Damon Salesa is a Pacific historian and writer who specialises in Samoan history. He was the first Pasifika person to win an Oxford University Rhodes Scholarship. ‘I never quite made it as a rugby player or basketball player!’ Damon says. ‘It was research and writing that I really loved, even though I didn’t come from…
David Tua was the first person of Pasifika heritage, to compete for one of the most famous prizes in sports: the Heavyweight Boxing Championship of the World. In his prime, he knocked out four world champions and owned one of the best left hooks in the history of boxing! You could say boxing is in…
How do we remember our past? How do we imagine our future? How do we even know who we are? Associate Professor Donna Rose Addis wants to know the answers to those questions. That’s why she became the world’s first Samoan ‘neuroscientist’ – a person who studies the human brain! You can read more about…
Albert Wendt is a celebrated writer sometimes referred to as ‘The Father of Pacific Literature.’ Albert’s early experiences with stories were in Samoa, at the feet of his grandmother Mele. He won a scholarship to New Plymouth Boys High where his teachers noticed he also had a gift for storytelling. They encouraged him to write….
Lauaki was an orator chief, famous throughout Samoa for his knowledge of history and his political skills. He tried hard to keep Samoan traditions alive when Samoa was under German rule – a time when Samoa experienced great change. Though he died before his dream of Samoan independence could come true, his legacy would be…
Ida Malosi is the first woman of Pasifika heritage to become a Judge in New Zealand. Ida was thinking of studying Law at Otago Uni but was put off when she went into the lecture and saw no brown students. “This subject is for rich people, I’ll never cut it,” she thought. Later, Ida moved…
James Johnson is the second Samoan to play in the NBA. James was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 2009. This year he’ll be playing for the Toronto Raptors, his 5th team. Though he has been traded four times, James has never given up and strives to keep his dream alive. Sport is in James’…
Malietoa Vainu’upo was the first paramount chief to welcome the Christian gospel to Samoa. He accepted the message brought by John Williams and eight Rarotongan missionaries. You can read about how the gospel brought peace to Samoa in my upcoming book on Samoan heroes. Would you consider helping me to publish the book by making…
Maui is a true Pasifika Superhero! There are Maui stories throughout the Pacific and Aotearoa and Samoa has a Maui too. His other name is Ti’iti’i. As in Niue and New Zealand, he’s credited with discovering fire after catching his father holding out with cooked food. A father holding out with cooked food … hmmm…
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is one of the most famous Samoans in the world . . . but did you know there was a time that he failed in his dream to become an NFL player, slept on a mattress found in a rubbish heap and had only $7 to his name. You can read…
Talofa lava everyone, raising the numbers of Pasifika young people earning NCEA is a big focus in education at the moment. I’m trying to help by writing books that our youth can relate to and be inspired by. My next book is a collection of profiles of Samoan achievers like The Rock, Tana Umaga andAlbert…
‘What’s the name of the book we’ve been reading all term, Jonah?’ Empty stare. ‘How about I give you a clue? It starts with the letter “T”.’ Shrug. ‘How about you just give me any word that starts with the letter “T”? Can you do that, Jonah?’ Silence. ‘Do you even know what the letter…
Honoured and proud to present a workshop with these awesome Kiwi authors – Maria Gill, Cath Mayo and Raymond Huber – at Bucklands Beach Intermediate yesterday. It feels like I’m getting closer to my dream of being a fulltime writer! Doing some of the things that writers do, like hanging out with writers … . Visiting…
Exploration has always been an important aspect of the arts and recently I’ve seen some awesome theatre in Auckland that has artists mixing different styles together. It’s inspiring because I know how brave these artists are to explore new mixes and ways of telling stories. “Hoki Mai Tama Ma” – written by Tainui Tukiwaho mixes Maori theatre, kapa…
Sad to hear today that another great author has passed away. American writer Walter Dean Myers wrote more than 80 books for children and young people and is considered one of the best children’s writers of this time. If you haven’t read any of his work I really encourage you to check them out at…
I was inspired by watching Waka Huia on TV1 on Sunday. It was the first time I learned the importance of the eyes when women do the haka. Te Ataarangi taught us that the eyes represent defiance against oppression. She actually called it the “Dance of Defiance”. The spirit is saying “Is that so?” through…
Stepped out of a comfort zone on Saturday when I got to share a reading from my book We Are the Rock with families at the Auckland Art Gallery last Saturday. I’m used to working with Maori and Pasifika teenagers – that’s a comfort zone for me. Really different to work with Asian and European parents and…
Sad to hear that Maya Angelou has passed away at the age of 86. Maya had a harsh childhood of abuse, poverty and segregation. But she overcame all that and became one of the great writers of the last 70 years. She wrote poetry, novels, non fiction, plays and music. Amazingly she was working on…
Kevin Durant of the OKC Thunder won the NBA Most Valuable Player award today. That’s the team Kiwi Steven Adams plays for. Even if you don’t like basketball, this speech of appreciation for all the people in our lives, who help us become who we are, is so inspiring. Haven’t seen so many tears in…
Had an awesome time on Thursday, invited by Mangere East Library to come for an “author visit”. Always love encouraging young people and their families with their reading, letting them know reading can be fun and interesting. Much love and respect to all the librarians, teachers and family members trying their best to inspire young people. Humble, unknown…
I was interviewed on Newstalk ZB this morning. The topic was ‘boys and reading’. Leighton Smith wanted to know if boys are put off reading because there are too many females in publishing, writing and awards panels! Glad I didn’t take that bite man! I think the reason many boys are put off reading is just…
Hi everyone, here’s a newspaper article about my new book for teenagers – Off Loading with Sonny Bill Williams. http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/manukau-courier/9920884/Words-out-on-Sonny-Bill
Come and see the What Lies Beneath Exhibition at the Gala Night on Friday 28th March 6pm National Library, 8 Stanley Street, Parnell. Partake in wine and nibbles while you listen to a children’s author/illustrator panel talk about the challenges and joys of creating a book, with time for a Q & A, see sneak…
http://kidsbooksnz.blogspot.co.nz/2014/03/new-sport-biography-from-author-david.html
Off Loading with Sonny Bill Williams is the incredible story of how a determined and humble young man became a champion in three different sports . . . and one of the most sought after athletes in the world! Learn how Sonny did it and how you can achieve your dreams through hard work too….
I read this story about NRL player Reni Maitua this morning and found it really moving. They call depression “the black dog”. If you have those “dark thoughts” about life, about whether you have value and a bright future, I really encourage you to read this story and get help. If you know someone going…
I like the words of author Seth Godin who wrote this blog post following the death of Nelson Mandela: “For those that seek to make a change in the world, whether global or local, one lesson of his life is this: You can. You can make a difference. You can stand up to insurmountable forces….
Just wanted to give a big shout to all the teachers out there doing inspirational things with their students. It’s easy to hate on teachers, there’s a lot of negative stereotypes out there: – teacher said, ‘you’ll never make it, you’re headed for jail!’ – teacher said, ‘people like you can’t learn.’ – teacher said,…
Here’s a review of Steppin’ with Benji Marshall on the Kids Books NZ blog http://kidsbooksnz.blogspot.co.nz/2013/11/a-sport-biography-for-children-about.html
