 Papali'i Dr. Pita Taouma with SBN Inc member, Pafelio Momoisea(L) & Maria Fastnedge of Pacific Business Trust. The Samoa Business Network (SBN Inc) held the last of its very successful Networking Evenings for 2013 at the BNZ in Penrose. Hosted by ShopSamoa.com, the bank came to life as a dazzling display of ShopSamoa.com’s finest products were displayed around the premises. Founded in 2011 and based in Penrose, ShopSamoa.Com is a part of SAMOANZ Ltd Company, and is Samoa's premier online store, offering a wide range of products from DVDs, Handicrafts to Books & more. In keeping with the purpose of the promotion of all things Samoan, the Networking evening’s guest speaker and the way in which the programme panned out were equally enchanting. The guest speaker for the evening, Papali'i Dr. Pita Taouma is no stranger to the Samoan community, and has devoted much of his life to serving the Samoan community here in New Zealand and in Samoa through a variety of portfolios. The evening began with an opening prayer from Pafelio Momoisea, a licensed consultant for Harcourts and member of the Samoa Business Network, followed by fellow SBN Member, Samoa’s Trade Commissioner Fonoti Dr Lafita'i Iupati Fuata'i who set the context for the evening, by providing a very insightful introduction to Papali’i and the significant contribution he has made to our Samoan people. Papali’i’s address entitled the ‘Marriage of Business and the Fa’aSamoa’, was an insightful piece, richly informed with a wealth of experience and knowledge of all things political and business-wise; ideas, values and understandings developed over a very long and successful career in service of one’s country. Papali’i began his address by asking what appeared to be a much younger crowd, what the relationship was between business and the Fa’aSamoa, and confirmed what many assumed when he stated that the relationship, has often in the past been quite disastrous. Papali’i then offered a recipe, with three key aspects to avoid, in order to ensure that the marriage of business and the Fa’aSamoa is successful. Called the three FIA’s, Papalii warned participants to stay away from being "fia tagata, fia tele, and fia sili". He then supplemented this advice, by advising listeners to first of all be aware of their faiā; being aware of the interrelationships – your place in amongst others with your aiga, your immediate and extended family, your family relations and associations, your village and your country. And although Papali’i acknowledged alofa as a core concept of the Fa’aSamoa he also warned that in the world of business, that this needed to be regulated for the benefit of the business, and that this could be achieved easily by remembering these steps. [A video of Papali'i Dr. Pita Taouma's presentation will be made available soon on our website. Please subscribe to our newsletter by sending your details to [email protected]]
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Day Two of the SAME Buy Samoa Made Trade Show was a flutter as it opened to the public on the second day. The day began with the Official opening and Proceedings, starting off with the traditional ava ceremony featuring many of Samoa and New Zealand’s political dignitaries. Of particular note was Samoa’s Deputy Prime Minister the Honourable Fonotoe Nuafesili P. Lauofo, and His Workship Tauaaletoa Len Brown, the Mayor of the Auckland Super City. Both dignitaries gave a speech about the significance of the Buy Samoa Made Trade Show, and further stressed the need for increased engagement and working relationships between the two capitals, particularly so in the area of business, investment and trade. The official proceedings were then followed by a beautiful morning tea, featuring the delicious Samoan delicacies offered by Pinati’s, and again, a high end fashion show by Samoa’s very own MENA and Samoa Elei Association. The Trade Show was then open to the public, to come and view the best of Samoa’s export products. From 10:00am - 5:00pm the Mangere Arts Centre, had again transformed into what appeared to be a mini Apia, as hundreds of people filed through to sample and purchase a variety of Samoa’s best products. The SAME Buy Samoa made Trade Show runs for one more day on Saturday 16th November from 8:00am – 1:00pm. This is an event not to be missed.  Samoa Business Network Chairwoman, Laura Keil-Hall pictured with Samoa Trade Commissioner, Fonoti Dr. Lafitai Fuatai The Mangere Arts centre exploded with an array of colours, personalities and plenty of Samoa’s finest floral patterns as it hosted day one of the Samoa Association of Manufacturers and Exporters (SAME) Buy Samoa Made Trade Show. With over 200 invited participants, including many dignitaries, the evening was a great success, and a fine portrayal of some of the best Samoa has to offer to the international market. Designed to highlight and promote the best of Samoa’s export sassy products, it made absolute sense to host the Trade Show in the Heart of Mangere, as the centre of the Samoan/Pasifika Community here in New Zealand. The Cocktail evening opened with speeches from the organising committee, followed by entertainment; a fashion show by world-renowned Samoan fashion designer Mena as well as a fire knife performance from the Siva Afi crew. The Cocktail evening was also an opportunity for participants to preview various products, offered by a variety of Samoan Businesses, from water tanks, to high street fashion, to beer, soft-drinks and jandals. Organised by the SAME Committee in association with the Trade Commissioner Fonoti Dr Lafita’i Fuata’i, the Buy Samoa Made Tradeshow is now in its second year. The SAME Buy Samoa Made Trade Show will run from Friday 15th 10.00am – 5.00pm – Saturday 16th November 8.00am – 1.00pm at the Mangere Arts Centre, Mangere.     Papali'i Dr. Pita Taouma Papali'i Dr. Pita Taouma is the head of the Malietoa Pouesi family in Aotearoa/Niu Sila. He is most well-known as a dentist who served our community for many years, first in Samoa as the head of dentistry at the hospital in Matautu, Apia and then for many years as a dentist here in Aukilani.
