Global Stages, Pacific Stories: The RAKO Pasefika Mentorship Project 🌎

For the first time, Rako Pasefika is bringing together NZ-based and Pacific artists to share powerful Indigenous stories on the global stage. Through dance, music, and film, we are showcasing the stories of Armea and Sau Folu—celebrating Pacific female warriors and the resilience of our ancestors. 

We are aiming to raise a minimum of $6,600 NZD through the Boosted x Moana fund to support five NZ-based artists (Jared, Helen, Tristan, Kapi, and Haylie) as they perform at three major international events: 

✅ San Francisco Rotuman Community Event (May 2025) 

✅ Asia Pacific Dance Festival, Hawai’i (May - June 2025) 

✅ IIMS Toronto Music Festival (June 2025) 

Your donation will help cover flights, visas, costumes, and cultural exchange activities, ensuring that these artists can represent their heritage, share untold stories, and strengthen connections between Pacific cultures. 

✨ Every $1 you donate is DOUBLED by the Pasifika Moana Fund, and as an NZ donor, you can claim up to 33% of your donation back in tax credits. 

Be part of this movement—help us take Pacific storytelling to the world! 🌏💙 

Rako Pasefika is a Pacific-led creative and cultural collective, dedicated to revitalising and sharing Pacific storytelling, dance, music, and artistic practices.

For over 15 years, Rako Pasefika has nurtured artists across the world to ensure that our cultural heritage is passed on through intergenerational mentorship and creative collaboration.

Meet Our Mentors & Leaders:

• Letila Mitchell (Fiji) – Founder of Rako Pasefika, cultural activist & producer.
• Natano Fa’anana (Samoa) – International creative producer & director.
• Iane Tavo (Rotuma) – Artistic Director, dancer, and choreographer.
• Steven John (Rotuma) – Knowledge keeper & cultural adornment expert.
• Lorenzo Fonmoa (Rotuma) – Composer & musician.
• Makrava Pene & Dania Grace (Rotuma) – Master weavers and cultural knowledge holders.

This project is a collaboration between Rako Pasefika’s senior artists, emerging creatives, and cultural elders, ensuring that knowledge is passed down while creating new opportunities for Pacific storytelling on a global stage.

🔹 Meet Our Team

The 2025 Rako Pasefika Cohort includes talented Pacific artists from New Zealand, Rotuma, Tonga, and Fiji who are committed to cultural storytelling through music, dance, and creative arts.

🎭 Kapi Samisoni (Rotuma) – A community leader and dancer with deep roots in Rotuman culture. Kapi plays a key role in engaging Pacific communities and ensuring cultural authenticity.

🎥 Tristan Ronald Estevez Petueli (Rotuma) – A Rotuman storyteller, filmmaker, and digital producer. Tristan documents Pacific stories and works alongside elders and musicians to shape the storytelling of the cohort.

🎤 Helen Pahulu (Tonga) – A dynamic Tongan singer blending Pacific music with Jazz. Helen brings rich vocal talent to the project and helps strengthen the musical landscape of Rako Pasefika.

🎼 Jared Vilsoni (Rotuma) – A music student with a background in classical and R&B. Jared is working alongside Iane and Lorenzo to shape Rako’s new musical journey and expand the sonic storytelling of the group.

🎶 Haylie (Fiji) – A rising Fijian vocalist and performer, Haylie brings fresh energy to the team through her passion for music and cultural storytelling.

📌 Together, these artists breathe life into our ancestors’ stories—our warriors, healers, and knowledge keepers.

Our goal is to raise $6,600 NZD through Boosted x Moana to support our five NZ-based artists (Jared, Helen, Tristan, Kapi, and Haylie) in their journey to share Pacific stories on the global stage.

Breakdown of costs:

✈️ Flights for five NZ artists ($4,800 per person)

• Auckland to Fiji (for rehearsals) – $800 per person = $4,000 NZD
• Fiji to Hawai’i – $1,200 per person = $6,000 NZD
• Hawai’i to Toronto – $1,300 per person = $6,500 NZD
• Toronto to Auckland – $1,500 per person = $7,500 NZD

🔹 Total Flight Costs: $24,000 NZD
(We are currently applying for grants and sponsorships to cover a portion of this cost.)

