Mabel Muller became a Journalist by “default” however on reflection, she believes it was her destined path all along.
The 23-year-old Tongan is the new Producer for PMN 531’s Breakfast Show and a welcome addition to the radio station's breakfast crew.
For the past two years, Mabel has worked with Pacific Radio News (PRN) team pushing out content on PRN’s digital platforms.
Although Mabel was born in Tonga, she grew up in New Zealand apart from a three-year stint back in Tonga during her early primary school days.
“It was during this time I learnt the language which I'm still able to use today to speak to my grandparents, parents and their generation who speak English as a second language … I am most grateful for my time in Tonga,” she says.
Mabel considers South Auckland home and she attended Mangere's Jean Batten Primary School, before heading to secondary school at Marcellin College and AUT University to complete a Bachelor of Communication Studies.
“I love to talk and was a chatter box at school,” Mabel says.
“I didn't want to be a Doctor or a Lawyer like my dad wanted me to be as I had no interest in those fields.”
Due to her love for talking, Mabel’s English teachers suggested she look at Communications as a study option.
She did, and after attending an information night at AUT, she walked out, certain Communications was for her.
“Now here I am.”
Mabel loves serving Pacific people by allowing them to tell their stories the way they want them to be told, she adds.
“I want to see our people thrive and be confident in who they are and what they have to offer.
“Being a Journalist means I can be in control of information about Pacific which is disseminated to the masses; and it means I can hold up a Pacific lens and allow non-Pacific people to see what we see.”
In her Producer’s role at PMN 531, Mabel is determined to draw young Pacific people's attention to content and topics which matter such as politics, climate change, social injustice, education and health.
“I want them to know what's happening in the political arena as well as if they know the lyrics to Cardi B's new song.
“It is not just what is happening but why and how - Journalism has opened my mind up to these things and I want to help other Pacific youth to be more open-minded.”