Pasifika reporter tells the good and the bad Pacific stories

Tagata Pasifika reporter tells the good and the bad Pacific stories

By Jessi Mee

AUCKLAND (Pacific Scoop / Pacific Media Watch): Tagata Pasifika reporter and director John Pulu has been described as the “next Mike McRoberts” by Pacific Islands Media Association chair Iulia Leilua.

Leilua, a reporter on Māori Television’s Native Affairs investigative programme, says Pulu is a great voice for the Pacific community and has compared him with the high profile TV3 news and current affairs reporter.

“He has gone from a role model student to working as a reporter for Tagata Pasifika – I think he’s very capable.”

Pulu, who graduated from AUT University's School of Communication Studies and returned to speak to students, said he had a passion for telling Pacific stories – both the good and the bad.

“That’s the drive for me, bringing Pacific stories to light,” he said.

“But we can’t be one-sided in this industry. I want to make stories that change people … stories for people to learn from,” he said.

More representation
He said Pacific culture still needed more mainstream representation, and he hoped young Pacific people would be inspired to forge a career in mainstream media.

“We need better time slots. And more Pacific voices in the mainstream media. In radio, print and TV.

“I hope what I do inspires people to tell more of our stories,” he said.

Leilua added it was a battle to get Pacific content playing during prime time.

“The time slot issue has been there since day one, putting in a timeslot that’s too early or too late – for TVNZ it’s about ratings rather than public service viewing like Tagata Pasifika,” she said.

‘Proud to be Pacific’
Pulu said attending university was “leaving his comfort zone” but a great decision which had prepared him for his role at TVNZ.

He told students that he was proud to be a Pacific Islander.

“Pacific people are dubbed a minority – but I don’t think I’m a minority,” he said.

Pulu said it was important to “remember where you come from” and to embrace it.

“I’m really passionate about tradition,” he said.

Overcoming barriers
Leilua said that while there were still some racist attitudes in New Zealand many Pacific journalists were able to overcome these barriers.

“I don’t want to portray us as victims. Most Pacific journalists refuse to let such barriers stand in their way and are tenacious enough to press on with the job at hand,” she said.

“But racism can rear its ugly head when you least expect it and that’s part and parcel of issues minority peoples around the world face every day.”

Regardless of the barriers, Pulu said he believed New Zealand media was heading in the right direction.

“The exposure is there, I just hope we can build on it,” he said.

Pulu believes that Pacific culture will become a major part of mainstream television.

“I might be dreaming but maybe one day we’ll see a Poly channel,” he said.

Jessi Mee is a final year journalism major on the Bachelor of Communication Studies programme at AUT University.

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