Fili Fepulea’i

Fili Fepulea’i (Aigagalefili Fepulea'i Tapua'i) is a South Auckland-raised urban orator and activist. She is a co-founder of climate change activism collective 4 Tha Kulture @4thaaculture.

She heralds the fight from Pasifika living in South Auckland and uses her artistry to inspire, motivate and strengthen her community in their fight against climate change. Elevating her voice through art, she is able to show the dire effects of climate change from a whole different perspective.

“So if I had to lay down my life for our culture, homelands and people, I’d die for this in a heartbeat. For the way raised brown fists represent the strength in our struggle. For the way my sister’s voice carries resilience through Samoan hymns. For the way my friends’ flags wave like water weaves between our islands. Because Pasifika have protest etched into their bones. The fact that we breathe even after colonisation tried to wipe us out is protest. The fact that we choose to be unapologetically loud, brown and proud even when this whitewashed world tried to water us down is protest.

We are no captives. We are no victims. We are here. Whether indigenous from the islands or indigenous in diaspora, we will fight.”

Fili is a young woman making waves and she will not be silenced. To be born and raised in South Auckland and then lead the youth in this fight against climate change is not an easy task but her passion for her art and culture to stay alive is what fuels her to take action.