More than 700 delegates from Manukau’s Pacific Island communities took part in the three-yearly elections of Pacific leaders last week.
PIAC was established by the Manukau City Council in Oct. 1991. It advises the council on Pacific issues and is a formal link between it and the city’s Pacific communities.
Manukau Mayor Len Brown was delighted at the turnout. Just 200 people had attended the previous elections.
“It was “an overwhelming response from the Pacific communities. This is one type of representation that is strong in Manukau but is not assured in a supercity model.”
He announced the soon-to-be Manukau Pasifika festival before the delegates regrouped for their community elections and he challenged them to make its inaugural presentation in 2010 “as successful as its Auckland counterpart.”
Among the eight new representatives is the youngest member ever to sit on the committee, 19-year-old law student Fale Lesa.
He joins re-elected Vui Vitale and newcomer Papalii Tele Lafulafu in the Samoan contingent.
Sitting committee chairman Tupou Manapori and Tere Sofaea were also re-elected by their Cook Islands community. The third representative is Bernard Tairea.
Tonga has three fresh representatives: Salote Lilo, Semisi Fakosikimuli and Heimasi Halasili.
All three Niue representatives, Louisa Lavakula, Siahi Sekene and Manogi Head, were re-elected. Tokelau and Fiji also have new representatives in Moetagi Fakaalofa and Elisa Vakarau.
The elected committee members will elect a new chairperson at their first meeting later this month.
PIAC coordinator Faama Viliamu said that with more than half the committee comprising new members,
“PIAC will benefit from fresh ideas and a passion for working towards the betterment of our communities.”
The elections were attended by Pacific representatives from Auckland, Waitakere and North Shore.
Pacific peoples make up 27 percent of Manukau’s population. About 58 percent are 25 and younger.
