VASA Present Session at 2019 ASAO Annual Conference

Va'aomanū Pasifika staff, alumni and PG Students participated in the annual ASAO (Association for Social Anthropology in Oceania) Conference which was held at the University of Auckland, 13th - 16th Feb.

A group of poeple - Left to Right, Samoan Studies lecturer Niusila Faamanatu-Eteuati, Pacific Studies lecturer Emalani Case, PASI PhD candidates Nate Rigler, Emma Powell, Vicky Shandil, Programme Director April Henderson and PASI PhD Candidate Jessica Marinaccio.
(L to R) Samoan Studies lecturer Niusila Faamanatu-Eteuati, Pacific Studies lecturer Emalani Case, PASI PhD candidates Nate Rigler, Emma Powell, Vicky Shandil, Programme Director April Henderson and PASI PhD Candidate Jessica Marinaccio.

The Va'aomanū Pasifika session, superbly organised by PASI PhD candidate Jessica Marinaccio, was titled "Strategic Articulations in Pacific and Samoan Studies" and also featured Samoan Studies lecturer Niusila Faamanatu-Eteuati, Pacific Studies lecturer Emalani Case, PASI PhD candidates Nate Rigler, Emma Powell, Vicky Shandil and Pacific Studies Lecturer/Va'aomanū Pasifika Programme Director April Henderson. Such a great representation of Va'aomanū Pasifika staff, PhD students, and alumni at the Association for Social Anthropology in Oceania (ASAO) conference at the Fale Pasifika and Waipapa Marae, University of Auckland.

It was great to have the support and feedback of our VUW Anthropology colleague Lorena Gibson and former Va'aomanū Pasifika colleague Sailau Suaalii-Sauni at the session, and lovely to catch up with distinguished alumna of Pacific Studies, Emelihter Kihleng, who travelled to the ASAO from Guam and will soon be off to Hamburg, Germany, to take up a residency at Museum am Rothenbaum Kulturen und Künste der Welt!

Overall, it was a stimulating and inspiring gathering, filled with "World Famous in Samoan Studies and Pacific Studies" folks!