Katja Phutaraksa Neef, Auckland University

Katja Phutaraksa Neef’s research topic: From Aspirations to Activism: Perspectives of Banaban Youth in a Post-Relocation, Mining and Resistance Context on Rabi Island, Fiji

“This research enabled me to return to Rabi Island, Fiji, and continue working alongside Banaban youth, elders, and community leaders, building on years of collaboration through community advocacy, cultural revitalisation initiatives, and a youth-led exhibition in Aotearoa New Zealand. Through participatory action research, I explored how Banaban youth are navigating the enduring legacies of displacement, environmental destruction, and colonial phosphate mining, while forging futures grounded in culture, resilience, and self-determination. The research also highlights the often-overlooked relationship between Banaba and Aotearoa New Zealand, whose agricultural prosperity was built in part on phosphate extracted from Banaban lands. Throughout this journey, I was continually inspired by the leadership, creativity, and determination of Banaban young people to protect their history, strengthen their community, and shape a more just future for generations to come.”

Katja Phutaraksa Neef, Master of Arts in Development Studies, University of Auckland