At SPC, Vanuella Watt reigns over the scientific library hosted in a canoe-shaped building at Headquarters. But from 17 to 23 November last, she was the voice of the Pacific during an album release tour that took her to Palmerston North, Auckland, Nelson and Christchurch in New Zealand. Vanuella gave masterclasses to young Kiwi fans and future artists of the Pacific.
The tour celebrated and brought together the numerous Pacific communities present in New Zealand through “Oceania – a Hymn for the Pacific”, a song commissionned by the Pacific Community, that Vanuella wrote in 14 languages and that celebrates the rich variety of cultures and languages of the people of this region, united by a common Pacific identity and pride, as expressed in the words “One Ocean, One People”.
The release tour was made possible thanks to the support of SPC, Aircalin, the Government of New Caledonia, the New Caledonian delegation in New Zealand, New Caledonia Tourism and Maison Vauron.
Masterclasses and concerts took place in the Alliances françaises – a worldwide, non-profit network of assocations dedicated to the promotion of French language and culture, active in New Zealand for 117 years.