Coco Talanoa — Coco News / Page 57
Communities worldwide weave message to end violence
What first began as a response to the rape and murder of a young Australian woman, has now become a force for change uniting people all around the world.
Samoan Artist Maryann Pau had no idea when she launched her One Million Stars to End Violence' project in 2012 that it would bring healing to so many, world wide.
And now her star-weaving workshops are being taken directly to women in the Pacific region, invoking hard-hitting conversations about an issue that is so close to home for Pacific people.
In 2012, the tragic death of ABC Journalist Jill Meagher brought an outpouring of grief from Maryann's local community and she began her own weaving campaign to advocate against violence.
"It was such a personal response. I'm a weaver," she said
"I love the craft. I appreciate the process of weaving."
After posting an 8 point star-weaving instruction video on Youtube, supported by a message about her inspiration to end violence - she invited others to join the campaign.
She did not expect the fruit it has been bearing ever since.…more
From Poly-hood to Hollywood - P.I's on the big screen!
2016 has seen a resurgence in Poly actors making it big, including fresh new talent making its way up the ranks, as well as our own Pacific stories making it big on the silver screen! Check out our Top 7 Pacific Island movers and shakers!
Joe Naufahu
Kiwi star Joe Naufahu has landed a sought-after role on Game of Thrones, becoming one of the latest kiwi's involved in the popular TV series joining fellow kiwi Keisha Castle-Hughes. It was revealed at the LA Premiere that he was to play the latest leader of the Dothraki clan Khal Moro. He is best known for his role as Liscus on Spartacus, as well as his stint on local series Go Girls. He was also a lead character in the critically acclaimed feature film The Last Saint, his brother Rene Naufahu's directorial debut.
KJ Apa
18-year-old KJ Apa has been cast as Archie Andrews in new TV series Riverdale - based on the popular Archie comics.…more
Island Life in Niue: An Expat's Perspective
Shanny Matterson, the freelance travel writer and creative copywriting guru from Rebel and Roam – a primary school teacher – has had adventure tattooed on her heart since as long as she can remember.
Meet Shannon and hear her perspective on life as an expat in Niue.
Tell me about island life. How does living in Niue fair to home in Queensland?
Life in Niue is – pardon my language – pretty f***ing rad.
Niue is a tiny island in the Polynesian Pacific region, with only about 1,200 people living on the island fulltime.…more
From Tonga to New York!
Two Te Wānanga o Aotearoa arts graduates are about to pack their bags for a taste of the Big Apple.
Source: Te Wānanga o Aotearoa
Visesio and Serene, who leave in March, are among the first graduates from He Waka Hiringa, the Master of Applied Indigenous Knowledge programme run by Te Wānanga o Aotearoa at Mangakōtukutuku in Hamilton.
Their collaborative piece – a 4.4m by 18m tapa cloth work titled Onotu’ofe’uli – Onotu’ofekula - was a labour of love more than two years in the making that included a stint at Visesio’s village in Tonga.
The enormous work, which had to be cut in half in Tonga so it could be brought on board a plane back to New Zealand, consists of 23 different stencil designs.
Blinged out Tongan Kiekie blends culture with fashion
The wearing of fine mats and woven material that make up a Ta'ovala and Kiekie is often what has distinguished Tongan dress from that of its Pacific neighbours.
Originally made using plant fibres, the longstanding cultural tradition is a sign of respect and symbolizes the binding of Tonga (by tieing the land around one's waist) to a person, wherever they go.
But the inspiration behind the embellished 'Kiekie's of Kanumez designs, which are crafted and designed by Mele Tonga Tamanilo, were first inspired by the picture of a gladiator dress.
"I saw this picture of a girl wearing something like a Gladiator dress and it resembled a kiekie in a way," said Mele
"I thought, 'this is exactly what I want to do'."
Having been taught how to weave by her grandmother, she then spent her school years in Tonga and Fiji developing the traditional weaving and craftmaking skills.
Learning how to make a Ta'ovala (mat around the waist) and Kato Alu (decorated basket) was a part of the school curriculum at Tonga's Queen Salote College, where she attended.…more
From Beauty Queen to first Samoan Bachelorette!
Former Miss Samoa NZ 2011 Metotisi Komiti-Faalavaau has made history by becoming the first Samoan contestant to compete in the Bachelor franchise.
