Coco News

Sacred symbols cement the New Zealand Deputy Prime Ministers Samoan identity

“It’s the only tatau I have ever wanted - I’ve never had any other tattoos because I’ve wanted the malu first. I’ve waited my whole life for this, and for the right time for this.” - New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni.

They are over 60% of the Pacific population in Aotearoa, it’s the second most commonly spoken language in Auckland and Samoan's have one of the fastest growing youth populations in the country.

Now our Samoan leader at the highest level of government, has committed to a personal and public dedication of her fa'asamoa, her cultural identity.

Carmel Sepuloni now wears Samoa on her skin, as well as in her heart.…more


Sports

The importance of Wellbeing in Rugby League x The inaugural NZRL Wellbeing hui

By Destiny and Penina Momoiseā

In the NRL, every club has at least one Welfare and Education Manager who looks after the wellbeing of the players in their charge and in New Zealand, the NRL funds not only the One NZ Warriors wellbeing officers at a club level but also the New Zealand Rugby League wellbeing team at a national level (Elite Pathways).

Suicides of young men in the rugby league community have underlined the urgency to normalise conversations around mental health and the NRL have recognised that it can be a challenging experience to leave home at a young age, or simply to face the responsibilities of playing the sport they love at a high level.…more


Sports

Ariel Meets: The Usos - Rare sit down with Jey & Jimmy

The Ones, Jey and Jimmy Uso joined the one and only Ariel Helwani for a rare and fascinating sit down ahead of The Bloodline Civil War last weekend with Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa at the O2 Arena in London for Money in the Bank.

Jey and Jimmy spoke about their historic run, The Bloodline, headlining Wrestlemania, their father (Rikishi) and a whole lot more ... 

Then watch highlights from the match over the weekend below - 

685 to the UK - The Uso's getting love from fans in London ... 

Never forget the time the Usos and Roman Reigns broke character at the beginning of their feud here 


Podcast

Tim Lafai - Out of your League Podcast

From growing up in Samoa to becoming his countries all-time leader in caps, Lafai opens up on his journey through rugby league in New Zealand & Australia, speaks powerfully on his mental health in the hope of helping others & discusses his incredible time at Salford Red Devils so far.


Coco News

2023 Pacific Music Awards finalists announced - meet the first time finalists.

On the 28th of June, the 2023 Pacific Music Awards finalists were announced at Big Fan in Morningside, Auckland.

Among the 24 finalists, 11 are first time finalists alongside 13 previous award winners.  This year, MELODOWNZ, Olivia Foa'i and Sam V lead the nomination count with 4 nominations each in various award categories.  

Alongside the 13 award categories, there will be eight additional awards presented on the night including the Phillip Fuemana Most Promising Pacific Artist, NZ On Air Radio Airplay Award, NZ On Air Streaming Award, SunPix People’s Choice Award – Best Pacific Artist, Creative New Zealand Award, Arch Angel Independent Artist Award, Ministry for Pacific Peoples Special Recognition Award, and Manukau Institute of Technology Te Pukenga Lifetime Achievement Award.

The winner of the Best Pacific Music Album category is presented with an official Tui and will be recognised at the next Aotearoa Music Awards.  The APRA Best Pacific Song Award recipient will also be recognised at the APRA Silver Scroll Awards.…more


Pacific Blog

Inky Pinky Ponky Film - Get to know Sesilia Pusiaki

Sesilia Pusiaki (pictured above on the right) plays the main character Lisa's (played by Amanaki Faletau pictured left) mother in the smash hit CoconetTV original 'Inky Pinky Ponky' film. 

The actress hails from the villages of Lapaha by way of Tatakamotonga, Atata and Makahilitaha. She played Hepi Lomu in the TV Mini Series, 'Jonah'. She played Lote in 'Kingdom of Lote',  the first Tongan Theatre Play written by Suli Moa and Produced by Kila Kokonut Krew.  Sesilia directed and choreographed NZ's first full length Tongan Contemporary Dance -Theatre show 'Sei 'o fafine' as well as the first Traditional Tongan Heritage Dance theatre piece 'Pukepuke 'o Tonga'.

In 2017 she established 'Pukepuke 'o Tonga' as a family led company that produced 'Lomipeau Aotearoa' the 1st Traditional Tongan Music album, a collection of the Late Queen Salote Tupou III poetry that was set to Vili Pusiaki's musical compositions.…more


Podcast

Big Body Cisco X Dinah Jane - Western Conference Podcast

Tongan pop princess Dinah Jane has been on a 3 year hiatus from music.

Western Conference Podcast host Big Body Cisco catches up with Dinah and takes it all the way back to her musical roots, auditioning for talent shows including X-Factor, joining 5th Harmony, her musical journey and much more in their chat above.

Then take a trip down memory lane and watch her original X-Factor audition in the video below - 


Sports

All Whites game abandoned after alleged racial abuse towards Samoan player

via RNZ 

Cover image: Michael Boxall and Bill Tuiloma by PHOTOSPORT

The All Whites allege Michael Boxall was abused late in the first half of their game with captain Joe Bell raising the matter with the referee but no action was taken.

The All Whites then refused to take the field in the second half.

New Zealand Football chief executive Andrew Pragnell said several players heard the comment and he endorses the action taken by the team.

"We fully support the action of our players, who agreed collectively this course of action," he said.

"We never want to see a match abandoned but some issues are bigger than football and it is important to make a stand," he said.

"There is no room for racism in football."

The All Whites led 1-nil when the match was abandoned.

"Apparently two players on the pitch they exchanged words... the New Zealand players decided to support their teammate just as our team decided to support our player," Qatar coach Carlos Queiroz told the Sky TV broadcast.…more


Sports

QUARTERBACK - Official Trailer starring Marcus Mariota

Samoan Quarterback Marcus Mariota who plays for the Atlanta Falcons along with Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Kirk Cousins, and reigning Super Bowl champion and MVP Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs give you an unprecedented, all access look into the 2022-2023 football season from their huddles to their homes and more.

Each of the Quarterbacks had a year full of significant ups and downs. Mahomes shattered the record for most offensive yards in a single season, and clinched a Super Bowl victory with his Kansas City Chiefs. Minnesota Vikings quarterback Cousins engineered what could be the greatest comeback in the history of the league. Mariota, meanwhile, joined the Atlanta Falcons for a roller-coaster first season.

Quarterback is a first-of-its kind partnership between the NFL and Netflix, offering unprecedented access to three of the league’s top players. The eight-episode series follows quarterbacks who, for the first time ever, are mic’d up for every single game, from the beginning of the 2022 season to its conclusion.…more


Sports

Privileged Pressure: Cassie Siataga's Historic Kick for Samoa

By Thomas Airey

"Keep your head down and go through the ball."

The Queensland rain is now bucketing down as hard as it has all game.

Passionate Fijian fans in the crowd are yelling at the top of their lungs.

It’s sensory overload, a real-life Hollywood moment as Manusina first five eighths Cassie Siataga lines up the penalty kick that would clinch Samoa’s first ever Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship title with time up on the clock.

But all she can focus on are those words she so often heard from her kicking coach at Tasman last year, former Māori All Black halfback Billy Guyton, who tragically died just last month.

“Keep your head down and go through the ball.”

“That’s all I was hearing when I was setting up the tee, when I was looking at the posts, thinking of all the little things he said to me, and he believed in me, so I couldn’t doubt myself,” Siataga said.

“It was having the team in my ear, you’ve gotta do it, you can do it.…more