The Fijian pilot inspiring the next generation of Pacific aviators
Photo:
Salote Mataitini
When Salote Mataitini first dreamed of becoming a pilot, she was a child reading newspaper articles about aviators, long before iPhones or social media.
"In primary school, I learned about pilots through newspaper interviews, pre-smartphone era," she said.
Today, Mataitini lives out her lifelong dream.
She is a captain with Air Kiribati, flying across one of the world's largest ocean states and inspiring the next generation of Pacific aviators.
The Kiribati capital and most populated area, South Tarawa, consists of several islets, connected by a series of causeways.
Photo:
Supplied
Originally from the Garden Island of Taveuni and raised in Somosomo, Fiji, Mataitini's journey began in Aotearoa, where she trained at Ardmore Flying School in South Auckland.
"That was a great experience as I got to see different parts of the country while studying," she said. "While doing… my NZ commercial pilot's licence, I was lucky to be able to pick wherever I wanted to fly to, so because of that exposure, I've been to most, if not all, the airports and aerodromes in the upper North Island and Great Barrier Island."
She joined Air Kiribati as a first officer a decade ago and has flown as a captain on the Harbin and twin otter aircrafts for the past eight years.
"In Kiribati, we provide air service to 20 airports - 17 in the Gilbert Group while we are based in our HQ in Tarawa, and three airports in the Line Islands Group based in Christmas Island. So every few weeks we rotate between these two bases," she said.
"Kiribati is a massive ocean state with atolls spread across the central Pacific Ocean. I'm quite blessed to be flying in these parts of the world where I get to cross the equator multiple times a day."
Mataitini's pathway wasn't without challenges, however.
Early in her career, female pilots in the Pacific were rare, and gender bias was common.
"During the early days of my career there weren't many female pilots in the Pacific. Gender bias was very prevalent in those days," she said. "When I look back now, it was God's way of redirecting me to my destiny to go and work in Kiribati.
"I have been able to fully immerse myself in the culture and language because of the way the people of Kiribati have embraced me as one of their own."
While Mataitini finds peace in the sky, she said that her job is just as rewarding on the ground.
"Watching families, friends and loved ones reunited after a flight is always a rewarding experience."
Photo:
Salote Mataitini
Beyond the cockpit, Mataitini is passionate about inspiring young people to pursue careers in aviation.
"Once I started flying, I wanted to do the same to inspire not only girls but the next generation of aviators. So that's when I started sharing my journey and my story online," she said.
Through her social media posts, Mataitini has become a recognisable role model across the region.
She frequently receives messages from parents of aspiring pilots, and takes time to guide them, offering advice on training, pathways, and nearby flight schools.
"In Kiribati, it's become… normal for them to see me fly to their island. Compared to when I first started, it was rare to see a female pilot.
"But now when I land, I'm surprised to hear kids calling out to me, calling out my name. So I normally just smile and wave or go shake their hands," she said.
Salote Mataitini is inspiring young children to enter the aviation space
Photo:
Salote Mataitini
She continues to be a sought-after speaker at graduations and school events across the country, where she encourages young people to dream boldly, and pursue their goals.
Today, Mataitini is heartened by the growing number of young Pacific people, particularly women, entering aviation.
"A decade later I'm beginning to see the fruits of that influence. It's great to see a number of new Kiribati female graduate pilots and a few others who are currently in Nadi flying schools," she said.
"It's only a matter of time before they'll start sharing the cockpit with me, so I look forward to that day."
However, Mataitini maintains that women in Kiribati are natural "leaders, mothers, and highly educated role models".
"I see my role as an extension to theirs," she said. "Together, we inspire the next generation to follow in our footsteps, empowering not only females - but the future leaders of Kiribati."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
6 days ago
- RNZ News
Bold Tahitian novelist Titaua Peu connects us back into the Pacific
Located in the centre of the Pacific, Tahiti's closest large land mass is Aotearoa New Zealand. It is where, from Raiatea, Māori migration canoes left in what is thought to be the late 13th Century or early 14th Century. Tahitian novelist Titaua Peu has for the last four months been French writer in residence at Randell Cottage in Pōneke Wellington. She is working on a new series of books. They present a near future marked by a reverse migration. One in which inhabitants of Aotearoa have migrated north to the island of Mangareva in French Polynesia following a great war. Considered one of the principal French speaking writers of the Pacific, Peu is known for work that considers Polynesian society today with attention to the effects of colonialism. Her last novel the celebrated Pina , was translated into English in 2022 after being awarded the 2017 Eugène Dabit Prize, and 2019 French Voices Grand Prize in Fiction. Peu's novels do not portray the paradise we have been taught, Pina is a raw yet tender portrayal of life for a large Tahitian family in Papeʻete, where intergenerational trauma manifests in violence, alcohol and other abuse. Peu's first novel, Mūtism , was published in 2003. She was then the youngest-ever published Tahitian author. A response to the effect of nuclear testing on Polynesia, it is said to have caused immediate scandal. Titaua Peu lives in Tahiti where she was recently a general manager in the municipality of Pāʻea, a commune in the suburbs of Papeʻete. She is in Aotearoa with the support of the Embassy of France and the Randell Cottage Writers Trust. Mark Amery of Culture 101 visited her at the old colonial cottage in Thorndon.
