Take a Moment with Tia Sagapolutele

Welcome to our new regular series, 'Take a Moment With…' where we send a roll of film to a guest to capture the moments that make up their day, or week, then ask them a few questions.

We talked about what community really means, where her style confidence comes from (thanks, Mum), and how she's learning to slow down after years of calling herself a workaholic. It's an honest, warm conversation about culture, connection and coming back to the things you love.

Oh, and she told us which Almighty keeps her going. Read on to find out.

Hey Tia. Thanks for being a part of our Take A Moment series. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Thanks for having me! My name is Ufitia Sagapolutele, but most people know me as Tia. I’m a Samoan creative and community weaver from South Auckland. I work in marketing at Britomart, where I get to create experiences that bring people together and outside of that I love creating content, storytelling and finding ways to celebrate people and culture. I feel really lucky that both my work and my passions revolve around people.

I love the collection of images you’ve sent through. What timeframe did you use to shoot these images, and how typical is this of your day-to-day life?

Thank you! I wanted to show a little glimpse of both my work life and my life outside of mahi. They’re a mix of daytime and nighttime moments, from events and meetings to spending time with friends. It’s a pretty accurate snapshot of what my days usually look like. Life can get busy, but I really value having moments with the people I love alongside the work that fills my cup.

You put on so many amazing events at Britomart. Recently you ran one for Matariki. Can you tell us about that?

I loved working on our Matariki programme. We celebrated over three weeks with an art installation as part of the Tūhono Art Trail, kapa haka performances, DJ sets from Indigenous creatives, hangi and community moments throughout the neighbourhood. It’s always really special creating spaces where people can come together to celebrate culture and connect with one another. Being trusted to help share and celebrate our stories is something I never take for granted.

What do you love most about working in the CBD/Britomart?

For me, it’s being able to create moments that bring people together. Whether it’s through an event, a giveaway or a performance, I love knowing we can brighten someone’s day, even if it’s just for a moment. That’s probably my favourite part about working in the city. Sometimes it’s easy to forget how much a small moment can mean to someone.

You always have the best outfits. Where does your style inspiration come from?

Definitely my mum. She always dressed in a way that made her feel confident and expressed who she was. She introduced me to thrift shopping and taught me how to style pieces in different ways, so I owe a lot of my style to her. I also think when you wear something that makes you feel good, it changes your whole mood. Fashion has always felt like another way to tell a story without saying a word.

What does community mean to you?

Community is making people feel like they belong. It’s creating spaces where people feel seen and connected, whether they’re meeting for the first time or have known each other for years. I think we’re all looking for somewhere we can be ourselves and if I can help create that feeling for even one person, then that’s really special to me. At the end of the day, people will always remember how you made them feel.

When you’re not working, where would we find you?

Probably yapping with my friends and doing something wholesome, whether that’s going for walks, cooking together or hosting them at home. Otherwise, you’ll find me enjoying my own company watching a good action Kdrama, journaling, reading or working on my next creative idea. I’ve been learning to slow down and fill my own cup with things that make me feel happy. 

In those busy weeks, how do you make time for yourself?

It’s funny because if you’d asked me this a few months ago, I probably wouldn’t have had an answer. I’m definitely known for being a workaholic. Lately though, I’ve been making an effort to find hobbies that are just for me and discover what I genuinely enjoy outside of work. I’ve also started dancing again after taking a few years away and it’s been really fun re-learning and redefining what dance looks like for me now. It’s reminded me that rest and creativity can exist together and that I don’t always have to be productive to be growing.

Can you tell us about the dance group in your photos? How long have you been dancing for?

I started dancing back in 2010, so it’s been a big part of my life for a long time. I danced professionally for years before discovering my passion for community building. After taking a four-year break, I’ve recently returned to dance, but this time not as a professional or performer. I’m showing up as a student again and honestly, it’s been really refreshing. It’s been a beautiful reminder that you can always come back to the things you love.

What Almighty drink keeps you hydrated?

I’m a matcha girlie so definitely the Almighty Matcha Oat Latte. It’s honestly so good! I’m pretty picky when it comes to matcha, especially because I travel to Japan every year, so I don’t say that lightly. This one hits every time!!

Follow Tia and she what she's up to at @tiasagapolutele

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