Talofa lava, o lo’u igoa o Olivia Taouma I am the Pule Le Va at the Museum, leading our Pacific Dimension and Strategy. I hail from the Samoan villages of Poutasi, Faleasi'u and Sapapali'i, as well as England, Scotland and Germany.

The ‘Ula Fala is a very special measina for our Samoan people as it is worn by our Samoan chiefs and orators on special cultural occasions. It depicts honour and status. Red is the colour associated with high rank, making it hard not to miss.

For me this is a very special, personal measina as it reminds me of my father, the late Papali’i Pita Taouma, who held a few Samoan titles, the highest being Papali’i from Sapapali’i in Savai’i. He wore the ‘Ula Fala often, speaking with such eloquence and mana in both Samoan and English. He was a great advocate for our Samoan immersion and bilingual language learning in Aotearoa, being a founder of the first Samoan early childhood education centre the A’oga Fa’a Samoa, as well as our Arts Sector (especially music, dance and theatre), and was the first Samoan dentist in Auckland. He was an inspiration to many people, especially me.

https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/discover/kaupapa/te-aho-mutunga-kore/britomart-showcase

‘Ula fala. Pandanus keys necklace. Samoa. Maker is Anae Faleseu. Made with fruit keys of the fala tree (pandanus tree) and red coat paint. Collection of Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira. 2015.22.18.