The award was presented at the New Zealand Leadership Awards in Auckland on Thursday night, 4th September. The event was organised by Robert Walters in partnership with the Graeme Dingle Foundation. The awards recognise leaders across various sectors who drive excellence, growth, and innovation.
The recipients of this year’s New Zealand Pasifika Leadership Award say they are honoured to be recognised and highlight the importance of ancestral sacrifice, authenticity, and indigenous leadership. The Pasifika Leadership Award included joint recipients Pacific Media Network (PMN) Chief Executive Don Mann and Dagmar Vaikalafi Dyck, the Assistant Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), and nominee Maseina Koneferenisi, of the Masterton District Council.
Importance of award
Speaking with William Terite on Pacific Mornings, Mann highlighted the importance of the recognition for the Pacific community. He says this “wonderful recognition” belongs to everyone who has contributed to PMN’s long history, which spans more than 30 years.
“It's due recognition for everyone who's been a part of PMN but also for Pacific people who take up leadership spaces right across various sectors.
I was fortunate to be standing alongside Dagmar and Maseina last night. It’s recognition for a lot of things and gratitude to be there as well,” Mann says.
Don offered advice to Pacific youth
Don emphasised the importance of humility and courage, referencing a Tongan proverb about gratitude: Ko e koloa ‘a Tonga ko e fakamālō, meaning the expression of gratitude is the treasure of Tonga. But he says that gratitude and humility are not passive qualities.
“The thing about being grateful, is that it doesn’t relate to inaction, or being happy with your lot. Because gratitude requires action, requires courage, and you stick up for yourself. If we think about some of the troubles around the world, the notion of peace requires quite courageous action,” Mann says.
“You have to have a go. What you have now and what you are with now, doesn't have to be that way. Don't settle for people telling you it always has to be that way, break the mould. Pasifika judges Leo Foliaki, Pauline Winter and Sir Michael Jones played an important part last night.
“Without people like them pushing themselves into the space, it wouldn't allow for Maseina, Dagmar, and I to be in the room and it wouldn't allow a portal for others to come behind us," Mann says.
This article is a shortened version from Pasific Media Network.
Read the full article and watch an interview with Don here.
Learn more about the New Zealand Leadership Awards here.