Coco Talanoa — Coco News / Page 53

While rugby league and the prospect of a Tongan team taking the World Cup is currently gripping Tongans around the world, in the Kingdom there is an election to be won today.  

Massey University Pasifika Director Associate Professor Malakai Kolamatangi will be an observer at the election and says this is what you need to know ahead of the vote.

 * The election is a year early after King George Tupou the sixth dismissed the country's scandal-ridden Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva and dissolved parliament in August and called for a fresh election.

* The Government was dissolved on the advice of the Speaker of the House Lord Tu'ivakano and the Tongan Privy Council. It follows a series of Government controversies including the dismissal of three cabinet ministers including one convicted of bribery, the creation of a golf course at the Popua wetland and heritage area, a decision to part privatise the National Broadcaster and the decision to pull out of hosting the Pacific Games.…more

An ad campaign to create awareness of the need for law reform so that people with diverse Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities are not discriminated against in the Kingdom of Tonga.

Samoa’s very own Tanoa clothing store has made it’s way to the shores of Aotearoa. Co-owners, Aaron Forsgren and Taupa'u Bruce Leiataua opened their Onehunga branch in October and we were privileged to be apart of it.

Aaron Forsgren expressed his excitement about their new store.

“When we first started this company, our original focus was to utilise local Samoan and Polynesian artists to help develop this. We’ve done that and now it’s always going to be our vision - that we will promote the Polynesian Heritage in a big city.”

All Blacks legend, La'auli Sir Michael Jones, had a few great things to say about his brother-in-law’s brand too.

“I’m really proud of my brother Bruce and the team. I’m proud of everyone involved. I feel blessed to be apart of it in the small way that I’ve been able to contribute - along with the support from the rest of our family.…more

In a historic moment for Pasifika people in Aotearoa and the region, Samoan/ Tongans MP Carmel Sepuloni has been sworn in as the Deputy Prime Minister of Aotearoa. This is the first parliamentary appointment at this level for Pasifika people and is hugely significant in presenting a Pasifika presence at senior political level.

“I am truly humbled” were her first words to media about the appointment. A long standing MP for Kelston, Carmel Sepuloni was born and raised in Waitara but has lived in Auckland since 1996. Outside of politics Carmel has worked broadly across the health and education sectors, working as a Literacy Educator with youth in West Auckland, teaching in Samoa, managing equity programmes at the University of Auckland, managing the non-regulated Pacific health research project and acting as CEO of New Zealand’s only national Pacific health provider, Vaka Tautua.

Carmel has always been committed to improving social, health and educational outcomes for all New Zealanders but has especially focused during her career on low socio-economic groups, Māori, Pacific, disabled people and sole parents.…more

Tonga’s Leiti’s Association calls for recognition of transgender people

The Vice President of Tonga Leiti’s Association has called for a clear definition of gender equality to ensure that everyone, including transgender people, are included and taken into consideration in decision-making.

Joey Mataele, who was born male but lives as a woman, was in Suva as part of the 13 Triennial Conference of Pacific Women where a platform for gender equality was approved and passed by Pacific Ministers for Women for endorsement.

“When you talk about gender equality , you are talking about the overall population not just women and men, people living with HIV, people living with disability, transgender women, transgender men, that do exist in this world,” Mataele said.

She said one of the challenges that they faced in Tonga was the limitation of being recognised for who they are.

“We are known to be the decorators, we are known to be the chefs, we are known to be the hard- labour people but when it comes to decision making, we are nowhere to be seen,” Mataele said.…more

Mailelani – Organic Samoan Skincare taking over!

By now we’re all aware of the endless benefits received from the coconut, so it’s no surprise that one of Samoa’s leading skincare and natural beauty companies, has put Samoa on the map using organic coconut oil magic. Mailelani, meaning ‘a gift from heaven’, was established in 2005 by Kitiona and Sylvie Salanoa.

Using organic suau’u popo (coconut oil) in their products, sourcing local ingredients and employing local villagers, Mailelani is providing not only work opportunities, but also superior natural skincare with those unmistakable island fragrances.

“What makes Mailelani unique is that it’s the peoples business; it’s not just us. We have people who make the coconut oil, koko samoa and sell esi, so everything we do and put in, is made by the people, Mailelani just makes the finished product. That’s why I always say without the people, Mailelani wouldn’t exist.” – Kitiona Salanoa.

The first product created was a handmade scentless soap, which eventually developed into a range with seven various fragrances.…more

The video “I’m a Proud Pacific Islander” is one of two videos created by the Pacific UN Free & Equal campaign for equal rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people.

It features the faces and voices of LGBTI people and their allies from across the Pacific, calling for everyone to take a stand for LGBTI equality.

‘We are what we remember, the self is a trick of memory . . . history is the remembered tightrope that stretches across the abyss of all that we have forgotten’

Maualaivao Albert Wendt

‘Ta’isi O.F.Nelson, Political Campaigner & Statesman’

Credit: Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 31-66440. Photographer, H.J. Schmidt, article from The Museum of Sāmoa.  Photos courtesy of Tony Brunt via the Museum of Samoa

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Ta’isi Olaf Frederick Nelson (24 February 1883 - 28 February 1944) was a successful businessman, scholar, and the leader of the Mau movement in the 1920’s and 1930’s.  Despite a firm position against violent protest of any kind Ta’isi was banished for two long stints, spending more than seven and a half years of forced residency in New Zealand without the right of return to attend to family or business matters.  He was absent from Samoa during the shootings in Apia on ‘Black Saturday’ 28 December, 1929.…more