unconditional

Fa’afetai tele lava, massive thanks to Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland, for hosting Shawn Wimalaratne and me during our Unconditional Talanoa Project.

A special thank you to Alfie Prasad Atalifo Prasad and Valvetta Lafolafo from the Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP) for your generosity in hosting us over the past few days. We are truly grateful. It’s been an epic time of talanoa, connecting, sharing, and building relationships with incredible people who came as participants and left as aiga.

One of the real highlights of this journey is reconnecting, catching up with old school friends like Lafi Mafaufau, and those we’ve walked alongside in youth and community spaces, including Benjamin Work, Charles and Janine Williams. Our friend Dr Penni Wolfgramm and her team from Village Collective for supporting us. I hold deep respect for each of you and the work you do across Aotearoa and beyond continues to inspire.

We now look ahead to the next stops on our journey. Shawn and I are excited to continue creating spaces for reflection, connection, and understanding, sharing the message of loving every human unconditionally, regardless of sexuality, upbringing, or social status.