One thing that this recent tsunami has reminded me of, is how far Pacific communities in New Zealand have come and the collective strength of the community. We’ve had (and continue to have) fundraisers coming out our ears and the talent from the Pacific community along with the generosity of spirit and love for our homelands, has been awesome. We’ve seen:
1. Pacific Artists – organising trademe fundraising auctions as well as a major Artists for Tsunami relief auction to be held next week.
2. Pacific Actors – putting on special fundraising screenings of Siones Wedding, to raise money for Samoa
3. Pacific Musicians – holding fundraising concerts for the cause
4. Pacific Poets/ Writers – holding a fundraiser called ‘Poets for Tsunami Relief: Love, Loss and the Sea’
5. Pacific Academics providing support i.e. Dr Monique Faleafa’s Information Sheet entitled, Coping after a Tsunami – specifically put together and distributed to support our people during this time.
6. Pacific sports starts getting behind the cause by working alongside Pacific Community and Church Leaders to organise the memorial held on Sunday.
To add to all of the above there are also all of the Pacific people who have very little but still manage to find some thing or some way in which to contribute…AND - on top of that there are the non-Pacific New Zealanders, who have so generously supported in some way or another.
The response to the tsunami has been heartening.
Good on them.