PKL Digital Showcase: Empowering Pacific Education Through Digital Storytelling
Pacific Kids Learning: The organization dedicated to creating Educational Pacific Content for the young Pacific Generations to come.
Pacific Kids Learning (PKL) continues to make significant strides in the education space, specifically in Pacific education. Earlier this month, PKL hosted their 4th Digital Showcase at Hoyts Cinemas in Sylvia Park, presenting “Digital Navigators: Legacy of the Islands.” This compelling feature-length film highlights the adventures of two spirited children from South Auckland, 'Alisi and Semisi,' as they explore the islands of Te Moana Nui a Kiwa through digital storytelling.
PKL’s rapid growth, from their first digital showcase at the Māngere Arts Centre four years ago to this grand presentation at HOYTS, is a testament to the dedication of its founders—parents who are passionate about creating Pacific-led children’s content.
Co-Founder & Education Director Theresa Tupuola-Sorenson expressed her passion for educating the next generation of Pacific kids “it's about nurturing all children as if they were your own.…more
Pacific Power: All Blacks 2024 Squad For Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship Features 42% Pacific Island Players
The All Blacks Head Coach Scott Robertson has recently named the All Blacks squad for the 2024 Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship. A whopping 42% are Pacific Island Players!
Robertson stated “It was a tough squad to select because everyone has owned their opportunities.…more
Pacific Athletes Competing Today at Olympics
THE OLYMPICS ARE OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY! 14 Pacific Island Nations take to the global stage over the next two weeks. We'll keep this page updated every day as Athletes representing the Moana compete. Here's the line-up of all the Pasifika athletes competing at the Olympics! 🥋🏉🌺
Day 15
Taekwondo
Two athletes representing the Pacific will be competing in today's scheduled Taekwondo match-up. Papua New Guinea's Gibson Mara goes up against Kasra Mehdipournejad of the Refugee Olympic Team, their matchup will commence 10th August 7:00pm NZST (10th August 2:00am CT, USA).
Fiji's Venice Traill will compete against Great Britain's Rebecca McGowan later tonight at 10:00pm NZST (5:00am CT, USA)
Weightlifting
There are also two Pasifika athletes competing in the Weightlifting event. Commonwealth record holder Don Opeloge will be competing for Samoa in the Men's 102kg division, set to commence 9:30pm NZST (4:30am CT, USA).…more
Pacific Powerhouses: Athletes from the Islands at the 2024 Olympics
As the world gears up for the spectacle of the 2024 Paris Olympics, amidst the grandeur and glory, 105 athletes from the Pacific Islands are ready to make waves of their own.
From the small Micronesian country of Palau to the mountain ranges of Papua New Guinea, these competitors bring not just their incredible talent but also the spirit Pasifika culture to the global stage. Get to know the athletes representing the Moana here; and stay updated on what days they take to the global stage of the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad!
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American Samoa
‘Le Motu o Fiafiaga’ sends two athletes to the 2024 Summer Olympics, in swimmer Micah Masei Men’s 100m breaststroke and track star/flagbearer Filomenaleonisa Iakopo in the Women’s 100m
Team American Samoa: Micah Masei, Filomenaleonisa Iakopo
Cook Islands
Avaiki Nui will also be sending two athletes to Paris, with Lanihei Connolly looking to make a splash in the Women’s 100m breastroke, and Alex Beddoes taking to the track in the Men’s 800m.…more
Why we need a Pasifika seat on New Zealand Rugby board - Dr Dion Enari
OPINION
Although Pacific people are the highest percentage of All Blacks and Black Ferns, there’s still no Pasifika seat at the New Zealand Rugby board.
Pasifika communities and allies are fighting for fair representation in governance. As a sport academic, and son of a Pacific community rugby pioneer, I stand in solidarity.
As a child, in 1997, I remember seeing my dad in meetings with Auckland Rugby.
