BREAKING NEWS
Cloud Server Hosting For Online Businesses
Inexpensive SEO Services
Benefits of Wanting to play Free Online Slot machines
Aigagalefili Fepulea'i Tapua'i

Summary

Aigagalefili Fepulea'i Tapua'i (born 2001 or 2002)[1] is a Samoan-New Zealander poet, indigenous, and climate change activist. She is the daughter of former Samoan MP Seminare Fepulea’i.[2]

Biography edit

Fepulea'i Tapua'i was born in South Auckland and educated at Aorere College.[1] In 2019 she organised Pasefika climate change group 4 Tha Kulture and participated in the 2019 climate strikes.[2][3] The story of her climate activism is documented in the film High Tide Don’t Hide.[4][5] In March 2020 she was selected to represent New Zealand at the Global Young Leaders Conference in New York City.[6]

During the COVID-19 pandemic she spoke out about racial inequality in education and how the pandemic had forced Pasefika students to leave school to support their families.[7][8] During the 2020 election campaign she was invited to participate in the leader's debate.[9][10]

Recognition edit

In November 2020 she was awarded the Young Leader award in the New Zealand Women of Influence Awards.[11] In December 2020 she was awarded the supreme award for youth advocacy at the inaugural Pacific Cooperation Foundation Youth Leadership Awards.[1] In 2021 she was nominated for the New Zealander of the Year Awards in the "local hero" category.[12]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Inaugural Pacific Cooperation Foundation awards ceremony focuses on Pasifika youth leaders". RNZ. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b Michelle Langstone (12 September 2020). "Angry, eloquent and 17, Fili has something to say to you". The Spinoff. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  3. ^ Irra Lee (27 September 2019). "Pasifika bring unique perspective to Auckland climate change protest". TVNZ. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  4. ^ Olivia Wannan (16 June 2021). "Pasifika voice takes focus in climate doco". Stuff. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  5. ^ Justin Latif (11 August 2021). "How Fili Fepulea'i Tapua'i's fight for climate action became a battle against racism". The Spinoff. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  6. ^ "South Auckland teen to represent NZ on international stage". TP+. 10 March 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  7. ^ "South Auckland cry: 'NZ wants to rebuild, but it's on our backs'". New Zealand Herald. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Too many students forced to leave school as 'act of sacrifice and love' for families - head girl". TVNZ. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  9. ^ "Judith Collins blasted for 'weaponising' husband's ethnicity during leaders debate". NewsHub. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Aigagalefili Fepulea'i-Tapua'i: Speaking up for South Auckland students". RNZ. 3 October 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Dr Siouxsie Wiles supreme winner at Stuff-Westpac 2020 Women of Influence Awards". Stuff. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  12. ^ "2021 NEW ZEALAND LOCAL HERO OF THE YEAR SEMI-FINALISTS". New Zealander of the Year Awards. 14 January 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.