In February, the Trust is planning to host two events focused on uplifting the Niuean community while honouring their sacred traditions and values.

Zora Feilo-Makapa, the Funds and Programme Coordinator for TANT, shared that the Trust’s two key initiatives for 2025 are a Youth Umu Camp and a Mums and Babies Healing event.

The Youth Umu Camp will take place in Muriwai, where young people will learn the traditional process of preparing an umu.

"We hope our youth will actively participate in the Umu workshop," said Feilo-Makapa.

"They’ll be placed in groups and taught the traditional knowledge passed down through generations of how our ancestors cooked on the motherland for centuries. From prepping the umu pit, rocks, wood, and food, they’ll learn the important roles required for a successful umu and will be taught to respect the process. There’s immense value in the knowledge they will gain."

During downtime while the umu cooks, the youth will engage in traditional Niuean games, language activities, and singing. Elders will lead the camp, passing their knowledge to the younger generation.

"The respect we have for our elders is very precious to our team," Feilo-Makapa added. 

"We care for them so that we can learn from them, and we are excited to have them facilitate this camp. The youth will acquire invaluable skills, learning how to make a successful umu while embracing our cultural heritage."

As for the Mums and Babies Healing event, Feilo-Makapa expressed enthusiasm for creating a space where mothers can learn traditional healing methods to incorporate into their parenting.

"We’re excited to host this event next year in Onehunga. Mothers are the heart of the family and hold a sacred place within it. We’ll provide a space for mums to be with their babies, learning Niuean and Pacific healing practices, baby massage, and the importance of the mother-child connection."

"This workshop is unique, and to our knowledge, hasn’t been done in a community setting before. It honours the sacred bond between mother and child, which is deeply respected in our culture."

At the end of the workshop, each mother will leave with a Niue Ie Pili Baby Hiapo Blanket and Niuean coconut oil in a small care pack.

Pasifika Futures is excited to support TANT’s events, and looks forward to seeing the development of these initiatives in 2025.