Kupega o Moana welcomed whānau, health professionals, community organisations and practitioners to Upper Hutt for Ofania 2026, a Pacific symposium focused on giving pēpē and their families the strongest possible start in life.
Held at Whirinaki Whare Taonga on 1 July, this year’s theme, Prioritising Moana Babies, brought people together for a day of talanoa, learning and connection, with a particular focus on maternal and paternal perinatal mental health and wellbeing and the important first years of a child’s life.
Children’s Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad was among the speakers, alongside parents, practitioners and community voices. A highlight of the day was hearing directly from mothers who shared their own experiences of parenting, change and wellbeing, reinforcing the importance of listening to whānau when shaping the services intended to support them.
Ofania also reflected the Pacific understanding that learning happens in many different ways. Creative spaces, cultural activities, provider stalls and panel conversations ran throughout the day, while Pasifika artist Leo Semau and author Bennett Pomana were among those contributing to the programme.
The symposium also saw Kupega o Moana launch Lole the Brave Little Laumei, a new children’s resource designed to help young children and their parents talk about worry, emotions, courage and emotional regulation.
For Kupega o Moana, one of the most encouraging outcomes was seeing relationships form between whānau, community organisations and professionals who may work in different parts of the health and social service system but share the same goal.
Following the response to this year’s symposium, Ofania will return in 2027 as a two-day event, creating more space for whānau voices, Pacific knowledge, practitioners, research, creativity and collaboration.
Kupega o Moana hopes Ofania will continue to grow as a place where people can learn from one another, strengthen connections and work together to improve outcomes for Pacific pēpē and whānau.
Ofania 2027 – join the village.
A “thank you” to Michael Sua for sending this article to The Upper Hutt Connection.
20/08/26
The Upper Hutt Connection 