Sonny Natanielu - Cultural Consultant, Auckland, New Zealand (2026)

12/03/2026

The TEAM ... Bullock (Kuaka Kōhatu), Ruta Tonumaivao (Tapasā - Navigating the Future), Uani Rhodes Talagi, Nielson (Evalu-Native), Cottingham, Alva Talopau (Pasifika in the Bay) and Sonny Natanielu.

03/03/2026

Taking our Indigenous Science of Movement programme to Tauranga, to collaborate with Pasifika in the Bay.

23/02/2026

There’s a saying: you can only model after what you see.

… so we took a group of about 30 students from Hillary College to Stanmore Bay reef, and Goat Island Marine Reserve … why study marine science in a classroom, when you can see one, handle one, and even eat one as 'real-life science'.

… for the last couple of years, I’ve been working with University of Auckland’s School of Environmental Science and Hillary College to try and create a pipeline, or a pathway, for Hillary College (and other high schools) Year 9 and Year 10 students to see uni as an “of course” option … of course I’m going to uni! We started with Environmental Science because that was more real-life for the high school curriculum, and that was more real-life for the students. It was about connecting university-type work to the work being done in high schools, so that as students participated in Year 9 and 10 level Science, they were also participating in uni-type of work. Thanx to the awesome collaboration of Tui Gunn and her team from UoA, and also to the team from Goat Island Marine Discovery Centre (who are also UoA’s Institute of Marine Science) – Tim Haggitt, Nakita Daniel and Kate Mayer – and the team from Hillary College, Kirsten Taranaki, Julia Goodman and the rest of the team there … it was an awesome start! We hope to do more like this. Making SCIENCE real! Making SCIENCE fun! And to show the students what real-life scientists can look like: THEMSELVES!

… some more footage coming soon.

03/02/2026

The 2026 Samoan Languages Classes are back! Term 1 is about to start!

I took a short break in the second half of last year so that I could remake the program, improve it, and make it a better learning experience. So if you are interested in learning the Samoan language, online, here is what I'm offering:

• Conversational Samoan Language (Australia, East Coast) – 10 weeks
• Begins: Monday 9th March, 6:30pm-8:30pm (AEDT)
• Ends: Monday 11th May, 6:30pm-8:30pm (AEDT)
• Note: for Brisbane, it is 5:30pm-7:30pm (AEST)
• Online live classes
• Cost: $300AUD
Register here: https://forms.office.com/r/re7aGFdpjv

• Conversational Samoan Language (USA, West Coast) – 10 weeks
• Begins: Monday 9th March, 6:30pm-8:30pm (PST)
• Ends: Monday 11th May, 6:30pm-8:30pm (PST)
• Online live classes
• Cost: $300USD
Register here: https://forms.office.com/r/re7aGFdpjv

Please note that these classes presume that you know how to pronounce, how to read, and understand the basic phrases and words. I will teach you more basic phrases, how to introduce yourself, useful phrases around the home, and how to begin to construct sentences.

• Introduction to Samoan Oratory/Fa’aamatai (Australia, East Coast) – 10 weeks
• Begins: Tuesday 10th March, 6:30pm-8:30pm (AEDT)
• Ends: Tuesday 12th May, 6:30pm-8:30pm (AEDT)
• (Note: for Brisbane, it is 5:30pm-7:30pm, AEST)
• Online live classes
• Cost: $300AUD
Register here: https://forms.office.com/r/vgqBisSqng

Please note that these classes presume that you are conversant or fluent in the common Samoan language, and would like to learn some of the more formal oratory phrases and speeches – eg how to fa’alagi, fa’atulima, fa’afeiloa’iga, fa’amavaega, momoli o se mea alofa/fesoasoani (+ some other others) – at an introductory and foundational level.

See you online.

29/01/2026

Happy new year!

2025 has come and gone; I blinked and it was 2026. There’s so much I want to share about that happened last year, but 2025 has gone, and we’re onto a new year. So, let’s goooooo!!!

Last year, I set up Moana Wayfinders Trust. Part of Moana Wayfinders is to operate as a type of Pacific Sailing Club. The big project under Moana Wayfinders that started in November 2025 was the Tagaloa Project: Pick 10-15 Pacific people, get them trained to become qualified sailing instructors. Thanks to funding from Auckland City Council, we got that started in November last year – it’s a 10-month program, due to finish in September this year. Alongside that - which is the part that I’m up to now - is to build a small fleet of Pacific-designed, triple-hulls, that can be sailed and paddled, designed for sailing in the harbour. Once the team is qualified, we will offer sailing lessons to the community, focusing on the Pacific community. The big task is trying to get the prototype and fleet completed in time. And once the fleet is built, we will use those va’a to do the sailing lessons. Over the course of the new few weeks and months, I’ll introduce you to the team, one by one.

One of the huge milestones of the Tagaloa Project is Hobsonville Yacht Club adopting us, so their coaches are training us, and we’re using their fleet of monohulls (Quests) to learn to sail. They are an amazing team! So we’re there, every Saturday morning, on the water, Hobsonville Point - I’ll let you know once we start offering lessons to the community.

I am so proud of this group, undergoing the training. They‘re amazing people! I can’t wait to introduce you to them. They come from all walks of life; some of them are terrified of the water, but want to overcome the fear! WOW! So, of course, we’re learning to swim, and other water skills as well. I think one of the best parts about it is that in the group, there are 3 families doing the training – there are a handful of others, and they bring their families down to support and spectate. SO COOL! There are two 12-year olds, a couple of teenagers, a handful of young adults, a handful of adult adults and then a handful of oldies like me!?!? And joining us also is an 8-year old who just can’t stay away from the water, and wants to join his dad. He can’t train to be a sailing instructor, but he’s joining us in learning how to sail, and he’s also our test pilot: if we can explain sailing to him, and he gets it, then we’re on track! Watch this space.

