Tackling a health emergency: Pacific Tag tournament raises dementia awareness

The driving force behind the Pacific Tag movement is organising a one-day tournament in Auckland this Saturday to raise awareness for dementia and support Pacific caregivers.

The Le Malaga One Day Tag Tournament (LMODTT) will take place at the Auckland Marist Rugby Club within the Mount Wellington War Memorial Reserve on Valentine’s Day.

It runs from 9am to 5pm and features a mix of competitive and social grades.

Beyond sport, the goal is to shed light on the realities of navigating dementia within Pacific families.

The support group was founded by Sapini Unoi, a Sāmoan caregiver, who gained a following on social media by documenting the daily challenges of caring for his 75-year-old mother, Mutalau Unoi.

Speaking with Tuilagi William Leolahi on Pacific Huddle, Lusia Paselio, the Director of Pacific Tag and organiser of the LMODTT, says the sport is an ideal vehicle to reach communities.

Watch Sapini and Mutalau's full interview below.

“Tag is a game that is not biased, not prejudiced to any sort of body type, nationalities, or experience,” Paselio says.

“Anybody can play tag, young and old, and that's the most favourite thing that I love about the sport.”

The event is family-focused, with a Masters Men’s grade for competitive young men, a Family grade combining youth and elders, and an Open Mixed grade for siblings and young adults.

Listen to Lusia Paselio’s full interview below.

“So to have not only that demographic and the different age groups of players, but [also] the supporters turning up to be able to share that, it's the best platform for us.

“We might not be able to tap fully into the whole of dementia but we want to make dementia known to people and let people know… that, ‘you're not alone, we've got a lot of people that are going through this, and if you do need any help, we are here to support you’.”

Research from the University of Auckland shows three New Zealanders develop dementia every hour, about 500 each week.

By 2050, nearly 170,000 people are expected to live with the condition, with rates climbing fastest among Māori, Pacific, and Asian communities in Aotearoa.

For many Sāmoan families, caregiving is a role inherited through cultural duty than formal training. Unoi, the founder of Le Malaga, says he took on the responsibility nine years ago.

He says in Pacific households, caring for elders is a "sacred duty passed down rather than openly discussed".

Paselio, a former caregiver of her late father, says Pacific communities often care for loved ones without professional guidance.

The Tag Tournament will also include food vendors and live entertainment alongside the matches, which offer a community celebration while raising awareness.

According to research from the University of Auckland, nearly 170,000 New Zealanders are projected to be living with dementia by 2050, as rates climb fastest among Māori, Pacific, and Asian communities.. Photo/Unsplash

Paselio encourages everyone to attend: “We've got you covered. Come and watch an exciting tag be played. Come on down, we'd love to see you there.”

The Le Malaga One Day Tag Tournament kicks off on Saturday, 14 February 2026, at the Auckland Marist Rugby Club, Mount Wellington War Memorial Fields, 22-50 Dunkirk Road, Panmure. The event is open to the public from 9am to 5pm.