In 2019, Sione Tapani Mangisi and his wife Irene visited Auckland and by chance managed to catch up with Mangisi's two friends from when they studied trade in Wellington in the 1960s.
It was after that reunion of over 30 years that Mangisi went back home to Melbourne and started writing the Manatu Melie [sweet memories] series.
"When my friends and I were reminiscing, the memories were so beautiful and sweet, hence the name of the series.
"I have been thinking about writing and recapturing our shared stories for quite some time.
