By Loveni Enari 

What's better for Pacific Islanders’ mental health than a laugh with your mates about the hidings you got as kids?

You know the stories … with the jandal, the stick, at school, in front of mates, the whole church; the time Mum was throwing stones at me while I was running away, she was telling my cousins to catch me and they had to, but they were really sad about it; the time Dad went overboard with the hockey stick … oops, maybe that’s not so funny, but there are many more, aren’t there? Too many, maybe?

And then the laugh and ‘Ehh, what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger, no?’ Or the tough sounding, ‘It was nothing more than your average PI kid got, no more.’ Or, ‘It’s good trauma. Toughens you up.…more

The Manu Samoa went up against Argentina's Los Pumas in their second pool game of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Samoa, however, unfortunately fell short against the Argentine side.

Samoa fell short due to an early yellow card, errors in the first half, and missed penalties, which proved costly in the end. Argentina managed to secure a hard-earned win by capitalizing on key opportunities and executing their game plan effectively.

Nonetheless, Samoa remains steadfast, ready to take on Japan in their next pool game on Friday 29 September, 8am NZDT.

-
Cover Image from World Rugby via Getty Images

By Loveni Enari

The Manu Samoa rugby team might be playing on the fields of southern France but they are receiving specialised, scientific Samoan expertise all the way from Atlanta, Georgia in the US.

In a CoconetTV exclusive we can reveal that Manumalo Muasau, Mental Performance Coach to the NFL team, the Tennessee Titans, is working closely with top players in Manu Samoa to provide that extra edge, in the all important top two inches.

Manu Samoa's coach Vaovasamanaia Seilala Mapusua and Muasau had followed each other on social media for quite a while and finally connected after the coach reached out a few weeks ago for assistance to our boys in royal-blue at the Rugby World Cup.

‘Coach Mapusua is a former elite athlete but as a coach he’s someone who’s brilliant in understanding wellbeing and performance holistically, not just physically but mentally as well,’ says Manumalo, which means ‘victory’ in English.…more

There’s a late player and captain for the Manu Samoa rugby team who died in 2005 but whose name is still mentioned with a wistful, 100 yard stare and a ‘Kalofa e’ - Samoan for ‘poor thing’ or ‘how sad’.

His name was Faitala Talapusi, Skipper as he was known in his playing days, and Rev in his latter years. He hailed from the village of Vaiala and grew up directly opposite the main entrance back then, to Apia Park. 

‘Kalofa e,’ because Faitala was only 55 when cancer took him in the prime of his intellectual career as a lecturer, reverend and theologian, his playing days long in the rear vision mirror by then.

He had been the captain of the Manu Samoa rugby team in the late 1970s and CEO in 1995/6, but apart from his much admired, on-field talent, he was also a hugely intelligent, likeable character off the field, unique in his generation for his ability to lead, unite and inspire.…more

There are few rugby wins that resonate beyond the final whistle, leaving an indelible mark on both fans and the sporting world, but the 2023 Rugby World Cup bore witness to one such historic moment - a triumph decades in the making.

In an amazing display of skill and determination, Fiji scripted a tale of resounding victory, defeating Australia in their second World Cup pool game, their first win over the Aussie side in an astonishing 69 years.

The energy was high even before kick off, with the Flying Fijians sending the crowd into a roar with their pre-match Cibi

In what was a high-octane match from start to finish, the Flying Fijians managed to hold off a strong Wallabies side, ending the game 22-15 and placing them second in the Pool C standings, behind Wales.

Fiji's win over Australia will remain vivid in the hearts of the players and fans of the team for a long time to come. Their next pool game will be against Georgia on Sunday, 1st October at 4:45am NZDT.

One week into the Rugby World Cup, Loveni Enari runs the rule over the good, the bad and the rugby.

Best teams: Ireland. France. Numbers one and two. The speed and dynamic variety of Ireland's attack allowed them to put 59 points on a very well prepared Tongan team. You had to feel for the Pacific brothers, outplayed by the form team in world rugby.

France is playing calm, within themselves, no over exertion. The business end is still a month away, why fuss now?

Pasifika support: heart warming to see photos and videos of loved ones, family and friends supporting our three island nations in the French stadiums. We can hear the chahooing, now let's get that dancing going brothers and sisters! Shake your money makers!

Pasifika teams:

Poor Tonga in the pool of death. They acquitted themselves proudly yet still shipped a bundle of points. Play the same again versus Scotland and they could win.  The talent of Salesi Piutau, Ben Tameifuna and Pita Ahkhi surely deserve it.…more

'If you're from the hood, you gotta be in the hood'

Samoan rapper Poetik has recently opened up a retail store, 'Big Village,' in Avondale, West Auckland in what he hopes to be a space for the Pasifika community to come together, be creative and share a space. Check out the opening day! 🎤🌺

-
Public Interest Journalism funded by NZ on Air

Credits:
Director: Callum Fiu
OPC: Jesse Gibson

In a world that often seems too digitally connected but emotionally disconnected, a group of Pasifika women have introduced a refreshing way to bridge the gap and foster genuine human connections.

Lalaga, a card game developed by Torisse Laulu and her team (including Gabby Manu, Lauren Wepa, and Atelaite Mapa), promises to revive and elevate the art of conversation with its blend of warmth, humour, and meaningful discourse.

Lalaga was launched to much fanfare on Tuesday 5th, September but lalaga, a term that means 'to weave,' is more than just a game; it's an opportunity to reconnect with friends, family, or even potential new connections in a heartfelt way. With five levels of questions and prompts, Lalaga offers players the flexibility to customise their conversations and delve into varying depths of topics.

Torisse Laulu, the creator of Lalaga, drew inspiration from the rich Pasifika culture of talanoa, emphasising honest and open discourse. She believes that in today's world, where online interactions dominate, there's a genuine need to nurture relational spaces for connection.…more

We're Keepin It Fresh in the Kingdom 🇹🇴 as we go on the field the training fields and into the grand stands as the Tongan National Rugby Team, Ikale Tahi take on Australia A in the lead up to the 2023 Rugby World Cup 🏆

-
Keepin It Fresh brings you all the freshness happening in our Moana communities, from Siva Afi Festivals to Fashion Shows.

Segment Credits:
Directed and filmed by Tutu On The Beach
Edited by Laura McBeath

New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Te Tira Pūoro o Aotearoa (NZSO) and Signature Choir with Live Nation present Mana Moana, an incredible musical experience coming to Auckland’s Spark Arena for one night only Friday November 24, 2023.

Mana Moana is a celebration and fusion of two worlds of music colliding, with 80 choral singers and 78 NZSO musicians on stage showcasing thegorgeous harmonies and rich melodies of traditional songs from across Pasifika islands.

After selling out in 2022 in Wellington, this energetic, unique, and emotional celebration will bring traditional and contemporary songs from Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau to Auckland for this special community event.

For complete tour and ticket information, click here.

A collaborative journey to celebrate and promote the languages and stories of Pasifika, in 2022 New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Te Tira Pūoro o Aotearoa (NZSO) and Signature Choir created high-quality audio recordings and videos of Pasifika songs in partnership with RNZ, followed by a live performance at Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington.

Now this incredible musical experience comes to Auckland’s Spark Arena in November 2023.…more