Telling stories with ‘Mana’: Pasifika TV’s mission to empower Pacific voices
“Storytelling holds the power to account. It inspires participation and builds trust. When stories carry mana in substance, they do more than inform, they activate; they turn spectators to citizens and democracy into something lived.”
Recently, ABU News had a chance to speak with one of Asiavision’s supportive members from the Pacific region, Pasifika TV, based in New Zealand. Tia Soakai, the Regional Content Manager of Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited, shared insight on how Pasifika TV balances Pacific capacities through cultural authenticity and identity via local storytelling.
Tia speaks at the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting.
Established in 2015, Pasifika TV’s main goal is to strengthen the collective of indigenous broadcasters across the Pacific.
“It was created to amplify Pacific voices. We’re not a newsroom with reporters on the ground; our role is to support, to stand with our public service media and Pacific media partners so they can tell their story,” said Tia.
She added that each broadcaster, in their own language and through their own lens, carries its own “rhythm”—“each with its own mana and identity.”
Top: Vela Mansaute and Hector-Jack outside the family home in Niue. Docuseries of Children of Niue by Broadcasting Corporation of Niue.
Bottom: From left: Adrian Stevanon and Rick Malao with cast and crew members of Love and Kastom. A collaboration between Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation (VBTC) Producer Rick Malao, and Head of Factual at Great Southern TV (GSTV) Adrian Stevanon.
When asked how their Public Service Media (PSM) partners use news to reflect national culture and identity in a globalized media environment, Tia emphasized that Pasifika TV encourages the use of local languages as it is integral to Pacific identity. She explained:
“Even though we don’t gather news ourselves, we do help our partners frame their news through specific values of respect.”
She noted that these stories and cultural statements travel across the Blue Pacific continent, into diaspora homes. In a media world dominated by external narratives, Pasifika TV empowers broadcasters and producers to ‘speak with substance.’
“By distributing these stories beyond the borders, Pasifika TV strengthens regional connection and cultural pride, and through partnership with Asiavision, AIL, Radio New Zealand, SPC, and others, we keep the heart of the Pacific beating with authentic voices and global reach,” she said.
Former ABU News Director Deborah Steele represented the ABU at the PCBL CEO/GM’s conference in May 2023. Source: PCBL
When asked about the right balance between cultural programming and hard news priorities, Tia mentioned that culture and news go hand in hand. Pasifika TV supports broadcasters in preserving the cultural spaces within their stories, showcasing heritage through storytelling that informs and uplifts people, even in disaster coverage.
“Balance means maintaining journalistic rigor while protecting our spiritual and cultural truth. When news honors culture and culture informs news, we believe we strengthen both the truth and the spirit of our people.”
PART 1
Written by: Amira Ismail
