Coco Talanoa — Coco News / Page 24

Tamaki Herenga Waka:  Stories of Auckland  a new gallery at the Auckland Museum is now open to the public - chronicling Auckland's past and capturing its present including Pacific taonga.

The gallery is divided into several sections across four gallery spaces:  

* Tamaki / Auckland - Auckland looked very different for the first families who settled here, and this section of the gallery looks at why people have made this place their home for centuries. Explore the development of Tāmaki through the eyes of the Māori, colonial and Pasifika families who settled here.…more

At dawn, a gathering of Pacific people assembled at the Auckland Viaduct to take part in a sacred Kava ceremony aboard the Waka Haunui. This event served to raise awareness on climate justice through connected Pacific ancestral ways – kava, waka, and storytelling.

The event was led by Pacific Vision Aotearoa using Kava o Aotearoa, which wove in various Pacific cultures into the morning. Kava o Aotearoa is a traditional kava ceremony uniquely designed and adapted for Aotearoa. The Maori representative Pita Turei of Ngati Paoa was uplifted as the highest chief of the ceremony, in honor of his stewardship and the waters in which the ceremony took place. Being on the traditional Waka this particular kava circle was extremely special. For many of those who were privileged to receive kava, it was their first time having kava on the Moana. About 20 people participated aboard while another 50 participated on the balcony overlooking Haunui. 

The overall event aimed to unite Pacific conversations around climate justice in Aotearoa.…more

Climate Activist from Uganda Vanessa Nakate called out organisers at the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue. She delivered a speech highlighting how she felt about the censorship that she and Samoan Climate Activist Brianna Fruean experienced in the organising of the dialogue. Vanessa said that they were made to submit their presentations for approval in advance, were banned from criticising any of the politicians involved, and that their time was continuously cut.

The Dialogue was attended by high-level officials such as German economic and energy minister Peter Altmaier, U.S. climate envoy John Kerry and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. In her speech Vanessa highlighted the prevalent youth voice censorship and said “It’s the leaders who have failed us, not the young people....this is not naming & shaming...it is just telling the truth. Why are you so afraid of hearing the truth?”. 

The following day after the Ugandan activist's keynote delivery a number of people started questioning the legitimacy of Vanessa's claims and questioned whether she was telling the truth.…more

By Fine Mat Creative 

As part of International Women’s Month we are showcasing some of the talented and dedicated women in farming and from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Samoa.

Pursuing a purpose nearly always leads to having the courage to make a deliberate choice in following the road less travelled, as Principal Fisheries officer MAF, Su’a Sapeti Tiitii would tell you.

When Su’a first entered the Fisheries division in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Samoa (MAF) fresh from graduating with a Diploma in Environment Resources Management from New Zealand in 2000, the first thing she noticed about her work environment was she was the only female in the office, yet she knew without a doubt – she belonged there.

“I’ve always been interested in environmental science starting from college where I studied biology and geography which got me interested in the eco system especially mangroves eco systems.…more

A senior Pacific doctor says that the enthusiasm the New Zealand government has shown to combat the Covid-19 pandemic is also needed to fight the current diabetes crisis.

Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) member and public health physician, Dr Corina Grey, says there has been an “avalanche of diabetes” amongst the Pacific and Māori communities. PMA is teaming up with Te Ohu Rata ō Aotearoa (Māori Medical Practitioners Association) and the New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes, to advocate to the government and Ministry of Health to focus on the care of people living with type 2 diabetes.

Pacific peoples have a significantly higher rate of diabetes than all other ethnic groups. On average, 53 percent of Pacific peoples aged 65-74 years were estimated to have diabetes compared with 10.9 percent of people of European ethnicity aged 65-74 years.

Dr Grey hopes the New Zealand government can address the diabetes problem just as seriously as Covid-19, especially when people living with diabetes have a higher risk of poor outcomes if they contract the Covid-19 virus.…more

One of Samoa’s longest-serving resorts, Sinalei Reef Resort & Spa, has partnered with widely-successful grassroots NGO, 'Poutasi Development Trust', to drive Sowful Journeys – a COVID-19 recovery effort with the dual purpose of providing immediate assistance to Samoan families and communities in need, and safeguarding travellers’ dreams of visiting the island destination in the future.

