World School Sevens
We were Keepin it Fresh down at the World School Sevens competition where teams from all over the world came to compete and see who would be crowned the World High School champions.
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Credits:
DIrector - Shimpal Lelisi
Editor - Shimpal & James Leonard
Camera Operator - Darryl Laumua
Sound Operator - Will Voigt
HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS - GORETTI CHADWICK
GORETTI CHADWICK
Writer, Director & Actor
Samoan
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What do you love most, stage or screen acting and why?
I love them all for various different reasons, but theatre is the genesis of my love of acting and I love it just that little bit more. With film and TV you can reshoot and edit out any mistakes. There is absolutely nowhere to hide with theatre... you are literally out there for the world to see, warts and all.
Is this one of the first plays where you've been centre stage & the main character?
This is the first solo-ish show I've ever done. I say solo-ish as I'm on stage with a puppeteer.
What's cool about it?
Ummm.... it's scary as all heck tbh. I'm really testing myself to see how far I can go and thank goodness I added walking into my daily regime last year or else I'd have to stop every 5 minutes for an asthma pump. I think the older I get the more I want to get out of doing the same old thing on stage.…more
HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS: Barbra Auva'a
New Zealand Champion Powerlifter
Samoan
Beauty & Brawn
From competing for the crown on the catwalk of Miss Samoa to winning the gold on the Powerlifting stages of the world. Samoan champion Powerlifter, Barbra Auva’a, has flipped the switch on the abilities and strengths of your average dusky maiden pageant queen.
Beauty and brawn has taken her to global heights and she is a little known NZ Powerlifting multi-title winner, but hers is a story that comes with its own share of personal tragedy, trials and triumphs.
Still getting used to the Auckland cement opposed to the Samoan sand beneath her feet, Barbra began her journey on New Zealand soil at the age of 8. But it was at 16 that the ground was swept from under her when she was faced with the tragic loss of her mother who suddenly passed during the birth of her youngest sister.…more
Keepin it Fresh at the RLWC MMT vs Toa Samoa Game
Tofiga and Nua got amongst it with the supporters at the Mate Ma'a Tonga vs Toa Samoa game at the Rugby League World Cup last year.
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Credits:
Director - Shimpal Lelisi
Camera Operator - Darry Laumua
Sound Operator - Marcus Lawson
Talent - Tofiga Fepulea'i & Nua Finau
GAUALOFA & The Waka Odyssey at New Zealand Festival 2018
Our Vaka Culture is alive and well on the sea's of Aotearoa! This evening a first fleet of four of our extraordinary Pasifika vakas sail into Wellington harbour to open the New Zealand Festival 2018. Inspired by the arrival in Aotearoa of great navigator and explorer Kupe, the 'Waka Odyssey' event shines a spotlight on all the best of our ancient maritime culture and craft.…more
When the Kukis met Kate
Island royalty met with British royalty yesterday as one of the most esteemed queens of Kuki Airani tivaevae told the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton about this unique Pacifica art form.
Yesterday Buckingham palace was host to some unique Pasifika flavour and flair as mamas from the Tuvalu Artists collective and traditional Kuki Airani artists took their creations to the big house along with other Pacific designers from Samoa, Tonga and Melanesia.
The innovative new Commonwealth Fashion Exchange project saw indigenous artists around the world pair up with some of the most famous creatives in the business.
Its aim of the project was to promote cross-cultural exchange and raise the profile of “devalued and vulnerable” handwork skills, something that has been the perfect kaupapa for the Kuki Airani mamas and the Tuvaluan Arts collective alike.
73 year old Tukua Turia, a renowned tivaevae artist made her co-pro gown creation with noted kiwi designer Karen Walker, which was on show at the Buckingham Palace event yesterday.…more
HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS: Reina Sutton
REINA SUTTON
Arts & Culture Programmer
Solomon Islander
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Tell us a bit about yourself ...
My name is Reina Sutton. I belong to the people of Malaita and Tikopia in the Solomon Islands and when I moved to Te Ika-a-Māui, I settled in Manurewa, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland.
I hold down a 9 – 5 job as an Arts and Culture Programmer with the arts, community and events team at Auckland Council. The rest of the time I’m a practicing artist, curator and collaborator.
How does your upbringing + culture help you with the job you're doing today?
Great question! My mum taught me patience and to have love for all beings. You might recognise these sentiments having a biblical feel to them and you’d be correct. These are just two of the many values that I take with me to help me do my job.…more
Coco Review - Fear of a panther planet
The latest addition to the Marvel Universe is out... and it is lit!! Black Panther (even the name is cool) is in cinemas now and is a must see for any one over the age of 5. Besides the fact that this Marvel superhero has the baddest name in town, everything about this movie is.... Black. And it’s glorious!!
Black Panther is King of Wakanda, a land somewhere in Africa that is hidden from outside eyes by technology. So advanced, it makes Tony Starks Iron Man look like a Hologram from Red Dwarf. Wakanda is like Charlie’s Chocolate Factory... for blacks only. A place untouched since time began by the meddlesome white hands of James Cook or Christopher Columbus. Everyone in Wakanda looks like they could walk onto a catwalk or a vogue cover, even the fashion design is light-years ahead.…more
HELP for the PACIFIC ISLANDS
With Cyclone Gita leaving a trail of destruction through the Pacific Islands and still on it's way to Vanuatu & New Caledonia, many Pacific Islanders living here in New Zealand are asking what they can do to help ...
Many aid workers say that the most effective way that you can help is to donate to New Zealand Red Cross’ Pacific Disaster Fund. This Fund allows the Red Cross to respond quickly and effectively to the most urgent needs when a disaster hits anywhere in the Pacific.
100% of the money donated to this ongoing special appeal goes towards supporting communities in the Pacific affected by a disaster. New Zealand Red Cross has already released NZ$10,000 from our Pacific Disaster Fund to support Samoa Red Cross in its response.…more
FA'ALAVELAVE - Building resilience, strengthening family ties and losing your penti in one single phone call
By FotuoSamoa Jackson
I feel like sharing with you all a fagogo about this fascinating topic this week, thoughtfully entitled; Fa'alavelave – Building resilience, strengthening family ties and losing your penti in one single phone call.
Aue! (That is the word you’ll utter in agreement as you read this life changing story that you never really knew you needed in your life).
But first of all, before we get to the losing penti part, let’s set some context, so you can ease yourself into this fagogo. Let’s picture you, a woman or man of Samoan descent, living in a modern world, minding your own business. You have families all over the world, US, Australia, NZ, Samoa and wherever. Yipeeee, “Samoan Pride” is etched onto your uneven chest tattoo. Good for you Sione/Sina/ insert your name here!
But every now and then, you get told that someone has died, or that you need to contribute to a church/village/family event. And so in response, you do, or don’t – because everyone is different.…more