Tagata Pasifika is an English language New Zealand programme which screens on TVNZ's TV ONE and on Māori Television, first broadcast in 1987.[1] This programme is made to specifically meet the niche market of New Zealand's Pacific Islander (Pasifika) population.

Tagata Pasifika
Presented byJohn Pulu
Marama T-Pole
Country of originNew Zealand
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerTaualeo'o Stephen Stehlin
ProducersNgaire Fuata
John Utanga
Running time30 minutes
Original release
NetworkTV One
Release1987 (1987) –
present

Content

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Tagata Pasifika features current events from both New Zealand and Polynesia. The show features report coverage of Pacific Island cultural events such as the annual Pasifika festival along with arts and profiles.

Naming

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Tagata Pasifika was first coined in the mid 1980s as a reference to people with genealogical connections to islands within Melanesia, Polynesia, Micronesia, French Polynesia and all others scattered throughout the Pacific Ocean but had chosen to live in Aotearoa New Zealand and identified Aotearoa New Zealand as their home base.[citation needed] There has been some dispute[by whom?] over the correct spelling of 'Pasifika', sometimes spelt Pasefika, Pacifica, Pacifika. Tagata Pasifika is generally accepted as correct and publicly reinforced by the Television New Zealand programme now also known by the same name but was previously spelt Tangata Pasifika.[citation needed]

Samoan = Pasefika Tongan = Pasifiki

Reporters

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  • John Utanga (Cook Islander)
  • Marama T-Pole (Tuvaluan)
  • John Pulu (Tongan)
  • Soana Aholelei (Tongan)
  • Karima Fai'ai (Samoan)
  • Alistar Kata (Cook Islander)
  • Johnson Raela (Cook Islander)
  • Taylor Aumua (Fijian Samoan)
  • Moana Makapelu Lee (Niuean/Cook Islander)

References

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  1. ^ "Tagata Pasifika celebrates 35 years on air – a pan-Pacific voice on TV | Asia Pacific Report", Asia Pacific Report, 3 April 2022, archived from the original on 22 March 2023, retrieved 3 February 2024
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