Coco Talanoa — Coco News / Page 2

It's been a highly anticipated wait for more music from the young prodigy from South Auckland, but 4 years on, Jawsh 685 is back in the game—this time with another collaboration alongside global superstar Jason Derulo!

Jawsh 685 first went viral in 2020 when his beat ‘Laxed Siren Beat' took the internet by storm, sparking a worldwide trend on TikTok and catapulting him to international recognition. 

The catchy siren jam caught the attention of American artist Jason Derulo, who was quick to collaborate with the Samoan producer on the hit track Savage Love. 

Now, the duo is ready to make waves once again with their new single ‘Make Me Happy’, set to release on October 4th, 2024.

Reflecting on the creative process behind the new track, Jawsh shared, “The song ‘Make Me Happy’ started with a beat I made near the time I made ‘Laxed Siren Beat’. 

The beat is on my YouTube channel called Tropical Sax.…more

The WINNERS of Smokefreerockquest National Finals are a multicultural rock band from Manurewa High School!

By Tikilounge Productions & Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa

Aoga Faasamoa, the centre that has shaped the lives of hundreds of Samoan children

From its humble beginnings in one room 40 years ago, the Aoga Faasamoa was the first Samoan language centre in Aoteroa and has gone on to win international awards as a centre of excellence and innovation. 40 years on, we look at some of the many children who’s lives it’s impacted and the reason it’s been so important to the Samoan community in Auckland

"Tautua nei mo sou manuia taeao – Serve now for a better tomorrow"

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By Tikilounge Productions & Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa

Theresa Fitzpatrick's journey to becoming an Olympic gold medalist and a key player for the Black Ferns is one of perseverance, dedication, and cultural pride.

Winning gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics was a pinnacle moment in her career. Despite facing challenges such as injuries, selection pressures, and illness, Theresa navigated each hurdle with determination, showcasing her unwavering commitment to her sport.

“Representing my country and my family is something I never take for granted,” she shares, reflecting on the honor of competing at the highest level. The presence of her husband, parents, and closest friends made the victory even more meaningful.

“Looking into the crowd and seeing my circle there supporting me was truly special. A sense of pride came with the win. Proud of my team. Proud of the journey. Proud of myself.”

Theresa’s achievements as a Black Fern and Olympian are deeply tied to the core values she holds dear—values rooted in her Samoan culture. Her upbringing instilled in her the importance of connection, teamwork, and service to others.…more

Following the devastating loss of the late Liufau Vake due to a "coward punch" Eugene Bareman has established a new trust "Walk Without Fear" that aims to usher in an end to street violence.

The charity aims “To promote awareness of the devastating consequences of the one punch and coward punch attacks and other forms of social violence against victims and their families” says City Kickboxing owner and head coach, and Chairman of The Walk Without Fear Trust. 

The trust was born following the tragic passing of 25-year-old Tongan mixed martial artist Liufau Vake who passed from injuries sustained from a coward punch attack in 2021. 

Bareman remarked “Fau’s death was a devastating loss … This violent act should not be reduced to a faceless statistic, it’s a brutal reality, tearing the fabric of communities.”

“A coward's punch leaves no opportunity for victims to defend themselves and this has devastating consequences, in some cases life long disability or even death.…more

After nearly a decade of relentless legal battles, Auckland’s local alcohol policy has finally been adopted, marking a monumental victory for communities across Tāmaki Makaurau, especially South Auckland. At last week’s council meeting, Auckland's councillors unanimously voted to enforce the policy by December 9, 2024, setting in motion a transformative change that will protect our neighborhoods from the devastating impacts of alcohol-related harm.

For years, South Auckland has been disproportionately affected by the proliferation of liquor stores and the associated social issues that come with easy access to alcohol. Out of the 23 suburbs directly impacted by this policy, 13 are in South Auckland, making this not just a win for our city, but a decisive victory for our community.

A Decade-Long Battle for Our Rights

Councillor Josephine Bartley, chair of the Regulatory and Safety Committee, rightfully calls this a "momentous day" for all of Tāmaki Makaurau. "We’ve been fighting for this on behalf of our communities for almost ten years.…more

In a historic moment for the Pacific region, Broderick Mervyn, of Rotuman lineage and hailing from the Fiji Islands, has been awarded the prestigious Vanuatu Independence Commemorative Medal. At a ceremony held at the State House in Port Vila, Mervyn was celebrated as the youngest recipient from Oceania of this esteemed honor.

"This honor not only recognizes my contributions to youth empowerment through the 'Professionalising Youth Work in the Pacific' modules but also underscores Vanuatu’s exemplary commitment to excellence and its significant impact on individuals from diverse Pacific backgrounds like mine," Mervyn stated during his acceptance speech.

The medal was presented by His Excellency the President of Vanuatu, Mr. Nikenike Vurobaravu, as part of the festivities commemorating Vanuatu's 44th year of independence. "This accolade is more than a recognition—it serves as a clarion call to all Pacific nations to uplift and empower our emerging leaders, fostering a culture that believes nothing is impossible and always strives for excellence."

Mervyn highlighted the need for dedicated agencies focused on youth empowerment, pointing out that no such organization currently exists in Oceania.…more

In a world that thrives on diversity and innovation, it is exhilarating to witness Pacific-owned businesses making significant strides in their respective industries. Last week, Torisse Laulu, a Pacific business owner, saw her hard work come to fruition as her card game, designed to inspire deep talanoa (conversation), was stocked in eight Whitcoulls stores across the country.

The popular card game proved its worth when both Sylvia Park Whitcoulls stores sold out in just over 24 hours of being stocked!

Hailing from the villages of Afega, Lefaga, Salai'lua, and Falealili, the 29-year-old entrepreneur shares the genesis of her card game, Lalaga.

"Lalaga came about after I ran a platform called Plantation Convos and co-hosted Talanoa sessions with Anatola Finau. Women and men would come to these sessions and talanoa about topics that they never really had the space to talk about in their everyday lives. People would spend hours talking and unpacking.”

Inspired by these sessions, Laulu sought to create more of these spaces, making such talanoa more accessible through a card game – which we now know as Lalaga.…more

Google Translate continues to expand its reach, recently adding 110 new languages thanks to the advanced PaLM 2 language model. Including seven Pacific languages: Chamorro, Chuukese, Fijian, Marshallese, Tahitian, Tok Pisin, and Tongan.

The new Pacific languages join previously added Hawaiian, Māori, and Samoan.

Languages are key to preserving culture and identity, making this a very exciting development. For Pacific communities, Languages are vital links to our ancestral heritage. Including these languages in Google Translate will hopefully help support their revitalization and sustain their use for future generations.

Selecting languages for Google Translate involves prioritising the most commonly used varieties to make translations accessible and useful. With the help of advanced technology and collaboration with linguists and native speakers, Google is hopeful this will ensure accurate and culturally relevant translations.

While this expansion is a significant step forward, some are not optimistic about the accuracy of the translations. Machine translation, especially for languages with fewer resources or complex grammatical structures, can sometimes be imprecise.…more