Fonotī Pati Peni Umaga is a New Zealand musician known for his compositions and musicianship as a bass guitar player, and significant contributions to the music industry, as well as his advocacy for the Pacific and Disabled communities. He works in the disability services sector.
Early life
Umaga's parents were part of the 15,000 Samoans who immigrated to New Zealand between the 1950s to 1970s, first arriving in
Newtown, Wellington
The suburb of Newtown lies in the southern part of Wellington in New Zealand. It lies east of Vogeltown, between Mount Cook and Berhampore. The main thoroughfares of Newtown are Riddiford St, leading from Mount Cook to Berhampore and Mel ...
, before moving to
Wainuiomata
Wainuiomata () is a large Commuter town, dormitory suburb of Lower Hutt, in the Wellington#Wellington metropolitan area, Wellington metropolitan area in New Zealand. Its population was estimated as being as of with a density of 1,600 people ...
in 1964, where housing was affordable. They set up the first Samoan church in the area. Umaga had an accident in 2005 that left him with a disability.
Community involvement
Umaga received the
Queens Service Medal
The King's Service Order () established by royal warrant of Queen Elizabeth II on 13 March 1975, is used to recognise "valuable voluntary service to the community or meritorious and faithful services to the Crown or similar services within the ...
Arts Pasifika Awards
The Arts Pasifika Awards celebrate excellence in Pacific arts in New Zealand. The annual awards are administered by Creative New Zealand and are the only national awards for Pasifika artists across all artforms.
The Arts Pasifika Awards includ ...
, Pacific Toa Award in 2019, and was also inducted into the Attitude Awards Hall of Fame that same year. When he received the award his thoughts about it were: "For the disabled community to be acknowledged in this way, promoting and advocating for full participation and inclusion in our Pacific community in the broader art sector."
In 2021 Umaga wrote a composition that was presented at the
Kia Mau Festival
The Kia Mau Festival, previously called Ahi Kaa Festival, is a biennial performing arts festival in Wellington, New Zealand. In te reo Māori, kia mau is "a call to stay - an invitation to join us".
The festival covers Māori, Pasifika and In ...
called ''Le Taua o le Pepeve’a'' about a special 'kingly fine mat' called Pepeve'a that was gifted to a son by his father that 'launched sibling rivalry and a war over titles and the kingship' in the 16th century. Other music Umaga has created includes a song to address stigma of disability called ''Rise and Shine'' featuring high-school student group 'Tone6'.
Umaga is an Inquiry Senior Pasefika Engagement Advisor for the New Zealand
Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions was established by the New Zealand Government in 2018 to inquire into and report upon allegations of historical abuse to children, y ...
that is 'looking into what happened to children, young people and vulnerable adults in State and faith-based care in New Zealand between the years 1950–99.' As part of this work 'fono' (a Samoan word that relates to meetings or councils) were held to inform the community as well as speaking engagements at organisations such as at Spectrum Care in 2020.
Umaga is a trustee of the
Pacific Music Awards
The Pacific Music Awards are an annual New Zealand music award ceremony since 2005 that honours excellence in Pacific music in New Zealand. The awards honour musicians who primarily work in the Pacific Island style of music from the Music of the ...