Girl Bosses Who Brunch – Meet Ngaire Fuata

by truthsshewrote

Girl bosses who brunch is a series which seeks to celebrate the achievements of incredible Pacific women. All of my chats with the various girl bosses take place in a café and we discuss anything and everything ranging from their journey to success to how many people they pashed on the weekend (jokes, kind of). It is my hope that in sharing stories about successful women, this will inspire others to do better and be better.

Interviewing someone who has not only worked with but also mentored, some of the best journalists in the country, was incredibly exciting. But also, DAUNTING.

Nevertheless, gracious, beautiful and talented Ngaire, did not appear to be too phased by my blatant dumbass-ery. Clasping onto her glass of wine, calmly smiling through my erratic line of questioning, this girl boss was kind enough to brunch with me and lend her time, to tell her story.

Ngaire Fuata at Odettes Eatery (wine and poached eggs not included).

Ngaire Fuata is half-Rotuman, half-Dutch. She was born in London, raised in Whakatane and is now residing in Auckland. This extraordinary woman is a multitalented powerhouse in the New Zealand media industry. Typical of someone with many talents, Ngaire has dabbled in a variety of different areas – from being a qualified fitness instructor at Les Mills for several years, studying food technology at Massey University, presenting prime time television shows in New Zealand, producing TV shows for TVNZ, having a number one hit single on the New Zealand music charts and most recently, becoming a director of the company SunPix, which produces the popular TV show, Tagata Pasifika. Ngaire admits however, that as a young girl she did not expect to build a career in the media industry.

As a high school student at St Josephs in Whakatane, she was a high academic achiever. Although she excelled and was a top student in high school, she did not decide to pursue further education at a tertiary level. Ngaire’s big break into the media industry began while she was working for Ford Motors Credit Company. “My school friend’s mother was a director in the Maori department and they needed a secretary to the head of Maori programmes at TVNZ. I was working for Ford Motors Credit Company at the time and she rang me up and asked me, ‘Can you type?’ I said ‘yeah I can type!’ She asked, ‘Have you done secretarial work?’ and I said, ‘no but I’m sure I can give it a try’. So that’s where I started”. Ngaire left her job almost immediately and began working in the Maori and Pacific Programmes Department at TVNZ.

Ngaire’s career in the industry began in the Maori and Pacific Programmes Department at TVNZ in the late 1980s. She worked on productions such as the 1988 Telethon and the 1990 Commonwealth Games. She also presented shows such as Town and Country and NZ Living. While working at TVNZ, Ngaire also began her music career and was hugely successful. She released her debut album in 1991 and is best known for her 1990s hit cover of ‘To Sir with Love’, which was number 1 for six weeks on the national charts.

Interestingly, although Ngaire had immersed herself in several different interests, she was still not entirely sure about her future in the industry. This all changed however, when she began working on Tagata Pasifika. “I was still swimming around, doing all sorts. It wasn’t until I started working on Tagata Pasifika that I thought, ‘YES. This is what I want to do'”. Ngaire began working on Tagata Pasifika around 1994. She presented the show and then later, was shoulder tapped to work as a Production Manager.

Tagata Pasifika, a programme dedicated to producing Pacific stories for audiences around the world, first appeared on television screens in New Zealand in the late 1980s. It has been a successful and popular show, particularly within New Zealand because of it’s strong focus on raising awareness and discussing issues which affect Pacific Island communities. There is currently no other show in New Zealand which offers this. Thus when TVNZ announced that they were going to axe the show from it’s network in 2014, this decision was met with much disappointment from viewers. The disappointment mostly stemmed from the uncertainty of not knowing whether the show would continue and also the fact that this decision was a strong implication of the growing lack of diversification in the future of New Zealand television.

