Coco Talanoa — Humans of the Islands / Page 19
Humans Of The Islands - Emily Mafile'o
Emily Mafile'o
Photographer
Tongan/European/Maori
Tell us about yourself and what you do -
Tongan/European/Maori living in Manurewa, South Auckland. Mama to my son, Emil first and foremost.
I freelance in photography, set dressing for TV and films and am a big promoter of Contemporary Pasifika/Tongan Arts in my Community. I am proud to be part of the ManaRewa Collective based at Nathan Homestead.
Why are you fascinated with photographing contemporary Tongan culture?
Tongan culture is at a fascinating time! There are so many different versions of Tongan people that we need to celebrate.
Humans Of The Islands - Mary Tiumalu
Mary Tiumalu
25 years old
Samoan
I was born and raised in Waterview, in Auckland. I’m the youngest of four children and I came from a working class family. My upbringing, my childhood was probably the best time of my life. Obviously because we were from a working class family and my parents had their own struggles but they never showed that to us as young kids. We never thought that we were struggling financially. We had a roof over our heads, we got to play outside. You know, once in a while we had steak and my Dad would come home on his pay day with a Snickers bar for all of us (laughs). So we never really thought that we were struggling. They provided us with a really good home environment.…more
Humans Of The Islands - Koroi Hawkins
Koroi Hawkins
Award winning Pacific Journalist
Fijian / Solomon Islander
Biologically I am part Fijian part Solomon Islander but I was raised a Solomon Islander and identify as one. I have quite a few siblings from both my biological parents' marriages and my Dad Bob Hawkins' first marriage but I am an only child to my mum Effie Hawkins and have always felt like one. Over the years we have lived in several places including Honiara, the capital of Solomon Islands and Mackay in Australia but I was fortunate to spend quite a lot of my formative years in Munda, a small village/town in the Western Solomons. It was quite an exciting place for a child growing up. Between the ocean and the jungle there was always plenty to keep me occupied when I was not doing chores for mum or dad. If there is one thing I miss most about home I would say it is the ocean which was my closest friend growing up.…more
Women of the Islands - Rebecca Tavo
Rebecca Tavo
Fiji International Sevens Rugby Player
Fiji/Rotuma/Australia
Rebecca Tavo is a dual international also representing Australia in touch-rugby. Hailing from Western Australia, Tavo is a strong and competent ball carrier and has also scored off the field becoming BHP Billiton's first female trainer driver in 2006. In 2015 she changed alliegiance and decided to represent her home country of Fiji.
How did your passion for sports particulary rugby/touch begin?
I started playing these sports from a young age. It was only a natural progression that I went on to play these sports as a young adult and then onto adulthood. My Dad played and it took my interest also.
Touch Rugby was first. I played for Western Australia at 15yrs and then for Australia during competition in New Zealand. Between then and now, I played for the Mixed and Women's Open Touch team for Australia where we won the Women's World Cup in Scotland in 2011.
Because I had a bit of size about me (Islander), League was the next progression.…more
Humans Of The Islands - Joash Fahitua
Joash Fahitua
Dancer/ Aspiring Choreographer
Owner and Operator of Alpha Omega Fitness
Samoan
I was born in Wellington and moved up to Auckland when I was three. I lived in G.I (Glen Innes) before moving to West Auckland at the age of ten and attended Kelston Intermediate and Kelston High Boys School. After High School I went to Sydney and learnt a new Dance style called Krump. Krump gave me the confidence that I never had before and pushed me to new boundaries. I hosted the first ever Krump competition in New Zealand and was featured in Commercials and won a lot of Krump competitions with my crew. I then wanted a new challenge, so I successfully enrolled to study at P.I.P.A (Pacific Institute of Performing Arts).
In 2010 I was given an opportunity to dance for one of New Zealand's leading Contemporary Dance companies called Black Grace. I got to travel to America, Korea and Europe and perform on some of the most well known stages in theatre and dance.…more
Humans Of The Islands - Antony Vavia
Antony Vavia
20 Years Old
Cook Island / Fijian
I grew up in South Auckland, Manurewa with my mother. I’ve got two sisters, one older than me and one younger than me, so I am the middle child and the only guy in my family.
Being surrounded by Island women pretty much describes my upbringing. There was my mother, my two sisters and also my Nana. She’s been really influential. They've always inspired me to work hard. The reason why my family is in New Zealand is because my Mum and Nana wanted us kids to have a better education and grow in a world with more opportunities. They’re a constant reminder of that.
My Dad’s always been there too, I would visit him every fortnight when I was growing up. He’s had a really good impact on my life too in terms of being genuine and being real. He’s also the one that directed me to studying what I study now. My older sister has always really looked out for me.…more
HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS: TYSON PEDRO
Tyson Pedro
MMA/UFC Fighter
Samoan
The first Pe’a to enter the Octagon - TYSON PEDRO-MMA/UFC Fighter
Tyson Pedro has always believed in the old adage “ask and you shall receive”.
The 25-year-old light heavyweight pleaded for the chance to fight at UFC Melbourne .... And soon enough, he was granted his wish. “I’ve been training hard and I’m ready to go Dana.”
After Pedro won at AFC 17, submitting respected New Zealand warhorse Steven Warby, he called on UFC president Dana White to add him to the card at Rod Laver Arena on November 27.
“They’ve got a show in November and if someone pulls out at light heavyweight, I’m there,” Pedro said on October 15. Pedro said it was a “dream come true” to break into the UFC.
How did you get into fighting?
My family has always been involved in martial arts; I started in karate at a young age with my father.…more
WOMEN OF THE ISLANDS: LEILANI MOMOISEĀ DALLAS
LEILANI MOMOISEĀ DALLAS
RADIO NEW ZEALAND SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER & SPARK SPORTS PRESENTER
SAMOAN
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I've heard you say one of the first things you ask people in your 'Snacks n Chats' interviews is 'Where are you from'? What would YOUR reply be?
Also if someone from Samoa asks where I'm from, I know I have to include that my village is Vaito'omuli, Palauli in Savaii.…more
Humans Of The Islands - Sarai Bareman
Sarai Bareman
FIFA's first appointed Chief Women's Football Officer
Dutch / Samoan
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I was born and raised in New Zealand. My mother is full Samoan and my father is Dutch, he’s from the Netherlands. I am the second eldest in my family, I have three brothers and I’m the only girl. So you can say that I grew up as a bit of a tomboy. We had a strong sporting influence in my family. My father has been a coach since I was young, my mother has always been a (club) manager and she was also an aerobics instructor so we have a very active family and upbringing.I grew up in West Auckland and that’s where I started my football journey as well. My club that I played for was Waitakere city, so I’ve been around Auckland a little bit with my football playing, but I’m truly a westie at heart.…more
Humans Of The Islands - David Laumatia
David Laumatia
Senior Sargeant, New Zealand Police
Samoan
I grew up on Panama Road in Otahuhu (Auckland, New Zealand) - back then Panama was known for producing quite a good number of League players and my brother was one of them. He (Bryan Laumatia) ended up playing for Cronulla Sharks, NSW. I came from a working class background and my Mum and Dad came from Samoa to New Zealand in the early 1960's. My Mum is three-quarters Chinese. I’m number three out of six kids - we all turned out pretty well, none of us got into any trouble. If anyone of us was going to get in trouble growing up, it would’ve been me. I was a bit of a rascal.
Growing up in New Zealand, did your parents place strong emphasis on Samoan culture and tradition in your upbringing?
We definitely went to church and experienced all of that but one thing that wasn’t pressed as much, and I wish it was, was speaking Samoan in the household.…more