Coco Talanoa — Coco News / Page 24

In episode 3 of Coco-Ngāti we kōrero with a model, radio host and community champion who is loud and proud to be a Cook Islands Ghanaian woman. 

Ernestina Bonsu-Maro talks to us about walking with her head held high in her dark skin, growing up in Mangere, South Auckland and how she stays connected to her African roots.

This talented mixed-race wahine and her two siblings were raised by a fierce single Mum who taught her to proudly speak her Pukapukan language. 

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Vani and Teresa Toelau are a Samoan/Filipino couple living in Auckland. They talk about their experience navigating a bicultural relationship and dealing with the grief of miscarriage. 

They openly discuss their romance journey and how they plan on raising their newborn child in a way that embraces both cultures.

Vani talks about his experience of being raised with strong Samoan cultural roots, whereas Teresa battled with her own cultural identity when her family moved from the Philippines to New Zealand.

They are co-owners of Strong Side gym in West Auckland and talk about how COVID has forced them to pivot the business. 

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Ravinder Hunia is an award winning sports journalist and talks to us about her interesting family dynamics, with her mum being Māori (from Te Puke) and her father Punjab (Daroli Khurd), and what that was like growing up in New Zealand.

She shares about the struggles she has faced as a female sports journalist and how at times, male journalists wouldn’t talk to her, because she is a wāhine.

Ravinder is a mother of 3, a wife and currently a Sky Sports presenter.

Follow Ravinder on social media

Twitter - https://twitter.com/RavMarie16?s=20

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ravinderhunia/?hl=en 

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Watch Fiame Naomi Mata'afa's announcement in English from 11:10 mins on ...

Earlier today, the leaders of the two dominant political parties - Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, caretaker Prime Minister and leader of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) and Fiame Mata'afa Naomi, leader of the Fa'atuata i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) - met with the Head of State today to discuss the possibility of the country heading into another election. 

The Head of State Afioga Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aletoa Sualauvi II is set to make an announcement later this evening.

Fiame went ahead with her own special announcement an hour ago - summary below: 

* The Head of State Afioga Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aletoa Sualauvi II has requested another election and the caretaker Prime Minister has agreed to hold another one.…more

Cover image photo credit:  NZ Herald 

More than a year after borders closed around the Pacific, the Cook Islands border will open to New Zealand from the 17th of May with no quarantine in either country! 

It will only be open to people who have been resident in New Zealand for 14 consecutive days prior to travel.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: 

* The border is open from the 17th May and Air New Zealand is offereng flights from Auckland to Rarotonga and return here.  Check out Air New Zealand's website for flight schedules and bookings.

* No quarantine in either country.  You will not be required to quarantine or self-isolate in the Cook Islands OR on your return to New Zealand.

* Quarantine free travel is between New Zealand and the Cook Islands only and you must have been resident in New Zealand for 14 consecutive days prior to travel.…more

via Radio New Zealand 

A well-known sportsman on methamphetamine charges can be named as former rugby league player Manu Vatuvei.

He has outed himself on Instagram, two days before his name suppression was due to lapse.

Vatuvei told followers he wanted them to hear directly from him that he was accused of possessing and importing the drug in 2019.

He denies the charges and is due to stand trial before a jury in October, alongside three other people.

"I'll be fighting my innocence for these charges," he said.

"I know there'll be a lot of questions that will be wanting answers but I've been advised by my legal team that's all I can talk about. So hopefully you can all respect that, and also can you please respect the privacy of my family while I go through this battle."

Vatuvei was declined name suppression by both the District and High Courts, despite his lawyer Greg Bradford suggesting he would be at risk of extreme hardship and his fair trial rights would suffer.…more

Earlier today Cruella Tu’inukuafe, the Vice-President of Tonga Leitis Association released an official statement from the Tonga Leiti's Association to announce the passing of their President, Mr Polikalepo Kefu.

Official Statement from Tonga Leitis Association

On behalf of Tonga Leitis Association Patron, Hon. Salote Lupepau’u Tuita Taione and its members, it is with deep sorrow that I wish to inform you of the passing of our President, Mr. Polikalepo Kefu, today 1st May 2021.

Poli, as he has known to many of us, was a selfless humanitarian and a tireless advocate for the rights of those with diverse sexual orientatations, gender identities and gender expressions.

Tonga Police are currently investigating Poli's death and the circumstances surrounding it. It appears that Poli was a victim of a very violent attack. We vehemently hope that those responsible will be swiftly brought to justice.…more

Pacific people have been resilient ocean and land guardians for centuries. Woven throughout all the different cultures of Oceania, there is one common strand and that is the strong relationship Pacific communities have with creation. The following 8 Guardians are all names you should know as they've dedicated their lives to conserving and preserving the planet. 

1. Yolanda Joab-Mori, Federated States of Micronesia

Yolanda is a climate activist, environmental leader, and most importantly a mother. In 2011 Yolanda co-created the first climate change focused education program in schools and communities across Micronesia. The program, CADRE worked with over 10,000 students and 3,000 community members across the Micronesian islands to raise awareness on the impacts of climate change. Yolanda also founded Island PRIDE (Promoting Resilience through Involvement, Development & Education) to continue this work to empower her islands in the face of climate change by engaging youth to be proactive stewards of their island environment.

2.…more

Toa Fraser - on a battle with disease and knowing what’s important. 

Fijian / Samoan Toa Fraser is one of Aotearoa’s most prolific film directors, with a huge raft of incredibly varied feature film works, documentaries and tv drama series. He’s also one of the most undercover, in his professional and personal life - until an extraordinarily brave message on social media this week told the world of this struggle of the early onset of Parkinson’s. 

“People used to say I look cool. These days, people ask me why I look so serious. Mine is one of the many of faces of Young Onset Parkinson’s, an (as yet) incurable brain disease. I was diagnosed five years ago. I've kept it quiet until today..

It hasn’t been easy. It’s hard on relationships, it’s hard on my kids. Those closest to me have been unfaltering, discrete and kind. I’ve also learned not everybody can come on this journey with me. For the last five years I’ve kept it quiet. Buried it as much as I could.

But now I’m sick of hiding.…more

On the morning of the last day of Polyfest 2020 was a performance that touched the crowd. It came from the Marcellin College Samoan group that had a star among them.

During Marcellin’s performance, there was an extremely special part that stood out. The students parted their dance formation down the middle and made way for their classmate Clarah Tuimavave-Gerrard. Her classmates made their version of a runway on stage, and down walked Clarah. She bowed to the crowd and began to Siva (dance). The audience went wild in cheer and her fellow classmates began singing even louder for their peer.

Clarah, also known to some of her friends as “Lala”, has cerebral palsy. A congenital disorder of movement, muscle tone, and posture. Although this condition can hold many challenges, there are tenacious people in the world who live loudly and proudly whilst navigating all the difficulties that come along with it. This special group of the community chooses to flaunt their abilities and what they are able to do instead of focusing on what they can't.…more