Christine Ammunson is a Sāmoan New Zealander. She lives with her family at Papawai Pā in Wairarapa.
Our communities need us to listen to the people who have dedicated their lives to making ours better – not those who only want to exploit our fears.
I know the humanity of New Zealanders is far greater than the zero empathy of a cartoonist. But it still hurts.
In the space of days a waitress is racially abused in Auckland and a deaf student mocked by his peers in Canterbury. In both cases the apologies fall short.
We've become used to Samoan characters as peripheral bad guys. But Hobbs & Shaw showed us someone who is us. And he kicks arse.
From meeting other former foster kids I know that I was one of the lucky ones. Today we have to put survivors front and centre of the inquiry into abuse in state care
As America marks one of their greatest orators on Martin Luther King Day, Christine Ammunson looks back on her trip to Georgetown University for the World Speechwriters Conference in October.
Christine Ammunson is a Samoan New Zealander who was brought up on The Black and White Minstrel Show, Golliwogs and Little Black Sambo books. You're allowed to let the past go without disrespecting those you love, she writes.
