Lui and Ane Ponifasio are pastors of LifeChurch Manurewa, and Lui serves as the APA-CCCNZ Auckland Mission Enabler. Both Ane and Lui were awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for their services to the Pacific community in the 2020 New Year’s Honours.
Lui and Ane established Radio Samoa 1593AM, which is a Samoan language station that also airs Tongan language programmes on the weekends. In addition, they founded the Samoa Times newspaper that circulates not just in New Zealand but also in Australia.
Lui and Ane recently celebrated 20 years of service to the growing Samoan community throughout New Zealand and Australia in the provision of political, social and economic views and opinions in the Samoan language.
The Ponifasios have run their social enterprise business by connecting the Samoan communities and providing educational programming for audiences within New Zealand and internationally to improve people’s general welfare and raise awareness for Samoan communities. In addition, they have used their platforms to raise funds to support a number of community causes whether in sports, health, education or promoting faith and cultural wellbeing for the Samoan community in Aotearoa.
They have been instrumental in pioneering the vision of Pacific2Nations, a global missions movement established in New Zealand to mobilise the Pacific region and especially young people to engage in global missions. In addition, both have been involved in community projects in South Auckland and have sponsored many events and organisations, and are well known as community leaders and role models.
CCCNZ warmly congratulations Ane and Lui on this award. We're so grateful for all that you do for our movement of churches, campsites and support ministries.
