Why “Moana Oceania”?
Background to the name “Moana Oceania”:
The name Moana Oceania was initiated during the research and development process of the Creative New Zealand funded book, Crafting Aotearoa: A Cultural History of Making in New Zealand and the Wider Moana Oceania by Karl Chitham, Dr Damian Skinner and Kolokesa Uafā Māhina-Tuai.
A talanoa was held with Moana Oceania thinkers, movers and shakers in the cultural and creative sector around the use of the term ‘Moana’ in place of ‘Pacific’. Julia Mage‘au Gray of Mekeo, PNG heritage spoke strongly against this term for the simple reason that Moana is not part of her vernacular. She also spoke about Oceania having more meaning to her as a term.
Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu Professor ‘Ōkusitino Maāhina was also part of this talanoa where he was championing the bravery needed for us to collectively broker new ground by moving away from imposed terminologies for good and embracing our own Indigenous languages. Further discussions post-talanoa with Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu led to a decision by the authors of Crafting Aotearoa, Karl, Damian and Kolokesa to go with Moana Oceania for the following reasons:
“The name ‘Pacific’ was given to this region by a Portuguese navigator and explorer in 1521. Ferdinand Magellan’s ‘Mar Pacifico’ - the peaceful sea - emphasises a narrow perception of the peoples and places of Moana Oceania as peaceful, tranquil, passive, which is not how Indigenous peoples from this region see themselves. Pacific has become Pasifika, Pasefika or Pasifiki, but these transliterations are derived from the same root. Moana means Ocean in the Māori language and in other island nations such as the Cook Islands, Hawai’i, Sāmoa and Tonga. While it can never be truly inclusive because of the diversity of languages and cultures of Moana Oceania peoples, it has meaning and relevance to this place.
Oceania is another foreign name that was first used in the early nineteenth century. Today it is a popular alternative for Pacific because it suggests a sea of islands connected to each other, rather than isolated islands in a far sea. It is a name that is more meaningful to island nations that do not have the word moana in their languages. Together, Moana Oceania empowers and privileges Indigenous perspectives. It embodies a worldview that is strongly connected to Aotearoa but has its roots in the wider region.”
Karl Chitham, Damian Skinner & Kolokesa Uafā Māhina-Tuai