Dahlia Malaeulu

Dahlia Malaeulu is a New Zealand born Samoan academic, author, publisher, and creator. Dahlia is from the villages of Sinamoga and Vaivase tai in Samoa, and although is a New-Zealand born Pacific islander, she is one the first Pasifika author to have authored stories at a variety of levels within educational spaces. As an award-winning author, publisher, creator and esteemed academic, Dahlia is also an educator based in Wainuiomata Wellington, New Zealand.
Her passions and interests are reflected in her accomplishments as an educator, author, publisher, creator, and imbedded in her cultural identity. One of her recognized pieces of work is her sets of Sāmoan Language books a set for younger children called Mila's My Gagana Series, a set for children a little older, called Mila's My Aganu'u Series , and for the more mature audiences, a different sort of books called Teine Sāmoa and Tama Sāmoa. 
==Background==
Dahlia was born and bred in Aotearoa New Zealand with Sāmoan parents who migrated from their homeland Sāmoa to Aotearoa New Zealand in search of better opportunities. Her father , Malo Gray, is from the village of Sinamoga and her mother, Lagimauga is from the village Vaivase tai. Both parents fluent in Gagana Sāmoa, involving their children in religious and traditional cultural activities through the church. 
At 26 years old, Dahlia took her first trip to Sāmoa, following a long a few years later she married her husband there - Mani Malaeulu. 
Growing up, Dahlia and her sister were not expected to speak Sāmoan and as she journeyed through life she began to struggled with her identity as a New Zealand born Sāmoan, but also as a Sāmoan in general. The feeling of disconnectedness from her homeland and culture, the absence of the language flowing freely off her tongue, and the social challenges that comes with this absence and disconnection, eventually fuelled her passions and honed her skills to create meaningfully Pacific literature and platforms. 
She pulls from her own journey of self identity as a NZ-born Sāmoan, and the experiences she wishes upon her children to inspire these award winning, game-changing literature for all Pasifika peoples. 
==Literature==
Dahlia's contribution to building the platform for Pasifika stories at all levels to be elevated is evident in all parts of her work, authored and co-authored. She is the first Pasifika author to have written and published stories across all schooling levels such as pre-school, primary school and high school. Within that, the series she created Mila's My Aganu'u Series, was announced the first Pasifika children's picture book in the world, to be created by an All-Pasifika team. 
Her Books below:
* Pasifika Navigators
* Mila's My Gagana Series : Mase's Room / Lagi Spies / Malia Shares 
* Mila's My Gagana Series 2: Kuso's Clean / Sala's Surprise / Isaia Says / Analia Asks 
* Mila's My Aganu'u Series: Fale Sāmoa / Siva Afi Teine Toa 
* Teine Sāmoa 
* Tama Sāmoa 
* Losi The Giant Fisherman 
* Mila's My Aganu'u Series: Grandpa's Siapo
* Mila's My Gagana Series 3: Sina's Busy Day / Luka Looks/ Petelo Peeks / Lei Loves 
==Accomplishments & Awards==
* Bachelors of Arts - received from the Victoria University of Wellington 
* Postgraduate Degree in Primary Teaching - received from Wellington's Teachers College
* Pasifika Women in Business Award (2020) - presented by Creative New Zealand 
* Emerging Pacific Artist Award (2022)- presented by Creative New Zealand 
* Her book Tama Sāmoa (2022) - presented Storylines Notable Book Award
* Authored Te Papa Tongarewa's 1st Sāmoan bilingual board book "Asiasga i le falemataaga i Te Papa" - presented by Storylines Notable Book Award
Category:New Zealand people
Category:Samoan academics
Category:Author
Category:Publishers