JASON MOMOA - MY WIFE'S FIRST MUSTANG
Jason Momoa had a special surprise for his wife Lisa Bonet.
The Aquaman star shares this video of a project 14 years in the making that centred on restoring Bonet's first car that she bought when she was 17.
"I know we can’t relive a memory, but maybe we can rebuild one," Momoa says
KO AU - PROJEKT TEAM
RELEASE FROM COVID LOCKDOWN LEADS TO UNIQUE DANCE EXPERIENCE
Two months apart proved too much for the Projekt Team, who have used the time since the lifting of New Zealand’s Covid-19 response to perfect their first full-length multidisciplinary dance installation.
The Auckland based street dance collective is taking their compelling dance performance public, with the interactive experience “KO AU”, marking a new direction for the group. To create this unique show, Projekt Team and Creative Communities are taking over the Nathan Homestead - Manurewa Arts Centre. The dancers create an immersive experience guiding spectators through the various rooms, only allowing for small audience groups.
Ko Au, which means “I Am”, is inspired by the personal stories and diverse traditions of the dancers. The show is an opportunity for dancers to express their most vulnerable selves, drawing on the varied and differing cultural narratives of the dancers.
The unique experience is a performance installation more than a dance-show. The hour-long KO AU takes six separate guided tours per show, each 5 minutes apart.…more
UNCLE SAM GOES UNDERCOVER with PATRICK TUIPULOTU
Coco Congrats to Blues captain and All Black, Patrick Tuipulotu who scooped up the major honours at the Blues Awards announced at a function last night in Auckland.
Tuipulotu was awarded the Blues Most Valuable Player of the Year honour as well as the prized Mealamu Medal, awarded to the person who makes the biggest contribution to the culture of the organisation.
The towering figure has been arguably the form lock and one of the leading forwards in the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition.
Read more here
ORDINARY TONGAN LIVES - Houma, Tonga
Story collated and written by Haitelenisia Afemui ‘Uhila Angilau for her 'Ordinary Tongan Lives' facebook page
“At about 2:30pm yesterday, we were at Fanga selling a truck-load of manioke. After 30 minutes of sitting there, we sold one basket. That’s when I called my Mom and asked to speak to my Dad. I wanted his permission to give away the cassava for free—especially for those in dire circumstances after the cyclone. My Dad grows a lot of different crops. We help him and we also sell his crops. Knowing him, I knew he’d say yes. It’s something he’s always done so of course he said yes. We stopped selling right away and headed straight to Pātangata. We stopped at every house to drop a basket for each family. Many of them thought they had to buy them.
They told us how they live off the ocean and don’t have tax allotments for farming. I really felt for a lot of them. They definitely needed it. Some people ran to their houses to get seafood in exchange for what we gave.…more
VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA PASIFIKA COMMUNITY - COVID19 STAGE 4 RESTRICTIONS INFORMATION
On Monday the 3rd of August, the State of Victoria in Australia entered a State of Disaster (Stage 4 Lockdown).
Many of the Pasifika communities in the State were needing precise information on the lockdown rules in order to pass on to families and elders where English is their second language.
Rita Seumanutafa and the Standing Together - Brimbank Pasifika Facebook page have worked together with local translators to get this resource and information out to the Pasifika communities.
Please find this important information below summarised and translated into Fijian, Niuean, Samoan & Tongan.
** IMPORTANT COVID UPDATE **
As promised, here are the STAGE 4 RESTRICTIONS in Pacific languages. We apologise for the delay in getting these organised, government is too slow for us and our Pasefika communities need accurate information ASAP, so we have called on our local elders for help with this.…more
BRUTAL LIVES - MO'UI FAINGATA'A: Private Screening
"Brutal Lives - Mo'ui Faingata'a" the first ever Tongan language drama series coming to the CoconetTV. Full series out Wednesday, 5th August.
Check out what people had to say after the private screening of Brutal Lives in Auckland last week.
For the People - By The People
Recently local artists Saytruegod? and Stanley T recognised there wasn't anything happening for the community on the North Side of Brisbane and decided to do something about it.
Many Pasifika businesses and artists helped out contributing money, food, boxing fitness, helping out with the bbq, fun activities and more.
Staytruegod? said he was inspired by the 43 boys (Lisi, Lawd Lance, AmuTheMC, Nokz78, Th4 W3st - well known music artists in Australia) who hold similar community events in their area ... For the People, By the People
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Credits:
Koko Samoa - Creating New Traditions
As part of her Cacao and Kofe retreats she runs on Ms Sunshine Farms for tourists and locals, Chocolate Creator Floris Niu is transforming the way Samoans think about Koko Samoa - imparting her knowledge and experience in growing and processing cacao to creating new cooking traditions with her brand of organic Koko Samoa.
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Shot & Edited by Denisa Maňásková.
Narration & Story - Floris Niu
Producer - Liz Ah Hi
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* This content has been developed with support funding from the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR)
“Reclaiming our tongue”: Super Rugby speaking Samoan
By Lefaoali'i Dion Enari
Seeing the Samoan language spoken on prime time television was a proud moment for all Samoans around the world. Although we see many brown faces on the Super Rugby field, very rarely do we hear our language in these spaces.
Growing up watching rugby on T.V, the only time I would see our language, was either during snippet crowd shots or when the Manu Samoa Captain would speak. These instances would generally be from Island born Samoans who felt more comfortable speaking in their first language and knowing that in doing so, they would be reaching out to the elders and every proud Samoan, at home and across the globe.
Now, there is an influx of New Zealand and Australian born Samoan rugby players’ reclaiming their mother tongue. Many of this group were raised speaking English as a first language, with little to no formal education in Samoan. Despite this, many in this group still value its importance.…more
MEET THE VALU FAMILI: 'BRUTAL LIVES - MO'UI FAINGATA'A'
Get to know the Valu famili from the first ever Tongan language drama series: 'Brutal Lives - Mo'ui Faingata'a'
The full series premieres here tomorrow night on the CoconetTV
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Soane Valu
Played by Joe Folau
Soane, the ‘Shark’ Valu was the hope of the South Pacific. Twenty years ago, the Tongan boxer had the world at his feet and the hopes and dreams of the whole Pacific until it all came crashing down when he lost the challenge for the World Heavyweight title. Too embarrassed to return to Aotearoa, Soane hid away in America for 20 years until he is confronted by his father’s spirit. Soane returns home for his father but is too late. He’s rejected by his three kids he left behind and his angry sister. But his problems run far deeper when he discovers the family’s curse and the spirit that’s been tormenting him and his family. He must do what it takes to protect his loved ones.…more