Grace Fiavaai

3 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Grace Fiavaai |Christina Persico

Former Black Ferns sevens player Shirray Kaka says one of the reasons she is learning Samoan to pass on her heritage to her baby boy, who is due in August. Kaka first played for New Zealand's sevens team in 2013, and has an Olympic gold medal from the Tokyo Games. Her mother is Māori from Ngāti Maniapoto and her father is Samoan from the village of Moata'a.

3 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Grace Fiavaai |Christina Persico

Some elderly Samoans have finally regained New Zealand citizenship after waiting decades, following a bill revoking an old law passing through New Zealand's parliament. But for many, there's still no pension in sight. In October 2024, New Zealand passed the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Restoration Amendment Act, restoring a pathway to citizenship to Samoans born between 13 May 1924 and 1 January 1949. Many had theirs stripped under the Citizenship Act 1982.