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Story: Samoans

‘Samoans’ T-shirt

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‘Samoans’ T-shirt

Caught between traditional Samoan and contemporary New Zealand values, many young Samoans take on the new ‘PI’ (Pacific Island) identity. This combines elements from their parents’ culture with contemporary urban music, and street fashion such as this T-shirt.

Using this item

Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

by Melanie Lovell-Smith

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How to cite this page

Lupematasila Melani Anae, Samoans – New Zealand-born identity, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/1578/samoans-t-shirt (accessed 3 June 2026).

Story by Lupematasila Melani Anae, published 4 March 2009, reviewed and revised 7 September 2022 with assistance from Lupematasila Melani Anae.