Evotia Tamua

Auckland-based Samoan photographer Evotia Tamua specializes in documenting the Pacific way of life and people in Auckland, the world's largest Pacific Islands community, and in the Islands – her two worlds. She has exhibited work in New Zealand, Samoa, Australia and in the UK at Oxford University's famous Pitt Rivers Museum. Evotia also works as a successful commercial photographer. Evotia's work documents and reflects the contrasts between the Western and the new traditions of the Pacific, the inherited and the new, the young and the old.

Since her first photograph of Mt Albert Grammar boys at the 1989 Polynesian Festival, Evotia has been documenting the annual Auckland Polyfest and Pasifika Festivals. Evotia's photography was also the primary content for the books Pacific New Zealand and Samoa: Pacific Pride, which was co-authored by Tony Murrow and has become a Lonely Planet featured work. She has been named one of New Zealand's top 100 Pacific Island achievers – at number 59, just one place below Jonah Lomu.

She has been official photographer for the Auckland City Council, Pasifika Festival, Pasifika Fashion Show, Government of Samoa, Best Pacific Institute of Education and recently Rugby League Samoa.

Evotia is from the village of Salelesi in Samoa. You can see more of her work at www.evotia.co.nz

By this author

Evotia Tamua's photographic essay on Pacific Islands life in the city of Auckland, New Zealand. Full colour and b/w photographs.

"Polynesian Festival and Pacific Auckland take us into the heart of the city's vibrant Polynesian community and show in photographer Evotia Tamua's work the emergence of a major new talent."
North & South Magazine - April 2008.

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The ASB PolyFest is an annual celebration of Pacific Islands' culture for the secondary schools of Auckland, captured here in photographs taken over the last 15 years of the festival.

"Polynesian Festival and Pacific Auckland take us into the heart of the city's vibrant Polynesian community and show in photographer Evotia Tamua's work the emergence of a major new talent."
North & South Magazine - April 2008.

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Photography

Fatu Feu`u is an internationally recognised Samoan-New Zealand artist. He has been pivotal in shaping the interest in contemporary Pacific art globally and nurturing a generation of Pacific artists locally, leading to his reputation as the Father of contemporary Pacific art.

In this book, Fatu shares his story, from wilful Samoan-village boy, to New Zealand factory-worker immigrant, to leader in his home communities and the global art world.

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Samoa: Pacific Pride introduces the Samoa islands - their geography, the history of the people and their way of life today. It reveals a proud society based on ancient traditions which has withstood the impact of colonisation - embraced many modern ways - yet retained a unique lifestyle centred around the family and village.

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Talanoa: Four Pacific Plays is a timely collection from five playwrights who interweave Pacific languages with English.  Masters in the art of comedy and real-life theatre, these contemporary voices shine a light on the lives of Pacific peoples, their culture and identity in New Zealand.

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