Humans Of The Islands - Ernestina Maro
Ernestina Maro
African / Cook Islands
Miss Pukapuka & Miss Cook Islands Maine Tepaeru
I know I'm a pretty weird mix. 'How did my parents meet?' is a question I always get asked (laughs). My Dad migrated here back in the days from Africa and my mum migrated here too from the Cook Islands and they pretty much fell in love in Auckland. My Dad's from Ghana, the west side of Africa. I'm planning to go back there with Dad at the end of this year and just visit my grandmother who I've never met, but I'm named after her. So this will be an epic trip for me to visit the family and meet everyone there and experience the culture because I've never been there before. I have one younger brother and an older sister. My Dad has now remarried to a Samoan woman - so now I have two beautiful half-siblings who are half Samoan. He likes his island girls! (laughs).
What are the common misconceptions about you?
I'm pretty much around my Cook Island side all the time.…more
Food Tips for Pasifika Festival
Check out the delicious Pacific cuisine you'll find over at the Pasifika Festival at Western Springs in Auckland!
With different villages representing some of the major Pacific Islands, there's something for you to taste from all corners of the Pacific! Definitely a must see if you're ever in Auckland!
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#TalkingKrit: Tongan Australian Actor Uli Latukefu
Check out the uso Krit Faanene Schmidt in #TalkingKrit where he catches up with actor/singer Uli Latufeku - as seen on Marco Polo and Jonah from Tonga!
The pair share a good laugh with each other while talking about some of the issues of diversity in the acting world.
Humans Of The Islands - Ray Letoa
Ray Letoa
Samoan, 28-years-old
Award-winning Mixologist
I grew up in Strathmore, Wellington which is generally stereotyped as like the 'South Auckland' of Wellington. I've got 5 sisters and two brothers and we grew up in a 3 bedroom flat - I was sleeping in the lounge, my brother was sleeping in the kitchen and we all crammed into this one place. And with determination and lots of training and just hard work, we've all seemed to come out successful in whatever we do. Our parents are really hardworkers so their work ethic transferred over to us. It was a hard journey and also a humbling one but my siblings and I understand all the struggles and the opportunities that my parents have given us, so we never take it for granted.
Is your upbringing a big motivation behind your success?
Yeah definitely! My mother is now an Early Childhood Education teacher - back in the day it was hard for her to get into University, coming from Samoa and not having much education.…more
From Beauty Queen to first Samoan Bachelorette!
Former Miss Samoa NZ 2011 Metotisi Komiti-Faalavaau has made history by becoming the first Samoan contestant to compete in the Bachelor franchise.
Debuting last night on TV 3, the latest season of The Bachelor NZ included a wider range of beauties, including the former Miss Samoa NZ.
Known as 'Metz' on screen, the 28-year-old administrator from South Auckland was revealed last night after months of speculation as to who the contestants were.
The Bachelor franchise has been adopted worldwide and is in it's second season here in NZ.
Photo: Miss Samoa Facebook
Metotisi applied last year when producers of the show put out the call for potential contestants, saying "I was single at the time when the opportunity presented itself and thought why not?”
With a focus on studies, friends, family and church, the Samoan beauty is finally at the stage where she's ready for love.…more
Humans Of The Islands - Ron Moala
Ron Moala
Tongan / Fijian, 21-years-old
Owner of 'Backyard Barbers' in Darwin, Australia.
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I'm Tongan/Fijian, living in Darwin - the Northern Territory of Australia. I moved here as a teenager - my parents are Pastors and planted a church up here. It was hard at first because in New Zealand you’re so used to being surrounded by other poly’s and I felt really homesick up here. But I had to push myself to go out and mix with other cultures which was good. I learnt so much and it opened me up to how diverse the world really is and helped me breakdown different stereotypes that I had in my mind about other cultures. Especially being around the aboriginal community up here - it’s been amazing and I’ve learnt so much.…more
Humans Of The Islands - Myra Rogers
Myra Rogers
Fijian / Welsh, 31-years-old
International Professional Bodybuilding Athlete - IFBB Pro
I'm half Fijian, half European - my Dad was Welsh. He passed away when I was 4 years old and I was raised by Mum so I had a great Fijian influence growing up. I have 2 sisters and one older brother and we basically grew up on a farm up north in Kaukapakapa. I went to a little rural school and played sport my whole life. I never really touched the weights until I watched my partner at a bodybuilding competition and I realized it was something that I could get in to. So I went to see a nutritionist and 6 weeks later I ended up on stage in my first competition. I've been hooked ever since.
So you do this with your partner as well, does that help?
Yes, definitely. He's Samoan, he's got a Gridiron background and is fully into weight training. He's the one that first started training me.…more
Samoa boasts record number of female candidates ahead of election
With the Samoan General Election only 2 days away (Friday 4th March) of the 164 candidates, 24 are women - compared to the 2011 election which had only 9 female candidates.
The local constitution was changed in 2013 to ensure that 5 of the 49 seats (10%) were for women, a move that was initially unpopular, but has since changed perceptions of women's roles in society.
The move was welcomed by local women and saw an encouraging amount of women contesting and entering the general election to represent their districts.
Candidates include prominent Samoan business women Lemalu Sina Retzlaff and Vaimasenu'u Zita Martell.
Despite the promising representation of women in Parliament, thousands of young people failed to register to vote in the upcoming election.
To see the full list of candidates, click here.
Image courtesy of Zita Martel.
University poet to perform for the Queen
Selina Tusitala Marsh is off to London to see the Queen.
She has been commissioned to write and perform a poem at the Commonwealth Day Observance in Westminster Abbey on Monday 14 March.
Selina, a poet and Senior Lecturer in English, was initially approached by the Commonwealth Education Trust last November, but in her modesty she thought they were asking her to find a poet for the event, so she started compiling a list of potential poets.
It was not until two weeks later when they asked her again that she realised that they were actually asking her to be the poet.
The Commonwealth Service is the largest multi-faith celebration in Britain and takes place annually on the second Monday in March at Westminster Abbey. The one-hour service includes a speech from the Queen and also features a mixture of testimonies, readings, songs and musical performances.
The service is based around annual theme. For 2016, the theme is ‘An Inclusive Commonwealth', inviting citizens to consider what it means to live in a diverse yet equitable, fair and tolerant international community.…more
Toloa Scholarship recipients announced
Pacific Peoples Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga awarded four young people $25,000 scholarships aimed at encouraging more Pacific people into studying science, technology, engineering and maths subjects.
The Toloa Scholarships, funded by the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, were awarded at a ceremony at the University of Auckland’s Fale Pasifika.
“The aim of the Toloa Scholarships is to encourage Pacific students into studying science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects at tertiary level and so increase the number of Pacific people working in these areas,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.
“The calibre of applicants was high, and I was encouraged by the interest in these new scholarships. New Zealand’s Pacific population is one of the youngest and fastest-growing in the country. It is important that these young and bright people are given every opportunity to become the industry leaders and problem-solvers of the future,” Mr Lotu-Iiga says.
The four Toloa Scholarships, worth $25,000 over three years each, are open to first year undergraduate and postgraduate Pacific students studying STEM-related papers. The recipients also receive mentoring and an industry internship.…more