Aroha's Story
Aroha had always felt like she lived between two worlds. Her father was Ngāti Porou from the East Coast, and her mother had immigrated from Samoa as a teenager. Growing up in South Auckland, Aroha was surrounded by friends from dozens of different backgrounds — Filipino, Indian, Tongan, Pākehā, and more.
"Sometimes people ask me 'What are you?' like I have to pick just one thing," Aroha told her class during a Social Studies presentation. "But I don't think identity works that way. I'm Māori and Samoan. I'm a South Aucklander. I'm a netball player and a kapa haka performer. I'm a daughter and a big sister. All of these things together make me who I am."
Aroha explained that her family celebrates both Māori and Samoan traditions. At tangi, they follow Māori tikanga. At family gatherings, Samoan food and language fill the house. "My nana taught me to weave, and my other grandmother taught me to dance the siva. Both of these skills connect me to my ancestors."
She also spoke about the challenges. "When I was younger, I sometimes felt like I wasn't 'Māori enough' or 'Samoan enough.' I didn't speak either language fluently. But I've learned that cultural identity isn't about being perfect or ticking boxes. It's about connection, about respect, about learning and growing."
Aroha's message to her classmates was clear: "Don't let anyone tell you what your identity should be. Explore your heritage. Ask your grandparents questions. Learn the stories. And respect the journeys of others, because everyone's identity is a work in progress."
At the end of her presentation, Aroha performed a short section of her pepeha, connecting herself to her mountains, rivers, and ancestors from both sides of her family. The class responded with applause and the words "Tēnā koe, Aroha."