Cultural group Puku Rangi Tea from Rapa Nui Easter Island are providing a rare opportuntiy to experience theirculture with performances in Blenheim, Wellington and Tauranga this coming week. They have traveled from one of the most isolated inhabited islands in the world.
Remote? It's 7000 kilometres across the Pacific from New Zealand, and another 3500 kilometres or so to South America.
Yet its indigenous population are considered cousins of New Zealand Māori. Part of the same great waves of Polynesian migrations across the Pacific.
Joining us on Culture 101 is one of that culture's principle advocates: Chilean ambassador to New Zealand, Manahi Pakarati.
Ambassador Manahi Pakarati is the only diplomat of Polynesian Rapanui ancestry in the Chilean Foreign Service and became ambassador here in 2024.
Pakarati was Chilean consul here between 2001 and 2006 when she gained a Master's degree in International Relations from Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington.
She has since represented Chile at the United Nations, in Mexico and worked as Director General of Ceremonial and Protocol, alongside the Chilean president.
Embassy of Chile is also currently coordinating the national annual Latin American and Spanish Film Festival. It occurs over ten cities and features, for free, eight films between now and November, from eight countries. For information on screenings go to www.lasffnz.co.nz.
