Outcomes and Impacts of #LIANZA19: PIMN​ reports back from conference report 

Fakaalofa atu Kia ora Kia Orana Ko na mauri Malo e lelei Ni sa Bula Taloha ni Talofa lava! Warm greetings!

When Helen asked Judy and me to write some words regarding the outcomes and impacts from conference, I’d have to admit I wasn’t entirely sure how to focus the writing. However, after receiving an email from Judy, I was able to pinpoint the focus: I would look at our application to convene LIANZA Conference 2019 (created in 2017) and see whether we achieved what we mandated ourselves to do. Members of the LIANZA PIMN komiti were asked to give their opinions on this so it is not just my voice speaking.

Application: PIMN is proposing for … a different model of convenorship that is group based … collective responsibility rather than an individual based effort … this inclusiveness and collectiveness recognises that our strength comes from many not from one.  ‘E le sua se lolo i se popo e tasi’ (literally ‘coconut oil is made from many not one coconut’) ... We will be drawing on Pacific indigenous models or frameworks of working, like Ula (Samoan) and Kakala (Tongan), utilising concepts of ‘Fa’asoalaupule’ (Samoan for shared authority) which rely on Talanoa (formal and informal communications) and Va (relationships) in our approaches …
  • We were able to stay true to this way of working with the LIANZA PIMN komiti convening the conference. 
  • We were committed to a Pasifika way of working and stuck to the heart of that. This sometimes-brought disagreement as we had to navigate between two world-views of working – the Euro-centric way of working, and a Pacific way of working, but we were able to do so carefully.
  • We focused on having opportunities to engage with Pacific values and principles in working with Pacific communities – bringing communities together under the umbrella of our conference theme.
  • The colour, Pacificness, song, dance, feel, vibe … was just fabulous. 
  • The speakers were amazing; the theme was on point. It goes to show you can, and should mesh together culture and learning. In fact, I think it enhances the learning in so many positive ways. 
  • The interweaving of both the Māori and Pacific Island traditions during the pōhiri and the poroporoaki process supported by our Tainui kaumatua Martin Cooper (holding mana whenua in that space) was the first of its kind experience at a LIANZA conference.
Application: ‘ … conference will be hosted in the world’s largest Polynesian city … and we would love to see this … co-convened by a group of Pasifika librarians and information managers … [there is] a great opportunity to showcase … the cultural and linguistic richness of Manukau … with experiences participants would not see in the CBD. We see our communities and whanau/fanau to be an integral part of this conference, and they will feature in this conference in the welcome, specific events and other programme activities. Our whanau/fanau communities and families are important to the life of libraries. They will be visible and they will be integral to this conference.’
While the expression of Pacificness at the conference came through strong, we believed a South Auckland heart would also help lift the character of conference. Multiple groups from the region were invited to share their stories and services, and this alofa/ofa was a distinguishing feature of the conference and its success. ​
Application: ‘PIMN membership is diverse and we bring different skills, knowledge and experiences to this undertaking.’
The value in working with the diversity in the PIMN komiti was amazing – Cook Island, Fijian, Māori, Samoan and Tongan; public libraries, school libraries and tertiary libraries; advisers, coaches, librarians, managers and specialists, etc. Having such a wide range of skill sets, alongside guidance from Ana LIANZA Executive Director and Hayley from Paardekoppers Conference Services, contributed to us achieving what we set out to do.
Application: ‘This opportunity will assist to attract more Pasifika into the information management industry, join LIANZA, as well as build the capacity of members and help advance their careers.’
The conference helped to bolster the work of our other Pacific colleagues in different parts of the country. Without any depth to it yet, there is talk of having some sort of a Pasifika Librarians conference as a result of LIANZA Conference 2019.

I felt immensely proud when reading our application and perceiving that, in the two years of planning, we had achieved what we set out to do. It was not easy, and was stressful even in the best of times, but the heart of the conference remained steadfast, and the execution, we feel, was done exceptionally well.

Thank you to LIANZA for your trust in us, thank you to all those involved in this years’ conference (participants, speakers, presenters, performers and administration, etc.) and thank you to ‘Our Families, Our Communities and Our Libraries’ – this would not have been possible without you all.
And in Pacific fashion, e fa’ai’u a’u upu, e momoli ai le fa’afetai ma le viiga i le tatou Atua – I end these words giving thanks and praise to our God.

Fa’afetai tele, Fakafetai, Fakaaue lahi atu, Malo aupito, Meitaki maata, Vinaka Vakalevu,

Richy Misilei, LIANZA 2019 Conference co-convenor


Richy has been working at Tupu Youth Library for more than ten years. He says,

​‘Librarian’ isn’t an obvious career path for guys – especially young Pacific guys. Before coming into this industry, I hadn’t placed a single thought on working in libraries and ended up here by accident. I originally studied business and when I was finishing up my degree, a friend mentioned a young adult librarian role was going at Tupu Youth Library. I only intended to stay for two years or so, but ended up loving the role, library and the community and eventually became manager!’
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