Afi Pasefika
Afi Pasefika End Of Year Fono 2023
About Afi Pasefika
Afi Pasefika offers a space for Pasefika personnel to come together, learn, share and grow. The group is open to anyone who has an interest in our Pacific neighbours. Afi Pasefika works closely with the Pasefika communities to deliver fire safety messages in the various Pacific Islands languages, and to foster recruitment and career advancement of Pasefika Peoples.
Afi Pasefika has a two-fold vision:
- to support, connect, and advocate for Pacific Island (PI) peoples within Fire and Emergency NZ
- to engage with, connect, and support Pacific Island families, networks, groups and communities to deliver fire safety messages, and work together to reduce the incidence and consequences of fire within Pacific Island communities
- to promote firefighting amongst our communities, as a rewarding career opportunity for Pasefika people.
Background
Afi Pasefika was formed in 1996 and Te Hiku Afi Pasefika Group held their first annual Fono in 2003 with only 12 members. Today, we have 72 members and are leading the way nationally in supporting our FENZ PI employees & PI communities. It is our passion to establish a National Afi Pasefika open to all FENZ personnel.
About the logo
 |
The first Afi Pasefika logo was designed in 2003. It came about after our very first Fono and was a creation of Tofi. Tofi has since left FENZ to study and pursue his dream as an artist.
In 2018, we refreshed the logo with a new design, attempting to honour and stay true to the original concept. We kept the same theme of the Tanoa and the Fire Knife as they symbolise who we are as Pasefika people. We give special thanks to Kelly Reid who kin |
What we do
We have members who are fluent in Samoan, Tongan and many that can read and write in their respective language. We know the importance and value of having the capability to deliver our strategic priorities like fire safety messages to our Pacific Island communities in their own language. It has the ability to immediately breaks down cultural barriers and encourages connection and engagement in a meaningful way. It also provides a vital tool to assist with the delivery of other FENZ programs such as FAIP, allowing us to better communicate not only with the adults but with the children in the program as well. Our membership is also able to work alongside and assist internal FENZ media teams with the correct translation for publications and advertisements in various Pacific Island languages. We work closely with fire investigation teams as the need arises breaking the language and social barriers making it more accessible to determine the cause and the fire origin. We recognise and value the connection and support Pacific Island people can provide to each other. There are shared experiences, languages and culture which can be provide insight and support. Afi Pasefika attends between 10-20 unpaid extra-curricular, fire safety community activities for Pacific Communities each year. These include but aren't limited to; Afi Pasefika in Te Hiku, Te Upoko and Te Ihu attend the above events and other Pacific community events in their areas. We are proud of the work being done across Aotearoa and is working keeping Pacific community fire deaths to it’s lowest since the beginning of Afi Pasefika. We acknowledge that emergency incidents occur however we are proud of the fact that the trend for Pacific communities has been moving in the right direction. One of the main reasons for this trend can be attributed to Afi Pasefika’s work. Afi Pasefika aims to carry out two talkback radio spots per year with programmes in Samoan, Fijian and Tongan languages, engaging with local PI communities regarding FENZ work, recruitment, fire safety messages, etc. We work with Health Pasefika and ACC help deliver their programs to the Pacific communities that we serve. We are regular guests on Radio Samoa, Radio 531 PI, and Leitio Tonga. Sulu Devoe and our Auckland members are regular guests on TVNZ’s Tagata Pasefika TV Program. Our long time members, Esitone Pauga and Mauola Vaeono oversees all programs and liaises with both the radio stations and our members.
| Recent events | ||
|
Waitangi Day |
Waitangi grounds, Northland 6 February 2024 |
 |
|
End of year Fono |
Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland 15 December 2023 |
 |
|
Afi Pasefika at UFBA Conference
|
Pōneke, Wellington 3 - 5 November 2023 |
 |
|
National Leaders Fono
|
Pōneke, Wellington 12 June 2023 |
 |
Who can join Afi Pasefika?
Everyone! Our group currently consists of career firefighters and northern communication staff members who have identified themselves as, or have an affinity with, a Pacific Island community. While Afi Pasefika membership is not restricted to those that identify as PI, or that are located in the region of Te Hiku, in the past our membership has mostly comprised career firefighters within this region. Afi Pasefika is a National Group with teams in Te Hiku, Te Upoko and Te Ihu with plans to expand to other regions in 2024.
Who to contact
If you're keen to join or have questions about Afi Pasefika, you can email us via afipasefika@fireandemergency.nz
Last modified: