Coco Talanoa — Coco News / Page 60
New Zealand MPs having a go at Vagahau Niue
The theme of this year’s Niue Language Week, which begins today, is “Tau tagata Niue, tau magafaoa Niue, fakaaoga e vagahau Niue – Niue people, Niue families, use vagahau Niue”.
Planning a trip to Niue? Shimpal Lelisi has got you with the best tips for the island
MOEMOANA SCHWENKE: EQUALITY, ENVIRONMENT AND EMBRACING PACIFIC CULTURE
At the age of 15, Moemoana Schwenke is one of few female Siva Afi (fire dancers) in the world, challenging gender stereotypes while pushing her own limits of fearlessness.
The connection she shares with her Polynesian culture is so strong that it influences almost everything that she does, from performing arts and promoting equality to advocating for the preservation of our environment.
At such a young age, Moemoana shows us a beautiful example of what it looks like to be a young Pacific woman who isn’t afraid to stand up and show the world who she is. We’re proud to bring you her story and we hope it inspires you to embrace everything it means to be who you are as a Pacific person – as Moemoana says, “You are not just anybody.”
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Tell us a bit about yourself, your connection with your Polynesian culture, and how you came to follow that path?
Talofa Lava. My name is Moemoana Schwenke, meaning ‘sleeping ocean’ and I am 15 years old.…more
Erica excelling thanks to StarJam
Fourteen-year-old Erica Aii could dance before she could walk and "always had the beat".
Down Syndrome hasn't affected her quality of life but she's never been able to relate to others with the condition until now.
She attends dance classes at StarJam in Manurewa, a programme giving young people with disabilities the chance to experience performing through the common love of music.
"It's very normal and very challenging," says the young dancer, who's favourite dance is hip hop and Samoan.
Her mum Janene says Erica really looks forward to going to StarJam every week.
"We lived in France and Japan so couldn't really find anybody to relate to there," she says.
"I think because she's been mainstream her whole life it really didn't make a difference to her.…more
Happy Tuvalu Language Week!
This week we celebrate Tuvalu Language Week in New Zealand.
Providing a week of celebrations through music, song, dance, food, crafts and language, there will be events happening right across the country.
For more info on what's on, check out the Ministry website or Facebook page.
You can also familiarise yourself with Tuvalu language and culture right here
And some key phrases of the Tuvaluan Language to get you started:
Tuvalu Language Week is promoted by Auckland Tuvalu Community Trust with support from the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, community members and other organisations.
In Loving Memory of Papali'i Pita Ulitau Taouma
We would like to pay tribute to a Great man, a Pioneer, a Leader, a Father, a Mentor, a Musician, a Husband and more...
Papali'i Dr. Pita Ulitau Taouma
Papali’i Dr. Pita Taouma is the head of the Malietoa Pouesi family in Aotearoa/Niu Sila. He is most well-known as a dentist who served our community for many years, first in Samoa as the head of dentistry at the hospital in Matautu, Apia and then for many years as a dentist here in Aukilani.
Papali’i was first sent to Niu Sila to take up a scholarship at Whangarei Boys High School at the age of 14. He spent these years schooling while also traveling to Aukilani during holidays to spend time with family, mostly in and around the Ponsonby area.
Papali’i then went to Otago University to study dentistry – a profession which ran in the family as his father Tofa Fesula’i Taouma Leteletaneolevao was also one of a group of seven dentists originally trained in the craft in Samoa.…more
Kiribati community vows to fight refugee deportation
A Kiribati community leader in New Zealand was at Parliament yesterday begging the government not to deport a family who argue they are climate change refugees.
(Reverend Iosefa Suamalie, pictured above with Ioane Teitiota's wife, Angua Erika, have pleaded to keep Mr Teitota in New Zealand.)
About 70 people poured into a public meeting in West Auckland on Monday night in support of Ioane Teitiota his wife Angua Erika, and their three children.
Mr Teitiota has been fighting against deportation back to Kiribati since 2011, arguing he should be considered a refugee based on climate change, and rising sea levels.
He's been told he's booked on a flight out of New Zealand on Wednesday.
The crowd was sombre yet hopeful about the family's future. One of the people there, John Corcoran, has been a key witness in legal proceedings. Mr Corcoran says the family's outlook is grim, with many Kiribati families already struggling to survive on the island.…more
Students win global awards
Two young Samoans have been invited to New York to claim the prestigious awards they have won in the Voices of Future Generations International Children’s books series competition.
Winning the awards means that the students were invited to receive their awards in person and to attend the Children’s Summit at United Nations Headquarters in New York on Sunday.
However, they will not be making the trip because they were not given enough time to prepare and raise funds for it.
But not being there doesn’t mean that Lupe and Alexia will not celebrate their achievements from afar. With the support of their parents, the students will go with plan B, using online technology on Skype to participate in the event.…more
Tongan Fakaleiti finding their way in conservative country
While transgenders in Australia typically exist on the periphery of society, in the Kingdom of Tonga, they sit close to the king – or wait on his table, at least, writes Peter Munro.
"You've got to be strong to be a woman" â even when you're not
In Australia, transgenders are typically on the fringes of mainstream society. In Tonga, they sit close to the king â or wait on his table.
Perched within cooee of the king – at a long table topped with suckling pigs, lobsters, coconuts and big blocks of supermarket chocolate – is Joey Joleen Mataele. She's hard to find among the hundreds of nobles gathered on a grassed oval to celebrate the coronation, on a steamy day of singing, dancing and double desserts in the Kingdom of Tonga.
A local takes me to her table, past a handful of male waiters wearing white blouses and heavy make-up – their lips red, eyebrows plucked and chests waxed. "Some of them are more graceful than girls," my guide says. "They are reliable workers.…more
Let Kids Be Kids - The Icons
Watch some of New Zealand's most revered sportsman talk straight from the heart and remind us all to let kid be kids when they are playing sports #letkidsbekids
All Blacks Sonny Bill Williams and Liam Messam are some of the big names supporting this awesome cause!
Sport is an important part of life for most kiwi kids and it can have a really positive impact on a child’s self-esteem, physical health and social skills. Unfortunately most weekends our kids are being exposed to violence and aggressive behaviour from parents/ family members/ friends when they are supposed to be out there having fun. Our campaign aims to advocate the proper way to love and support children involved in contact sport and to remind adult supporters that they are role models and it is their responsibility to create a safe environment for kids to play in. Our message is simple: let kids be kids when they are participating in sport.…more
Samoan Vampires; Yes We Exist by "3bino"
Imagine being a blonde blue eyed girl with piercingly white skin walking into a Samoan Food Shop (willingly in broad daylight). You walk up to the counter and apprehensively ask the shop keeper for a LARGE plate with 2 taros, 3 povi masimas and a scoop of sapasui...
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