Victoria University film and media student DASHA TOALEPAIALII spent a week at SPASIFIK as an intern where she got to experience firsthand journalism in the real world, and Auckland’s unique Pacific hospitality.
On a Monday morning with no expectations whatsoever, I made my way to the SPASIFIK office in Auckland city. I was introduced to the team and as the first intern from outside of Auckland; their first move to help me settle in was to put up a Blues rugby poster right next to my desk. Apart from that, the team helped make me feel really welcome.
I was sitting in, just to remind myself where I was. Then I found out SPASIFIK editor Peter Rees went to my University (Victoria University in Wellington) and was a childhood friend of my first cousin. If that was a surprise, I was in for another after finding out reporter Vaimoana Tapaleao was related through marriage to one of my cousin’s close friends. Comfortable in my surroundings, I was ready to start my internship and observe SPASIFIK at work.
The next day I was lucky enough to be given a separate space to work in. This helped as it made me feel like I didn’t need supervision. I’m not sure whether this was the case or whether the team was actually too busy preparing to meet the deadline to care about what the intern from Wellington was doing.
But they kept me busy.
I was given the task of compiling an events calendar and subbing copy for the website. The next day I was asked to interview Maori actress Miriama Smith, one of the celebrities on TV One’s Dancing with the Stars. I was given a choice between her and former league star and boxer Monty Betham. I know what most of you would be thinking….uh, hullo Monty Betham? But Miriama was a laugh and really down to earth – a real nice person.
One of the unique things I found about SPASIFIK in the week I was there was the way the magazine operates like a family slash community. It was much different to the ruthless ‘anything-for-a-good-story’ reputation associated with mainstream newspapers and magazines.
The magazine manages to establish a relationship with every person involved in every article and does their best to help make that person feel comfortable. For example when we visited Pacific Radio Network in Ponsonby, a NiuFM presenter felt so comfortable with us he was able to overcome his shyness and ask us whether we had any food because he was hungry. This was reciprocated through all the support given by every person I met. I can’t remember meeting someone new and not having them offer their card and their encouragement.
After a week of meeting new people, receiving excellent advice and eating countless Dunkin’ Donuts (you can’t get them in Wellington), I said goodbye to the team and left with a renewed confidence and direction. It was just the tonic before starting back at uni again and continuing my Film and Media studies.
Following the advice of Samoan photographer Evotia Tamua, one of the many incredible people I met whilst at SPASIFIK, I would like to say to anyone who has the motivation to want to do something with their time, whatever it is, go and get it. Teach yourself if you have to. And if it happens to involve an internship at SPASIFIK, you’ll be just as lucky as I have been. And no, they didn’t pay me to say that! And because you never know when the next opportunity to write will comes around, I’d like to make a shout out to Dad, Mum, Lomas, Jane and ALL the family. P.G.dubb, Moana for being the bestest and a big, big thank you to the SPASIFIK team.
