Humans Of The Islands - David Laumatia
David Laumatia
Senior Sargeant, New Zealand Police
Samoan
I grew up on Panama Road in Otahuhu (Auckland, New Zealand) - back then Panama was known for producing quite a good number of League players and my brother was one of them. He (Bryan Laumatia) ended up playing for Cronulla Sharks, NSW. I came from a working class background and my Mum and Dad came from Samoa to New Zealand in the early 1960's. My Mum is three-quarters Chinese. I’m number three out of six kids - we all turned out pretty well, none of us got into any trouble. If anyone of us was going to get in trouble growing up, it would’ve been me. I was a bit of a rascal.
Growing up in New Zealand, did your parents place strong emphasis on Samoan culture and tradition in your upbringing?
We definitely went to church and experienced all of that but one thing that wasn’t pressed as much, and I wish it was, was speaking Samoan in the household.…more
BILLIE PAEA - 2016 Overall Musclemania Australia Champion
Coco congrats to Billie Paea Dziah PT for taking out the Lightweight Bodybuilding Class and then the Overall Musclemania Australia Title for 2016.
Billie who is of Niuean descent and grew up in New Zealand is now based in Canberra as a Personal Trainer. He was involved with a lot of sports in his early years from touch rugby, rugby and athletics and represented Niue at 3 Commonwealth Games and Pacific Games as a 100m sprinter.
His journey into the world of Bodybuilding was inspired by his Dad who also had a great physique and owned a gym in the 1980’s. Billie admired the likes of Arnold and Franco Columbo.
Billie presented a World-Class Physique topped with one of his truly epic crowd stopping posing routines.
He now has his eyes on Vegas for his debut in the Musclemania World Pro Ranks.
Watch out Vegas, this man is a class act, with the body, the moves and the style to top it off.…more
ANNA CODDINGTON - LUCK/TIME
Today we see the release of Luck/Time, Anna Coddington’s third album.
The album is the culmination of four years of diligent songwriting and was largely made at Anna’s own studio The Attic (literally her home’s attic).
Thematically the album speaks to many different aspects faced by everyone over the course of our lives – love, loss, hope, despair, and even having a bit of Luck over a lot of Time.
Showcasing all the strengths and experiences acquired over her career, Luck/Time features pop sounds with tinges of indie, disco, and yacht rock thrown in. Going against the current trend of beats-heavy production, Anna stands deliberately with her guitar in hand. With strings peppered throughout, the core of the album is all about feelings – Anna expressing her own, and the listener feeling theirs.
The album features previously released singles ‘Bird In Hand’ and ‘Make You Mine’, both of which were finalists for the APRA Silver Scroll Award. Also featured are new and forthcoming singles ‘Apples’ (vid featured above) and ‘Without A Fight’ (released on October 14).…more
STREET TALK - NIUE LANGUAGE
From Kingsland the old stomping grounds of many Niueans in Auckland ...
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Surprising benefits of the Coconut Embryo
The mature coconuts are collected regularly for their milk. You can usually crack open a coconut for lunch and in the older, mature coconuts you'll sometimes find a soft, spongey type formation on the inside of the coconut.
This happens when the coconut is ready to shoot some leaves out and is an edible, soft predecessor. This part is actually the Coconut Cotyledon which is sometimes called the 'Coconut Embryo' or 'Coconut Apple' and is suspended in germination and is generally eaten raw.
Samoans call this part of the Coconut O'o, Tongans, Tahitians and Cook Islanders call it 'Uto, Niueans name for it is Niu Tupu, the Fijians call it Vara and Hawaiians refer to it as iho or lolo!
We all know that Coconut water and meat are very nutritious so don't underestimate this one!
Here are the Top 10 Health benefits of the Coconut Embryo:
1. Supports immune system health: it is anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-parasite.
2. Provides a natural source of quick energy and enhances physical and athletic performance.
3.…more
Experiencing "MISS FACE OF BEAUTY INTERNATIONAL 2016"
The Coconet spoke to Deirdre Corbett before she embarked on her journey to Mongolia to compete in the Miss Face of Beauty International.
