Coco Talanoa — Events / Page 9

Highlights from FIFO 2019 film festival in Tahiti.
Pacific film makers across Oceania show their work at the FIFO Film Festival - Check out some of the amazing new docos you can check out here on the CoconetTV and some that are coming out soon.

Our Fresh reporter Shimpal Lelisi checks out the highlights at One Love Festival in New Zealand & investigates why our Pacific Islands people love & connect with reggae music so much.

Onion Squad is the first team from The Kingdom of Tonga to qualify to compete at the World Hip Hop International in Phoenix, Arizona in August 2019.

Over the last 10 years people have been working towards growing the dance scene in Tonga. This year they have been running community dance classes and have wanted to find ways to create more opportunities for their young people in the creative arts.

Onion Squad have the opportunity to live the dream many people in Tonga have been following on Youtube for over 15 years. This will open up more doors not only for the team but also to create more platforms for our young people so can put up a good fight against social issues that are plaguing our youth in recent years, such as drugs and school fighting. 

Their hope is that Creative Arts will take over the Kingdom so that their young people will have an alternative to these issues.…more

The Guerrilla Collection are taking over the waterfront!

Black Grace have come together with some of Auckland’s most treasured Maori & Pasifika artists, to bring you “The Guerrilla Collection”

The brainchild of Arts Laureate Neil Ieremia, partnered with artists Anapela Polataivao, Victor Rodger, Courtney Sina-Meredith, Justin Haiu, Paul Fagamalo, Sean Macdonald and youngun Leki Jackson-Bourke, the 3 Day Festival is set to start this coming Friday, 2nd November at the ASB Waterfront Theatre.

Guerrilla Collection explores the daunting idea of “What will Auckland look like in 30 years, what will it look like, smell like, feel like, taste like”

For Curator Neil Ieremia, it was important for Pasifika People to be involved in this conversation.  

“We are the largest Pacific City in the world ... It’s so important that we have a voice and a seat at the table, so give us one!  And if you don’t give us one, we’ll take one” he said.…more

By Mario Gaoa 

Don’t feel bad if you haven’t been or heard of these awards, it doesn’t make you an art snob nor does it suggest that you are out of touch with your creative islandness. Everyone has awards, academy awards, Bafta awards, Grammy awards, NZ plumming awards and the list goes on.

The Creative NZ Pacific artist awards are held every year and hosted by Creative New Zealand and recognise the contributions to art by some of our most talented and respected Pacific artists, of which there are many.  Going down the list of previous recipients of these awards is eye-watering stuff.  Albert Wendt, Nathaniel Lees, Jonny Penisula, Lemi Ponifasio, Annie Crummer, Jim Vivieaere ... it’s like an All Blacks team of Pacific Artists, so it is little wonder that these awards are a big deal to our budding arts industry.

This years awards are being held in Parliament. A structurally sound but very ugly building ..... or so I thought.…more

What to expect at a LGBTQI conference in Samoa?
How about having the opening ceremony and key note speaker from Deputy Prime minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa,  four days of laying fa’afafine issues on the table and a kick ass Fa’afafine pageant that is one of the most popular events in Samoa? Yes! Everything that our Queer warriors before us worked so hard for, and a safe space for all LGBTQI in the Pacific.

“Having the conference here in Samoa will allow us to speak about the issues for LGBTI community in the region" says Tuisina Ymania Brown-Gabriel, the Executive director of the Pacific Human Rights Initiative and Global Ambassador of the Samoan Fa’afafine Association.

One of the many main problems  she wants to highlight are how pastors use religion against the Fa’afafine community.

 “Prosecute all other people that are sinners in the Bible. For example, the Bible specially talks abut no working on Sunday by our tourism industry will fail if they shut down on Sunday.…more

“ We want to raise the awareness of our food as up there with the best in the world” - Rangi Mitaera- Johnson 

“It’s more than just having food in restaurants it's about a way of life and value of our planting, our farming, our fishing as part of the story of our food”

Wild goat from Atiu, pearl oyster meat from Manihiki, the Utu king of bananas and the prized purple swamp taro, just some of the extraordinary ingredients on the plate at a recent Takurua - the ancient way of feasting in the Cook Islands!

Chefs from around the Pacific gathered in Rarotonga to create the best of Cook Islands cuisine on an epic scale, with traditional foods sourced from all over the Cook Islands.

“We want to develop a culture of healthy food and healthy exercise lifestyles around food” says Metua Vai'imene from Cook Islands tourism.

The purpose of the spectacular event was to showcase the importance of returning to our indigenous diets, and eating from the earth rather then processed imported food.…more

The Goebel sisters (Kendal, Narelle & Parris) & their organisation Sisters United NZ  officially launched their 'Brown and Beautiful' campaign on Friday night and was attended by beautiful, brown sistas from all walks of life and from all over Auckland city to support a great cause.

Seafarers on Tyler Street was transformed for the 'Brown and Beautiful' launch thanks to the skills of Omgness - you can follow her on Instagram here & support our brown sistas business! 

Everything on the night including the food on the grazing table, drinks and decorations, lighting, the photo booth, Fijian cake maker Bertrand Jangs 'Sweet & Me'  'Brown and Beautiful' cakes and more were all donated and sponsored by different businesses and vendors for the launch.

Part way through the night, the 3 Goebel sisters Kendal, Parris and Narelle along with their team Sau and Punipuao talked through the 'Young Queens' programme and introduced a few of the 120 girls who are a part of it.…more

The Vodafone Pacific Music Awards 2018 winners were announced last night at the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau honouring Pacific Island musicians contributions to NZ music throughout the years as well as up and coming artists.

Here is the full list of winners as well as performance, red carpet and behind the scenes pics from the night.

On the red carpet - 

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AWARDS & WINNERS 

Phillip Fuemana Award - Most Promising Pacific Artist 

POETIK 

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NZ on Air Radio Airplay Award 

BROOKE FRASER - 'THERAPY' 

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NZ on Air Streaming Award 

KINGS - 'WE'LL NEVER KNOW' 

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Sam Kiles who was nominated for 'Best International Artist' performing at the Pacific Music Awards 

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NZ on Air Best Pacific Music Video Award 

SAMSON RAMBO - 'HERE TO STAY' (GENERAL FIYAH) 

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SIT/MAINZ Best Producer 

PARKS, BRANDAN HARU & JULIEN DYNE - 'ROYAL BLUE 3000 EP (LADI6)

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FLAVA Best International Artist 

TENELLE - 'FOR THE LOVERS' 

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Raze (Ezra Williams) who was nominated for Best Female Pacific Artist performing at the Pacific Music Awards 

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