Matt Utai fighting for his life after being shot in a drive by
Bulldogs premiership hero Matt Utai was shot twice in a drive-by attack in Western Sydney this morning.
Emergency services were called to Macquarie Street in Greenacre shortly before 6am following reports of a shooting.
The Bulldogs premiership hero was reportedly at home going about his usual morning routine when an SUV sped past and shots were fired. Utai was hit in the stomach and leg.
Paramedics treated the former NRL winger at the scene before he was rushed to St George Hospital in a critical condition. Police have since confirmed he remains in a serious condition.
A short time later, emergency services were called to Samuel Street in nearby Wiley Park following reports of a car fire. Police arrived to find an SUV well alight. Fire and Rescue NSW crews extinguished the blaze and the vehicle was seized for forensic examination.
Crime scenes have been established at both locations. Bankstown detectives are investigating and are treating the shooting and car fire as linked. Inquiries are ongoing.
Fresh reports have also shed light on whether the attack was targeted.…more
PROWL FEST 2026: Setu Mosegi on Giving Back to the Pacific Community Through Waacking
For Pacific communities, spaces to be seen, heard and celebrated matter.
As part of PROWL FEST 2026 within the Auckland Pride Festival, Aotearoa street dance advocate Setu Mosegi is focused on giving back to the community that shaped him.
Setu spoke about the importance of being the person he once needed. Through waacking, he encourages young Pacific and queer people to take up space confidently and express themselves without apology. For him, dance is freedom, storytelling and connection. It is a way to inspire the next generation to be fully themselves.
Led by Artistic Director Hayley Walters-Tekahika, PROWL FEST centres takatāpui, queer and underserved communities across Tāmaki Makaurau. The kaupapa is about removing barriers and creating culturally affirming environments where Pacific bodies can lead, create and thrive in street dance spaces.
There is still time to be part of the movement.…more
Destanee Aiava Blasts ‘Racist and Misogynistic’ Tennis Culture as She Announces Shock Retirement
“Behind the white outfits and traditions is a culture that's racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile to anyone who doesn’t fit its mould.” Destanee Aiava slams racsim in professional tennis
When you carry the hopes of your people onto a stage that was never designed with you in mind, the weight is different.
Samoan Australian tennis player Destanee Aiava has announced that 2026 will be her final year in professional tennis, closing a chapter that began when she was just a teenager with a racquet and a dream. For many across the Pacific diaspora, she was more than a ranking - she was representation, a brown girl in white tennis gear, standing in spaces that have historically excluded people who look like her.
In a powerful and deeply personal statement, Aiava reflected on the cost of dedicating her entire life to the sport.
“From the moment I had my first lesson at Casey Tennis Club, my entire life was tennis,” she wrote.…more
State of the Nation Report Reveals Pacific Children Hit Hardest by Poverty, Unemployment and Benefit Sanctions
Nearly three in every ten Pacific children are living in material hardship.
Almost half experience food insecurity.
Pacific people now face the highest unemployment rate of any ethnic group.
And despite making up just 13 percent of welfare recipients, Pacific people account for 23.9 percent of benefit sanctions.
These are not projections or warnings. They are the current reality for Pacific children in Aotearoa, according to The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation 2026 report.
The report shows 28.7 percent of Pacific children are living in material hardship, the highest rate across all ethnic groups (p.7). That equates to 46,200 Pacific children, an increase of 6,500 since 2019 this increase is the highest amongst all ethnic groups in Aotearoa (p.8). While child poverty briefly declined nationally between 2018 and 2022, those gains have now been erased, with Pacific families falling furthest behind.
Material hardship means going without basics many families rely on: adequate food, warm clothing, heating, healthcare, transport, or stable housing. For Pacific children, hardship is no longer concentrated among a small group. It is widespread.…more
Tongan Star Albert Latailakepa Shines in Disney+ Period Drama The Artful Dodger
Albert Latailakepa never planned on becoming an actor. Like many great origin stories, it started with a couple of mates and a decision that felt low risk at the time.
“I took a leap of faith,” Latailakepa says, recalling his decision to join high school drama classes. “A couple of mates were doing it, so what was the harm, right?” he told the NZ Herald.
That leap would set the Wellington-born Samoan Tongan actor on a path from school drama rooms to Toi Whakaari NZ Drama School, and now onto international screens. Latailakepa is currently two seasons deep into his role as Aputi Savea, a boxing champ turned gravedigger, in Disney+ period drama The Artful Dodger.
