As Pacific flags flutter from car windows across New Zealand, the Rugby League World Cup is becoming a powerful public celebration of Pacific identity.
Across Auckland, Pacific flags are flying everywhere, from cars and houses to entire neighbourhoods. The Rugby League World Cup has brought another wave of Pacific pride to the streets of Aotearoa.
University of Auckland Pacific Studies senior lecturer Dr Caleb Panapa Marsters (Cook Islands Māori) says the display of Pacific pride is one of the things he loves most about international rugby league.
“I love seeing the flags and jerseys and hearing the sirens. It’s such a fun and joyful time for our communities. You’ve got friends and families getting together, houses, cars, even fire trucks and trees covered in flags, with people proudly wearing their colours.”
The passion has extended beyond the World Cup teams themselves.
“I’ve seen Niue flags at the parades, Tokelau flags, Tino Rangatiratanga flags. I even saw a Mexican flag. There’s so much excitement around the competition, and it’s about much more than rugby league.”
Marsters says these celebrations are a reminder of the strong transnational connections Pacific communities continue to maintain with their homelands, particularly within the diaspora.
“What’s really interesting is that the teams representing Sāmoa, Tonga, Fiji and the Cook Islands are largely made up of players born here in Aotearoa or Australia,” he says. “Only a handful of players were actually born in the nations they’re representing.
“The pride they hold for their homelands and the jersey is unmatched.
“These are young men who have spent most of their lives growing up in Auckland, Sydney, Brisbane or elsewhere across Australia and Aotearoa. Yet their connection, pride and sense of responsibility to their homelands remains incredibly strong. I think that says something really beautiful about our cultures and collective values.”
He says Pacific identities have never been confined by national borders.
“We carry our homelands and ancestors with us in so many ways. You may have been born and raised in Auckland or Sydney but still have a really strong sense of belonging to Sāmoa, Tonga, Fiji or the Cook Islands.”
Marsters points to the work of Cook Islands scholar Dr Emma Powell and the Cook Islands concept of ‘akapapa’anga (ancestry), which is not only about where we come from, but also how our ancestors continue to live through us.
“Our ancestors live through us, through our names, stories, relationships, responsibilities and the way we live our lives.
“I think you can see that in these players. When they pull on those jerseys, they’re not just representing themselves or a country on a map. They bring their families, loved ones and the generations who came before them onto that field. In doing so, they’re inspiring the next generation to carry that legacy forward, hopefully for generations to come.
“And it’s the same for our communities supporting these teams. When people are flying their flags, wearing their colours, singing their songs and dancing, they’re celebrating those connections. I love that it’s often our young people who are the loudest and proudest.”
It’s a story that extends beyond the Pacific teams themselves.
“The Kiwis and Kangaroos are full of Pacific talent too. You’ve got players with Sāmoan, Tongan and Cook Islands heritage playing for the Kiwis, and Pacific players representing Australia. And of course, our Māori whanaunga have their own rich history in rugby league, while many of our Pacific players have both Māori and Pacific ancestry.”
Connections across the region
“That’s what I love about it. These identities don’t necessarily compete with one another. You can play for the Kiwis and be proud of your Sāmoan heritage. You can play for the Kangaroos and still be a proud Tongan.
“It’s important that we don’t make our young people feel like they have to squeeze themselves into just one box when many of us come from multiple places and hold responsibilities to many different people, communities and connections.”
Papua New Guinea is a nation where rugby league occupies a special place in the country’s sporting and cultural life.
“I also want to give a shout-out to PNG. PNG is just something else when it comes to rugby league. The passion over there is unreal. Their recent game against Lebanon in Port Moresby, and the noise, energy and excitement of the crowd, was on another level.
“What’s interesting too is that most of their players were actually born in PNG. So, you’re seeing that enormous pride from people living in their homeland alongside the pride we’re seeing among Pacific communities in the diaspora. They’re different experiences, but they come from that same love for their people and country.”
Marsters is also excited about the Women’s Rugby League World Cup, where Pacific teams are continuing to make their mark.
“It’s awesome seeing the Pacific teams competing alongside the Kiwi Ferns and Australia. Our Pacific women deserve that same spotlight and have contributed so much to the game, both on and off the field.
“And we’ve also got the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup happening, which is another exciting part of the tournament. I’d love to see our Pacific nations competing there in future World Cups too. Imagine having Sāmoa, Tonga, Fiji, PNG and the Cook Islands represented across all three competitions.
“Hopefully that’s something we can work towards by investing more in Pacific women’s sport and Pacific disability sport pathways, so we can support our communities and the institutions that could help make that happen.”
For Marsters, the real joy of the World Cup lies in seeing families and communities come together, celebrate their cultures and create memories that will last long after the tournament.
“Honestly, just enjoy it. Fly your flag or flags, wear your jerseys, banter in the group chats, get the family together and have some fun with it.
“We all know the challenges of everyday life right now, so I love seeing our people having fun and celebrating their teams regardless. Win or lose, our kids are going to remember these moments, the flags, the parades, the noise and all the good times together.
“And even if we don’t win a single game, it’ll always be Cook Islands to the world! Unlike my son, who has already switched allegiances to his mum’s Sāmoan side,” says Marsters with a bombastic side eye.
