoan mum, Samantha herself is learning, about her Island roots. This involves a malaga to the motherland later this year honouring her late grandmother. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our biggest episode to-date, we interview Tongan singer Dinah Jane. After selling tens of millions of records with Fifth Harmony, she’s now a commanding voice in the Polynesian music space. Dinah’s latest single ‘Road Less Travelled’ speaks to the lane of the industry which she says many expected her to take after being part of a girl group. She has been “crying for” this moment in her career. Mālō e ngāue lahi, Dinah Jane. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s guest is Samoan-Tongan entrepreneur Noeleen Tuala. A simple desire to kit out her grandchildren with Pacific printed manchester turned into the business, PELE Baby. It’s a one stop shop for Nesian playmats, blankets and more. Despite some challenges on her journey, Noeleen encourages our inherently entrepreneurial peoples to unite so we can all eat. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s guest is Samoan actor Theo Dāvid. From Manurewa to Ferndale, he plays Viliami To’a on iconic New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. As passionate thespians, Allyssa and the bro indulge on how hard it can be to be acting as someone else. Theo is a man who wants everyone to eat and says unfortunately that ain’t how it works in the industry. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s guest is Tongan-Samoan musician and broadcaster Charlie Pome’e. Charlie says he was only pretending to be a radio host on Snapchat a few years ago when in 2023, he got the call up to trial for Flava Breakfast. Plus, what’s the real tea on BFT? And the Three Houses Down frontman recounts how his family band started with borrowed instruments and a dream. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.