RNZ News
11-06-2025
- RNZ News
Tourism NZ launches new 100% Pure New Zealand global campaign
Tourism New Zealand has launched a new global campaign with a familiar twist, inviting the world to find their 100% Pure New Zealand. It's the first new global brand campaign since 'If You Seek' was launched in 2022 and aims to encourage travellers to book now with snapshots of the iconic landscapes and experiences on offer. Tourism New Zealand chief executive René de Monchy said this was a rejuvenation for the 100% Pure New Zealand brand that has been running for over 25 years. "This is our call for people around the world to be totally connected, present, inspired and fulfilled in one of the world's most breathtaking destinations," he said. The campaign complemented Tourism New Zealand's aim to grow tourism by $5 billion over the next four years by attracting more visitors outside of summer, de Monchy said. "The fact that we're encouraging people to find their 100% Pure New Zealand - we can tailor that to being 'what does it look like in the winter?' 'What does that look like in the autumn?' 'What does that look like if you're interested in the cycle trails or interested in fine dining?" It included a new experience planner to help people create their own 100% Pure New Zealand itinerary by choosing images of what they would like to experience and developing a custom itinerary. That could include telling them if they were 40 percent iconic New Zealand, 30 percent fine dining and 30 percent culture, which they could take to a travel agent to inspire their travel plans, he said. Tourism New Zealand has launched a new global campaign with a familiar twist. Photo: YouTube / 100% Pure New Zealand "You can flick through and go to and find all the different operators that sit under each of those categories, whether it's adventure tourism or fine dining," de Monchy said. "So it's really a tool that we've created to try and make it easier for you to make the booking and not just dream about it." The campaign cost about $5.45 million, launching across global social media channels and paid media in the United States on Thursday. The campaign was developed alongside agency TBWA Auckland and collaboration with iwi, regional tourism operators and the wider industry. It also included templates for regions and operators to create their own ads and showcase what they have on offer. "We're inviting the world to discover that New Zealand isn't just a place you visit, it's a place which fosters deep connection with the locals, with those you're travelling with, leaving you totally fulfilled" de Monchy said. "We know a trip to New Zealand is about more than just landscapes and landmarks. "There truly is something for everyone, whether that's adventure seeking thrills, finding - total rejuvenation in nature, or enjoying our world-class culinary scene". There were 155 million people actively considering a New Zealand holiday and he said the campaign encouraged them to make their booking now. Tourism New Zealand received two $13.5 million funding boosts from the government in recent months, aimed to boost marketing in the short and medium term. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
08-06-2025
- RNZ News
The Fijian pilot inspiring the next generation of Pacific aviators
Photo: Salote Mataitini When Salote Mataitini first dreamed of becoming a pilot, she was a child reading newspaper articles about aviators, long before iPhones or social media. "In primary school, I learned about pilots through newspaper interviews, pre-smartphone era," she said. Today, Mataitini lives out her lifelong dream. She is a captain with Air Kiribati, flying across one of the world's largest ocean states and inspiring the next generation of Pacific aviators. The Kiribati capital and most populated area, South Tarawa, consists of several islets, connected by a series of causeways. Photo: Supplied Originally from the Garden Island of Taveuni and raised in Somosomo, Fiji, Mataitini's journey began in Aotearoa, where she trained at Ardmore Flying School in South Auckland. "That was a great experience as I got to see different parts of the country while studying," she said. "While doing… my NZ commercial pilot's licence, I was lucky to be able to pick wherever I wanted to fly to, so because of that exposure, I've been to most, if not all, the airports and aerodromes in the upper North Island and Great Barrier Island." She joined Air Kiribati as a first officer a decade ago and has flown as a captain on the Harbin and twin otter aircrafts for the past eight years. "In Kiribati, we provide air service to 20 airports - 17 in the Gilbert Group while we are based in our HQ in Tarawa, and three airports in the Line Islands Group based in Christmas Island. So every few weeks we rotate between these two bases," she said. "Kiribati is a massive ocean state with atolls spread across the central Pacific Ocean. I'm quite blessed to be flying in these parts of the world where I get to cross the equator multiple times a day." Mataitini's pathway wasn't without challenges, however. Early in her career, female pilots in the Pacific were rare, and gender bias was common. "During the early days of my career there weren't many female pilots in the Pacific. Gender bias was very prevalent in those days," she said. "When I look back now, it was God's way of redirecting me to my destiny to go and work in Kiribati. "I have been able to fully immerse myself in the culture and language because of the way the people of Kiribati have embraced me as one of their own." While Mataitini finds peace in the sky, she said that her job is just as rewarding on the ground. "Watching families, friends and loved ones reunited after a flight is always a rewarding experience." Photo: Salote Mataitini Beyond the cockpit, Mataitini is passionate about inspiring young people to pursue careers in aviation. "Once I started flying, I wanted to do the same to inspire not only girls but the next generation of aviators. So that's when I started sharing my journey and my story online," she said. Through her social media posts, Mataitini has become a recognisable role model across the region. She frequently receives messages from parents of aspiring pilots, and takes time to guide them, offering advice on training, pathways, and nearby flight schools. "In Kiribati, it's become… normal for them to see me fly to their island. Compared to when I first started, it was rare to see a female pilot. "But now when I land, I'm surprised to hear kids calling out to me, calling out my name. So I normally just smile and wave or go shake their hands," she said. Salote Mataitini is inspiring young children to enter the aviation space Photo: Salote Mataitini She continues to be a sought-after speaker at graduations and school events across the country, where she encourages young people to dream boldly, and pursue their goals. Today, Mataitini is heartened by the growing number of young Pacific people, particularly women, entering aviation. "A decade later I'm beginning to see the fruits of that influence. It's great to see a number of new Kiribati female graduate pilots and a few others who are currently in Nadi flying schools," she said. "It's only a matter of time before they'll start sharing the cockpit with me, so I look forward to that day." However, Mataitini maintains that women in Kiribati are natural "leaders, mothers, and highly educated role models". "I see my role as an extension to theirs," she said. "Together, we inspire the next generation to follow in our footsteps, empowering not only females - but the future leaders of Kiribati."
