Pacific Champions of Change: National Fono on Stopping Violence

Talofa lava, Ni Sa Bula Vinaka, Kia Orana, Taloha Ni, Malo e Lelei, Fakalofa lahi atu, tena koutou and warm Pacific greetings.

I have been greatly looking forward to this fono to be in the company of champions.

Champions of change; champions of courage; champions of the people.

There is something that connects every one of us in this room - and which is expressed best in the story from the Programme of Action for Pacific peoples released last year.

"An old man of Polynesia was approached by a man of the world and after talking for some time, he said to the old man, "so you come from one of the smallest nations in the Pacific".

His reply was humble but strong and he said, ‘No! We come from the biggest ocean in the world".

Being a champion of change is opening our eyes to the possibilities and opportunities all around us. 

It is about seeing the world in landscape; choosing to take the panorama view rather than the snapshot.

It is about living in a way which tells us you know the world is your oyster.

The great thing about this fono is that I know if I was to ask any one of you what pearl would be revealed if we shucked open that oyster, I would leave here literally dripping with jewels of all descriptions.  

Whether it is Liku Village; the island of Savai'i, or Whangaehu marae, each of us has a unique picture in our minds which represents the essence of who we are.

The brilliance of each and every one of these pearls, the alluring shine, the unique diversity of Pacific nations is an amazing source of strength in providing the context to address the challenge of family violence.

The association between Pacific peoples in New Zealand and the biggest ocean in the world, Te Moana Nui a Kiwa, provide us with a foundation for coming together and celebrating our strengths.

There is a common philosophy based on our relationships with others which I believe is what was meant by Kiwi Tamasese in these few words,

"The whole person exists, not as an individual, but in relationship with other people. 

This being has meaning only in relationship and derives its sense of wholeness and uniqueness from its place of belonging in its family and village, its genealogy, language, land, environment and culture".

These two days, then, are an ideal platform to bring the peoples of the Pacific together in a shared blueprint for change.

That blueprint requires the collective commitment of everyone here to inspire action throughout your communities.

And this is where the concept of the champion comes in.

But here's the thing.  The entitlement to be known as a champion comes from within the warmth of the community.

This is not a label which says ‘only celebrities may apply'.

Champions of change can be found within every family and every sphere of influence - all it takes is the passion and the commitment to make change happen.

Someone who know a lot about the journey to being a champion was the boxer and activist, Muhammad Ali who has been forever associated with the phrase, ‘I am the greatest'.  

In thinking back about his career, he once said "I hated every minute of training but I said, don't quit, suffer now, and live the rest of your life as a champion". 

There are a couple of things we can take out of that amazing spirit of self-confidence and self-belief.

Champions are made through a process of growth and challenge.

Champions are people who dare not to just dream - but actually do.

And I want to really mihi to the members of the Pacific Advisory Group who are all champions who have dreamed, and done the mahi to turn the dreams into reality.

So I say to you: Fa'amatuainu Tino Pereira; Emeline Afeaki-Mafileo; Yvonne Crichton-Hill; Judge Ida Malosi; Moka Ngaro; Nuku Rapana and Peseta Betty Sio - thank you.

Thank you for reminding us to set our own pattern, to be driven by our solutions, and to be inspired in our own lives.

The series of nine fono that have been held around the country have been motivated by the call for Pacific solutions for Pacific issues. 

It has been exciting to learn that over 500 Pacific peoples have been attending these fono, sharing their view about the impact of social, cultural and religious factors; the experiences of migration, the current status of service delivery and critically the issues around leadership.

The overwhelming message has been that it is time to act; time to focus on the empowerment and liberation of families through positive community actions.

And the message has been to keep going, to never give up.  Like that old Queens classic, "we are the champions my friends; and we'll keep on fighting till the end".

We must keep on fighting for our families to be the best that they can be; for our homes to be strong and loving; for our parents to be supported to nurture happy, healthy, resilient children.

You will know what works best for you - what is the right mix of education, role -modelling, stories, ideas and skills to create enduring change.

And in knowing what works best, it is evident that the Church plays a significant role in becoming a powerful instrument for positive change.  

The leaders of the church are a vital force for change and it is absolutely essential that Ministers and other Pacific community leaders are actively engaged in taking leadership of these actions.

To be enduring and to be meaningful, change cannot happen in isolation.   It must occur within the context of the church, the village, the family, the community.

And throughout it all the talk must go on.  It is about spreading the mat, opening up and talking.

Finally, while we gather here today at this Champions of Change national fono, I think it only appropriate to refer to the history that is happening right now at Wimbledon with the match between American John Isner and Nicholas Mahut from France.

The pair are deadlocked in the fifth set, 59-59, and have already broken all records to achieve the longest match in tennis history.

They have been playing each other for a total of exactly ten hours and still they keep forging on.  

Never before in the history of Wimbledon, since its first contest in 1877, has any match lasted so long.   So long in fact that even the electronic scoreboard couldn't keep up, and the game was only suspended because neither of the players could see as darkness took over the court.

These two champions will fight on, despite exhaustion, to keep going.   As the defending champion Roger Federer said, "It's beyond anything I've ever seen and could imagine".

It seemed the most wonderful metaphor for what is happening here, many miles away from Wimbledon, but just as heroic and just as inspiring.

You are all engaged in the greatest match for life; to persevere through the darkness; and continue on into the light; taking your families, churches and communities along with you.

I congratulate everyone involved in applying the creative courage that is needed to make a difference in the families and the homes to end violence and abuse.

May you all live the rest of your lives as the champions that I know you are.