Prayers before Parker fight
Samoans to gather for service before boxing showdown
The Samoan community in South Auckland will offer up devotions as one of its sons prepares for what could be the greatest fight of his boxing career.
A special service will be held at the Fale o Samoa, the New Zealand headquarters for the Samoan Consulate General in Mangere on Good Friday.
It comes after members of the community called for a special event to be held in Auckland before Joseph Parker’s world heavyweight boxing title fight against British world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, in Wales, on Sunday morning (NZT).
Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio said the service was based on Samoan custom where village elders, church leaders and members of the community came together to tapua’i — or support — and offer blessings to someone preparing for a big event.
The event can be anything from an important test, a game — or war.
“It’s a custom where the whole country wants to send strong messages of solidarity to one of our own who’s fighting on the other side of the world. We’re proud that he’s there.
“He is one of our own — a son of Samoa, a son of Mangere, a son of Aotearoa,” Sio said.
“He’s about to embark on a difficult and arduous task and those of us who cannot be with him there will gather and beseech to the chief of chiefs, King of Kings in heaven, to bless our son.”
The service is expected to be packed out and will be led by the local Samoan Council of Church Ministers.
Good Friday is already hugely significant to the many Samoans who identify as Christian.
It is understood several Samoan churches are due to delay Sunday Easter services because of the earlymorning bout to be aired on Sky TV.
Another favourite son of South Auckland and Samoa, David Tua, will also speak at the Mangere service.
“I think his words will come from a place of experience and a place that he, once upon a time, was once in and which Joseph Parker is now in,” Sio said.
“David Tua was the first trailblazer to achieve. And now David and all of our community want Joseph to do so well — just imagine.”
Many of Parker’s closest friends and family have travelled to Britain to be by his side when he takes on Joshua this weekend.
Among those supporters are his parents, Lalogafau Dempsey and Sala Parker, who plan to be ringside when their son faces Joshua.
‘I am a Samoan warrior like Dad.’ B32