🛂 Visa Costs (Per Artist)

• US P3 Visa (USD$210) – $365.73 NZD per person = $1,828.65 NZD
• Canadian Visa (CAD$6) – $7.38 NZD per person = $36.90 NZD

🔹 Total Visa Costs: $1,865.55 NZD

🎭 Costumes & Cultural Adornments

• Traditional Rotuman Suru headdresses – $600 NZD
• Fabric and costume materials for performance – $1,000 NZD
• Cultural adornments (leis, tapa, woven elements) – $600 NZD

🔹 Total Costume & Adornment Costs: $2,200 NZD

🏫 Mentorship & Koha to Elders

• Supporting Rotuman master weavers, musicians & elders who are passing on knowledge – $1,000 NZD

🎥 Digital Storytelling & Outreach

• Videographer, Filming & editing costs – $1,500 NZD

🔹 Total Digital Storytelling Costs: $2,000 NZD

💰 Total Cost of the Project: $30,600 NZD

✅ Boosted x Moana Campaign Goal: $6,600 NZD
✅ Stretch Goal: $10,000 NZD – If we reach this, it will cover at least one-third of the total cost of the project, significantly reducing the financial constraints on our artists.

✨ Every $1 you donate is DOUBLED by the Pasifika Moana Fund, meaning your impact goes twice as far!

💰 Donations are tax-refundable – If you are a New Zealand citizen, you can claim up to 33% of your donation back as a tax credit.

For the first time, Rako Pasefika is bringing together NZ-based and Pacific artists from Rotuma, Tonga, and Fiji for a groundbreaking international cultural exchange. Through dance, music, and storytelling, we are amplifying Pacific voices, sharing untold histories, and celebrating the strength of Indigenous narratives.

This initiative is built on mentorship and collaboration, ensuring emerging artists have the opportunity to learn from cultural leaders, develop their creative practice, and connect with global audiences.

At the heart of this project is Sau Folu, a powerful performance that honours Pacific female warriors and highlights the strength of Indigenous women throughout history. Premiering at the Pacific Dance NZ Festival 2023 at Q Theatre, Sau Folu has now been remastered for the world stage. Alongside the film Armea, this project will showcase these powerful stories at:

✅ San Francisco Rotuman Community Event (14th - 18th May 2025)
✅ Asia Pacific Dance Festival (Hawai’i, 19th May - 2nd June 2025)
✅ IIMS Toronto Music Festival (2nd - 6th June 2025)

This is more than a performance—it is a cultural movement that ensures Pacific stories are seen, heard, and experienced globally. We are doing this to preserve, evolve, and share our traditions while creating lasting opportunities for Pacific artists to thrive on international stages.

By supporting this project, you are investing in the future of Pacific storytelling and ensuring that the voices of small island nations are amplified worldwide.

Rako Pasefika is the only Rotuman company in the world, dedicated to sharing Pacific stories through dance, music, and film.

Rotuma is a tiny, remote island with just 1,500 people, yet its cultural legacy is vast. For the past three years, we have worked with Rotuman elders to bring authentic, untold stories to the world. Now, we are expanding our storytelling to include other cultures, using a mentorship model that empowers artists to explore their own heritage on the global stage.

Our performance Sau Folu, which honours Pacific female warriors, premiered at the Pacific Dance NZ Festival 2023 at Q Theatre. It has now been remastered for an international audience at the Asia Pacific Dance Festival (Hawai’i), IIMS Toronto Music Festival, and the San Francisco Rotuman Community Event.

Why Should You Back This?

🌏 Representation Matters – Rotuman stories have never been showcased on this scale. Your support helps bring our voices to the world.

🌊 A Collective Investment – By donating, you’re empowering Pacific artists, strengthening cultural exchange, and ensuring our traditions evolve and thrive.

🔥 Every $1 You Donate Is DOUBLED – Thanks to the Pasifika Moana Fund, your impact goes twice as far.

💰 Your Donation is Tax-Refundable – NZ donors can claim back up to 33% of their contribution.

Together, we can expand the reach of Pacific voices, celebrate our stories, and build a legacy for future generations. Support Rako Pasefika today! 💙