Pasifika Now

Hele comes from the islands of Niue, Banaba and Kiribati. He is a writer, photographer and content creator currently based in South Auckland, New Zealand. His work is inspired by community, culture and nostalgia.  

Hele is particularly passionate about sustaining the visibility of Banaban (of Kiribati) identity through his creative work, social media and grassroots community work. 

Lidwina is a Samoan, London-based creative who is passionate about making art that matters to her community. Born and raised in Samoa, Lidwina believes that it takes a village to raise a child – and her village remains her greatest motivation.  

Lidwina portrays her people as she knows them: strong, loud and proudly united. Several images were taken during the celebrations that followed Stephen Crichton’s goal, which sent the Samoa national rugby league team to the World Cup Final – the first time any Pacific Island nation had achieved this. Lidwina is guided by the proverb 'O le ala o le pule, o le tautua' ('The road to leadership is service'), which reflects the values she was raised with: humility, generosity and a deep responsibility to uplift her community. 

Te Rangimoaho from Rūātoki in Aotearoa New Zealand is a multidisciplinary creative, working with film, photography, music and traditional Māori art. His practice is rooted in the indigenous education systems of kōhanga and kura kaupapa (referring to early immersion in Māori language), which established te reo Māori and tikanga, the interconnectedness of Māori language, customs and practice.

Te Rangimoaho's photography presents Aotearoa as seen through the eyes of a young Māori. He focuses on the natural environment and the visible layers of human intervention, including human-made objects or non-indigenous flora that disrupt the native scenery.  

Geoffery is a Samoan photographer based in Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa New Zealand. His practice centres on documenting Pasifika peoples, with a particular focus on his community in South Auckland.

Geoffery is inspired by the stories that surround him – his heritage and community. He creates portraits of people he meets, alongside images of the places that shape him: the landscapes of his birthplace, Samoa, and the everyday scenes of the place he now calls home, South Auckland.   

Navarone spent most of his childhood in Samoa and moved to South Auckland in Aotearoa New Zealand as a teenager. There he was exposed to cultures and lifestyles which were very different from what he’d known in Samoa. As a photographer, Navarone captures what his Samoan culture looks like as it thrives in South Auckland. His influences are worldwide, from Estevan Oriole to Simon Wheatley. His photographs showcase South Auckland’s vibrant community and the beauty of Samoan culture.