Sex & The Sugas - Part 4
Sex & The Suga’s, brought to you by The Coconet, is an after-hours series written exclusively by Pasifika women, talking about all things sex and sexuality. A subject that is usually shied away from in Island culture, five women of various ages, sexual identities and island backgrounds, reveal some of their personal experiences and explore what their sexuality means to them. Stay tuned for a new story each week, after 10pm every Wednesday!
Sasha , 44, Cook Islands
As far as my brain would allow me to remember, I would say I was first exposed to sex at the mere age of 7. It was me. Sitting on the red lazy boy in the downstairs lounge, breathing in the smell of my Mum’s freshly moisturised hand that abruptly crossed my eye line when the man aggressively took the ladies dress off. Even when I couldn’t see what was on screen while Mum scrambled for that remote, I knew that whatever was happening, wasn’t violent.
I grew suspicious... fast.
My upbringing was fast paced.…more
Sex & the Sugas - Part 3
Sex & The Suga’s, brought to you by The Coconet, is an after-hours series written exclusively by Pasifika women, talking about all things sex and sexuality. A subject that is usually shied away from in Island culture, five women of various ages, sexual identities and island backgrounds, reveal some of their personal experiences and explore what their sexuality means to them. Stay tuned for a new story each week, after 10pm every Wednesday!
Part 3.
Lose, 28, Tongan.
“I didn’t have a girlfriend to have sex with. I dated boys who wanted to have sex but I didn’t want to, I said no. It’s one thing to go to your parents as a heterosexual couple (which is accepted), but it’s another thing to ask to have sex and teach me about having sex with girl. So I had to confide in friends and do research.”
I started having sex when I was 21. I knew I wanted to have sex, but I didn’t have sex until I got to New Zealand, because I couldn’t have sex back home.…more
VODAFONE PACIFIC MUSIC AWARDS 2018
The Vodafone Pacific Music Awards 2018 winners were announced last night at the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau honouring Pacific Island musicians contributions to NZ music throughout the years as well as up and coming artists.
Here is the full list of winners as well as performance, red carpet and behind the scenes pics from the night.
On the red carpet -
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AWARDS & WINNERS
Phillip Fuemana Award - Most Promising Pacific Artist
POETIK
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NZ on Air Radio Airplay Award
BROOKE FRASER - 'THERAPY'
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NZ on Air Streaming Award
KINGS - 'WE'LL NEVER KNOW'
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Sam Kiles who was nominated for 'Best International Artist' performing at the Pacific Music Awards
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NZ on Air Best Pacific Music Video Award
SAMSON RAMBO - 'HERE TO STAY' (GENERAL FIYAH)
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SIT/MAINZ Best Producer
PARKS, BRANDAN HARU & JULIEN DYNE - 'ROYAL BLUE 3000 EP (LADI6)
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FLAVA Best International Artist
TENELLE - 'FOR THE LOVERS'
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Raze (Ezra Williams) who was nominated for Best Female Pacific Artist performing at the Pacific Music Awards
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Samoan Professional dancer in Janet Jacksons 'Icon' Performance at Billboard Music Awards
Last night Janet Jackson was honoured with an 'Icon' award becoming the first black female artist to receive the award. She performed a medley of her hits and dancing right alongside her on stage was Samoan professional dancer Isaac Tualaulelei.
At the 0:49 mark he comes into view on the far right side of the stage (black & white checkered shirt) dancing to Janets 'Nasty Girls'
He tweeted after the performance:
And in celebration of Janet's new doco mini series coming out yesterday, he tweeted his look from behind the scenes at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards
Check out more of Isaac's dance & choreography work on his Youtube channel here
Isaac is a proud Samoan Professional Dancer, Instructor and aspiring Choreographer originally from Seattle, WA and currently residing in Los Angeles.…more
Sex & the Sugas - Part 2
Sex & The Suga’s, brought to you by The Coconet, is an after-hours series written exclusively by Pasifika women, talking about all things sex and sexuality. A subject that is usually shied away from in Island culture, five women of various ages, sexual identities and island backgrounds, reveal some of their personal experiences and explore what their sexuality means to them. Stay tuned for a new story each week, after 10pm every Wednesday!
Part 2.
