Saving Samoa House on Karangahape Rd | STILL HERE S2 | Episode 2

Samoa House hides in plain sight on Auckland’s Karangahape Road. It was built with funds raised by the Samoa House Appeal Fund and opened in 1979 as a response to the Dawn Raids. Subscribe to Re: bit.ly/subscribe-re
The site includes the first fale built outside of Samoa and previously housed the Samoan consulate. The future of Samoa House - in particular, the Fale - is uncertain as Pacific communities groups no longer have direct or priority access to the space.
This episode of STILL HERE explores the future of Samoa amid a rapidly gentrifying Karangahape road.
“It’s important that we move quickly to restore the mana of this fale,” Bonni Tamati, operations manager of Samoa House Library, says.
STILL HERE is a love letter to our inner-city Auckland Pasifika community. Since the 1950s, the Pasifika community has cultivated a unique Central Auckland identity that many of the community’s youth proudly embrace; both as an act of resistance from ongoing gentrification and as an unapologetic reminder that they and their families are Still Here.
Watch the full series here: • Still Here Season 2
Made with the support of NZ On Air.
Re: makes videos, articles and podcasts about the things that matter to young people in Aotearoa.
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[@yasmin4281]

I had no idea this place existed. The history behind it is very interesting though!

[@angijnr1002]

Is that the dance teacher Miss Olivia Taouma from Hillary College now Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate. She was a great person back in 1998 much respect.

[@Tupunaforever]

what a magnificent building, that big room is spectacular with the high thatched ceiling and those massive pillars. Good luck, it's a stunning room. I remember years and years ago, before my time, my grandfathers and uncles moved a Marae, with tractors. To save it. Late 50s. It was a mammoth task when they did it, but they did it. My point being, if the building can't be saved, move that room to South Auckland, rebuild and use it again. Sell the site but save that magnificent room.

[@tiasagapolutele]

Balled my eyes out. Love this! This space is so important for us. Thank you to the team/community ❤️

[@williamcody1385]

Takes me back to the course days, his time flies

[@khzn9309]

There is so much Whakapapa and Mana in that Fale do all that you can Aiga to hold on to such a Historic and Sacred place...Samoa House Maota Samoa is calling out to you Manu Samoa...it Connects You All right back to the Motherland...to Fa'a Samoa.

[@Timuia_ipaepaetele685]

Thank you for this video . I knew about this place I just thought because the consulate moved to Mangere it was no longer there. I really hope that it gets restored would like to step inside one day.

[@THEUCE685]

didnt even know it was on k road

[@sinamumuta8399]

That why I love the Pulega a Matai and families in Auckland, because the Community are working together, using funding properly not here in Christchurch, people are and was using Fono faufautua as umbrella for gunding and the crooked who created organisation, Agencies, and groups, that misused mistreated Pacific People but themselves and their families,now look nothing,good just lies and ignored the truth time to stopped this misusing of the Pacific People by these,crooked disrespectful and ignored the truth but after they tan away and live the Pacific people,naked, remember Pacific people not going to Churches that collected funding and used for their own needs,are not right, because everyone one was born from Pacific parents,are access in these blessings from the Government.we need to look at the people who misused mistreated and betrayed the most of Pacific people,but their own families and friends.but the Community are fear for their ignored.

[@paul5434]

So this was built for the Samoan community and you Guys have to pay for access to your own building? That your Tupuna rasied the money to build it... I'd have to say that is a rasist thing to do to the Samoan community 😡 Just like the NZRU is towards the Pacfic rugby player's 😡 In not acknowledging the massive contribution the Pacific Islanders have had on NZ and All Black rugby.. From BG William's up.. I grew up in Auckland and played with and against many great Islander players.. ATUA Bless the Samoan community and culture 🙏 Maori 🚼 Jeebus 🙏🖐️