Debuting last night on TV 3, the latest season of The Bachelor NZ included a wider range of beauties, including the former Miss Samoa NZ.
Known as 'Metz' on screen, the 28-year-old administrator from South Auckland was revealed last night after months of speculation as to who the contestants were.
The Bachelor franchise has been adopted worldwide and is in it's second season here in NZ.
Photo: Miss Samoa Facebook
Metotisi applied last year when producers of the show put out the call for potential contestants, saying "I was single at the time when the opportunity presented itself and thought why not?”
With a focus on studies, friends, family and church, the Samoan beauty is finally at the stage where she's ready for love.…more
Samoa boasts record number of female candidates ahead of election
With the Samoan General Election only 2 days away (Friday 4th March) of the 164 candidates, 24 are women - compared to the 2011 election which had only 9 female candidates.
The local constitution was changed in 2013 to ensure that 5 of the 49 seats (10%) were for women, a move that was initially unpopular, but has since changed perceptions of women's roles in society.
The move was welcomed by local women and saw an encouraging amount of women contesting and entering the general election to represent their districts.
Candidates include prominent Samoan business women Lemalu Sina Retzlaff and Vaimasenu'u Zita Martell.
Despite the promising representation of women in Parliament, thousands of young people failed to register to vote in the upcoming election.
To see the full list of candidates, click here.
Image courtesy of Zita Martel.
University poet to perform for the Queen
Selina Tusitala Marsh is off to London to see the Queen.
She has been commissioned to write and perform a poem at the Commonwealth Day Observance in Westminster Abbey on Monday 14 March.
Selina, a poet and Senior Lecturer in English, was initially approached by the Commonwealth Education Trust last November, but in her modesty she thought they were asking her to find a poet for the event, so she started compiling a list of potential poets.
It was not until two weeks later when they asked her again that she realised that they were actually asking her to be the poet.
The Commonwealth Service is the largest multi-faith celebration in Britain and takes place annually on the second Monday in March at Westminster Abbey. The one-hour service includes a speech from the Queen and also features a mixture of testimonies, readings, songs and musical performances.
The service is based around annual theme. For 2016, the theme is ‘An Inclusive Commonwealth', inviting citizens to consider what it means to live in a diverse yet equitable, fair and tolerant international community.…more
Toloa Scholarship recipients announced
Pacific Peoples Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga awarded four young people $25,000 scholarships aimed at encouraging more Pacific people into studying science, technology, engineering and maths subjects.
The Toloa Scholarships, funded by the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, were awarded at a ceremony at the University of Auckland’s Fale Pasifika.
“The aim of the Toloa Scholarships is to encourage Pacific students into studying science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects at tertiary level and so increase the number of Pacific people working in these areas,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.
“The calibre of applicants was high, and I was encouraged by the interest in these new scholarships. New Zealand’s Pacific population is one of the youngest and fastest-growing in the country. It is important that these young and bright people are given every opportunity to become the industry leaders and problem-solvers of the future,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.
The four Toloa Scholarships, worth $25,000 over three years each, are open to first year undergraduate and postgraduate Pacific students studying STEM-related papers. The recipients also receive mentoring and an industry internship.…more
Pacific Fashion Stylist Sammy Salsa: the new age Polynesian man.
He's one of New Zealand's sought-after fashion and celebrity Stylists and is quickly making his mark worldwide.
31-year-old Sammy Salsa Style has now been appointed as the internationally renowned MiNDFOOD magazine's full time Fashion Editorial Stylist for Mindfood Style.
The popular Magazine has a vast following in both Australia and New Zealand and has been running for over 8 years.
It's a rare position for the Pacific stylist who is one of few Polynesians in the European dominated industry.
"It's a huge opportunity for me, especially being polynesian and male," said Sammy
"Our aesthetic and our way of thinking is quite different from the european kind of style."
The creative stylist, otherwise known as Sam Cowley Lupo, traces his Pacific roots back to Vaigaga, Manase in Savai'i, Samoa and Avetele in Niue.
In his own personal style, the former TV music host of Pacific Beat Street, has pioneered the look of the new age polynesian man and gained respect from some of the fashion industry's heavyweights as well as his worldwide loyal followers on social media.…more