Pull of The Rock: ‘Descendants of Niue’ reclaim and reconnect with home and heritage

For many Niueans living in the diaspora, home exists more in stories than in places they have set foot on.

Descendants of Niue - Tau Hologa Niue, a landmark new docuseries, is changing that.

Produced by Kingston Productions in partnership with the Broadcasting Corporation of Niue (BCN), the five-part series follows Niueans living on the island and overseas, exploring identity, heritage, and the magnetic “pull of The Rock”.

Funded by NZ On Air and Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited (PCBL), the series premiered at the Māngere Arts Centre last week.

It was produced for Pasifika TV, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Niue’s self-governance.

Sandra Kailahi, founder of Kingston Productions, and Vela Manusaute, a renowned writer and director, joined Island Time to discuss the significant impact of Niuean storytelling.

Watch the Sandra Kailahi and Vela Manusaute's full interview below.

For Manusaute, the series was a personal pilgrimage. Bringing his 17-year-old son, Hector-Jack, to Niue became a journey of rediscovery and connection.

“It’s always emotional just to find a connection with my son. Actually at the launch, that was the first time I heard him speak. I’m looking at him like, ‘What?! Are you the same kid at home that does not want to talk to me?’

“For him to just articulate his thoughts, it made me a proud parent.”

Kailahi says the series highlights a rare, vulnerable side of the “Pasifika male experience”, documenting the strengthening bond between father and son amid healing and reconciliation.

The descendants

The docuseries also features prominent Tagata Niue, including:

• Alex Tarrant: Star of NCIS Hawai’i and DMV reconnects through his grandmother, Ioana Mahikusifa Atina Fatatautama Tarrant.

• Aivale Cole: A world-class opera singer traces her ancestral roots in Hakupu.

• Coral Pasisi: A climate advocate and marine scientist demonstrates that an international career can thrive from The Rock.

• Viarn Motufoou: Representing the next generation, embodies the future of the island’s youth.

With a predominantly Niuean crew,Kailahi emphasised the importance of Niuean voices behind the camera.

“These are Niuean stories told by Niueans. We understand the migration story, we understand what it’s like to be in the diaspora, and the longing to belong and to go to the homeland.

“The great thing about these stories is it doesn't matter where you are or if you were born in Niue, if you were born overseas, if you have any Niuean blood in you, you are Niuean.”

Resilience in the face of the elements

Filming on Niue brought its challenges.

Torrential rain and unpredictable winds delayed anniversary ceremonies and interviews, adding an extra layer of authenticity to the project.

“It was almost like, are the ancestors trying to tell us something? Are they happy or are they a little bit annoyed?”

Launching on Niue’s BCN this month, the series will be available across the Pacific via Pasifika TV, with plans for an Aotearoa release soon.

Descendants of Niue is more than a docuseries, it is a celebration of heritage, resilience, and the enduring pull of home.