by Mariner Fagaiava-Muller

There’s a lot of sad juju around South Auckland at the mo, so let’s pick up the energy by shining light on some already bright Southside superstars.

I’m a bit biassed as a resident of the hood for all 21 years of my life.

There truly ain’t no better side than the Southside.

Blazes trailed, praises sung, paths paved. Not despite, but because it’s just how South Auckland rolls.

Here’s just four South Aucklanders carving up excellence in their respective fields:

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, current Blues and former NRL player

Entering only his ninth union game for the Auckland Blues, after some nine years spent at the Sydney Roosters and New Zealand Warriors - you could say RTS is just getting started. He moved to South Auckland from Samoa, attending Ōtāhuhu College. Something about that water in Õtāhuhu breeding champions…

Roger is a Dally M Medalist (2018), Captain of the Year (2020), Winger of the Year (2013) and  Premiership Winner (Roosters, 2013).…more

by Mariner Fagaiava-Muller

Sole parent beneficiaries can claim child support without it being intercepted by the state, the Government yesterday announced.

"To look at a 2-bedroom situation in South Auckland, the rent of that would be about 85% of my benefit."

"I am hoping that the increase to a solo parent's income will mean that there is an increase in a better standard of living for the children."

Currently, the Government can retain child support payments from primary caregivers to recoup the cost of welfare. This will no longer be the case by July.

“This initiative means that child support payments for sole-parent beneficiaries will be passed on directly and charged as income for benefit purposes, as they are for most other beneficiaries raising tamariki,” Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni says.

Sepuloni has opened up before about once having claimed a benefit as a single mum.

“It is estimated that 41,550 sole-parent families will be better off, with a median gain of $24 per week,” she says.…more

by Mariner Fagaiava-Muller

Amidst the backdrop of Covid, war and a cost of living crisis - the Government today unveiled its $128.4 billion budget.

The Pacific Peoples’ package gets a $196 million piece of the pie, an increase of $88m from last year.…more

by Mariner Fagaiava-Muller

It was 15 January when Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai erupted, but only now has it been found as the biggest explosion ever recorded by modern instrumentation.

According to academic journal Science, the Tonga eruption produced a larger amplitude than nuclear bombs conducted after World War II.

Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai generated what are known as lamb waves.

These lamb waves circled the earth at least four times, which has never been done before. At their tallest, they exceeded beyond Earth’s surface.

A disaster of similar scale is the 1883 Krakatoa eruption, in which 70% of the Indonesian island was destroyed - killing 30,000 people.

"Tonga was a truly global event, just as Krakatau was, but we've now got all these geophysical observation systems and they recorded something that was really unprecedented in the modern data," The University of California’s Dr Robin Matoza told BBC News.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Those as far north as Alaska reported hearing repeated booms.
• Tonga’s volcano blast was so colossal it was picked by nuclear activity monitors.…more

by Mariner Fagaiava-Muller

The Samoan/Tokelauan 23-year-old is the first Pacific person to be presented with the award, which has previously honoured the likes of Elton John and Warren Buffett.

The Global Citizen Prize recognises unsung activists in communities across the world, whose efforts towards social change are proven and diligent.

Fruean is among eight changemakers from each continent.

She has contributed several years in the organisation and leadership of climate change activism within the Pacific. At 16, she became the youngest winner of the Commonwealth Youth Award for her contributions to environmentalism.

She currently sits on the Pacific Climate Warriors’ council of elders and its youth representative.

Fruean, also a digital producer for TheCoconetTV and FreshTV, was nominated by executive producer Lisa Taouma.

“I didn’t even know about it,” Fruean says.

“I just got told one day to keep my phone off silent, and there might be a call coming my way. I didn’t expect it at all.”

“The first time I heard about it was in a [work] meeting and [Lisa] announced it.…more