A Kiwi man married to a Samoan woman says his marriage has given him insights on the local culture and the importance of Fa'a Samoa.

Callum Provan, 40, of Auckland told the Samoa Observer in an interview that getting married to his Samoan wife Sharon enabled him to learn a lot about the culture, including the concept of Fa'a Samoa and the role it plays in promoting family unity.

“My wife’s father is more into the Fa'a Samoa way of life and seeing how family is more important to them,” he said.

Based on his experience, Mr Provan said Samoan culture is built around family and promotes togetherness including with extended family members.

“Marrying a Samoan woman is awesome because now I know Samoa is all about families and extended families.”

Mr Provan, his wife and two sons flew into the country last Friday and were at the Taumeasina Island Resort when this newspaper bumped into them. They travelled to the island to attend a wedding and also used the occasion to catch up with family.

Mrs Provan is from the village of Vaivase and it was where he got to meet his in laws, who are his wife’s extended family members.

“Everyone seems to be living in Vaivase and there you can see the love of the families,” he added. 

Thinking back to their wedding day, Mr Provan laughed and said it was at that occasion where he got his first experience of Samoan culture. 

“We got married over at Vaivase at my wife’s village and I like the whole cultural thing that was done in our wedding,” he said.

Mr. Provan said the Samoan culture is different from the palagi culture because Samoan families are close-knit and love and respect keeps them together. 

“Love and having respect for your elderly is the same in the palagi culture and Samoa,” he added.  

While his father immersed himself in discussing the attributes of Samoan culture, his 3-year-old son Eli said he was enjoying the swim and he has had a good time with his parents and younger sibling Jacob.