By Thomas Law 

Nine years ago, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga came to the 2013 World Cup as unfancied additions to make up the numbers. This time they all have genuine aspirations of reaching the knockout stage, with some even having ultimate victory in their sights.

The change in rugby league’s eligibility laws – allowing players to ‘switch’ between nations from year to year, and maintaining State of Origin eligibility for non-Australia internationals (bar New Zealand and England) paved the way for a revolution in the international game. But it took brave players like Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita back in 2017 to turn down the nations of their birth, and with it far larger paycheques, to represent their heritage.…more

On Sunday 16th October, Titi Motusaga will walk out into the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on the undercard of the Devin Haney vs George Kambosos Jnr rematch.

The 31yr old former Kickboxer will take on fellow kiwi and Commonwealth Games champion David Nyika for only his 5th professional boxing match and the Samoan cruiserweight fighter is relishing the opportunity.  While both fighters have identical professional records, this fight will be a big step up for Motusaga while at the same time Nyika's toughest opponent yet.

Get to know Titi 'The Taxman' Motusaga here - he talks to us about where he grew up, getting his pe'a and being proud of his Samoan heritage, sparring UFC team mates Carlos Ulberg and Israel Adesanya, needing to work a 9-5 while on the come up as a pro boxer and more.…more

Enjoy highlights from the F.I.N.E Festivals opening fiafia night at the Mangere Arts Centre showcasing Pasifika LGBTQI+, MVPFAFF+ performing artists.

The festival itself ran over 3 days and was run by F’INE Pasifika Aotearoa Trust celebrating Pasifika rainbow and queer communities.

F.I.N.E festival featured a series of workshops, facilitating a space to exchange knowledge with the wider community, while also giving artists an opportunity to creatively tell their stories.

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Credits

Director - Shimpal Lelisi 

Camera Operator - Mary-Lou Raela 

Sound Operator & Editor - Sefa Taouma 

By Mabel Muller

A new art exhibition by a Samoan visual artist hopes to challenge people’s perception around skulls and what it normally represents in the western culture.

Aua e te fefe - Don’t be afraid by Raymond Sagapolutele is currently on display at Auckland’s Bergman Gallery, showcasing a range of artworks centred around the image of a skull.

The exhibition is a culmination of Sagapolutele’s art and photography work over the last few years and represents his journey of exploring his identity as a Samoan in Aotearoa and how he fits in.

Sagapolutele said the skull, which is usually perceived as a prop to frame horror, can be viewed in a different light when seen through a Samoan lense.

“When I first started doing this I was looking at it from a Samoan perspective in relation to what the bones of our ancestors represent…

“Liutofaga is an old practice where in Samoa, because you have family graves, they would sometimes reuse the plot and so there’ll be a process of re-interring your previous family members.…more

For 22 weeks, nearly 200 young people from around the Gold Coast & Brisbane area, gave up the majority of their weekends to learn about their Samoan culture through song & dance at the largest Samoan performing arts school in Queensland - Vasa Gold Coast 

The peforming arts school group whose ages ranged from 5 - 21 years then presented a fiafia showcase at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre on the 30th of September 2022 in front of a packed arena.  The show also featured recently crowned Miss Samoa 22/23 Haylani Pearl Kuruppu who performed a solo dance to 'Sosefina' and the taualuga at the conclusion of the performance.

We spoke to Lapi Mariner and Logovi'i Tupa'i who tutored vocals and taught the group Samoan songs, about their experience with the show and why it's important for our children to know their culture and heritage.  (Video above)

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You can check out the full performance from the night below.…more