FINA President visits Pacific Islands with Olympic swimming stars Ian Thorpe & Cate Campbell
Recently FINA President Captain Husain Al-Musallam from Kuwait along with FINA executives and Olympic multi-medalist swimmers Ian Thorpe and Cate Campbell from Australia visited Palau, Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands (Rarotonga & Aitutaki) for the first time.
The purpose of the visit was to raise the profile of swimming and look at ways they can help develop swimming as a sport throughout the Pacific region. Included in this are plans to launch the Swim For All Programme plus help with building facilities in the island nations for training in the sport. On their visit it was announced Tonga will be getting a new pool next year and the Cook Islands are currently in the development stages for theirs.…more
Beyond Honey: The Future of Beekeeping in Samoa
WATCH 📽️ the inspiring story of R&J Honey Producer and Beekeeping Trainer, I'umalo Clayton Simamao who is going the extra mile to help create a thriving honey bee industry in Samoa.
Having trained under the most experienced Beekeepers in Samoa, the humble 31 year old continues to grow his beekeeping operation while sharing his knowledge and time with aspiring and current beekeepers.
I'umalo Clayton will be accessing grant assistance through the World Bank Pacific funded SAFPROM Matching Grant Program for a beeswax extractor and large honey extractor to help boost the production and productivity of his agri-business.
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Credits:
Film maker: Denisa Maňásková Photography
Writer/Producer: Liz Ah-Hi, Fine Mat Creative for the World Bank Pacific funded Samoa Agriculture and Fisheries Productivity and Marketing (SAFPROM) Project
Toa Samoa Welcome Home Parade - Brisbane
Almost 3 weeks after Toa Samoa played their Grand Final game against Australia at the Rugby League World Cup in Manchester, UK, the last of the welcome home parades in Australia took place in Brisbane on the 10th of December.
The week before, Sydney based players had also attended a similar welcome home parade in Mt Druitt which featured NZ based singers Tree Vaifale and husband Swiss.…more
The results are in - Fiji to get a coalition government
Frank Bainimarama, left, and Sitiveni Rabuka Photo: AFP / RNZ / Koroi Hawkins
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The final results of the 2022 Fiji election are in.
The make-up of the new 55 seat parliament - according to the Fiji Elections Office results app - will be Fiji First with 26 seats, the People's Alliance Party with 21 seats, the National Federation Party with five seats and the Social Democratic Liberal Party with three seats.
In order to be able to form government 28 seats are needed.
This means that for the first time since the return of democracy to Fiji in 2014, Frank Bainimarama's dominant Fiji First Party has failed to secure the majority of seats to rule in parliament.
Bainimarama will now need to woo at least one of the three opposition party leaders to join him if he is to remain in power.…more
Hang Out with Juju on Gameday - Juju Smith Schuster
Samoan NFL player Juju Smith-Schuster takes us behind the scenes with him as he gets ready on a typical game day with his new team the Kansas City Chiefs.
He recently gave the gift of Christmas to more than 50 families at a special event on Monday. Smith-Schuster and his foundation paid off almost $10,000 in layaways at a Kansas City-area Burlington store.
Read more on the story here
Jason Momoa Answers the Web's Most Searched Questions | WIRED
Polynesian actor Jason Momoa answers the web's most searched questions about himself.
What do Jason Momoa's tattoos mean? How much does Jason lift? How did he get his scar? When did he start acting? Will he be in Fast & The Furious 10?
Jason answers all these questions and much more!
Video Credit: WIRED
Deceptikonz - One Time | FRISKO Interview
The Deceptikonz - Savage, Mareko, Frisko & Devolo are back and will be dropping a brand new album on Friday the 16th of December.
It will be 20 years since they first came on the scene with their debut album 'Elimination' which featured the P-Money produced classic 'Fallen Angels'.
This video takes us behind the scenes with Daniel Maoate aka Frisko where he shares the background on his verse on their latest single 'One Time'.
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Credits:
Shot and edited by Dave Parker (PARKER FILMS)
Pasifika Garage Stories
From our most famous artists to sports people and thriving businesses, the humble South Auckland garage has been the heartland for creating some of our biggest success stories. Here are some of the flavours of the Pacific born and bred from the four walls of a garage ...
"We’re a tinker society with limited access to resources, our Garages become the incubation space from where we build our dreams and hatch our ideas.
They’re also transitional spaces which changes with the context, be it a meeting house for family gatherings and funerals, where we plan our weddings, it becomes a hall for a 21st. Sleeping quarters noho Marae styles when Family pop in. It was our corporate box for the Tua fights, Manu, MMT and TOA games.
It’s where Popohardwear started in my Sister’s humble garage in Papatoetoe. Luxon ...…more
Historic day for Maori/Pasifika Rugby League communities in New Zealand
The Pasifika Aotearoa Collective which was formed last year bringing together rugby league bodies from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, NZ Maori, Samoa, Toeklau and Tonga, have now joined forces with the One New Zealand Warriors in an historic partnership.
On Tuesday 13th December 2022 they officially signed an exclusive alliance aimed at providing a range of football and commercial benefits for both parties in a ceremony at Mt Smart Stadium.
PAC representatives signed the deal in front of the One New Zealand Warriors NRL squad, trainers, coaching staff and management and were each presented with a Warriors NRL jersey by different players within the squad.
They were then given a tour of the training facilities by Our New Zealand Warriors CEO Cameron George and watched the NRL squad train. In his opening address he said it was immensely significant for both the club and the Pasifika Aotearoa Collective.
“The impact Pasifika and Māori players continue to have on rugby league is phenomenal.…more
Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards 2022
By Johnson Raela
Nine Pacific young people were recognised as recipients of the 2022 Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards (PMPYA) at Parliament on Monday evening.
The young people were rewarded for their outstanding achievements in several fields, including being advocates for their language and culture; for leadership and entrepreneurship; and for their efforts in the arts, education and the community.
The awards were presented by Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson and Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio.
To'e Lokeni, 17, from Porirua received the Business and Entrepreneurship award. Last year, To’e and his good friend Mannfred Sofara were the driving forces behind the website Fa’amalosi, designed to help people correctly pronounce Māori and Pasifika names.
In receiving the award To’e acknowledged his good friend Mannfred who has been pivotal in his business journey.
“I mentioned Mannfred because he’s helped me a lot in business over the last two years and without his help and support I wouldn’t have been able to do all this, so he deserves as much credit for this as well,” he said.…more