Sowful Journeys seeks to alleviate the extreme financial hardship and consequential societal impacts, including increased malnutrition, rising non-communicable diseases and inadequate opportunities for better livelihoods, that COVID-19 has wrought on the South Pacific nation. 

The campaign seeks to change this trajectory by calling on people around the world to visit Sowful Journeys’ crowd-funding site and make a pledge toward essential COVID recovery programs, in return for resort credits and bonuses for future holidays, as well as the heart-warming knowledge that their contribution will directly empower Samoan families.…more

Aysha Nanai-Leifi launches her first-ever print issue as Editor-In-Chief of ISLE Magazine. In only a few days the first batch of pre-orders for the magazine has sold out and the in-demand restock is running out fast. The new print issue is based around the CLASS OF 2020: ISLES School of Pasifika Excellence. The class presents 21 rising stars ranging from Actors, Activists, Rappers, DJs, Film Directors and so much more. ISLE Magazine is a new independent online and print publication. Its mission is to spotlight and empower Pasifika excellence. 

Editor-In-Chief Aysha Nanai-Leifi is a 23-year-old artist and activist of Māori and Sāmoan descent. She was born in Wellington and raised in Melbourne. In the past year, Aysha has been featured in VOGUE Magazine and has even presented on online broadcasts with big American stars like Issa Rae. That is just the tip of the iceberg of work and projects that this rising star has done. 

Our coco team connected with Aysha and got to hear about the success that has been ISLE Magazine.…more

The president of the Pacific Pharmacists’ Association, Kasey Brown, is disappointed that a government led Pharmac review has not consulted her organisation or has not included a Pacific representative on its panel, especially when one of the issues they will be addressing is equity amongst Pacific people.

Pharmac is the government’s drug buying agency and decides what lifesaving and life transforming drugs are made available to New Zealanders. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Health Minister Andrew Little announced a panel of experts will lead an independent review of the agency, focusing on the timeliness and transparency of decision making. It will also consider the issue of equity, including access to medicines and medical devices for Pacific communities.

Brown, who is also a member of the Pasifika Medical Association (PMA), is one of 38 Pacific pharmacists in New Zealand and she is disappointed that there is no Pacific representation on the panel to give a voice to the 300,000 Pacific people in New Zealand.…more

Via Fine Mat Creative 

The outlook for Samoa’s tourism sector remains bleak and uncertain, leaving the Hospitality and Tourism providers scrambling for the domestic dollar, to soften a devastating blow dealt by the COVID19 global Pandemic.

Agritourism, on the other hand, is making an unlikely debut on this troubled scene, and could hold the key to rebuilding a more resilient and sustainable tourism model for the future of Samoa and the Pacific.

At least that’s what one cacao farmer and agritourism entrepreneur believes. Owner and operator of Ms Sunshine Organic Farms, Floris Niu says;

“Agritourism is a very simple idea, service or product. It is about taking your farm, plantation or garden along with your produce, and the everyday activities of life on the farm, and putting it on display.”

“Since its debut in the Pacific less than 10 years ago, agritourism has been mostly associated with the farm-to-table concept, where pacific food was gaining more attention and demand from the tourism sector. It was not showcased as a farm/food experience on-site.…more

Amongst the hardworking staff administering the Covid-19 vaccines is a familiar face to the Pasifika community, the multitalented Fonoifafo Mcfarland Seumanu. She is not only a registered nurse and vital frontline worker, but she is also the reigning Miss Samoa and Miss Pacific Islands. 

Fono has spent her reign serving within the health sectors in both Samoa and New Zealand. In 2019 she was a key part of the team that implemented the mass measles vaccination program following Samoa's measles epidemic. Fast forward to 2021, she is still playing an important part in public health programs. Fono is one of the few independent authorised vaccinators in New Zealand that has undergone special training which allows her to vaccinate with the Pfizer vaccine.…more