
Pacific Islanders of Celebrity Treasure Island
Celebrity Treasure Island is BACK and the cast includes a cohort of Pacific household names!
Bubbah - Samoan
Bubbah the comedian/writer/actor from South Auckland known for her crack up videos online, and backyard comedy shows put on for her beloved Saute Aukilani - and of course Tina from Turners! She’s taken mainstream media by storm with her most recent appearance in Taskmasters NZ.
Bubbah is supporting the Pillars Charity “I chose Pillars NZ because they do mean as mahi with children of prisoners. A lot of their work is done with love and care in facilitating a space for families to grow and heal while their family members serve their prison sentence.…more

5 Pasifika Wāhine Highlighted in Y25 2024 Cohort
There are five Pasifika wāhine in the 2024 Y25 (25 young wāhine and irarere under 25 yrs who are fighting for better systems, communities, and worlds)!
The Y25 programme is a celebration of self-identified wāhine and tāhine, 25 years and under, doing incredible things for their communities and world. Get to know them and their incredible work here!
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ANNAFINAU ESETA PONITA TUKUITOGA
Country Music Star / Niuean Language Activist
Niuean-Fijian Annafinau is a rising country music/ bluegrass star who received the Creative New Zealand ‘Arts, Culture and Creativity Award' at a ceremony for the Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards at the Beehive in 2022. Annafinau’s music has resonated in spaces across Aotearoa, which was acknowledged in the title she was given as ‘New Zealand Country Music Youth Ambassador’ by the PM.
This bright afine Niue is a testament to the warrior women who raised her. From her beautiful Nan to her incredible Mum, she often says that the strong women in her life shaped her world and that she wouldn't be who she is without them.…more

The Legend of Raemaru a Forgotten Navigational Tool
Pacific peoples are some of the best storytellers in the world. Pre-colonisation oratory storytelling was held in the highest regard because it was through myths and legends we preserved our cultural heritage.
The stories passed from generation to generation taught valuable and important life
lessons, and in some cases, these lessons were essential to our survival.
Before we continue, do you know the difference between a myth and a legend?
Myths are works of fiction created to explain the unexplainable.
Take, for example, the myth of The Creation of Pukapuka. In short, Te Ulu O Te Watu (The Head of the Rock or Pukapuka) came to be when the God Tamayei, who was traveling, grew tired and needed somewhere to rest. From the sea, he summoned Pukapuka, and from within Pukapuka emerged its first man Mataalki. Fun fact Pukapuka is the only island in the Cook Islands whose population story doesn’t include an arrival on a vaka.…more

The Queens Behind the Scenes: Anuanua In Cook Islands Culture
Last week the Cook Islands celebrated 59 years of Self-Governing. In Avaiki Nui, Te Kuki Airani, this momentous occasion is affectionately marked by Te Maeva Nui (The Grand Celebration.)
Te Maeva Nui is arguably the most vibrant week in the Cook Islands calendar. The nation’s capital runs electric as Cook Islanders from the Pa Enua (outer islands) and overseas flock to Rarotonga eager to represent their respective islands and villages on the stage of the National Auditorium.
The week that unfolds is one filled with float parades, trade and the most cutting edge and unique Cook Islands dancing, singing, drumming and costumes making.
Preparations for Te Maeva Nui begin months in advance with group leaders attempting to secure the best composers, choreographers, costume makers, musicians and dancers to represent their island or village.
With a population of only 17,000 people, every Cook Islander knows who the heavy hitters of Te Maeva Nui are. You know, the people who are going to elevate the performances and take their teams to the A-grade category.…more

'Samoana' the first Pasifika rugby league team in Aotearoa!
“A strong culture means a strong team”
The very first Pasifika Rugby League team in Aotearoa was the legendary ‘Samoana’ team from Dunedin in the early 1960s, now a new exhibition at the Hocken Library in Dunedin shines a light on the ragtag team and their extraordinary success on the field.
‘Samoana’ made up of scholarship students and Samoan locals, was formed in the wake of local NZ rugby teams not seeing the value of Pasifika players, and the low Pasifika playing representation across rugby and league codes.
Proving them spectacularly wrong, the newly formed team smashed a series of South Island league championships to remain undefeated in a 3 year run. In their first season, 1964, Samoana triumphed over the local competition, with 18 wins of19 games played, their success saw them dominate the sport for the next 3 years, winning local and South Island titles.…more

Broderick Mervyn Receives Vanuatu Independence Commemorative Medal
In a historic moment for the Pacific region, Broderick Mervyn, of Rotuman lineage and hailing from the Fiji Islands, has been awarded the prestigious Vanuatu Independence Commemorative Medal. At a ceremony held at the State House in Port Vila, Mervyn was celebrated as the youngest recipient from Oceania of this esteemed honor.
"This honor not only recognizes my contributions to youth empowerment through the 'Professionalising Youth Work in the Pacific' modules but also underscores Vanuatu’s exemplary commitment to excellence and its significant impact on individuals from diverse Pacific backgrounds like mine," Mervyn stated during his acceptance speech.
The medal was presented by His Excellency the President of Vanuatu, Mr. Nikenike Vurobaravu, as part of the festivities commemorating Vanuatu's 44th year of independence. "This accolade is more than a recognition—it serves as a clarion call to all Pacific nations to uplift and empower our emerging leaders, fostering a culture that believes nothing is impossible and always strives for excellence."
Mervyn highlighted the need for dedicated agencies focused on youth empowerment, pointing out that no such organization currently exists in Oceania.…more

Beyond the Ring: Triumphs of Pacific Boxers at the 2024 Olympics
Down, But Not Out.
In the opening weekend of the 2024 Summer Olympics, three very different boxers took to the ring, each with extraordinary pressures on them. Though none would be victorious in their match, it was in many ways what happened off the ring that made them simply competing vitally important to both their nations and the wider Pacific community.
Fe’ofa’aki Epenisa is the first female boxer to compete for Tonga at the Olympics, which you may have already heard about. What you might not know is that boxing was banned in Tonga less than a decade ago.
In 2018 a letter was sent from then Education Minister Penisimani Fifira to Tonga High School issuing a ban on rugby and boxing. The ban made international headlines, with rugby the focus, partly because Jonah Lomu remains the most famous pacific rugby player of all time. The boxing ban was a bit of an add on to most stories, but it was a big deal for female boxers because the ban was not about safety.…more
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