PASIFIKA MP's PORTFOLIOS IN THE NEW LOOK GOVERNMENT CABINET
Carmel Sepuloni made some big steps up the rankings of cabinet today to number 6, making her the highest ranking Pacific MP with her new roles as Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, and also Employment, alongside her portfolios in Social Development, Disability Issues and ACC.
Christchurch East MP Poto Williams adds a Kuki Airani flavor to cabinet, having been promoted from outside cabinet to number 10. Poto is in charge of the Building and Construction portfolio as well as Minister for Police. Formerly the Minister for Community and Voluntary sector.
Tokelauan minister Kris Faafoi, has also moved up the ranks from number 17 to 13 holding on to Broadcasting and Media, and Immigration portfolios as well as the new role of Minister for Justice.
Aupito Su’a William Sio maintains Minister for Pacific Peoples as well Courts.
Also of note - there is now more tangata whenua in cabinet then ever before and we have our first female Maori Minister of Foreign Affairs - Nanaia Mahuta.
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Get to Know Hoskins Sotutu
"When I was younger I looked up to Joe Rocs, the fast Fijian winger who scored all the tries with the big dive ... something I tried to do at school, yeah I ended up winding myself"
Hear from Hoskins Sotutu, as he delves into his idols, his father Waisake and his motivation for his outstanding 2020 season.
1st Nations Polynesian Basketball Youth Tournament
Over 500 Pacific Island ballers got together to play in the inaugural 1st Nations Polynesian Basketball Youth Tournament.
The tournament covered both Boys & Girls teams ranging from U13s through to U21s games with with 52 teams from all Pasifika communities - Cook Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Samoa, Fiji, Kiribati, Niue and more.
Check out some of the highlights in the video above.
SYDNEY SUPER FIGHT featuring the 'SUPER SAMOAN' MARK HUNT
The biggest boxing event to be held in Sydney for more than a decade was confirmed today after leading promoters No Limit Boxing announced Bankwest Stadium as the venue for an historic Double Header on December 16, 2020.
Alongside Australian boxing star Tim Tszyu who will be fighting Kiwi boxer Bowyn Morgan, the 'Super Samoan' Mark Hunt makes his return to the ring against former NRL star Paul Gallen in what will be the first co-main event to be held in Australia and the first Sydney stadium fight since Mundine vs Green in 2006.
Paul Gallen and Mark Hunt is a rare match-up set to attract the interest of all sports fans, excited to see two big men with big mouths finally go toe-to-toe after a previously scheduled contest for April was cancelled due to COVID-19.…more
DAWN RAID - Official Trailer
The songs you know. The story you don't.
From Director Oscar Kightley comes DAWN RAID – the extraordinary untold story of acclaimed New Zealand music label Dawn Raid Entertainment and its two founders, Andy Murnane and Brotha D.
From humble beginnings selling t-shirts on the streets of South Auckland, this unlikely duo formed a legendary partnership that would defy the odds and become music royalty both at home and across the world.
The film explores the incredible challenges and struggles that were buried deep beneath the glamour of chart-topping hits with the hottest local and international talent – rifts between artists, unpaid tax debts, feelings of failure and betrayal – and the immeasurable musical legacy that was created in spite of this. Featuring some of New Zealand’s biggest hip-hop and RnB artists including Savage, Mareko, Adeaze and Aaradhna, DAWN RAID is an inspirational, heart pounding celebration of local home grown talent who not only gave a voice to their local community, but paved the way for a future generation of artists.…more
Girls Getaway: An adventure with a chance of Palolo Rising
By Liz Ah-Hi
The inaugural Palolo Festival was well underway at the Vaimoana Seaside Lodge in Asau, Savaii and my friend Lufi and I were lounging in front our beach fale with a few G&Ts celebrating some ‘firsts’ of our own by toasting to the beginning of our Palolo hunting adventure.
Earlier in the day we completed our first essential tasks in the process of Palolo hunting by making our own a’a (handmade scoop nets), ato (coconut leaf basket) and a range of flower necklaces which proved to me that our ancestors valued the art of accessorizing for any event not excluding hunting.
Surprisingly, making your own palolo catching utensils requires a fair amount of strength and hand to eye coordination. While the nimble hands of the experienced Vaimoana staff breezed through the shaping, weaving and sewing of natural materials - Lufi and I abandoned hopes of making pinterest worthy palolo paraphernalia in an effort to complete our kit before sundown.…more
TAI TUIVASA on the Ariel Helwani MMA show
Tai 'Bambam' Tuivasa talks to ESPN sports commentator Ariel Helwani on his MMA show.
He talks training with Daniel Cormier at AKA in San Jose, Covid interruptions, fighting for his job and what he's done to prepare, Justin Willis beef and much more ...
CREATIVE NEW ZEALAND ARTS PASIFIKA AWARDS WINNERS 2020
Congratulations to all of our amazing Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika awards recipients this year. These awards recognise innovation and excellence in Pacific Arts and their contribution to the rich diversity of Aotearoa as a multi-cultural Pacific nation.
Eight Pasifika artists have been acknowledged today across seven categories.
“It’s a great honour for us to celebrate and recognise the amazing work our Pasifika artists continue to achieve in our communities, in Aotearoa and globally,” says Arts Council of New Zealand Deputy Chair Caren Rangi.
“The eight award recipients this year are artistic and cultural experts in their fields, and the high calibre of applicants demonstrates the diversity of Pasifika talent here in our country and their valuable contribution to our national identity.”
This year’s recipients range from award winning interdisciplinary artists who challenge and innovate, an internationally acclaimed visual artist, to an artist reviving the traditional art of Niuean hiapo.
This year there are two recipients of the Pacific Toa Artist Award, Pelenakeke Brown and Lusi Faiva.…more
NRL: RUGBY LEAGUE - DALLY M AWARDS WINNERS' PASIFIKA, MAORI & INDIGENOUS TAKEOVER
This year the Dally M Awards were held at a virtual ceremony broadcast by Fox Sports last night and Pasifika, Maori & Indigenous players dominated the awards with 9 out of 13 players receiving Team of the Year Positional Awards.
Pasifika, Maori & Indigenous players also dominated in other awards of the night as follows -
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TACKLE OF THE YEAR - JOSH PAPALI'I
Samoan
Raiders big man Josh Papalii wins Youi Tackle of the Year honours for his incredible effort to run down Titans half Jamal Fogarty in round 15 at Cbus Super Stadium.
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TRY OF THE YEAR - KOTONI STAGGS
Tongan / Indigenous (Wiradjuri)
Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs wins the Drinkwise Try of the Year award for his stunning individual effort against the Dragons in round 15 when he bamboozled Euan Aitken and stepped Matt Dufty to score a pearler.
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ORDINARY TONGAN LIVES - Tofoa, Tonga
Story collated and written by Haitelenisia Afemui ‘Uhila Angilau for her 'Ordinary Tongan Lives' facebook page
“Sometimes my husband would ask me, ‘What’s your childhood memory?’ And you know, the first thing I remember is violence.
I was about 3 or 4 when Mom was attacked by Dad’s brother. My Dad was away for further studies. Mom said to go hide in a bathroom. To this day, I can still hear him attacking my mother while we cried from the bathroom. On another day, my Mom just missed a flying machete by seconds. It was ugly. Then it was just a rough road for my family from there. Mom resigned and worked in the U.S to help repay a family loan. She came back and found Dad had affairs. Then one Sāpate Ako, we came back home and Dad’s clothes were all gone. When they finally divorced, I read the divorce papers.
For years I watched my Mom cry. I don’t know how she managed to get money for us during those years.…more