: Photo courtesy of sunpix.co.nz

Thankfully, Tagata Pasifika, despite TVNZ’s decision, lives on. Gratitude is owed to three Pasifika media legends – Taualeo’o Stephen Stehlin (MNZM), John Utanga and of course, our girl boss, Ngaire Fuata. Instead of allowing Tagata Pasifika to be contracted out to an independent production company, Stephen, John and Ngaire set up their own company and named it ‘SunPix’. SunPix is New Zealand’s leading Pacific Production and Product Management company, which now produces, Tagata Pasifika. Establishing SunPix is another example which demonstrates the importance of not allowing ourselves to fall victim to the waiting game. Ngaire and her team set SunPix up within a matter of days. No waiting, no umm-ing and ahh-ing. Their dedication to continuing a show for Pacific people, produced by Pacific people on mainstream New Zealand television, is definitely something that we as a Pacific community can admire and be thankful for.

Whilst working on Tagata Pasifika, Ngaire was also dabbling in other film projects, including being the Production Manager for the documentary, ‘Salat se Rotuma – Passage to Rotuma’. ‘Salat se Rotuma’ documents Ngaire’s journey to her father’s native land, Rotuma. It is a beautiful narrative which explores the ideas of cultural identity, belonging and ultimately, a daughter’s promise to her beloved father to visit the land he called home.

Ngaire’s mother, Marion Fuata, is featured in ‘Salat se Rotuma’. Marion is one of Ngaire’s inspirations. “She really inspires me. She’s just a tough little Dutch woman. She always says, ‘oh I’m not well educated’ but she is very smart and she has taught me a lot. She cared for my father right up until he passed away”. Ngaire is planning a trip with her sisters back to Rotuma this year to spread her father’s ashes.

While I was speaking with Ngaire, I couldn’t help but think about how her career began. It started from one phone call, which evidently, led to a series of opportunities that have been pivotal to establishing Ngaire’s career. Ngaire’s brave leap of faith into the media industry is an inspiring example for some of us who have found ourselves in the purgatory state of waiting for things to happen, career-wise (or even in life more generally). Oh I’ll just wait because something better might come up. Or, thanks I would love to but I don’t know if I’m ready for change. Or, that is something that I’m interested in but I don’t think that I’ll be able to do that job because I don’t have enough experience. If the only reason why we wait is because we are afraid, anxious and unsure of our ability to do a job, do not wait. Be brave. Be confident. And say yes. Take that leap of faith. Even though we may not be sure of where we might land, the only direction we can go, is forward. We are stoked that Ngaire declined to wait and said yes, because of her substantial contribution to establishing a strong female, Pacific presence in New Zealand’s Film and Television industry.

From London, to Whakatane, to Auckland, Ngaire Fuata has led a most successful and inspiring career in the film and television industry in New Zealand. Although Ngaire did not attend a tertiary institution to study Film, Television or Media, her pure talent and drive towards her passion of storytelling has earned her an impressive 27 incredible years of experience in the industry. So after downing a glass of wine (hers) and a martini (mine) the successful film and television producer wanted to leave some words of advice for young Pacific people aspiring to become journalists. “Read a lot, learn a lot and be prepared to do some hard work. I think one of the most important things to remember in this industry is have integrity. Have integrity in everything that you do.”

Thank you Ngaire for brunching with me, it was an absolute honour to have met you! For all our Girl Boss series readers out there, don’t wait. Take a leaf out of Ngaire’s book and remember to take every opportunity that comes your way. Be brave.

TSW xx

7Dec2015

Girl Bosses Who Brunch – Meet Ema Piutau

by truthsshewrote

Piutau. It’s a familiar name that has graced our TV screens several times. Ema Piutau is the sister of rugby legends Charles and Siale. Although Ema will most probably deny her natural athleticism (she goes hard at Crossfit), her path to success was different to her brothers. This young lady holds a Law degree from the University of Auckland and is currently working as a lawyer for the Public Defence Service in Manukau.

Ema, a New Zealand born Tongan, was raised in Mangere. She attended Mangere College and while she was in High School, she admits to being a rebellious teen with no intention of pursuing further education. Unsure of her immediate future after high school, Ema decided to attend Best Pacific Training. At Best Pacific Training, she studied Business Administration and later landed a job with Auckland Probation Service in an administration role. She worked for Probations for 10 years and during this time she decided to study social work. “Even though I wasn’t sure about where I was heading, I knew that I enjoyed working with people and wanted to work in a job which gave me an opportunity to help others – that’s really important to me”.

For anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting Ema, one of her many admirable features is her genuine kindness towards everyone. Mid-way through Ema’s studies towards becoming a social worker, Ema admitted that there was still something missing. “There was just a real sense of emptiness that was quite overwhelming for me, I could not explain it but I felt like there was something missing. No matter what I did, the feeling would not go away. Even though I thought I wanted to become a social worker, something was telling me that this was not the right path for me”.

Ema, searching for answers, found what she was looking for at Breakthrough Church. She credits the beginning of her incredible career to this moment, “Once I started to build a relationship with God, I just had a feeling that God was calling me to study Law. So I went back to Auckland Uni to try and get into Law school, and I did!” The University of Auckland’s Law School is ranked the best Law School in New Zealand and Ema had to compete with thousands of pre-law hopefuls to gain one of the three hundred spots that the University of Auckland’s Law school offered.

Ema attended the University of Auckland as a mature student and admits that, “it was difficult to settle in at University because I had finished high school more than 10 years ago. Things like writing essays were things that I hadn’t done in years”. Regardless, Ema excelled at Law School and while she was a student, was selected by the University to present a research paper in Vanuatu on Tonga’s Constitutional Law Reform.

“As a Pacific Islander at Law School, there are very little opportunities to study issues that are important to our people. So when there was a call for research papers from the University of Auckland’s Law faculty, I knew that I wanted to research and write about something that I was not only genuinely passionate about, but would also help educate others about my home country”. Ema was also selected as one of the top mooters in the Pacific Law issues moot, hosted by the University of Auckland. Ema will be the first to admit that she was not a particularly academic driven student in her younger years, she proves however, that with hard work, dedication and pure passion, success is attainable.

Ema’s learning has extended past the University classrooms. As an active member of the Breakthrough Christian Church, she volunteers her time throughout the community on a regular basis, working with the homeless, female street workers and at risk youth in Auckland. Her busy work schedule does not stop her from wanting to help others in the community. Although Ema is preparing for a jury trial, set to start early next year, she is also working on a potential project in the future which involves creating programmes for people in prison.

As Ema has worked in Probations and is currently working as a defence lawyer in Manukau, she has seen the stress and pain that is involved with not only the defendant when they’re imprisoned but also their families, and more tragically, their children. “There is definitely a strong correlation between dysfunctional families and crime. This is why I want to create programmes for people in prison. I believe that everyone has the ability to make better choices, regardless of their past. If we help to repair and re-build families, one at a time, we can build a community of achievers and game changers. ”

A game changer in her own right, it’s no secret that Ema, as a young, Pacific, female lawyer, is a minority in the legal profession. Ema therefore values the importance of having a real, physical presence as a lawyer in both the legal world and the community. “I think that it’s important for others in the legal profession to see the significance of having Pacific lawyers within the profession. On the other hand, it’s equally as significant, for Pacific people who come through the legal system to see lawyers who understand their cultural background, not because they’ve read it in a book but because they’ve actually lived it”.

Ema is particularly passionate about helping young Pacific women. “There are many great reasons why young Pacific girls need to have real role models to inspire them. It allows these young, hopeful women to see the achievements and opportunities of other Pacific women and we don’t usually get to see that, you know? We need to encourage girls to make good decisions for their future. I hope, that if someone is able to see a Tongan girl from Mangere, working in a profession that I’m passionate about, it will inspire them to work towards achieving whatever they hope to achieve”.

Ema, in her younger years, was not focused on her future and unlike other students, did not pursue tertiary education immediately after high school. She does however, have a few words for all young people who read her story. “You should explore the things that you are passionate about and don’t be afraid to find out where these things will lead you because you can achieve anything you set your mind on. If you’re not sure about what you are passionate about, that’s ok. It took me years to find the path that God was truly leading me to. Just be brave and keep searching, you’ll get there”.

Thank you Ema for lending your time, wisdom and awesomeness to Truths She Wrote. We wish you all the best for your upcoming jury trial and are looking forward to seeing more of the great things that you will continue to do for our Pacific community!

