About us | Council and boards | Pacific Arts Committee
Role
The Pacific Arts Committee aims to encourage, promote and support the arts of Pacific Islands peoples of New Zealand. It does this by allocating project grants and developing initiatives supporting Pacific Islands artists and organisations.
Members
There are eight members on the Pacific Arts Committee, seven members representing the main Island groups and the Chairperson, who is a member of the Arts Board. Members are appointed by the Art Board for a term of up to three years, following a call for nominations. Anyone can nominate a person to be considered for appointment to the Pacific Arts Committee.
Pele Walker, Chair (Samoa), is a mediator and until 2006 was Executive Officer for LEADR NZ, an organisation set up to promote and develop mediation skills. She also has governance, business and strategic planning skills. She has a wide knowledge of professional and community arts, with a particular interest in dance and theatre. She is the founding chair of the Wellington branch of PASIFIKA Inc. and is active in developing strategies supporting Pacific women.
Tokelau representative - currently vacant.
Rev. Suamalie Naisali Tafaki Iosefa (Tuvalu) is the president of the Auckland Tuvaluan Society and a member of the Tuvalu Taumatua Cultural Trust. He is fluent in four Pacific languages. He won best song for the 10th Independence of Tuvalu in 1998 and best road safety song at the 2003 Waitakere Festival. An active member of the Tuvalu community, he has a deep knowledge of Tuvaluan music and culture.
Frances Hartnell (Cook Islands) has a vast knowledge of the public and private sectors. Frances was previously Chief Executive of the Pacific Business Trust and Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design before taking up her current role as Auckland Governance Relationship Manager Department of Internal Affairs.
Albert Refiti (Samoa) is an architectural designer. He has more than ten years' tertiary teaching experience and is Programme Leader for Spatial Design at the School of Art and Design at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT). He has extensive international experience, which includes designing exhibitions and art museums. He has written at length on Pacific art and architecture, offering a critical perspective on traditional and contemporary Pacific art.
Ema Tavola (Fiji) is a visual artist, who has been exhibiting in Auckland and Fiji since 2000. The Pacific arts co-ordinator for Manukau City Council, she runs Fresh Gallery Otara and curates many of its shows. She came to New Zealand from Suva in 2001 and has a bachelor in visual arts degree from The University of Auckland. She is particularly interested in working with young and emerging Pacific artists.
Taniela Vao (Tonga) is president of the Hutt Valley Tongan Community Incorporated, a board member of the Hutt Valley Pacific Health Service and a member of the community reference group for the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs. He was on the organising committee of Siu ki Moana, an exhibition of Tongan migration held in the National Library in 2005 and then in Tonga in 2006. He has a wealth of knowledge of Tongan heritage arts, including the language.
Matafetu Smith (Niuean) is an Auckland-based weaver. In 1984 she formed Tufuga Mataponiu, an organisation that organises and promotes weaving amongst Niuean women. Matafetu was also the co-ordinator for the Niue Village at the Pasifika Festival at Western Springs from the time the village concept was initiated until 2003.
