19 Nov 2025
Creative New Zealand, in partnership with the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, is proud to announce the next phase of Tala: Sharing Pacific Stories — a publishing initiative that continues to uplift Pacific artists and languages through literature.
Following the successful launch of the initiative, this next phase supports eight emerging Pacific poets who have yet to be published. Their selection marks a significant milestone in the journey to amplify Pacific storytelling and ensure our languages and perspectives are preserved and celebrated.
The selected poets — Sarah Finau, Henry Taripo, Ziu Freshwater, Henrietta Makatogia, Danika Thompson, Sandra Tisam, Dr Romona Tiatia, and Jonjon Tolovae, bring diverse Pacific cultures, identities, and lived experiences in their works. The poems explore language revitalisation, cultural pride, gender identity, and ancestral knowledge.
They reflected on the significance of sharing their work publicly, emphasising the importance of doing so in ways that honour their languages and heritage. Many spoke of the joy in writing in their mother tongue, and how this space allows them to explore stories, memories, and identities that feel authentic to who they are.
Sandra Tisam, born in Papua New Guinea and of Cook Islands descent, sees this as a chance to share her language with a wider audience.
“It’s a privilege to be able to share our Pacific Stories with Pacific Communities... I’m grateful for the opportunity and excited about learning about the publishing industry from the seeds of an idea all the way through to a published book,” she says.
Jonjon Tolovae, a Samoan Queer performer, describes the opportunity as a way to amplify and celebrate the revitalisation of Pacific languages through literature, while also honouring the voices of those who speak them. In Jonjon’s case, this includes the perspectives of the Fa’afafine (and adjacently Fa’atama) and Gagana Samoa. Jonjon calls it a “very kaisi” (good/great) opportunity for their community. Similarly, Danika Thompson, of Cook Islands, Tahitian, and Irish descent, believes that Pacific voices carry weight and deserve to be heard.
The initiative is part of a broader strategy to support Pacific artists in Aotearoa, ensuring their stories are published and made accessible for future audiences. It reflects our shared commitment to equity, cultural sustainability, and recognising Pacific heritage that includes our whole village.
The publication will be released in early 2026, with launch events planned across the motu to celebrate the artists and their communities.
For those looking for more opportunities to write, create, or platform their own language initiatives, the Ministry for Pacific Peoples’ Pacific Languages Community Fund is now open. Applications close at 12pm on Friday 28 November 2025, with funded projects running from January to October 2026.
Stay tuned for more updates as we prepare to bring these powerful voices to the page.
Share this
