RUANNA TAGALOASA-LETALU

NATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER - SOLOMON GROUP 

SAMOAN / NIUEAN 

.

My name is Ruanna Tagaloasa-Letalu. I am 44 years old. My mother is half Samoan half Niuean. My mother comes from the village of Letogo, my father from the village of Sataoa Safata. I am married with two children both boys (16 and 5 years old). I work for Solomon Group and am the National Partnerships Manager and have been employed for four months. Previously I was employed by the Ministry of Social Development for 18 years. In the last 2.5 years of my work with MSD I was the Operations Manager for Ara (Auckland Airport Jobs and Skills Hub) which was the partnership between government and Auckland Airport to support the 30 year development of the Auckland Airport expansion.…more

ImagineNATIVE Film & Media Arts Festival in Toronto, Canada is the biggest indigenous film festival in the world, and this year Pasifika films represent hard!  

There will be at least 9 Pasifika made stories from Aotearoa at the festival and it is the international premiere of the CoconetTV documentary ‘Marks of Mana’ - which is the only feature film from Aotearoa on the big screen Programme at the festival.  ‘Marks of Mana’ looks at female Tatau in the Pacific and how these ancient marks are being worn again by women today. Coming soon to the Coconet TV!

Check them out below and look out for when they'll be showing at a Film Festival near you!

.

MARKS OF MANA 

Lisa Taouma is a Samoan film and television producer and director currently living in Aotearoa. She has worked extensively in the Pacific for over 25 years and is passionate about telling the many diverse stories of this region.…more

EIPUATIARE TUA 

FOOD HARVESTER/GROWER, PHOTOGRAPHER & RED CROSS VOLUNTEER 

COOK ISLANDS 

.

My aunt named me Eipuatiare.   As a child growing up in New Zealand, no one could pronounce my name.  To this day, it annoys me when people pronounce my name (or any pacific names) incorrectly. The remedy, my teachers at school shortened my name to Pua, with my parents’ permission.  Eipuatiare means Ei like lei, a garland of Puatiare flowers (Fagraea berteriana) that flourish on Rarotonga. I'm of Cook Islands descent, my Father, the late Iaveta Arthur is from the island of Mangaia, one of the oldest islands in Polynesia, from the district of Oneroa, Tavaenga and my mother the late Kimiora Mami Arthur of Rarotonga from Vaka Takitumu, Ngatangiia Muri.

I was born in Auckland and raised in central Auckland.  Lived my whole life in Herne Bay; previously a working class predominantly Polynesian stronghold and now one of the most affluent neighbourhoods in Auckland City.  I had the privilege of holidaying in Rarotonga almost every year since birth.  I’m the second born of five children.…more

Terron Beckham (well known fitness & sports industry personality - he's also NFL star Odell Beckham Jrs cousin) travels to Samoa to see what it takes for Samoans to chase their weightlifting dreams and lift the small Pacific island to be among the best in the world.

Coco Solid

Writer/Musician/Artist 

Samoan/German/Māori 

I'm Coco Solid, I'm a writer, musician, visual artist and general media-maker. My real name's Jessica Hansell and I'm Māori (Ngāpuhi) on my mothers side, and Samoan German on my fathers side. My German Samoan grandfather came to Auckland from Apia in the 1940's, the same time as my grandmother migrated from Rarotonga - although she was Samoan she was raised there. So I'm blessed to be a mixed Polynesian bag.

You're a prolific multi-disciplinary artist - what has the journey been like navigating these various creative fields? 

All the mediums I work in, engage with a genuine part of my personality - I also feel all forms of artistry are coming from the same place too. I definitely enjoy change and rotating hats. And I dig amateurism over expertise, identifying as a learner and a beginner especially as I grow and master certain things. It's really just about exploring new dimensions to yourself, I never tire of that.…more

ISAAC TUALAULELEI 

Professional Dancer, Instructor & Aspiring Choreographer 

Samoan 

.

Rihanna closed out New York Fashion Week earlier today with a stunning presentation of her SavageXFenty lingerie collection choreographed and directed by our very own Parris Goebel and also featured some of NZ's own ReQuest Dance crew on the catwalk.

She showcased an inclusive line with flexible lingerie for everyone, concluding with the models holding hands showing solidarity.  Check out the show above which was live streamed on Rihanna's YouTube channel from NYC and some of the feedback from people at the show below ...

By Brianna Fruean 

Last month I received a package in the mail. I opened it and was extremely excited to see that it was a “Rise for Pacific Pawa” tshirt. #RiseForClimate and #PacificPawa is a Climate campaign that I’m so proud to be apart of! It is a campaign pushing for our local communities to rise up and truly be the change.

It is no secret that Climate Change is real and that now more than ever we need to take action. I will admit it’s easy to be discouraged when thinking about climate change. In the face of intense heat waves, roaring wildfires, frequent cyclones and rising sea levels it’s easy to lose hope… but this is exactly when WE SHOULD RISE! Now is time we should come together and make a change. This is why, this week people everywhere are campaigning to ‘Rise for Climate”. On the 8th of September in cities, town squares, capital buildings and islands around the world, people rose up to demand that politicians stand with their communities and deliver more than just words.…more

Fepulea'i Margie Apa

CEO for Interim Health New Zealand 

Samoan 

- 

Counties Manukau District Health Board's Fepulea'i Margie Apa has just been named the chief executive of the interim Health New Zealand.

Health New Zealand and the Māori Health Authority will become permanent entities on 1 July - replacing the 20 district health boards.

Fepulea'i Margie Apa said her work with the Counties Manukau community has prepared her well for the role.

"Working with you [Counties Manukau] over the last 14 years and more proudly the last three as CEO, through measles, through Whakaari, through Covid on top of our usual pressures serving a high needs community, who are deserving and entitled to so much more," she said.

She has about 25 years experience in the health sector and is expected to start her new role in the first quarter of 2022.

-

We caught up with Fepulea'i Margie Apa when she was appointed CEO for Counties Manukau DHB - the first Samoan to become a CEO of a district health board in NZ.  Her interview with us below ...…more

* Trigger warning - this article and videos on this page contains discussions about mental health issues & suicide. Viewer discretion and parental guidance is advised.

NRL & Mate Ma'a Tonga star Andrew Fifita shares the moment he tried to take his own life and his journey with Mental Health and depression in the video above.

His story is a reminder that Mental Health is an issue for everyone.…more