4/4 Pacific Music + Arts Volume 1:3 April 2016 | Page 12

the same time. It is obvious how
they compliment, motivate and
support each other. I enjoyed
hearing about their journey and
gaining an insight into their
creative practice.

THE ART JOURNEY
Emily and Vea were born in
Hamilton and grew up living
between New Zealand and

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Tonga. They confirm it was a
good upbringing in Hamilton,
especially growing up on a
farm. Dad was one of the only
Tongan farmers around and they
were also one of two Polynesian
families in the area. As a
family, they spent nearly every
Christmas holidays in Ha’apai,
Tonga. They spent quite a few
years living in Tonga, while their
parents did VSA, where they lived

on the “littlest island” ‘Eua and at
Toloa on the main island.
Vea: “I always look at it as
being really blessed, because
we literally had the best of both
worlds.”
Emily: “There is something totally
different about being brought up
in a place like Tonga, especially
on ‘Eua. The freedom that the