On the 14th of February 2023, the NZ government declared a national State of Emergency in New Zealand to assist in the response to Cyclone Gabrielle.

Tairawhiti, Napier and parts of Hawkes Bay have been among the worst affected towns with Transpower saying it has declared a grid emergency given the loss of power in both regions.

"People should be prepared to be without power for days to weeks, rather than hours" 

Visuals of the widespread devastation have been heartbreaking with 4 deaths confirmed and up to at least 9,000 people displaced in Hawkes Bay alone (10,500 country wide) with those numbers expected to rise as rescues are ongoing.  

RNZ has reported a dozen helicopters from the Defence Force, rescue services and private operators plucked up to 400 people to safety.…more

It's the final piece of the Fast & Furious franchise and along the way one of our Poly super stars came & went getting his own spinoff (The Rock with Hobbs & Shaw) and now another Poly super star joins the family for one last ride.

Find out who in the video above 

'ANAU MESUI-HENRY 

CO-OWNER OF THE FOUR SHELLS KAVA LOUNGE & MERCHANT OF THE MOANA 

TONGAN 

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Si’oto’ofa kainga oe moana. Ko hoku hinoga ko ‘Anau Mesui-Henry mei Tonga, my name is ‘Anau Mesui-Henry from Tonga.

I am a proud Tongan born and Mangere raised fefine. I am the co-owner of the Four Shells Kava Lounge located at Victoria Park Markets in Tamaki Makaurau and work as a full time Merchant of the Moana aka Pacific entrepreneur.

What was the inspiration behind starting Four Shells and the pathways that led to you starting your own business?

My inspiration has always been my parents. I grew up experiencing the hustle of the migration to Aotearoa and the navigating of foreign social systems. I watched my parents work hard, make money from nothing and set themselves up as best as they can with the little they had in their hands. They were super resourceful.

By Thomas Airey 

They’re both first-choice openside flankers for their countries.  They both turn 29 this year, before a Rugby World Cup they’re dying to get to.

They have the same playstyle and attributes, adding hard-nosed physicality to the ball jackaling and fitness required of any good number seven.

But only one of them can wear that jersey for Moana Pasifika each week ...

Injury means that Solomone Funaki, from the villages of Fanga-‘o-Pilolevu (Tongatapu) & Pangai (Ha’apai) in Tonga should get the first crack in 2023.

He played in 10 of Moana’s 14 games last year, scoring an equal-team high four tries and receiving the club’s Tangaloa Award for the best defensive player in his debut Super Rugby Pacific season.

“For me personally, I’d say it was a very successful year,” said Funaki, who also played in every 2022 match for ‘Ikale Tahi, starting all but one.

The key to that success? His Samoan uso Alamanda Motuga from Sataoa & Sa’anapu and their co-operative battle to get better every day.…more

“Alone we can do so little: together we can do so much” - Helen Keller

Last week during the Miss Pacific Islands pre pageant events, former Miss Pacific Islands Seumanu Fonoifafo Seumanu visited the elderly community of Mapuifagalele - Polynesia's first aged care home - together with this years Miss Pacific Islands contestants, PacifiCast and Samoa Tourism representatives.

As brand ambassador for PacifiCast this was Seumanu's final act as the reigning Miss Pacific Islands and during the visit she was able to gift a number of wheelchairs and crutches on behalf of the agency in partnership with Samoa Tourism, the Ministry of Health and Samoa government. 

PacifiCast is an agency that supports and connects the Pasifika community to global markets, opening a new lens to the Pacific through an intrinsic understanding of the region and serving the people in the region.…more

Warning:  Explicit Language

As part of Buzzfeed Australia's Pacific Islander week, Lakz (Tongan Content Creator), Kween Kong (Samoan Drag Queen), Bigs685 (Samoan rapper & actor), Sela Vai (Tongan choreographer), Voli K (Fijian Singer/Song writer) and A.Girl (Maori Singer/Song writer) team up to answer a few questions.

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In order to move forward, we must first look back.

'We Are Still Here' is a unique Indigenous film that interweaves eight powerful tales to tell a sweeping story of hope and survival.  Through the eyes of eight protagonists, 'We Are Still Here' traverses 1000 years from past, present, and future to explore stories of kinship, loss, grief, and resilience.  But ultimately, it shows the strength of love and hope to overcome shared traumas that Indigenous people from Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific have continued to face.

'We are Still Here' is out now in select NZ cinemas and will be released in Australia on the 16th of Feb.

We talk to two of the Pasifika directors involved with the project about their short film 'Uniform' that was part of the anthology.

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MARIO GAOA & MIKI MAGASIVA - UNIFORM 

What is WE ARE STILL HERE about?

WASH is a collective of 8 indigenous films.…more

From the producers of 'The Breaker Upperers', 'Cousins' and 'Hunt for the Wilderpeople', 'Red, White & Brass' is the debut feature film for director Damon Fepulea’i who co-wrote with co-producer Halaifonua (Nua) Finau.

The film stars John-Paul Foliaki (Popstars), Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi (The Panthers), Ilaisaane Green (Brutal Lives), Onetoto Ikavuka, Mikey Falesiu (Toke), Lupeti Finau, Lotima Pome (Under the Vines), and Haanz Fa'avae-Jackson (Savage).

The 4 track EP which features original music from Three Houses Down and a few of the cast is available now -  Click here  

Tongans are renowned for their enthusiastic support of their sporting teams; decorating their cars, houses and faces with the Tongan flag.  Inspired by a true story, Red, White & Brass showcases this māfana energy. 

The underdog story follows a community of Tongans who form a brass band as the pre-game entertainment in a desperate attempt to get tickets to the 2011 Rugby World Cup Tonga vs France game.

“The māfana energy in the film is infectious,” says Fepulea’i.…more