Reported by Ashleigh Putt-Fallows (she/her)
Ngāti Whātua, Ngāpuhi, Tūhoe
Calls for Greater Focus on LGBTQI+ Rights Echoed at Pacific Human Rights Conference
The 3rd Pacific Human Rights Conference (PHRC) on SOGIESC began on April 22, 2024, in Fiji, gathering nearly 200 delegates, marking the largest Pacific LGBTQIA+ assembly. Chaired by Noelene Nabulivou, founder of DIVA for Equality, it aims to address LGBTQIA+ Pacific Islanders' challenges, stressing inclusivity and justice, especially in regions where same-sex relationships are criminalised. Objectives include advocacy, mobilisation, arts, health, education, and policy justice. Discussions highlighted challenges for Pacific transgender individuals and the need for safe spaces. Louisa Hareruia Wall stressed decolonizing narratives and advocating LGBTQIA+ rights within indigenous communities.
Nine-year-old Rotorua tamaiti Urgently Seeks Māori and Pasifika Bone Marrow Donors
Te Waarakihi Hooper Felise, a spirited nine-year-old from Rotorua, urgently needs a bone marrow transplant due to aplastic anaemia. Despite nine weeks at Starship Children’s Hospital, a suitable donor hasn’t been found on the global registry. His family urges potential donors to register, especially those of Māori or Pasifika descent, as only 9,000 out of 40 million registered donors are Polynesian. Anyone aged 18-35 who meets blood donation criteria can join the registry at any blood or mobile center.From Salient to Te Waarakihi and whanau—we send Aroha, and we hope you find a donor soon so you can get back to Kura and the rest of your life. Kia Kaha.
Three Wāhine Receive Lifetime Paraihe - Ngā Tohu Reo Māori ‘24
Ngā Tohu Reo Māori, celebrated on April 26th for the first time since 2019, honours those who promote Te Reo Māori in Aotearoa. Thirteen recipients from across the country were recognized. Health advocate Rawinia Higgins, broadcasting veteran Tini Molyneux, and kōhanga reo champion Kuini Moehau Reedy received the Te Tohu Oranga Angitu Lifetime Achievement Award, the event's highest honour, marking the first time three recipients, all women, were awarded this distinction. Dame Rangimarie Naida Glavish emphasised the language's vitality, echoing sentiments shared by Tini Molyneux and Kuini Moehau Reedy.