Lagi-Maama Academy and Consultancy is a cultural organization based in New Zealand, set up by Toluma’anave Barbara Makuati-Afitu, of Samoan heritage, and Kolokesa Uafā Māhina-Tuai, of Tongan heritage.

Toluma’anave has a background in stakeholder management and community engagement and Kolokesa in Art History, Social Anthropology and Museums and Heritage Studies.

As Moana Oceania women of Tongan and Samoan heritage they were gifted the name Lagi-Maama to symbolically and literally represent ancestral lineages and connections, but also to genuinely reflect the foundation and approach of the areas that they work in, and in true service of our Moana Oceania peoples.

Lagi = symbolically means Sāmoa and literally means sky - realm of heavenly,
godly or divine beings. It also references the future and associated with
taboo & chiefliness.


Maama = symbolically means Tonga and literally means lights. It is linked to
earth and the domain of earthly, humanly or secular beings. It also references
the present and associated with enlightenment.


Pulotu = symbolically means Fiji. It references the past and is regarded as the
ancestral homeland and after-world of the peoples of Maama (Tonga) and
Lagi (Sāmoa).

Lagi-Maama Academy and Consultancy is a cultural organization based in New Zealand, set up by Toluma&rsquo;anave Barbara Makuati-Afitu, of Samoan heritage, and Kolokesa Uafā Māhina-Tuai, of Tongan heritage.
Toluma&rsquo;anave has a background in stakeholder management and community engagement and Kolokesa in Art History, Social Anthropology and Museums and Heritage Studies.
As Moana Oceania women of Tongan and Samoan heritage they were gifted the name Lagi-Maama to symbolically and literally represent ancestral lineages and connections, but also to genuinely reflect the foundation and approach of the areas that they work in, and in true service of our Moana Oceania peoples.
Lagi = symbolically means Sāmoa and literally means sky - realm of heavenly, godly or divine beings. It also references the future and associated with taboo &amp; chiefliness.
 Maama = symbolically means Tonga and literally means lights. It is linked to earth and the domain of earthly, humanly or secular beings. It also references the present and associated with enlightenment.
 Pulotu = symbolically means Fiji. It references the past and is regarded as the ancestral homeland and after-world of the peoples of Maama (Tonga) and Lagi (Sāmoa).

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