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
In Her Hands - Feeding the Future
Grace Malama Maselusi of Vaovai, Falealili is living proof that empowering rural women with access to finance and resources, they can help improve the livelihoods of their families and entire communities by reducing poverty, malnutrition and hunger.
📽 Watch Grace's story "In Her Hands: Feeding the Future" to see how she secured a better future for her family through farming while contributing to the increase and sustainability of nutritious vegetables in her village and district.
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Bloke In A Bar - Siosiua Taukeiaho
Former NRL player Denan Kemp who hosts the Locker Room/Bloke in a Bar podcast, sits down with Mate Ma'a Tonga co-captain Siosiua Taukeiaho to talk about his journey from New Zealand to the Roosters which includes back-to-back premierships and being a part of the wave of players who chose to play for Tonga.
The Beautiful Wedding Ceremony of Sala Moesha Crichton & Brian To'o
NRL and Toa Samoa star Brian To'o married his beautiful bride Sala-Moesha Crichton on Thursday the 8th of December 2022 in Sydney, Australia.
Panthers and Toa Samoa team mates Stephen Crichton and Spencer Leniu as well as Panthers & Fiji Bati International Sunia Turuva were among Brians groomsmen with Jarome Luai on Best Man duties and Stephen's girlfriend Leone Lauafia was one of Sala's bridesmaids.
Guests included Panthers team mates Taylan May, Tyrone May, Nathan Cleary, Izack Tago, Liam Martin, Matt Eisenhuth and coach Ivan Cleary.
Congratulations to the happy couple!
Wedding and reception video (below) live streamed by Paula Moimoi Latu
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Wedding reception celebration of Mr & Mrs Brian & Sala-Moesha To'o
Local Hero of the Year Dave Letele needs 3,500 people for a good cause!
Dave Letele aka Brown Buttabean aka the 'New Zealand Local Hero of the Year' is teaming up with PERSOLKELLY recruitment to help drive the 3,500 'boots on the ground' needed for the 2023 Census.
Thousands of workers are needed to help deliver the 2023 census and Dave is putting the call out to people of all ages, stages, backgrounds and ethnicities to get involved and help ensure everyone taks part, is counted and represented in the data collected. It's particularly important our Maori and Pasifika communities are accounted for.
As someone who sees the power of community in action daily at his BBM Motivation programme, Dave Letele was compelled to get involved, encouraging New Zealanders to do their bit and apply to be a census collector.
“If we want change in our communities we first have to be seen and heard – and helping deliver the census is a great way to make sure your friends, whānau and neighbours are all counted,” says Dave.…more
HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS - JAROM SU'A
Jarom Su'a
Producer/Songwriter
Samoan/Argentinian/Mexican
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My name is Jarom Su’a. I’m a 16-year-old producer/songwriter and artist based out of Florida/LA. I was born in Utah but later moved to Florida when I was very young. I’m a mix of Samoan and Argentinian/Mexican.
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What were the pathways that led you to doing music and ultimately making beats and the producer side of things?
I remember being little and always loved music - I was 11 years old when I was in the car, and I heard “Are You That Somebody” by Aaliyah & Timbaland; I just wanted to know how people make the beats of these songs I hear on the radio—I was hooked! I remember going home and practicing; I bought Timbaland’s online Masterclass. If you listen to my music, you can hear the Timbaland influence, and I think it’s what shaped the way I make music forever but while still staying true to my own sound.…more
COP27: Money, Lobbyists and The Pacific Presence
COP27 in Egypt ended with one big win and many other disappointments.
The 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference more commonly referred to as COP27, was the 27th UN Climate conference, held from 6 November until 20 November 2022 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. It gathered world leaders, national negotiators and civil society to discuss the state of our planet and plans to tackle the climate crisis.
The Pacific showed up strong to this year's COP27 with one of the priorities on the agenda being the establishment of a Loss & Damage fund. This has been something the region has been fighting for three decades for.
One of the major wins this year was COP27 reaching an agreement on an outcome that established a funding mechanism to compensate vulnerable nations for ‘loss and damage’ from climate-induced disasters.…more
Moana Pasifika - Historic first signing
By Thomas Airey
Miracle Fai’ilagi will never forget the date September 19th, the night a phone call changed his life.
“It was so unreal,” the 23-year-old Samoan loose forward from Vailele and Uafato said.
“The Moana Pasifika coach giving me a call, giving me the news that I made the team. I was just so out of words.”
Coach Aaron Mauger had attended the World Rugby Pacific Combine earlier that month, where he said Fai’ilagi was a clear standout.
Speaking from home in Vailele with the family he was nervous to leave behind, Fai’ilagi said signing his two-year contract with Moana was huge:
“Us local players, we hardly get those opportunities.
“This is a blessing for me, and also my family.”
He hopes to follow in the footsteps of uncle Joe Tekori, who retired in June after 37 caps for Manu Samoa and 15 years at the pinnacle of club rugby in France.
“He was one of the people that I looked up to, not only playing but I’ve seen him helping with our family financially,” Fai’ilagi said.…more
Olaga a le Aiga Faigafaiva - Life of a Fisher Family in Manono Tai, Samoa
The life of Manono Island, is the sea!
In Samoa, artisanal fishers are a link to our cultural history and traditions. They face many challenges to their way of living especially due to climate change, overfishing and ocean pollution not to mention it is a risky job.
Depending on the ocean to make a living is not easy. Take a look into the world of small scale fisheries through the eyes of the Leiataua family from Manono-Tai.
Get an insight into a day in the life of this Fisher family, the challenges they overcome and risks they face to generate income while also providing food for their families and community.
Small scale Fisheries and Aquaculture are crucial to people's nutrition, food security, sustainable livelihoods and wellbeing.
This year is the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture #IYAFA2022 which aims to focus world attention on the role that small scale fishers, fish farmers and workers play in human wellbeing, food security and nutrition.…more