NZ's first Tokelauan MP Kris Faafoi farewells Parliament
by Mariner Fagaiava-Muller
Delivering an emotional valedictory speech on Thursday, he thanked mentors, parliamentary colleagues and his kāiga.
Kris Faafoi also poked fun at fellow Pasifika in the Labour Party caucus.
“To my Pacific caucus colleagues, fakafetai lahi lele,” he said.
“Our Pacific caucus shows the connection that Labour has to our Pacific community.”
“I'm not sure when we'll get another Tokelauan, but we will, and I'm sure Anahila [Kanongata’a-Suisuiki] will be there to take a selfie.”
In 2010, Faafoi took over the reins of the Mana electorate from Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban.
He thanked the “amazing and talented” current MP for Mana, Barbara Edmonds.
“[She] has a long future in that seat, and I am sure she will make a massive contribution to the country during her tenure,” he said.
The highlight of his ministerial career was accompanying Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on a visit to Tokelau, he said.…more
Pacific News Headlines: 24th June 2022
Watch a wrap-up of your week in news from across the Islands, in under a minute.
Fiame Naomi Mata'afa has landed in Aotearoa making noise not for her politics, but her fashion.
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Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
Makali’i: The Pacific connection to Matariki
by Mariner Fagaiava-Muller & Teherenui Koteka
Māori herald their New Year with the rising of the Matariki star cluster, but it’s used too by Pacific Islanders to track time and seasons.
In Hawai’i, the Pleiades star cluster is called Makali’i. It appears at sunset, as opposed to sunrise as Aotearoa sees it.
Whereas Matariki is observed in Aotearoa during June/July, Makali'i in Hawai'i comes about during the latter end of the year around October.
Kamehameha Schools tells the traditional mo’olelo (story) about how the name came to be.
“It begins with the evil deeds of an aliʻi of Kona on the island of Hawaiʻi. He greedily decides to hoard everyone’s food into one enormous carrying net and travels with it to the highest stratum of the heavens, where he hangs it up.”
“Meanwhile, the ravenous people hastily gather to plan a way to get their food back. A little mouse bravely consents to take on the arduous task. He successfully gnaws on the net until the food drops to the earth.…more
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Responds to School Dance Invite, Surprises PACTS Program Students
The PACTS Program at Parma Senior High School in Ohio hosts an annual spring luau dance for nearly 400 special needs students in the surrounding area.
The Parma High students posted a video invitation to social media to invite Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson to their luau. When Johnson got wind of their request, he made sure that the students had a couple special surprises in store for them as they celebrated their big night…
"The Island in Me" trailer
The Island in Me is an award-winning feature by Spanish/American filmmaker Gemma Cubero del Barrio that takes the viewer to the remote atoll of Pukapuka in the Cook Islands, a unique place never before captured in film – Pukapuka is only four hundred inhabitants and ten metres above sea level.
The film follows two women who grew up on Pukapuka and return home after decades away - Amelia Hokulea Borofsky, the daughter of anthropologist Robert Borofsky who lived in Pukapuka in the mid-1970 and Johnny Frisbie, a Cook Island legend in her own right (her book Miss Ulysses of Puka-Puka, written at age fifteen, was the first published literary work by a Pacific Island author).
Both lived on Pukapuka as children and left at different times, but they both return to reconnect – with emotion, celebration, and a sense of belonging. Director del Barrio also weaves in her own intimate story.
Winner of the Special Jury Prize at the 19th Festival International du Film Documentaire Oceanien FIFO in Tahiti.…more
Radio 531PI announces new show
" ... What excites me is the opportunity to continue serving my community by providing a platform where our people can share their stories. I also look forward to working with Tofiga to shift misconceptions about Pasifika people because this is truly our time as a people to be unapologetically proud of our origins." - Inangaro Vakaafi
Radio 531pi has announced its new look mid-morning show called ‘Island Time’, featuring legendary entertainer Tofiga Fepulea’i alongside journalist and co-host Inangaro Vakaafi.
The pair aim to deliver a show that is creative, fresh and fun when it launches this Monday 27 June at 9am.
“My vision for the show is to continue to be myself as an entertainer but also show more of Tofiga as the father, husband and passionate Pasifika male that I’ve grown to be through my upbringing, my faith and culture,” says Fepulea’i.
“I hope people will enjoy the new tag team of Ina and myself on air.…more
24-year-old Samoan editor speaks at acclaimed Tribeca Film Festival
Aysha Nanai-Leifi was selected by Converse to represent the big shoe company at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival in New York.
The Samoan creative walked the prestigious red carpet alongside notable industry names, on her way to take center stage to share her experience as a young brown storyteller.
The Tribeca Festival is an annual film festival organized by Tribeca Productions. It takes place each spring in New York City, showcasing a diverse selection of film, talks, music, and art. This year the festival was attended by names like Taylor Swift, Lupita Nyong'o, ASAP Rocky and John Legend. Among these celebrities and creatives was proud Pasifika woman Aysha Nanai-Leifi.
Converse flew Aysha out to New York to speak on a panel at TribecaX2022 titled "HOW CONVERSE CREATES NEXT WITH ITS ALL-STARS". The Converse All-Stars serves as a global network connecting creatives, providing digital and physical experiences, commissioned work and mentorship to a community around the world. A community in which Ms. Nanai-Leifi has been proud to be part of since she was 20 years old.…more
Project Rock: Sean Pangelinan
Sean Pangelinan was an Olympian Flat Water Canoe paddler for Guam and is now a Trainer and Coach in the USA - owner of 'The Fit Lab' in San Diego
He's one of 3 incredible fathers featured within the release of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's limited Fathers Day inspired collection - the Project Rock Ohana Pack
Not Another Talanoa! podcast | Episode 3
We're back with 'Not Another Talanoa!'
Our resident host Mariner aka. Maz is joined by writer and daughter of SA Allyssa. The duo have been friends a long time and discuss everything from how Fifth Harmony brought them together to budgeting tips for 21st-century material gals. Needing to find ways to save money during what might be an approaching global recession? Maz and Allyssa share their Top3 tips on how to cut some costs and save some coins!
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Bringing you a spin-off from the hit Fresh segment, the Not Another Talanoa! podcast is a deep dive into the hot human discourse from a young Pacific lens. Join Mariner, Producer Brianna and their special guest co-host as they riff off news and current affairs and controversial topics with perspectives you’ll be able to relate to. Line your stomachs y’all, this trio deliver their opinions straight - no chaser.
All Blacks announcement 2022 - Fale o Samoa
Earlier today All Blacks coach Ian Foster named his first squad for 2022 for the upcoming Ireland test series at the Fale o Samoa - Samoa House.
Pasifika Engagement Manager Saveatama Eroni Clarke explains why it was important to make the announcement at the Fale o Samoa and we speak to a few well known former All Blacks about how they felt when they got their first AB’s call up.
Psssst! The Prime Minister of Samoa, Hon. Fiame Naomi Mata'afa makes a cameo with a Pasifika rugby legend too.
All Blacks Test Squad to face Ireland:
- new caps with * next to their names.…more