Tracie | Māngere, Auckland

“Oh, I’ve got a lot of stories. So, I’m proud to be Samoan. I have a lot of Samoan tattoos. This is my Samoan name, Siimatuu. I’m named after my great-grand-aunty who lived to be 102.

My father and mother came to New Zealand over 40 years ago to bring a better life for our family, and during that period, we own our own home, we own two properties in Samoa, we’ve survived Measles in Samoa, and we’ve also currently survived Corona. There’s no deaths in Samoa. So, I’m very, very proud of my heritage.

I grew up in Ōtara, South Auckland. I went to Bairds Primary, Bairds Intermediate. I’m a student of Ōtāhuhu College, Penrose High School, which is currently One Tree Hill, I believe. Auckland Girl’s Grammar. I’m also a qualified fashion designer. I’ve travelled to Dubai, UAE, Singapore, Australasia. I’m very proud of who I am. I’m currently working for the Country Road Group. So, I work part-time but along the way I’ve done a lot of things. I’m also a professional dancer, and I teach not just in New Zealand, because they can’t afford me, and hospitality. I’ve also managed bars in Dubai. 

I just believe that if you don’t know who you are and where you’re from, you’ll become very ignorant as an adult, because you won’t be open to other cultures and you won’t be a confident, strong person in life, in general.

I was born and raised in creativity. My mum used to be the music teacher at my primary school, and I also attended OMAC, which is the Ōtara Music and Art Centre. I also go to a lot of shows at the Māngere Art Centre. So, I think it’s really important to teach the youth on who they are, to become stronger, so they’re not influenced by other things in the world that perhaps may make them go astray, or just become less confident in themselves, because knowing yourself is all about self-esteem.”