World Mourns South Auckland Singer Pauly Fuemana

Niuean-Maori musician Pauly Fuemana has died in Auckland after a short illness. A member of the Otara Millionaires Club, Fuemana shot to world fame with the 1995 hit single How Bizarre which reached No 1 around the world including Australia, Canada, South Africa, Austria and Ireland. Remembered in his Otara community as one of its greatest sons, Fuemana positioned South Auckland’s Polynesian music on the global stage and opened the way for a procession of Pacific musicians to follow in his footsteps. Of his rags to riches story, Fuemana said in 2006, “I’m from Otara and I got to see Italy and Spain and Germany. To play at the Supper Club in New York and the Whisky a Go Go in LA. It was like a dream come true.” The 40 year old died on Saturday at the North Shore Hospital. He was surrounded by his wife and five children.