Vanuatu
It was truly plenty at Bay of Plenty on the 30 July 2023!
Over 800 Ni-Vanuatu RSE workers, friends of Vanuatu’s and invited guests gathered on the Nga Potiki a Tamapohore grounds in Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, NZ to celebrate Vanuatu’s 43rd Independence celebrations.
Among the invited guests were Hon Jan Tinetti, Minister for Education, Minister for Women and Minister for Child Poverty Reductio (MP), Hon John Scrimgeour, Deputy Mayor, Western Bay of Plenty Council, Mary Tiumalu, Strategy and Development/Manager, Languages, Ministry of Pacific Peoples, Nafanuatele Lafitanga Mafaufau-Peters, Manager Languages Engagement and Operations, Ministry of Pacific Peoples, Esther Martin, CEO, Pacific Island Community Trust, Kaumatua from Nga Potiki a Tamapohore and His Excellency Vanuatu High Commissioner, Jimmy Nipo as the guest speaker.
The celebrations started with a march around the field lead by HE Jimmy Nipo & Madam Nanuman, invited guests and the John Frum Band. The March ended in front of the Kaumatua Nga Potiki Tamapohore Iwi Chiefs & seniors. The crowd was welcomed by a powhiri where blessings were granted for celebrations to begin.
The flag raising was stylishly performed by a young RSE with “yumi yumi” from the crowd. HE Jimmy delivered a speech in addition to reading the PM Independence message with the theme “Yu Talem, Yu Mekem, Yumi Luk” (You talk, you do, we see).
Food was extraordinary with a mixture of kiwi and Vanuatu dishes. Cultural performances and string band followed from both Vanuatu and other pacific island communities. Tank yu tumas to the Pasifika communities and Pasifika Peoples that came and showed their solidarity.
This was the first time the Vanuatu Bay of Plenty Community has organized an Independence Celebrations.
The Vanuatu High Commission wishes to ‘Congratulate the Organizing committee for such an outstanding organization. HE Jimmy Nipo challenged the Vanuatu Community to establish and Bay of Plenty Vanuatu Community Association to elevate the profile of Vanuatu in the region and NZ at large.
Unity was the theme of the Bay of Plenty celebrations. Truly there was unity because RSEs from different islands of Vanuatu and from different employers came together to celebrate.
It was truly a great day of colors, fun, cultural shows and mingling.
Future can only be positive for Ni-Vanuatu’s living in NZ.
Long Live Vanuatu!