Niuean pioneer reflects on legacy of culture, community and connection

Former politician, farmer, photographer, and cultural leader Bill Vakaafi Motufoou of Niue has spent decades weaving together the threads of tradition, community, and memory.

From co-founding a secondary school festival in Auckland during the 1970s to becoming Niue’s “unofficial photographer,” Motufoou’s life has been dedicated to preserving cultural ties and building a legacy for future generations.

Bill Vakaafi Motufoou and his late wife Rauru Vakaafi (nee Inamata). Photo/Inangaro Vakaafi.

“Polyfest was just a small idea when we started. Back then, it was about coming together and performing for the love of our culture. To see what it has become today is incredible.”

Polyfest beginnings

Speaking to Island Time co-host Tofiga Fepulea’i, Motufoou shared how he was sent away from Niue as a young man.

“[I] started to get a bit naughty back home when I got deported to New Zealand to my parents way back in the early 70s.”

At Hilary College in Ōtara, now Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate, he helped establish a Polynesian club.

Hillary College cultural group in the 1970s, founding members of Polyfest. Photo/Inangaro Vakaafi.

“All the Polys got together and formed a group and performed mostly Sāmoan and Cook Island and Māori songs.

"There were only about two of us in the group and we only had one song, but we learned to sing and dance along with our colleagues for a few years.

“We used to go to have a few competitions down at the Auckland Town Hall.

"There were only about four schools at the time and that was the beginning of what became Polyfest later on.”

The secondary school cultural festival is now one of the largest Polynesian festivals in the world. At this festival, he met his wife, a moment he fondly describes as life-changing.

“Polyfest gave me more than just a sense of identity. It gave me my family.”

Watch the Bill Vakaafi Motufoou's full interview below.

After a brief return to Niue, Motufoou decided to stay and build his life on the island.

He turned his focus to farming and co-founded the Niue Island Organic Farmers Association with his wife. They pioneered taro exports and, more recently, vegetable farming.

Political career

Motufoou is a former politician and Cabinet Minister in Niue’s government.

Before his political career, he served as General Secretary of the Mutalau Village Council.

Motufoou entered politics in 1999, winning a seat in the Niue Legislative Assembly as the representative for his village, Mutalau.

He was re-elected multiple times and served as Minister of Works, Agriculture, and Fisheries in Young Vivian's government.

Niue's Fale Fono I in central Alofi. Photo/RNZ/Sally Round.

In 2004, he represented Niue at a senior officers' meeting of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation.

Despite being re-elected unopposed in 2008, he was not included in the late Sir Toke Talagi's Cabinet.

His political career concluded in 2017 after narrowly losing his seat to Maureen Melekitama.

The ‘unofficial photographer’

Over the years, Motufoou has documented Niue’s history, capturing everything from airport arrivals to cultural celebrations.

He said while farming anchors his life, photography became his passion.

Bill Vakaafi Motufoou doing what he loves at the 2018 ASB Polyfest. Photo/Facebook/Bill Vakaafi Motufoou.

“I see photography as a way to keep our stories alive.

“People come and go, but photos help us remember them, especially now with so many Niueans living overseas. It’s a way to stay connected.”

Through Facebook, he shares these snapshots with the global Niuean community.

His albums are treasured, particularly by families wanting to revisit moments with loved ones who have passed.

A legacy of connection

Motufoou shows no signs of slowing down.

He visited Wellington for the first time in over a decade, gathering farming supplies and reconnecting with diaspora communities.

Motufoou takes a snapshot of his Niue lawn bowls team. Photo/Facebook/Bill Vakaafi Motufoou.

He manages a lawn bowls team and plans to participate in the Oceania Lawn Bowls Challenge next year.

But the upcoming 50th Polyfest anniversary in 2025 excites him most.

“I’ll be there with my camera.

“It’s where it all started for me, and I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”

His daughter Inangaro Vakaafi, an active member of the Niuean community across Aotearoa and a host on 531pi radio, continues his legacy of cultural preservation.

Motufoou's immediate family members with daughter Inangaro Vakaafi [bottom right]. Photo/Inangaro Vakaafi.

“I’m proud of her. She’s keeping the spirit alive for the next generation.”

For Motufoou, the essence of his life’s work lies in community.

Whether through farming, photography, or cultural celebrations, he remains devoted to strengthening the bonds between Niue and its people around the world.

“We are a small island, but we have a big heart.

“If we hold onto our traditions and help each other, we will always stay strong.”