TSW xx

18Oct2015

Girl Bosses Who Brunch – Meet Moeata Keil-Moore

by truthsshewrote

This is how I found myself in St Heliers Café and Bistro. Sitting across from me was the amazing Moeata Keil-Moore. Our Girl Bosses Who Brunch Series had officially begun.

So who is Moeata Keil-Moore? Or so eloquently put by a friend of mine that saw her for the first time, ‘Farrrr. Who’s that hot South American chick?’ Hot, yes. South American, no.

She is a young Samoan woman in her twenties, a mother of two children, a wife, multiple scholarship winner, a University of Auckland graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree, a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Sociology (with First Class Honours) and recently, a Masters degree with First Class Honours. If that wasn’t enough, she has also recently been appointed as a lecturer in the University of Auckland’s Sociology department.

Moeata was raised in Samoa and moved to New Zealand when she finished High School to attend the University of Auckland. In her final year of her Bachelor of Arts degree, she fell pregnant with her first child. While most people would see that as a setback, Moeata saw it as an opportunity. An opportunity to grow, learn and ultimately, thrive.

Stories about how young Pacific women fall pregnant and are subsequently unable to pursue their desired careers are tales, which are unfortunately all too familiar. Moeata, determined not to be another statistic, has always believed that it is never impossible to chase your dreams. ‘I thought to myself, oh shux, I don’t know how I’m going to have a newborn baby, a 5 year old and finish my Master’s thesis. I just don’t know. Then I thought, actually, that isn’t my story. My story isn’t, I had a baby and then that’s it. I don’t like that whole idea where people think, ‘ok you had kids, it’s over’ because you can do it all and do it really well, in a deserving way, not in an arrogant way’.

Moeata’s journey, along with many other successful Pacific women, highlights the significance of building a generation of women that are empowered to challenge societal expectations and norms. This is what attracted Moeata to the topics studied in Sociology. Moeata’s main interest is in social policies and it’s effects on Pacific communities, particularly women.

Discussing the processes involved in policy-making, Moeata says, ‘Before they implement policies, we need to ask ourselves, what research are these policies based on? Is it based on a politician’s view on how the world is, or is it based on actual research? And who does the research? Because who conducts the research really shapes the outcome. Depending on where the research comes from, it shapes your perceived notions of what’s actually happening’.

‘There’s a lot of research on Maori and Pacific families but I always find that it’s focus is on negative outcomes of Maori and Pacific families. It’s on high smoking rates, poverty and so on. But it’s not actually addressing why these issues exist. Why do we have unequal outcomes? How is this inequality being perpetuated? They’re treating it as an individual issue. Not a structural, cyclical issue.’

Moeata’s Master’s thesis addressed some of these concerns. She wrote her thesis on Pacific mothers’ experiences of family obligations, money and child support. ‘With all the research on child support, there’s never been a Pacific or ethnic approach to it. It’s always just based on the taken for granted assumption of ‘the family’, but it doesn’t consider how different ethnic groups have different approaches to family. It’s not thinking about family practices or how family obligations are organized very differently in Pacific families and then the consequences of imposing this breadwinner family onto Pacific families. So it’s like a one size fits all but of course, one size does not fit all’.

The University of Auckland lecturer’s resistance to applying the one size fits all theory in her academic work, is also a resistance which she lives out in her own personal life. ‘I love having different hats’, she tells me. ‘It adds a sense of value to what I do. I’m a really strong advocate for mothers who work because as odd as it sounds, I feel like I am a better mother when I am working. I feel like I don’t take my mothering role for granted. I’m a strong advocate for balance. Having something that you value, I believe, makes you a better person’.

Although she moved to a new country, became a mother at 23 and had to put her studies on hold, Moeata persevered against all odds. Moeata is currently enjoying working as a University of Auckland lecturer, lecturing a stage two Sociology paper and is looking forward to potentially beginning her journey to complete a PhD in the near future. We wish you all the best Moeata!

This story (and series) is for all the women chasing dreams, breaking barriers and re-defining what it means to be a brown woman in our world today. I’m looking forward to brunching with more Girl Bosses and sharing their stories with you all. Stay tuned and inspired.

TSW xx