.. and I'll also improve my camera quality, and footage!

Photos from Sonny Natanielu - Cultural Consultant's post

25/11/2025

WOW!!! What a year! I have barely put anything on here this year, it has been hectic!

.. but, I'm back, and putting more effort into being back on social media. There's heaps to catch you up on, and heaps of footage of some of the stuff I've been doing:
* I was a part of the IFOGA where my friend, Frances, had the Catholic Church/Marist Brothers make resoration (as part of the Royal Commission Enquiry into Abuse in Care)
* And part of getting ready for the IFOGA was spending time with my dad to learn more about Samoan oratory, customs and traditions
* I had a COOL talanoa with John Misky, and the building of his va'a in Porirua
* And speaking of va'a, Hokule'a and Hikianalia are here in Auckland, and I got the chance to go say hi to them both
* I had a trip to Hobart earlier this year for the Australian Wooden Boat Festival, met some really cool people, made some really cool coneections, and spent a lot of time learning and talking.
* I started a sailing program, training a small group of Pacific/Maori to become sailing instructors, in preparation for when we build a small fleet of harbour-based va'a (that can be paddled and sailed)
* some cool projects with schools, including taking some Hillary College students to Leigh Discovery Centre (by Goat Island)
* some cool workshops with community organisations including City Council and Pacific Media Network
* A trip to Niue
* ... and of course, I asked Lele to marry me!

.. heaps of cool stuff, and I'm looking forward to telling you about it. Here's a preview:

03/04/2025

Introduction to Samoan Oratory

The language of respect, the language of mana, the language of lifting the dignity of other people. The Introduction to Samoan Oratory classes start Tuesday (8th) next week, available to the East coast of Australia. There are still places available, so these are the last couple of days. Register - https://forms.office.com/r/vgqBisSqng

Conversational Samoan Language

Learning the Samoan language beyond words and vocabulary, and into structuring those words into sentences and phrases, and onto more complex sentences into conversations. Classes start Monday (7th) next week, and available to the East coast of Australia, and West Coast of USA. There are still places available, so these are the last couple of days. Register - https://forms.office.com/r/re7aGFdpjv

11/03/2025

We did some work a few weeks back, working with Tapasā, Le Moana Collective and Sport Waitakere. Thank you to Ruta and her team for the awesome work you're doing out west! Looking forward to more!

06/03/2025

HERE WE GOOOOO … the April Cultural Connections Classes are ready for launch, and the registrations are now open … below are the classes on offer ...
• Introduction to Samoan Oratory classes:
o Register - https://forms.office.com/r/vgqBisSqng
o For Australia only
o Tuesday 8th April – Tuesday 10th June (10 weeks)
o 6:30pm-8:30pm (AEST)
o Online live classes
o $300

• Conversational Samoan Language classes:
o Register - https://forms.office.com/r/re7aGFdpjv
o For Australia, 6:30pm-8:30pm (AEST)
o For USA, 6:30pm-8:30pm (PST)
o Monday 7th April – Monday 9th June (10 weeks)
o Online live classes
o $300

• Tatau Preparation classes:
o Register - https://forms.office.com/r/Taba2VtALX
o For New Zealand
o Monday 7th April – Monday 28th April (4 weeks)
o 6:00pm-8:00pm (NZST)
o Online live classes
o $400
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to message me.

07/02/2025

Day 0 - SET-UP

Setting up the Pacific Seafarers Precinct, where we will be based. We have the beautiful display walls (that used to belong to Ministry of Education, for the Tuia250 celebration) that was shipped to Hobart, and which we will show off about NZ and Pacific history, and the history of voyaging and traditional navigation. It's so good having Master Navigator Hotu with us. And of course, we got a COOL surprise visit from another living legend, Dame Anne Salmond, who will be sharing the stage with Hotu and NZ artist Michael Tuffrey tomorrow. This gona be AWESOME!

After setting up, we were invited to the very posh Government House as guests to the Governor of Tasmania, who officially opened the Festival. There is a strong NZ and Pacific contingent here. Choooo-hoooo-hooooo!!

06/02/2025

PACIFIC VOYAGERS IN HOBART

I am in Hobart at the moment ... I'm here with fellow voyager, Tony Marsters, and the crew from NZ Maritime Museum (Andrea, Alison, Sonya and Leichelle), alongside the living legend, Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr, and his daughter, Noenoe. We're here for the Australia Wooden Boat Festival. AWBF invited NZMM to join them, and NZMM wanted to put in the unique stories and histories of Pacific and Maori mastery of ancient wooden sea vessels, the waka/va'a/vaka/waqa.

Here's our trip over to Hobart (yesterday). I'll do some posts from here so you can join us via FB. ENJOY! ... I know we will!

Quick food tip:
* had dinner last night (after we settled in) at Urban Greek ... their Mixed Grill is the BEST! Highly recommended.
* picked up some dumplings today from Dumpling World ... the BEST dumplings I ever tasted! So far, the food picks here have been top notch!
Thank you Hobart for good food indeed!

.. we set up today (tomorrow's post), and after we set up, Tony and I checked out the other tents, displays, etc and of course, we come across the seafood festival going on over here as well! WOOOOW! This is gona be FUN!!!

Sonny Natanielu - Cultural Consultant

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