You can check out our Humans of the Islands interview with her here
She is now back in New Zealand and shares her experience with us ....
I was so nervous once I left New Zealand. I couldn't believe this was actually happening! That I would be competing with about 50-60 girls in a couple of days.
Mongolia is such an amazing place to be in. When I arrived I felt so welcomed and loved by everyone which made me even more excited about everything! Not many people know about this place which makes it even more special!
The hospitality, people and the memories I will forever cherish. Their food is amazing!!!!! I'm pretty sure I have gained a bit of weight haha!
I've learned so many things through out my journey in mongolia such as the food, people, schools, temples etc. The competition was an unforgettable experience.…more
IN CELEBRATION OF PARRIS!
Parris continues to inspire!
At the end of 2019 she has made the Queen's New Years 2020 list and will receive the New Zealand Order or Merit for services to dance, Justin Biebers Music video "SORRY" which Parris choreographed, directed, edited and dances in with her Request Dance Crew is the 6th most viewed video of the DECADE (now with over 3.2 billion views) & she just announced she'll be teaming up with JLO again to choreograph the half time show for the Super Bowl!
For a decade now, Parris Goebel has continued to evolve and inspire. We look back at some of the defining moments in her career.
In 2018 Parris Goebels dance crew The Royal Family celebrated their 10 year anniversary.
Most recently she was awarded the 'Pacific Business Trust's Legacy Award' for creating a lasting legacy for our Pacific People.
"I couldn't help but cry as they announced my name and the whole room stood up. This means the world to me to be acknowledged by my people. Proud Polynesian.…more
The Palagi fire dancer
Tim Noyce picked up the hobby of fire dancing while living in Samoa in 2012 and this year he returned to Samoa and competed for the first time at the 15th Annual Siva Afi Competition in Apia.
Check out Polynesian Entertainers Ltd
Book Tim's Fire Dance crew-TahiMana for your function
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Samoans getting Zumba Fit but Obesity still on the Rise
On a muggy day at Samoa's Maninoa Beach, tired competitors in an ocean canoeing regatta take a break to let the kids expend some energy.
Barefoot and shrieking with laughter, they run races along the sand, pushing rods of wood with wheels made from empty corned beef cans.
When full, these cans of processed meat fill shelf after shelf in Samoan supermarkets, and are often blamed for rendering 80 per cent of adults overweight or obese.
But the active weekend scene playing out on Maninoa Beach is increasingly common in the small island nation, where physical activity rates have climbed drastically.
Sleek versions of the traditional outrigger canoe are increasingly used for sport in Samoa.
Between 2002 and 2014, the average amount of time Samoan adults spent doing physical activity — whether for recreation, work or transport — rose from 35 minutes per day to more than two hours. The vast majority of Samoans are now meeting World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations in this regard.…more
Coco Congrats to our Pacific Island candidates voted in to their local councils
New Zealand's local body elections ended on Saturday with the preliminary results in by Saturday afternoon.
The governing body consists of the mayor and a number of ward councillors which differ depending on the region. For example Auckland has one mayor and 20 ward councillors.
The governing body focuses on the big picture and on region-wide strategic decisions and are responsible for things like making rates and bylaws, regional strategies, policies and plans and consulting with and considering the views of local boards before making a decision which affects the communities in the local area.
Congratulations to these Pacific Island candidates who were voted in as ward councillors.
Auckland - Manukau Ward
Alf Filipaina
Fa'anana Efeso Collins
South Wairarapa District Council
Lee Carter
Dunedin City Council
Marie Laufiso
Local board members are also important as they have a significant and wide-ranging role - they make decisions on local matters, provide local leadership and build strong local communities.
The local boards provide important local input into region-wide strategies and plans including those of the council-controlled organisations.…more