Networking with Maori and Pacific Island

audiences

For many Pacific families, Pacific Island churches often act as the centre for social and

cultural activities and they can be useful networks to promote your show or event.   

However, shows with nudity and excessive swearing can be extremely offensive to this

audience, especially if a family group is watching. If you decide that your show is

unsuitable for Pacific Island family groups but still want to reach those Pacific Island

groups to whom the show will appeal, you will probably reach that group effectively

through your general marketing. 

If you decide when you're doing your marketing strategy that you want to reach a wider

Pacific Island audience, including families, you may need to think about adapting aspects

of the production.

Remember that for both Maori and Pacific communities, face to face contact is more

important than for other communities   particularly in the early stages of the working

relationship.

our message

A network based communication strategy works well because word spreads quickly in

Maori and Pacific communities, especially if you've established a sound working

ng y

relationship. Apart from the traditional networking methods, there is also an abundance of

formal and informal e mail networks among Maori and Pacific communities. It's amazing

how far the e mail kumara vine extends. 

icati

A MATTER OF

Commun

CONFIDENCE

In the end, it all comes down

was Pacific Island women.

to know the movers and

letters to Pacific Island

to confidence, playwright

Dianna and her theatre

shakers in Niue education,

organisations, which she

4

Dianna Fuemana says. It

company, newwayintheatre,

church, health and youth.

followed up with a phone

really helps if you know how

accessed this group and

Language is an important

call and then a media pack,

to approach people, and

other Pacific Island

part of the Niue community

including posters and

come across as open about

audiences through Pacific

and so I got fluent Niue

postcards. E mail, posters

what you have and how you

Island organisations (e.g.

speakers to do the

and postcards were also

need their assistance to

Pacific Business Trust,

advertising on Pacific Island

used to reach her target

promote your work. 

Pacific student associations

radio stations and translate

audiences.

Dianna's one woman show,

at tertiary institutions),

some of the information in

 We also presented a little

Mapaki, was first performed

education, health and social

the flyers to pass on to

blurb about the show to

at BATS Theatre in 1999.

services, churches and

others in the community.

various groups at their

Since then, its international

personal contacts.

Word of mouth is a huge

monthly meetings,  she says.

performances include Greece

 For me, being involved in

goodie to promote Pacific

 This ensured that key

(Women's International

the Niue community was

Island shows. Make sure you

people in that particular

Playwrights Conference,

really important when it

invite people with the

community knew about the

2000), the United States

came to marketing because

biggest mouths to the

show. It also put a face to

(2001) and Hawaii (2002).

that's the culture I brought

opening so they can spread

the names and the flyers

In its Wellington and

with me on to the stage, 

the word quickly. 

that we gave to these 

Auckland seasons, a key

Dianna says. Along with my

In terms of direct

people and asked them to

target audience for Mapaki

family and friends, I needed

marketing, Dianna sent

distribute. 

43

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