In 1993 in the city of Christchurch, a group of Pasifika arts creatives and performers dreamt of starting their own arts and performance group.
It was their dream to bring that Pasifika flair and boldness to the stage.
From then till now, Pacific Underground has gone from small, humble beginnings in a garage, to one of the longest serving Pacific arts groups to date.
And to celebrate their milestone achievement after all these years, it was only fitting they return back home to Christchurch for a collaboration with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, honouring the stories of their parents and grandparents who migrated from the islands to New Zealand.
Held at the Christchurch Town Hall, it was a chance for the group to get together and share memories of the past.
Power couple Tanya Muagututi’a and Posenai Mavaega who have been founding members since the start, reflected on their show but also the memories and stories of the past.
“It’s a nice way to reflect but also to celebrate and really pay homage to our families who came here, and we spent most of our life here. We moved away after the earthquakes, but you know we’re still like 30-40 years here.” Tanya says.
“So being able to be grounded and just being able to share that love of our parents and those who ground us is always amazing.”
“Been a long time working with a lot of these people on stage,” Posenai added.
“Being in the same creative space together, you know we’ve all branched out and done our own projects and our own work. So it’s really nice to come back and see and meet new people, but also a lot of the work that the artists have done over thirty years with Pacific underground.”
Many of today’s Pasifika arts and music luminaries have once been in the Pacific Underground circle, they include the likes of Ladi6, Oscar Kightly, Dave Fane and many more.
The same goes for the many Christchurch musicians and performers who’ve all been with Pacific Underground over the past years.
Band members Hemi Lesatele and Iona Ulaula reflected on the group and the impact it has had on their careers.
“It started from my family. There are seven of us in my family and so, quite musical.
“My older brothers and sisters were part of PU in the early 90’s, and then it kind of just later shot off with me probably in the early 2000s,” Iona says.
“PU has kind of connected all the PU musos, from around Christchurch. The original drummer for PU taught me when I was young. So that kind of started off my career.They played a big part in the community”
As for guitarist Hemi, his memories with Pacific Underground date back to when he first met Posenai through church.
“You’d never have guessed that when you were little that your dad would teach you a few chords that would lead you to big stuff like this,” Hemi says.
“But just blessed to be introduced to the guitar from dad. And growing up, people like Pos, I always looked up to him, and to be invited to join him in the island summer shows back then was a massive honour.”
Before the main show kicked off, an earlier rehearsal was held at the Town Hall for a private viewing for parents and grandparents.
It was a full circle moment for Tanya, having her father and aunt present to witness the show alongside the many other elderly present.
“My brother brought up his children with music because he is a musical man. And I have… we have seen them grow with all this.
“And every time we hear them it’s always something new, and having all the parents and grandparents here, is most memorable for us.” Tanya’s aunt Mamaitaloa Sagapolutele says.
“The community has always been behind the Pacific Underground because their children and grandchildren have grown into that and I thank them and Pacific Underground for bringing these talents into the world.”
Also part of the Pacific Underground show were Posenai and Tanya’s children, Talia Rae and Josephine Mavaega.
Having forged their own careers both in music and on stage, the sisters credited their upbringing through music and arts by their parents in the early days of Pacific Underground.
“I feel very proud of them. Because I think of the story they have and the history they all have and starting from kind of like nothing, starting from the garage and fast forward to here is amazing,” Talia Rae says.
“I remember being constantly surrounded by our aunties and uncles making music and theatre and lots of babies. I was the oldest of all our older cousins so I had to be babysitter,” she recalls.
“I could hear grandad like he was yelling out, and it was really awesome and it was really important,” Josephine added.
Being able to share the stage with their children on the milestone show was a highlight for both Tanya and Posenai.
For them, it was visible proof of their hard work over these years, a legacy which they now can pass on to their children.
And although it may be a sign of the baton passing, they will still remain in the background helping them through their journeys.
“We’ve enjoyed listening to what everyone is doing now, and we know what the next generation is doing and wherever we can support now,” Tanya says.
“We do a lot of mentoring, sometimes it’s all hands on you know, play with a guitar, put some cables in, and some stage managing that’s how we kind of learnt.
“I do recall being told at a certain age that you won’t want to do this anymore. I remember one of our mentors saying that in your 50s you’re not going to be singing. I only remember that now because I am in my 50s and I am still singing.” Tanya chuckles.
“But it’s a lifestyle you know. The Pacific underground is a lifestyle and has always been a lifestyle.”
