Silent Witnesses – interview

Spent the morning at Flat Bush School with inspirational alumni Willie Maea, Samson Vaotuua, Greg Va’afusuaga, Jay Paniani and Dr Julienne Faletau as they returned to visit their old school. The Writers Group of children interviewed these tuakana for a book of inspiration that will be called Flat Bush Forever.

Here’s an Auckland Council story about my work with students at Ferguson Intermediate in Ōtara: https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/news/2024/09/empowering-minds-inspiring-young-publishers/?fbclid=IwY2xjawMPOP1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFkcWJlb3U5RlBnRmxmMHl5AR40bqrJBYeblbzDW2BtL-urahY9AR_Uu_xwXkd77MM_UxYVtcWLpvT0_j4EYg_aem_JBLEpF_PGVK4_AIgNjCwVg

Great day launching my new book about Yvette Williams in two communities: in Howick where Yvettte lived, with her family, and in Otara where Chad Robertson (illustrator) and I live and work, with our families.

To celebrate Olympics year I asked Kiwi Olympians and Paralympians to write letters to young people sharing what they learned about “success” from their experiences in Tokyo. Then I got each letter illustrated by a different Kiwi children’s book illustrator and put them together in this new work, Standing In My Own Shoes. There’s letters…

Today we had another launch for the book, Rise of the To’a, the MMT story. This launch was held for the Tongan community at Lesieli Tonga church in Mangere. It’s been an amazing blessing to be part of this work and to learn a little about Tongan culture. A big malo ‘aupito to ‘Alisi Tatafu…