In this episode we take a deep dive into human rights in the Pacific and talk with the people leading the way for the progress of human rights in the region. We talanoa with human rights activist and lawyer Romulo Nacayalevu pursuing his PhD at ANU and Neomai Maravuakula, Team Leader Governance & Institutional Strengthening. We cover human rights conventions and laws across the Pacific as well as the importance of National Human Rights Institutions and it’s pivotal role in advocating...

What does climate action look like in the Pacific? The Mama T's try to unpack this question with Fiji's Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Sivendra Michael about policy, funding and his personal leadership journey into the climate action space and they talanoa with Dr. Elizabeth Fitton - Higgons who shares the work Habitat for Humanity NZ is doing for housing those in the Pacific who are vulnerable due to disasters.  See omnystudio.com/listener for...

The Mama T's talanoa with 3 returnees who are navigating life back in their island home and the challenges they face. We talk to Charlene Wolfgram Matangi, Vivili Moala and Latu Liava'a, returnees who share their stories of disconnection with their home when they first arrived and how they're working through the Amanaki Lelei Foundation (Dare to Dream) an organisation founded by returnees who aim to assist returnees in acclimating to life in Tonga.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

This episode the Mama T's talanoa with Pacific Changemakers who have been behind some of the big changes and shifts in our region.  We talk to Stanley Simpson (Fiji), Karla Eggleton (Cook Islands) and Angeline Heine Reimers (Marshall Islands) about their respective journeys to implementing change for media freedom, LGBTQI rights and clean water for all in the Pacific.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Mama T's talanoa with two of our Pacific Ocean champions, Rose Kautoke and Bill Waqalevu.  Bill is Senior Researcher (PhD) at Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue in Abu Dhabi and Rose Kautoke, Senior Crown Counsel, Head of the Legal Advice and International Law Division, Attorney General's Office and ocean law advocate.  They share insights into the work they do in policy and science for our oceans and navigating leadership roles in those spaces. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Vosa is back and with new hosts for Season 3. Join the Mama T's - Trina and Talita - as they explore Pacific leadership with Ana Laqeretabua (Fiji), Jamal Talagi (Niue) and Amelia Katoa (Tonga).

This episode we explore the sacred and - oftentimes intimidating - world of rituals and the relationship they have with our identities as Pacific people.  Our two amazing episode 10 guests guide us through this final episode of VOSA Season 2 -  Wendy Mocke is a Papua New Guinean inter-disciplinary storyteller, a NIDA Acting graduate, Wendy has performed across stages in Australia and appeared in films and television. Our second guest Akanisi Nabalarua-Vakawaletabua of Fiji is a lawyer and...

This episode we’re delving into all things technology and connectivity. The ways in which we are using technology to address everyday challenges, how technology is helping us preserve our ways of life and keeping us connected, and asking ourselves how we can best use it to safely and inclusively benefit our communities.  We hear from: Sarai Tevita, ICT Director for National University of Samoa, Selu Kauvaka an information technology professional, who works with the E-Government initiative...

In this episode, each of our guests has a story to share about how families and communities found ways to stay connected and how we might take some of that learning with us into the future. We hear from: Jeffry Feeger of Papua New Guinea, Ann Singeo of Palau, Dr Fotu Fisi'iahi of Tonga, and Epeli Tuibeqa of Fiji.  You can find out more about our guests here: JEFFRY FEEGER'S ART https://www.facebook.com/jeffryfeegerart EBIIL SOCIETY OF PALAU https://www.ebiilsociety.org/ EPELI...

In this episode of Vosa we speak with some of the Pacific's most spirited changemakers. Our young people. 'Ana Malia Falemaka of Tonga, Yasmin Poole of Australia, Nelson Kokoa of PNG and Elizabeth Kite of Tonga share with us their vision for their communities in 2035 and what they think it will take to get us there.  Young people from all over the world are taking their voices to the World Bank Group Youth Summit on 26-27 of May and you can join them virtually by registering via the link...

Vosa Season 2 Episode 6 - The Hustle is Real

Vosa Season 2 Episode 5 - In Conversation: IWD 2022

Vosa Season 2 Episode 4 - Ocean Voices

On Episode 3 of Vosa we hear Pacific perspectives on Parenthood,

Vosa discusses sex and relationships in its second episode of Season 2

Episode 1 of season 2 celebrates Pacific creativity.

We're excited to announce that season 2 of Vosa is launching on Friday 26 November with new host Mere Nailatikau. We have so many great stories to share over the coming months so please keep an eye out for new shows each fortnight.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Episode 10 of Vosa. This week’s talanoa focuses on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex (LGBTQI) rights, advocacy and acceptance in Pacific communities. LGBTQI is an acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, and Intersex. This is a non-exhaustive list of terms, as different cultures, both historically as well as today, have used diverse language to express the wide range of sexual orientations and gender expressions....

Welcome to Episode 9 of Vosa. This week we bring you a special episode on the Covid-19 vaccine rollout in the Pacific region, brought to you by two podcasts - Vosa, supported by the World Bank in the Pacific and Papua New Guinea, and Contain This from the Australian Government's Indo-Pacific Centre for Health Security. This episode will be published across these two great programs.  In this episode, we'll speak with Will Genia, Australian Rugby Union Player and UNICEF Ambassador, Dr Edith...

Welcome to Episode 8 of Vosa. This week's talanoa focuses on Sports and the role it plays in creating healthier and happier Pacific communities. In this episode I speak to three amazing guests from around the Pacific who have extensive experience in the world of combining sports and positive societal change. We hear from Kevin Naiqama, Fijian Rugby League player and Captain of the Fijian Bati, Jacqui Joseph, co-founder and CEO of Papua New Guinea's Equal Playing Field, and Pesi Palu, the...

Welcome to our second episode, celebrating International Women’s Day! In our last episode, we were joined by women leaders from across the Pacific, and today, we are fortunate to have two amazing pioneers from Papua New Guinea. Today on Vosa, I’m honoured to share a talanoa with Dr Pamela Toliman and Emma Watkpi. Dr Pamela Toliman was recently awarded a PhD from her research undertaken through the Kirby Institute at the University of New South Wales. Her thesis looked at innovative...

In the lead up to International Women’s Day this year, we at Vosa are calling out and celebrating some of our amazing women leaders in the Pacific. The theme for International Women’s Day set by the United Nations this year is women in leadership, achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world. While we deeply appreciate the contributions and achievements of women, each and every day, this annual commemoration gives us an opportunity to celebrate women and raise awareness about the issues that...

Welcome to Episode 5 of Vosa.  How often do you walk away from watching a performance that has really made you think - hmmm, maybe I should or could do something differently? In the Pacific, artists have spent generations making us think and reflect on our own behaviour and cultural norms, and more recently, development organisations have partnered with them to enable people to act on these shifts in their thinking and behaviours, to create long term, and sustainable change. Today, we...