After more than 20 years working in Central a Fijian woman is planning on setting up a trust to support those in our community from the Pacific.

Mother of five Kusitina (Tina) Coalailago remembers how challenging it can be to move across the Pacific, however she loves Central now and has settled for good in Alexandra.

“There is a real need for [a trust], for people to work with us and understand our way of doing things,” Tina told the Central App.

Tina said she has experience gained from working as a social worker in Dunedin, at what is now known as Pacific Trust Otago, a model that she could see working in Central.

“We need to connect with what is already in place… and have something set up for Pacific people. It needs to be independent, and look after people and we all need to work together.”

Tina said when she came to Mosgiel aged 25 she was “the only brown person walking down the street”.

“I asked my mother-in-law, is staring not rude in your custom?

“She told me it was because everyone was looking at my nice tan…. She had a good sense of humour.”

Tina said she explained to friends and family back in Fiji that the climate felt like “when you put your hand in the freezer, and hold it in there for a few minutes”.

She first went to the beach in Dunedin and was shocked it was nothing like Fiji.

“I tell new arrivals from the Islands that you have to get in until you are numb and you can’t feel it.”

Now Tina and her husband work at Strode Road Orchard, Earnscleugh and she loves going for a dip in Lake Dunstan after a hard summer day's work.

There are differences of body language and behaviour between Pacific and Kiwi cultures that took some getting used to, one being how fast Kiwis talk and another the way Pacific people give a casual head nod as an acknowledgement of greeting.

“New Zealanders eat their words when they speak… it is too quickly, and Pasifika will just smile and say yes.”

Tina said Pasifika people might not understand what has been said, but don’t want to be rude and ask again, especially if English isn’t a language that they are completely comfortable in. 

“Don’t tell us, but show us, is how things really work for us.”

Along with the weather and cultural differences she said finding warm housing can be a challenge.

“We don’t have to go and buy heaters in Fiji.”

Her main driver for the trust is to facilitate support, guidance and help for people who need it.

“Where do you go if you have problems [or] if you don’t know how things work here?

“It was all on me when I had my children here.”

Providing assistance for decision making or wellbeing support services is even more critical for people away from their traditional family networks in Vanuatu or Fiji.  

Tina said she made enduring friendships through church, the kind that are real “bake for your neighbours” connections but the move to Central wasn’t easy for her family.

There is much on offer from her Fijian community to add to the diversity of an inclusive multicultural Central, Tina said.

“People are warming to us [and] we are here to stay.”

Tina would welcome anyone interested in helping her to get the idea off the ground. You can reach her on 021 0835 7219.