Ms Lisa Taouma, ONZM, of Auckland, for services to Pacific arts and the screen industry
Lisa Taouma is the producer and director behind the Polyfest series, the Pacific youth series ‘Fresh’, five documentaries, the feature film ‘Teine Sa’, and two short films. She created the ground-breaking site ‘The Coconet TV’, which has connected Pacific peoples globally and is the premium online platform for Pasifika content in New Zealand. Her documentary ‘Marks of Mana’, on the female history of tatau (Samoan tattoo), has won awards at international festivals. She has published academically on the arts, curated artworks and performances, and been a keynote speaker across different disciplines. Ms Taouma has been a member of the Pacific Islanders in Film, Television and Online Board, Pacific Islands Media Association New Zealand, Pacific Islanders in Communication, Creative New Zealand Arts Panel, and Tautai Arts Trust Board.