Coco Talanoa — Events / Page 13

In the Pacific we do many things well - famously we navigate great oceans, turn out some pretty alright sports people, make good pagipopos and as it turns out some really great artists. Like our domination in the sports and music arenas, arts is one place where Pacific people win - it's where we trump it in coloring up the Kiwi landscape with our brown awesomeness and unique perspective.

We are the jewel in the crown in fact for organisations like CNZ where a 2011 survey cited the Pacific art forms in NZ as being some of the most popularly attended in the country. So we love it when our cream of the crop are honoured every year by Creative NZ, who celebrate the best of Pacific arts and awards five artists accolades and dosh to acknowledge their talents.

This year two actors scoop the pools in the senior artist award - the OG's of Pacific theatre and acting Oscar Kightley and David Fane.…more

The Coconet spoke to Deirdre Corbett before she embarked on her journey to Mongolia to compete in the Miss Face of Beauty International.

You can check out our Humans of the Islands interview with her here  

She is now back in New Zealand and shares her experience with us ....

I was so nervous once I left New Zealand. I couldn't believe this was actually happening!  That I would be competing with about 50-60 girls in a couple of days.

Mongolia is such an amazing place to be in. When I arrived I felt so welcomed and loved by everyone which made me even more excited about everything! Not many people know about this place which makes it even more special!

The hospitality, people and the memories I will forever cherish. Their food is amazing!!!!! I'm pretty sure I have gained a bit of weight haha!

I've learned so many things through out my journey in mongolia such as the food, people, schools, temples etc. The competition was an unforgettable experience.…more

Fijians are fun-loving people. Even though Fiji was known around the world in the late 1700s and early 1800s as the ‘Cannibal Islands’, during peaceful times, games were played by children, young adults and even older ones. It was a time of joy that brought unity and prosperity to the land. When theVanua (referring to both land and people here) was peaceful and prospering, fruits of labour from every corner of Fiji is shared by everyone and this included bountiful land and marine resources.

With the diversity of Fiji’s archipelago, one will find Fijians living on the outer islands such as the Provinces of Lau (Eastern Fiji), Kadavu (Southern Fiji), and Lomaiviti (Central Fiji) for instance (see map). Others live on the main islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, the 2 largest islands. This meant that some tribes are located in the mountains accessinglong meandering rivers from the provinces of Navosa, Ba, Ra, Naitasiri and Namosi. 

Games and relevant tools would vary from place to place as theywould utilize natural resources that were in abundance in those areas.…more

Veisisivi Meke is the traditional dance competition which has been running for the past 4 years in Auckland as part of the Fiji Language Week events.

It is always the most popular of the events along with the main FIJI DAY event.  It's an event where traditional song & dance are encouraged especially for the NZ born children.

Winners:

1. Yasana O Cakaudrove

2. Na Seni Rosi Ni Waikato

3. Santa Ana Meke Group.

Veivisivi Meke happened at the Mangere Centre Park Stadium, where the Fiji Day event also occured on Saturday 8th October.

This year the launch of FLW was held at the Auckland Museum along with the launching of the Museums Pacific Access Collection programme that was attended by well over 300 people.

The theme for FLW is - 'Na Noqu Vosa me'u Bula taka' which means 'My language, learn it, speak it, live it!'

The Museum kindly opened their doors to the community and showcased some of the Fiji Collection that they have in their vault – the Fiji Collection is the biggest out of the Pacific Collection.…more

Auckland Museum hosted Fijian leaders, performers and community members this past weekend to launch the Museum’s Fijian collection project to coincide with Fijian language week. 

The Fijian community was welcomed to Auckland Museum on Saturday 1 October to celebrate the launch of a unique project to focus research into the Museum’s internationally recognised Fijian collection.

The project is part of The Pacific Collection Access Project, which is a three year programme to open up access to Pacific treasures, creating stronger connections with Auckland’s Pacific communities.

As part of the launch, Fijian leaders gifted the project an official Fijian name: ‘Nai Yau Vakaviti – Na Ka Marequiti’ (this means ‘Our Fijian Treasures: That are treasured’).