A sequel to Oliver Twist, the series follows Jack Dawkins, aka the Artful Dodger, as he navigates life in 1800s Australia. The cast includes Love Actually star Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Harry Potter’s David Thewlis as Fagin, a line-up that left Latailakepa “freaking out a little bit” when he landed the role.
“They eased my nerves a bit when I was on set,” he said.…more
Jason Momoa talks Chief of war, Tongans vs Samoans and Wrecking Crew
Jason Momoa is a Polynesian actor and producer known for his roles in Game of Thrones, Aquaman, Minecraft and more. His new movie “The Wrecking Crew” with Dave Bautista is out 1/28. Jason joins Theo to talk about his community college days in Iowa, how rock climbing helps his focus, and why protecting the beauty of Hawaii has always been important to him.
Pinati’s Keke Pua’a Goes Global in Jason Momoa’s Wrecking Crew
As Jason Momoa’s new blockbuster Wrecking Crew hits our screens, audiences have been quick to engage with the Pasifika faces in the film, as well as the iconic Pasifika places featured throughout.
The special, tasty flavours of Pinati’s keke pua’a and keke mamoe are known far and wide in Aotearoa, a much-loved Pasifika comfort food that has helped cement the Pinati’s legacy.
Now, the legendary pork buns are also in the spotlight, appearing in glimpses of Ōtāhuhu, where many scenes in Wrecking Crew were filmed.
“It was so awesome seeing our Pinati’ keke pua’a sign and our exterior on the street in this big global film. Being there while filming with all the crew and the cast was a lot of fun, and we were right in the action.”
The keke pua’a also became a favourite among cast and crew on set, a hot, tasty handheld option during long shoot days.…more
Pasifika Cast of The Wrecking Crew Talk Culture, Strong Pacific Women and Real Scraps
In this exclusive interview, members of the Pasifika cast from The Wrecking Crew sit down to talk culture, brotherhood, and the real-life scraps that shaped both the series and their own journeys.
Wrecking Crew STREAMING NOW - on PRIME!
Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder: A Story of Sight, Sport, and the Gift of Vision
For many Kiwi kids, the dream of wearing black, whether as an All Black on Eden Park or a Silver Fern on the netball court, is the pinnacle of sporting success. I dreamed that dream.
After my grandfather’s passing in 2017, sport became my anchor, helping me navigate the storm of grief. I joined the Marist Club in Samoa, playing social first as a netball player before switching to Touch Rugby. My final tournament was in Samoa, in 2019, when our Open Women’s team secured silver medals, and our Open Mixed team won the Vailima Marist Touch Rugby Championship.
It was my proudest sporting moment. Not because of the trophy we collected that day, but rather standing side by side with my teammates, singing the Samoan national anthem before the final. Hearing the crowd echo back "Samoa Tula’i" (the Samoa National Anthem) was an emotional moment, forever etched in my memory.…more
HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS - THE GENTLE BOYS
Collective of Multi-Disciplinary Creative Artsts
Seiyan Thompson (Actor, Director)
Aitutaki, Mauke / Kuki Airani / Ngāti Mahuta, Aotearoa
Born and raised in Te Waipounamu, Murihiku, Invercargill
Brett Taefu (Actor)
Tanugamanono and Salamumu Samoa
Born and raised in Newlands, Te Whanganui a Tara Wellington
Albert Latailakepa (Actor)
Luatuanu'u / Samoa, Maʻufanga/Tonga
Born and raised in Te Awakairangi ki Uta, Upper Hutt, Silverstream
Caleb Teaupa (Actor)
Tuʻanuku Tonga, Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara Aotearoa
Born and raised in Whakapirau, Wellsford
Havea Latu (Creative Media, Videographer, Graphic Design, Photography)
Longolongo, Tefisi and Holopeka Tonga, Tuapa Niue
Born in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, raised in Papamoa
Kaisa Faʻatui (Actor, Writer) Not featured in the show but part of the collective
Faʻatoia, Vaiala, Gataivai, Vaitoʻomuli, Palauli and Vaovai Falealili Samoa
Born and raised in Te Awakairangi Taitā, Lower Hutt
-
How did The Gentle Boys come together? What sparked the idea to form a collective, and what brought you together creatively?
We all trained at Te Kura Toi Whakaari o Aotearoa, the New Zealand Drama School, in Te Whanganui a Tara.…more