Coco Talanoa — Coco News / Page 10

"Being in care was like a slap in my face.  There was no freedom of choice in entering care.  I was lost in care.  There was no acceptance, brief or trust from others that I needed freedom.  Freedom is acceptance of who I am as an individual.

I think that the concept of institutions are not set up to care and look after the disabled people because it is built on a system that dehumanise disabled people and I think that hasn't changed much for how the current state care works.  Care was about medication, changing showering and other very clinical procedures that doesn't take into account of the very individual needs such as human connection and affection." - Lusi Faiva 

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The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care is currently holding the Disability, Deaf and Mental Health institutional care hearing - this hearing has focused on the lived experiences of survivors who are disabled, deaf or were placed in psychiatric institutions.…more

Watch a wrap-up of your week in news from across the Islands, in under a minute.

Yet another fatal stabbing crime claims a young Pacific life in Australia.

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Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air

There are growing suspicions Beijing is behind the country’s exit, with Kiribati close to US military installations and marine resources.

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Video credit:  1News

Cover photo credit:  RNZ 

by Mariner Fagaiava-Muller

‘Still Here’ is a tear-jerking insight into the once-bustling Pacific population of Central Auckland. The four-part documentary, released on Sunday, is about families who never bowed to gentrification and immigration pressures.

Mariner Fagaiava-Muller speaks with Litia Tiaburelevu and Torisse Laulu, the director and producer of Still Here.

Litia, what brought on the idea of the series?

When I was at law school in 2017, I did an assignment about racism and housing.

A big area of my research ended up being how Pacific families in the central suburbs [of Auckland] were pushed out of the area.

The legal factors but also the social factors - like racism, housing, urban development, landlords, real estate agents.

How all of that led to the exodus of Pacific families from central.

After I wrote that, I was really inspired and kind of very energised and thought all of these stories and history deserved something more than a university assignment.

Torisse, how did you get on board?

I was super keen to be a part of the project.…more

Watch a wrap-up of your week in news from across the Islands, in under a minute.

It's election time in Papua New Guinea, as voters head to the polls.

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Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air

by Mariner Fagaiava-Muller

The iconic Samoan brewery which opened in 1978, will close its doors and relocate to Fiji in October.

In a statement to TheCoconetTV, Vailima’s Suva-based parent company Paradise Beverages said it explored every avenue to retain operation in Samoa but none were commercially viable.

“We want to keep the Vailima brand alive by moving production to Fiji using the same traditional methods and ingredients,” the statement read.

“We want to stress that if a viable local option presents itself to be able to produce on island, we are open to the approach.”

“In fact, that is our preference.”

It’s expected up to 50 jobs will be affected.

Workers will have the option to apply for other roles or take voluntary redundancy. 

Currently, Vailima is manufactured by Samoa Breweries, a subsidiary of Paradise Beverages - which also owns Fiji Bitter, Fiji Gold, Vonu Pure Lager, Fiji Premium and Ratu and Bati rum.

Coca-Cola Amatil owns a near 90% stake in Paradise Beverages.

The Vailima brand and heritage will continue to live on, Paradise Beverages said.…more

Shannon Tiezzi from The Diplomat Magazine is joined on this webinar by freelance journalist Lice Movono, Australian National University lecturer Henry Ivarature and Georgetown University lecturer Patrick O'Brien.

They talk about the leaked security pact between the Solomon Islands and China...

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Credit: The Diplomat

by Mariner Fagaiava-Muller

Delivering an emotional valedictory speech on Thursday, he thanked mentors, parliamentary colleagues and his kāiga.

Kris Faafoi also poked fun at fellow Pasifika in the Labour Party caucus.

“To my Pacific caucus colleagues, fakafetai lahi lele,” he said.

“Our Pacific caucus shows the connection that Labour has to our Pacific community.”

“I'm not sure when we'll get another Tokelauan, but we will, and I'm sure Anahila [Kanongata’a-Suisuiki] will be there to take a selfie.”

In 2010, Faafoi took over the reins of the Mana electorate from Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban.

He thanked the “amazing and talented” current MP for Mana, Barbara Edmonds.

“[She] has a long future in that seat, and I am sure she will make a massive contribution to the country during her tenure,” he said.

The highlight of his ministerial career was accompanying Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on a visit to Tokelau, he said.…more

Watch a wrap-up of your week in news from across the Islands, in under a minute.

Fiame Naomi Mata'afa has landed in Aotearoa making noise not for her politics, but her fashion.

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Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air

by Mariner Fagaiava-Muller & Teherenui Koteka

Māori herald their New Year with the rising of the Matariki star cluster, but it’s used too by Pacific Islanders to track time and seasons.

In Hawai’i, the Pleiades star cluster is called Makali’i. It appears at sunset, as opposed to sunrise as Aotearoa sees it.

Whereas Matariki is observed in Aotearoa during June/July, Makali'i in Hawai'i comes about during the latter end of the year around October.

Kamehameha Schools tells the traditional mo’olelo (story) about how the name came to be.

“It begins with the evil deeds of an aliʻi of Kona on the island of Hawaiʻi. He greedily decides to hoard everyone’s food into one enormous carrying net and travels with it to the highest stratum of the heavens, where he hangs it up.”

“Meanwhile, the ravenous people hastily gather to plan a way to get their food back. A little mouse bravely consents to take on the arduous task. He successfully gnaws on the net until the food drops to the earth.…more