The community organisation which connects Pasifika people was formed by Alexandra woman Kusitina Colailgo last year.
Moving to a foreign country can be an isolating and lonely experience — something Mrs Colailgo knows well.
She moved to rural New Zealand in the 1980s, settling in Central Otago about two decades ago.
Mrs Colailgo drew on that experience to help others settling in the region.
During the start of Covid, Mrs Colailgo realised there was a need to support the region’s Pasifika community, so she partnered with Pacific Trust Otago to provide vouchers for people.
Two years on, there was still a need for the region’s Pasifika communities to connect, and after a funding clinic, Mrs Colailgo determined she would bring people together regardless if they were Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme workers, permanent residents who had migrated or New Zealand-born.
She spoke to a Fijian couple about her idea and they were immediately on board, Mrs Colailgo said.
"He said to me, ‘whatever you need’. I said, ‘God, that's like just a confirmation to do it’, so we start," she said.
Mrs Colailgo put a call out for people to gather for a barbecue and sports afternoon, and carloads came from throughout Central Otago, Wānaka, Queenstown and Arrowtown.
"That was how we started, and from that time, it's just been leaps and bounds."
A small event committee was formed as well as a Facebook group to connect people online.
A successful Pasifika Christmas event followed, as well as a school holiday programme, teaching children cooking, traditional dance and weaving, and a community fundraising night for Vanuatu.
The group also partnered with the Ministry of Education to hold NCEA information sessions for families.
Watching children embrace their heritage, regardless of where they came from, had been a highlight, Mrs Colailgo said.
"I'm finding that what's happening with us doing this, the children are more confident to display their culture and to own it ... it's amazing," she said.
She cited children holding up their national flags at school prizegivings as an example.
"When the children’s prizegiving happened, we saw our young people at the school in Cromwell holding their flags up. I felt like that was a proud moment."
One year on from its inception, Pasifika Central Otago was connecting with people from 11 different nations living throughout Central Otago.
The group is now looking to the future — working on becoming a registered charity, which would enable access funding, and Mrs Colailgo has dreams for a physical space for the group.
