Vanuatu's population is over 327,000. Today, the nation has just one pro footballer 🇻🇺 His name is Brian Kaltak.

This is the story of his unique journey to the A-Leagues, his own personal cheer squad and how he's become a 'living legend'. And it's guaranteed to make you smile.

By Thomas Airey

Manusina head coach Mata’afa Ramsey Tomokino thinks his team’s historic Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship win can be a game-changing moment for Samoan women’s rugby.

Last Sunday at Bond University in Gold Coast, Australia, Manusina defeated the Fijiana 19-18, ending Fiji’s dominant run in the competition.

The win qualified Samoa for the second tier of World Rugby’s new WXV competition to be played in South Africa at the end of the year.

Tomokino said he couldn’t be prouder of his players and the magnitude of their achievement is yet to fully sink in.

“I just think it’s massive for the girls, how many of them would have gone to South Africa in their lifetime?” he pondered.

Manusina will be joined in WXV 2 by the Springbok Women, Japan, Scotland, Italy or Spain and the lowest ranked team in July’s Pacific Four Series featuring Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and USA.

Tomokino emphasised the importance of more test matches, particularly against opposition from around the world, for the continued growth of his team.…more

Check out the latest film Tongan actress Luciane Buchanan is starring in, out now in New Zealand theatres.

The film was inspired by a real life situation, when US based Writer/Director Scott Walker got stranded in New Zealand during the pandemic and he & his family had to move into their friend's remote beach house that was built on top of an enormous old water tank. When they ran low on water, Scott had to climb down into the tank, “all the time in its blackness I couldn’t stop thinking, what if there were creatures living in there that were going to come out at night and eat my family!?” he explains.

This experience and the nightmares that followed acted as the inspiration for The Tank.

Synopsis for 'The Tank' - After mysteriously inheriting an abandoned coastal property, Ben (Matt Whelan) and his family (Luciane plays his wife) accidentally unleash an ancient, long-dormant creature that terrorized the entire region — including his own ancestors — for generations.

Written by Breanna Tugaga-Rogers

The artwork that brought Samoan aganu’u and our Myths and Legends to Life! 

For Samoan Language Week a great way to dive into the celebrations of Gagana Sāmoa is to  honour the legacy of Iosua To’afa, a pioneer of Samoan contemporary art who designed the artwork in the ‘Tala o le Vavau’ book that is the go- to reference for so many people around the globe. 

‘Tusiata o le Tala o le Vavau’ is a new book paying homage to pioneering Samoan artist Iosua To'afa, illustrator of 1976's iconic ‘Tala o le Vavau: Myths and Legends of Samoa’ that most Samoan’s have referenced at some stage in life. 

Featuring reflections from Albert Wendt, Momoe Malietoa von Reiche, Sean Mallon and Marilyn Kohlhase, as well as assorted friends, family, and students - the book is a deeply personal account of To'afa's life and the ongoing influence of his work. 

This book and its accompanying exhibition also showcases original work by nine Aotearoa-based Samoan visual artists - renowned contemporary practitioners like Andy Leleisi'uao, Raymond Sagapolutele and Siliga David…more

By RNZ Journalist Faivaeselopepe Anric Sitanilei

First Person - I'm sure every young 20-something at some point asks the question, "Who am I?"

Many of my young Pacific Island peers (or anyone really who comes from an immigrant family) would say they feel as if they're 'in-between worlds', raised with a traditional Pacific Island upbringing in a westernised, urban New Zealand.

Then there is me, born and raised in Aotearoa but attended high school and university in Samoa; I feel like I land somewhere in between this 'in-between.'

I could never quite pin a location on where I call 'home', but I also have never felt lost in that way; I've never questioned 'where' home is, but rather, 'what' home is. And so, what is home if not a location?

The 'tatau' or 'malofie', the traditional Samoan tattoo, is more than just that. It's also known as 'la'ei Samoa', or 'Samoan clothing', as in the eyes of tradition and culture, even when nothing else is worn, one is still considered fully clothed if donning the tatau.…more

by Lefaoali’i Dr Dion Enari

As I near my one-year anniversary since receiving my pe’a/tatau, I couldn't help but reflect on the debates. We have all heard it before, from who deserves a tatau, if non-Samoan should be allowed to get it, and if one should be fluent in Samoan first. I do not wish to talk about these topics (today anyway). Instead, I wish to clear a few misconceptions and bridge understanding. As I believe if you do not wear the tatau, you should not tell someone who does, how to wear theirs. 

My journey

I had wanted a tatau my whole life. As a kid I would draw tatau patterns on my legs and dream of my completion ceremony many times over. Everyone’s timing and reasons for getting one are different.

For me, I chose to get it upon the completion of my PhD, which was in Fa'aSamoa and mark myself as a life servant to my family, villages and nation. After finally getting the okay from my parents, we were good to go.…more

Watch the live coverage of the 2023 Fautasi Races from Apia, Samoa.

In the end, Tolotolo o le Tamauli from Savaii became the winners of this year's  fautasi regatta to celebrate Samoa's year-long 60th Independence anniversary. 

Don Bosco Segavao came in second place, Telefoni o le Vainuu in third, Little Rina was fourth and Marist in fifth place.

By Thomas Law 

“There’s only three common denominators in this country. One is God. Two is Tok Pisin, the language we all speak. Three is rugby league.” So powers the opening voiceover to the Power Meri documentary.

The prominence of rugby league is not in doubt – famously it is the only sovereign nation in the world in which it is the national sport (the only other country to share this accolade is the Cook Islands).

As London Broncos and international prop Wellington Albert puts it, “Every little boy and girl will play around, with a Coca-Cola bottle as a rugby ball sometimes, playing on the backyard or on any field available. We grow up playing rugby league, and that’s where we started falling in love with the greatest game of all.”

His teammate for club and country, Emmanuel ‘Manu’ Waine, echoed that sentiment, particularly the pride fans have for the national team. “When PNG is playing against other nations, the backing in our country, everybody gets behind it and supports it.…more

'HAMILTON: The Musical' begins its first ever international tour in Aotearoa, direct from a stellar run across Australia on Friday 26th May and runs through until the 11th of June at Spark Arena.

We sat down for a chat with three of the Pasifika cast members - Elandrah Eramiha, Iosefa Laga'aia and Kirrah Amosa who share what their characters are like as well as what it's like having to play multiple characters, what it means for them to be able to represent our people on such a big stage, their favourite track to perform and more.

Don't miss out - Get your tickets to the show here  

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Credits: 

Director - Destiny Momoiseā

Camera Operator - Penina Momoiseā

Editor - Sefa Taouma 

Research/Consultant - Talia Momoiseā

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Additional Footage & photos provided from Hamilton The Musical & 818 Publicity 

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Public Interest Journalism funded by NZ on Air