Dione, 32, Samoan
Mother, Daughter, Sister, Lover and Ex Apparent Paumuku
We talked about nearly all year, at lunchtimes, smoking behind the tuck shop, whispered through maths classes, walking home. When would it happen, who had it happened to, who did we know definitely did it..that most famous of whispered Samoan words..Paumuku. Translated = rubber mouth or broken skin.
Too many fumbled feel ups, sloppy pashes and dangerous situations that could have lead to much worse endings then they did. Pushed onto bathrooms floors, hundreds of party people pulsating to drum n bass on the other side of the door.…more
Sex & the Sugas - Part 1
Sex & The Suga’s, brought to you by The Coconet, is an after-hours series written exclusively by Pasifika women, talking about all things sex and sexuality. A subject that is usually shied away from in Island culture, five women of various ages, sexual identities and island backgrounds, reveal some of their personal experiences and explore what their sexuality means to them. Stay tuned for a new story each week, after 10pm every Wednesday!
Part 1.
Ana, 31, Samoan.
“At one point I went through an "A-Sexual Faze" because certain relationships had failed and I just reached a point of MEN ARE TRASH and I don't need one. Then I questioned if I was maybe a Lesbian because I was just so open to embracing other female’s beauty, and speaking up about it openly...gohhh whatever the faze I've probably thought that was the box I belonged in”.
My relationship to sex wasn't always actually a "relationship" so to speak, to be honest. I remember back in intermediate, the thought of sex used to literally terrify me. I kid you not.…more
'LEITI's IN WAITING' NZ screening
LEITIS IN WAITING is the story of Joey Mataele and the Tonga leitis, an intrepid group of indigenous transgender women fighting a rising tide of religious fundamentalism and intolerance in their South Pacific Kingdom.
The film follows devout Catholic Joey as she organises an exuberant beauty pageant presided over by a princess, provides shelter and training for a young contestant rejected by her family, and spars with American-financed evangelicals who threaten to resurrect colonial-era laws which would criminalise the leitis’ lives.
With unexpected humour and extraordinary access to the kingdom’s royals and religious leaders, Joey’s emotional journey illuminates what it means to be different in a society ruled by tradition, and what it takes to be accepted without forsaking that tradition and culture.
This film won the Audience Awards at FIFO International Documentary Festival in Tahiti 2018 and the Commonwealth Film Festival 2018 in London. Joey was recently awarded the Commonwealth heads of Government Award as one of the influential LGBTI leaders in the Commonwealth.…more
Basketball: Samoan Basketball Comp
40 Samoan teams from Australia, Samoa and New Zealand compete in the Auckland Samoan Basketball Competition!
RUGBY: Ratu Kadavulevu School make History at World Youth Rugby Champions
Ratu Kadavulevu Schools under 18 side have created history by becoming the first Fijian school to win the Sanix World Youth Rugby Tournament in Japan!
RKS defeated New Zealand's champion high school, Hastings Boys High School 35 - 5 in the final and beat out Framesby High School from South Africa in the quarter finals and Australia's St Augustine's College in the semis.
Awesome for development for the game in the Pacific!
Watch the 1st half of the game in the video above and the 2nd half in the video below
Photo credit: Facebook/Sanix World Rugby Youth Tournament
WANTOK Exhibition
WANTOK -'One Talk' is a gathering of Melanesian artists, who explore the spiritual and symbolic nature of hair
"We are taking ownership over ourselves, our bodies, our stories, and telling them ourselves." – Reina Sutton.
Curated by Luisa Tora, the show acts as a voice to empower and amplify the artists’ stories. “This conversation about hair is one we've all had at some point, with family, with friends, with complete strangers. I think people with curly hair stand on the front line in the battle against othering and attempts to control brown bodies.” – Luisa Tora.
Nine Melanesian female artists based in Australia and Aotearoa, contributed the high impact works, commenting on the power and the colonisation of Pacifica women's hair in different ways.
‘Black Birds’ members Emele Ugavule and Ayeesha Ash opened the morning with a performance in the gallery space. “It was important for us to be a voice for those who’ve lived outside of Fiji because that’s our lived experience and it’s a valid one, just as valid as those who do live back in Fiji.…more