Susana Suisuiki

Presenter at Tagata o te Moana

Journalist at Radio New Zealand (RNZ)

Presenter and Producer at Pacific Waves

Journalist/Presenter & Producer for RNZ Pacific’s flagship show ‘Pacific Waves’.

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Articles

Book aims to share Niuean culture

1 week ago | rnz.co.nz | Susana Suisuiki |Christina Persico

A children's book on Niuean culture has just been released in New Zealand. Titled, Hunt for Niu Tupu, the story is about a young girl and her grandfather in Niue examining niu (coconuts) in their backyard. The book's author, Inangaro Vakaafi, said the book is a reflection of the adventurous life of a child growing up in the islands. "You can find so much adventure in your backyard, especially in Niue where I grew up," she told Pacific Waves.
Samoa power crisis: Hope arrives in the form of leased generators from NZ

2 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Susana Suisuiki

Residents on Samoa's main island of Upolu can expect some relief after the arrival of five generators leased from a company in New Zealand on Monday to manage the country's ongoing power crisis. On 31 March, the Samoan Prime Minister announced a 30-day state of emergency for the government to implement measures to manage and restore power, protect public health and safety, and maintain essential services.
'Never our intention to mock Jesus': Naked Samoans addresses backlash over controversial poster

2 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Susana Suisuiki

Pasifika comedy troupe Naked Samoans is facing backlash from some members of the Pacific community over its promotional poster. In the image, which has now been taken down, the Naked Samoans depicted themselves as the 12 disciples surrounding Jesus, a parody of The Last Supper. Several Pasifika influencers condemned the image online, with one person labelling it "disrespectful". However, Naked Samoan group member Oscar Kightley told Pacific Waves he did not anticipate the uproar.
Sainthood has 'boosted morale and faith', says PNG bishop

3 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Susana Suisuiki |Christina Persico

"Not only Papua New Guinea, but for the whole of the Pacific, this is big news and a big blessing."A Catholic bishop in Papua New Guinea has expressed his pride over the country's first saint, Blessed Peter To Rot. Bishop Rosario Menesez from the Lae Diocese told Pacific Waves the news has boosted the public's morale and faith.
Traditional West Papua craft on display in Auckland

3 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Susana Suisuiki |Christina Persico

A PhD candidate from West Papua has launched an exhibition at the University of Auckland based on her research into 'noken', or finely woven string bags. Veronika Kanem has spent the past four years researching the traditional craft, particularly within the Muyu Tribe of Southern West Papua. The noken bag is often used in cultural ceremonies, bridewealth payment, or a child's initiation into adulthood. The bags are painstakingly created from various natural fibres of plants and tree bark.
Fijian man recalls harrowing experience during Myanmar's deadly earthquake

3 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Susana Suisuiki |Christina Persico

A Fiji expatriate living in Myanmar says the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck the Southeast Asian nation last Friday was traumatising. The earthquake near the city of Mandalay has killed more than 2000 people. Manasa Qaranivalu was at work in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, when the earthquake struck. He told Pacific Waves that he was in a "panic mode" and thought his office building was going to collapse on him.
Study into heart attacks among young Fijian NZers

4 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Susana Suisuiki |Christina Persico

A new study is investigating why Fijian New Zealanders are at a higher risk of having heart attacks or developing angina at a young age. The research is led by the Heart Foundation, which found that people from Fiji experience 20 percent of heart attacks or angina in under-40s in New Zealand - despite making up just under two percent of the country's population. Otago University's research fellow Dr Pritika Narayan said she is focusing on genetic drivers which she suspects is a huge factor.
NZ-funded water project brings much-needed relief to Rabi Island communities

1 month ago | rnz.co.nz | Susana Suisuiki

A New Zealand government-funded project is bringing much-needed relief to residents of Rabi Island in northern Fiji, who have been facing water shortages for more than a decade. Through the water supply project, the non-governmental organisation Habitat for Humanity Fiji worked with the Rabi Council of Leaders to install a new water system as well as upgraded the existing systems in four communities. According to the 2017 Fiji Census, Rabi Island has a population of just over 2300 people.
Battle continues in Solomon Islands against UXOs eight decades after WWII

1 month ago | rnz.co.nz | Susana Suisuiki |Christina Persico

More than 80 years since the Battle of Guadalcanal in Solomon Islands, communities today are still grappling with the unexploded devices left behind. The major battle in World War Two resulted in thousands of unexploded and abandoned ordnaces (UXOs/AXOs) that litter the islands today. Humanitarian group, The Halo Trust, has been surveying the country's airfields, ammunition stores, and former military encampments since 2023 and has identified 22 hazardous areas so far.
'Electrical appliances ruined': Power cuts in Upolu frustrates residents

1 month ago | rnz.co.nz | Susana Suisuiki

Residents on Samoa's most populous island, Upolu, home to the capital, Apia, have been hit with power outages and are expected to continue facing disruptions in the coming weeks. The outages, ongoing for the past two weeks, are due to maintenance work being carried out by the country's Electrical Power Corporation (EPC). The utility company announced power rationing for parts of Upolu on Tuesday.