The Fijian collection is the second Pacific island nation to receive focus, following the successful programme of work that has begun for the Cook Islands collection.

Museum staff will now focus on engaging with local Fijian communities and will invite cultural knowledge holders to visit the Museum to share their insights and wisdom.…more

#ICYMI The Black Friars head into the 2nd week of their "Macbeth" production tomorrow night.

We went to see the play for ourselves on Saturday night and were rapt with the stunning Pasifika costuming, outstanding singing and musical direction as well as the phenomenal acting from the whole cast throughout.  I would dare to say that even if you aren't well versed in Shakespearean literature and don't necessarily like Shakespeares tragedies - you'll still enjoy this production.  

Here's a few reviews from people who have seen the show ...

"Have never seen classic English literature retold like this - in a way that's relevant to us, Pasifika people. Loved the music and dance!! Amazing to see Shakespeare presented in Poly flavour and to see a theatre company actively breaking down negative stereotypes around South Auckland and our Pasifika people. HIGHLY RECOMMEND SEEING THIS PLAY! My favourite Shakespeare production."

- Indira Stewart, Radio NZ Journalist

"I recently had the pleasure of checking out the latest Black Friars theatre production, Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'.…more

Samoa exploded with the colours and patterns of Polynesia last night as a crew of 85 talented designers models and dancers brought their talents to the runway.

Models practising earlier in the week for the Saturday night show 

Models in Dane Fabricius designs

Showcased like jewels glittering across the Tanoa Tusitala pool, the designs saw a mix of emerging and established fashion houses showcase their creations.

While Fiji and PNG have lead the way with their fashion week events, this first ever week long festival of fashion now puts Samoa on the map as a design force to be reckoned with in the region.

Organised by the Samoa Arts Council, the runway show was a chance to put the spotlight on some of the new young design talent in Samoa. As the country now has many different outlets to sell local designs and a huge demand from locals as well as tourists for Pacific fashion, the time is ripe for these clothes to be displayed at this level.…more

HIGHLIGHTS .... 

The crew were in Samoa last week and caught some of the action at the Teuila Festival.

Here's some of the festival highlights in case you missed their facebook posts last week .....

POLICE MARCHING BAND 

Every morning the police marching band would march down to the Government Building in Apia, play the national anthem as the Samoan flag was raised and then march back to the Police Headquarters.

THE ANNUAL FAUTASI RACE 

A group of supporters try to get out as far as they can at Mulinu'u Point to cheer for their team as the first of the boats come around the corner.  The boats start their race out at Malie now.

The first boat passes by at Mulinu'u Point 

The winning boat "Little Rina" finishing in Apia 

Boat coming in to shore in front of Aggie Greys in Apia

Teuila Festival Stalls 

Festival Games 

The people 

Siva Afi Comp 

Miss Samoa pageant 2016 

Suggested Links:

Pani and Pani chair dance 

MACBETH ....

'Something Wicked this way Comes'

The Black Friars Theatre troupe presents an innovative re-staging of the traditional Shakespearean classic for Pasifika in Aotearoa set against a backdrop of imagined Hawaiki, fusing Polynesian music and dance with Shakespearean magic.

The South Auckland based group was formed in 2006 out of a desire to challenge the dominant stereotypes surrounding Pasifika people and to “keep talented young brown people off the street and on the stage”.  These days their mission statement has changed.…more

The Pacific Fusion Fashion Show went off in South Auckland and Coconet.TV caught the action.

Held at the Andrew-Simms Botany car dealership, the fashion design competition featured a mix of emerging and established designers showcasing street wear, evening wear, haute couture and ready to wear fashion.

Besides being a designer's competition and having several non-comp showings the event was a platform for models to face off strut their stuff for a place as the Face of Fusion 2017.

The night was hosted by Latafale Auva'a (previous Miss Samoa NZ, Miss Samoa, Miss Pacific Islands and Miss World Samoa) and judged by international guest judge Lepou Peni of Lepou and Grace; social media sensation Kris Fox; and NZ Fashion Week co-owner Anna Hood.

It was an awesome night with several celebs in attendance and the man of the Olympic hour - Pita Taufatofua - also making his catwalk debut.…more