My dad Fa’alafitele Faupapa Enari organised Pacific rugby tournaments and coached Auckland Samoa and Ulalei rugby teams. I remember hearing the condescending patronising remarks from union representatives to my dad and other Pasifika elders. Sadly, today, much hasn’t changed. It’s just masked better.
Looking at how far New Zealand Rugby has come; you cannot deny that Māori and Pasifika people made New Zealand rugby as we know it and platformed it to the world.
One must only look at legends such as La’auli Sir Michael Jones, the late Jonah Lomu to current players such as Ardie Savea, plus the many more Pacific brothers who wore the black jersey.…more
Lalaga Card Game Lands Whitcoulls Deal and Sells Out in 24 Hours at Sylvia Park
In a world that thrives on diversity and innovation, it is exhilarating to witness Pacific-owned businesses making significant strides in their respective industries. Last week, Torisse Laulu, a Pacific business owner, saw her hard work come to fruition as her card game, designed to inspire deep talanoa (conversation), was stocked in eight Whitcoulls stores across the country.
The popular card game proved its worth when both Sylvia Park Whitcoulls stores sold out in just over 24 hours of being stocked!
Hailing from the villages of Afega, Lefaga, Salai'lua, and Falealili, the 29-year-old entrepreneur shares the genesis of her card game, Lalaga.
"Lalaga came about after I ran a platform called Plantation Convos and co-hosted Talanoa sessions with Anatola Finau. Women and men would come to these sessions and talanoa about topics that they never really had the space to talk about in their everyday lives. People would spend hours talking and unpacking.”
Inspired by these sessions, Laulu sought to create more of these spaces, making such talanoa more accessible through a card game – which we now know as Lalaga.…more
Chasing Glory: Fiji's Quest for third Olympic Rugby Gold in Paris
Fiji is uniquely the only rugby nation in the world to win Olympic gold in modern times and coach Osea Kolinisau insists his team is looking to continue that unique legacy in Paris in two week’s time.
The Paris Olympic 7s kicks off on 24 of July and the whole of Fiji is hoping for the ‘threepeat’, the miraculous achievement of winning all three Olympic rugby gold medals since the sport was introduced in 2016.
The idea that this Fijian team is not as motivated as the original gold medal-winning teams of 2016 and 2021 was rubbished by the legendary, former captain who is now looking to become a great coach.
‘I will correct you of that thought. We are really hungry for that win,’ said Kolinisau this week from Libourne near the south-west coast of France.…more
“Have more than you show, and less than you know!” Theo David on Mandate
Samoan Actor Theo David shares his journey thus far, with acting, auditions, expectations, passion, fatherhood, hardship and future goals as an actor on this ep of Mandate
WOMEN OF THE ISLANDS - ELSIE POLOSOVAI
ELSIE POLOSOVAI
ACTRESS/MISS LAURU - MISS SOLOMON ISLANDS CONTESTANT
SOLOMON ISLANDER
A young Solomon Islands teenager encounters bullying and micro-aggressions at school, and takes fate into her own hands when she is visited by a guardian spirit of her family.
When Vani is the victim of racism at an all white high school, her Hiama reminds her of her inner power.
WOMEN OF THE ISLANDS - CAROL AGAFILI
CAROL AGAFILI
CRICKET PLAYER / CRICKET DEVELOPMENT
OFFICER SAMOAN
- What is your Pacific Heritage? - I am full Samoan.
My mum is from Sili Savai’i and Dad is from Sala’ilua.
- Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Mangere and Manurewa. I went to Wiri Central School, a primary and intermediate school in Manurewa. Then I went to McAuley High School where I finished in 2020. The end of 2020 was that start of my cricket journey.
- Did you grow up playing kilikiti?
Yes I grew up playing Kilikiki with my dad. I always attended his team training and games because I enjoyed watching and then eventually started playing for Ao Atua and G.I.
Kilikiki was not just another sport for me, it was where we all got together and enjoyed the sport we love to play.…more