Coco Talanoa — Coco News / Page 33

Get to know the Valu famili from the first ever Tongan language drama series: 'Brutal Lives - Mo'ui Faingata'a'

The full series premieres here tomorrow night on the CoconetTV 

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Soane Valu 

Played by Joe Folau 

Soane, the ‘Shark’ Valu was the hope of the South Pacific. Twenty years ago, the Tongan boxer had the world at his feet and the hopes and dreams of the whole Pacific until it all came crashing down when he lost the challenge for the World Heavyweight title.  Too embarrassed to return to Aotearoa, Soane hid away in America for 20 years until he is confronted by his father’s spirit.  Soane returns home for his father but is too late.  He’s rejected by his three kids he left behind and his angry sister.  But his problems run far deeper when he discovers the family’s curse and the spirit that’s been tormenting him and his family. He must do what it takes to protect his loved ones.…more

BRUTAL LIVES - MO'UI FAINGATA'A 

ACTOR PROFILE 

SESILIA PUSIAKI 

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Malo e lelei my name is Sesilia Pusiaki Tatuila daughter of Ahosivi and Asipesio Tatuila. My dad is from Lapaha and mum is from Atata. I’m the third eldest of five and was raised on the Northshore, Northcote. My mother and father were one of the founding members of the Tongan Catholic Community on the shore so being part of this wider Tongan community played a big role in my life growing up and even though we’ve moved to Onehunga my Northshore community and families will always be a part of me. My father taught Tongan faiva within the church there so singing, dancing and performing was a way of life for me so graduating from P.I.P.A empowered me to realise that being a Tongan performing artist is who I am. Did I also mention I’m a mother of five. Their numbers are eight/ six/ five/ two and nine months, as well as a partner that supports everything I do. I’m BLESSED.…more

BRUTAL LIVES - MO'UI FAINGATA'A 

ACTOR PROFILE 

SESILIA PUSIAKI 

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Malo e lelei my name is Sesilia Pusiaki Tatuila daughter of Ahosivi and Asipesio Tatuila. My dad is from Lapaha and mum is from Atata. I’m the third eldest of five and was raised on the Northshore, Northcote. My mother and father were one of the founding members of the Tongan Catholic Community on the shore so being part of this wider Tongan community played a big role in my life growing up and even though we’ve moved to Onehunga my Northshore community and families will always be a part of me. My father taught Tongan faiva within the church there so singing, dancing and performing was a way of life for me so graduating from P.I.P.A empowered me to realise that being a Tongan performing artist is who I am. Did I also mention I’m a mother of five. Their numbers are eight/ six/ five/ two and nine months, as well as a partner that supports everything I do. I’m BLESSED.…more

BRUTAL LIVES - MO'UI FAINGATA'A 

ACTOR PROFILE 

JASON MANUMU'A 

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My parents arrived into New Zealand during the 70’s - fresh-faced and eager to find a living. They became part of a thriving Tongan church community in Onehunga in the 80’s, where I was born, before moving to Mangere Bridge where our family house stands til today.  I count myself so blessed to have learned how to read, write and speak my Tongan language through Sunday school growing up - despite surviving  the ‘passionate’ smacks & whacks, and the ‘loving’ stares & glares of numerous White Sundays - every Polynesian kids’ introduction to the performing arts lol!  
The 90’s was a great time to be a teenager - great music, movies and no internet, no social media and you walked everywhere lol. However for me, I was shipped off back to Tonga almost every summer as a kid, while my parents worked.…more

BRUTAL LIVES - MO'UI FAINGATA'A 

ACTOR PROFILE 

HAANZ FA'AVAE JACKSON 

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My name is Haanz Fa’avae Jackson. Born in South Auckland, where I still reside with my big Otahuhu family. My bloodline runs through Niue, Tonga & Samoa. When I'm not working on my career or spending time with family, I help manage "Konfident Clothing", a clothing brand me and my brother launched mid lock down. When there's no work, make work. 

How long have you been in the entertainment industry and do you have a highlight or favourite experience in your career so far?

I graduated from PIPA in 2014, and I haven't stopped performing since.  Started strong on the theatre stage, where I really got to sharpen my craft and find my feet as a professional performer & actor, which then later on lead to the huge world of screen.

Highlights for me would have to be the travelling. I never really got to travel much as a kid, but I had always wanted to.…more

It has been 6 years since Floris Niu walked away from the stressful rat race in corporate New Zealand and returned a broken woman to her home in Tuanai, Samoa.

Floris had spent the previous decade overcoming an avalanche of unfortunate events. While she had beat cervical cancer and survived a near fatal car accident - losing custody of her only daughter after a messy divorce was perhaps the driving factor that led her to contemplate suicide when she returned home.

Instead she found her purpose in the land. Carrying on the work of her ancestors she started to revive her family plantation, returning to traditional and organic farming practices. Today she is an agri tourism operator, an advocate for organic living and sustainable farming, a voice for female farmers in Samoa and a creator of pure cacao chocolate or as most Samoans will know as - Koko Samoa.

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Shot & Edited by Denisa Maňásková.…more

Story collated and written by Haitelenisia Afemui ‘Uhila Angilau for her 'Ordinary Tongan Lives' facebook page

“I’m from Kāmeli, Vava’u. I’m the only child my parents have. My Dad works at Air Terminal Services while my Mom cooks at the hospital there. Everyday they leave at 5 or 6am and return at 6 or 8pm.  Both their health are declining. I finished Form 7 last year and I don’t know how I made it through to graduation and my external exams. Anytime one of them is sick, I‘m the caregiver. If my Mom’s sick for 3 days, I miss school for 3 days. The same goes for my Dad.

It’s hard having no brother or sister because there’s no one else to help me. Everyday, I wake up and study my scriptures, say a prayer, iron our clothes, then I feed the pigs. When I return from school, I cook our dinner, clean the house, wash the dishes, or take care of our little kava plantation outside and feed the pigs again. I always break coconuts to feed the pigs.…more

BRUTAL LIVES - MO'UI FAINGATA'A 

ACTOR PROFILE 

'ILAISAANE LATU VAIPULU GREEN

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Malo e lelei my name is 'Ilaisaane Latu Vaipulu Green. Yes, I had to put my full name and maiden name because I can already hear my mum saying "before you were a Green you were a Vaipulu" Hoi sai ke tau ilo/good to know. I was born and raised in Otara South Auckland. My Pacific heritage is from The Kingdom of Tonga. My parents are both from Ha'apai, Dad is from Lofanga and Mum is from Tungua. I still reside in the same house in Otara. I do acting as a full time job, but since covid happened I'm looking at other avenues for some side hustle.

What inspired you to get into acting? 

Growing up I loved performing!  Before acting I was a dancer and I was sooo passionate about it. My favourite styles were Hip Hop and Pasifika Dancing. I did it from primary all the way to high school. Throughout high school in each year I did both Polyfest and Bring It On.…more

"O le ala i le pule o le tautua - The pathway to leadership is through service" and this is at the heart of charitable trust 360 Tautua's work in the community.  Today they finished a 3 day packing and delivering food parcel marathon, delivering 300 food parcels to families and vulnerable Pasifika elderly around Auckland. 

360 Tautua was birthed from a desire to be able to provide a wrap around service for Pasifika elderly in the Auckland community.  Their motto is “Tautua ma le Alofa; Serve with Love” & their aim is to serve the elders and families of the community.…more

In this moving conversation betweeen father and son, Richard Wolfgramm Sr shares his journey of raising a tribe of 6 children on his own.

Faka’apa’apa atu ❤🇹🇴

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Via Safekids Aotearoa