Papali'i was first sent to Niu Sila to take up a scholarship at Whangarei Boys High School at the age of 14. He spent these years schooling while also traveling to Aukilani during holidays to spend time with family, mostly in and around the Ponsonby area. Papali'i then went to Otago University to study dentistry – a profession which ran in the family as his father Tofa Fesula'i Taouma Leteletaneolevao was also one of a group of seven dentists originally trained in the craft in Samoa. During his time at Otago, Papali'i met his wife to be, Janice, got married and had two children. He also was the captain of the Otago University Rugby League side and played in the NZ University side. Papali'i also did well in cricket and other sports. At this time Papali'i started and headed the Samoan Students Association, started the Samoana Rugby League team and played in a well-known band around town. After ten years in Dunedin, Papali'i, his wife and two children moved to Samoa where he took up position as the head of dentistry at the hospital. During his ten years in Samoa Papali'i and Janice had a further three children and he was involved in many civic duties. At this time Papali'i created the International Samoan Dance Theatre Troupe, which was famous for their tours through the United States West Coast in which they raised the largest amounts of money of any travelling group before and since. During this time in Samoa, Papali'i also worked on several committees and directed Samoa's first ever musical production – a rendering of Jesus Christ Super Star. After ten years in Samoa and being involved in many activities including being involved in the Samoan Rugby and Cricket Unions, Papali'i decided to once again move back to Niu Sila – this time in Aukilani. He and the family moved to Aukilani in 1979, where he set-up practice on Ponsonby Road. This was to be the centre of many activities both Samoan and general Pacific. As well as serving the community as a dentist, Papali'i became a deacon and later secretary of the PIPC (Pacific Islands Presbyterian Church) in Newton. He also soon became a prominent community figure, as an organiser, commentator and entrepreneur. Papali'i with his wife Jan were part of the group to setup the first Samoan pre-school, the Aoga Fa'aSamoa in 1984. He was also part of the group that established the Pasifika Festival in 1992. Papali'i was involved in many steering groups and committees, one of which also established the Fale Pasifika building at Auckland University. In 2010 Papali'i retired from dentistry after complications during a surgical procedure left him wheelchair bound. He now lives in Blockhouse Bay, Aukilani. Networking Evening details: WHERE: BNZ Penrose, 710 Great South Rd, Penrose WHEN: Tuesday 26th Nov, 2013 TIME: 6.00pm - 8.00pm ENTRY: FREE - ALL WELCOME!  The Samoa Business Network Incorporated will be attending the SAME: Buy Samoa Made Trade Show 14th – 16th November.
Hosted by the Samoa Association of Manufacturers and Exporters (SAME) at the Mangere Arts Centre, the “Buy Samoa Made” Trade show will focus on the promotion of Samoa’s Latest Export- Sassy Goods & Services, with the aim of increasing the export of Samoa made goods and services to NZ and to increase investment to enhance Samoa Export Capacity. As a body dedicated to representing, advancing and advocating for the interests of Samoa Owned Businesses here in Auckland, participation in this expo is a welcome opportunity to expand our area of focus, and to work more strategically with SAME members. Keil-Hall, the Networks Chairwoman says “we are incredibly excited and very honoured to be taking part of an expo that will feature some of Samoa’s most prominent businesses and export products. With over 28 stalls featuring major Samoan Businesses from Samoa, we are very humbled to be the only entity based in NZ to be taking part, and see this as an incredible opportunity for ourselves, to be able to network and build greater relationships for our network, but also to support the work of the Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa and SAME.” Keil-Hall encourages all network members and members of the Samoan/Pacific Auckland community to come and attend and to support SAME. |
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