The Tautai Fagota Sasa’a Charitable Trust in South Auckland is seeking stronger support from the Manurewa Local Board to sustain and expand its programmes aimed at preserving and passing on Pacific cultural knowledge across generations. The trust, which operated informally for 15 years before becoming a registered charitable entity two years ago, links youth mentoring, elder wellbeing, cultural education, and environmental awareness to local board priorities.
Speaking on behalf of the trust, Mulipola Ausetalia Titimaea highlighted the organisation’s inclusive approach, welcoming participants from all cultural backgrounds. The trust actively engages in multicultural events at Clendon Library, strengthening community unity while fostering cultural understanding. Central to their request is continued funding for the Good Samaritan programme, which offers weekly Zumba sessions, Fa’afaletui gatherings for Samoan elders, and digital literacy classes for seniors. These activities see around 1,600 attendances annually, supporting health, mental wellbeing, and digital inclusion.
The trust also runs youth-focused initiatives, including mentoring, homework support, and cultural education. Hands-on cultural restoration is a key component, teaching skills like traditional dancing, weaving, and mat repair, ensuring young people can maintain Samoan cultural practices at home. Unlike school-based programmes, the trust’s approach actively involves parents, weaving intergenerational participation into learning and reinforcing respect and cultural values.
A structured pathway, “Lalaga le Lumana’i” or Weaving the Future, anchors Samoan youth in cultural identity while supporting academic outcomes. The programme combines elder mentoring, school-based support, physical activity, and climate awareness education, aiming to cultivate well-rounded leaders rooted in their heritage. While the trust has received limited funding in the past, further support is needed to sustain and grow these intergenerational and cultural initiatives. The local board acknowledged the trust’s detailed strategy and persistence, with funding decisions still pending.
