LIZ PATU SET TO MAKE WALLAROOS HISTORY
When Liz Patu runs out on the rugby field this afternoon against Japan on the Gold Coast, she will make history as Australia's most capped female rugby player.
This will be her 25th test cap and when she plays today she will move ahead of retired Wallaroos Selena Tranter, Tui Ormsby and Rebecca Clough.
The 32 year old Samoan was born in Auckland and then raised in Samoa before moving to Australia to live when she was 14yrs old. She plays club rugby for the Queensland Reds and made her debut for the Wallaroos in 2014 for the Womens Rugby World Cup.…more
Not Another Talanoa! podcast | Episode 1
In the very first episode of our brand new podcast, we ask how Pasifika high school students in Utah are not allowed to wear Island graduation attire because it makes others uNcOmFoRtAbLe. Later, Samoa's border is reopening and our broke behinds review Met Gala looks.
Hosted by: Mariner Fagaiava-Muller
Produced by: Brianna Fruean
Guest co-hosted by: Latayvia Tualasea-Tautai
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Shot and edited by: Adrian McBirney
Sound: Sefa Taouma
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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.
Mother's Day: The Moresio Family
Rotuman mother, Marseu Moresio, shares with us the importance of upholding her language and culture in the home. Her husband and boys also share a special message for this Mother's day - check out the video.
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Video Credit: Pasifika Medical Association Group
Coco Sports Talk - Pasifika Women in Sports: Motherhood & Professional sports careers
Coco Sports Talk with Penina and Ashley - covering all things sports from a Pasifika female lens!
#CocoSportsTalk looks at the many stories of Pasifika people involved in sports of all kinds, and the trials and tribulations of the talented athletes from all sectors of our community.
This episode celebrates Mothers Day where we speak to three Super Mamas who have returned to professional sports after having children.
Lanulangi Veainu plays both professional rugby and rugby league, Baby 'Pitbull' Nansen is a professional fighter in boxing, kickboxing and MMA + former Silver Fern and professional netballer for the Severn Stars in the Vitality Netball Super League - Cathrine Tuivaiti.
They share with us the struggles and joys of being Mamas while staying on the top of their sporting careers.…more
Why are Pasifika dying from Covid more than everyone else?
by Mariner Fagaiava-Muller
Pasifika account for nearly half (43.4%) of Covid deaths per 100,000 people since the Omicron outbreak began, TheCoconet can reveal.
87 Pacific peoples with Covid-19 have died since 19 January, according to Ministry of Health data obtained by TheCoconet.
No other ethnic group in New Zealand is dying relative to their overall population more than Pasifika. The entire Pacific population is shortly above 350,000.
Māori stand at 23% of deaths per 100,000 people. The rate for Asians is 6.8%, while European and other ethnicities account for 26.7%.
Elderly Pacific peoples are at much higher risk of death. 73 people aged over 60 have died since the beginning of Omicron, compared to 14 aged 0 to 59.
University of Auckland associate professor of public health, Dr Collin Tukuitonga, says the deaths were expected and preventable - given socioeconomic factors were well looked after.
“Clearly in terms of poor access to health services, poor quality housing, difficult access to healthcare - there is a responsibility on the health system and people within it to have done better,” he says.…more
Lemauga Lydia Sosene delivers Parliamentary maiden statement
History was made again with a new Pasifika Member of Parliament joining the largest ever Pacific caucus in Aotearoa's parliamentary history. It will now have a total of 11 Members of Samoan, Tongan, Cook Island and Tokelauan descent.
Lemauga Lydia Sosene was sworn in at Parliament on Tuesday afternoon. She joined the Labour Party in 2000 and was the highest-ranked Labour list candidate who was not elected at the 2020 election. She replaces Louisa Wall who resigned recently.
Born and raised in South Auckland, Sosene hails from Māngere and has been a strong advocate for Pacific communities during her 12 year background in local body affairs. She was elected to the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu local board in the 2010 local elections and spent the last 9 years as the Chair.
“My parents dream was that I served my community, to know where I come from and to know where I am going. They both had service backgrounds and they didn’t have much, so to become a Member of Parliament to serve Aotearoa is very humbling,” Lemauga Lydia Sosene said.…more
Women Inspiring Women
By The Pacific Business Hub
Ladies, Make Time! was the call to action for an event that was held in Manukau City over the weekend. An event that was inspired by women and organised by women for women business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals.
The event was organized by Laura Keil-Hall, owner & founder of The Pacific Business Hub, Nora Swann of Nora Swann Ltd, Dressed in Confidence & Pacific Fusion Fashion Show and Peninatautele Schmidt of Karas Fashion.
Laura says, “The event was simply about creating a space where women can come and just take a load off.”
“Over the years, I’ve heard our Pacific women mentioning and wishing for something or somewhere they could go to and just be themselves, to be around other like-minded women, where they can share their frustrations & tribulations. Some wanted to have a day of pampering and just focus on themselves. So, this event was trying to accomplish all those things, and we wanted to have an event where we get to celebrate women and our contribution to society as well.…more
Coco Talanoa with American Song Contest finalist - Tenelle Luafalemana
Our girl Tenelle has made it to the finals of NBC's 'American Song Contest' representing the US Territory and South Pacific islands of American Samoa.
Let's go American Samoa!
She shares how she got the opportunity to be on the show, where she got the inspiration for her song, competing against industry heavyweights like Michael Bolton, Allan Stone, Sisqo & Macy Gray & how much of an honour it is to be able to represent the Pacific Islands on this platform.
Check out Tenelle's My World here -
Top Samoan lawyer mistaken for criminal defendant, stopped by court security
by Mariner Fagaiava-Muller
Tiana Epati spent four years as president of the New Zealand Law Society, but was held up by security when security wrongly thought she was one of the accused.
The barrister and former crown prosecutor posted about the incident to her Instagram story on Monday.
“So it finally happened. Got mistaken for a criminal defendant this morning when going to enter court,” she wrote.
“Held up by security and asked for my name on the [court appearance] list.”
“Thought I would include a selfie to show I was actually wearing one of my nicest suits too. #nowords”
Epati told TheCoconetTV, “I realised pretty quickly the security guy thought I was a defendant and I said really loudly ‘you know I am a lawyer, aye?’.
“Oh no, so sorry,” the guard replied.
“I wasn’t that rattled. More at a loss to understand how a well groomed brown woman wearing an Issey Miyake suit and carrying a file could be the defendant.”
“And that a Māori security guard in Gisborne could make that mistake,” she said.…more
'A Boy called Piano' documentary premieres tonight at the NZ International Film Festival
'A Boy called Piano' premieres in Auckland this evening at the 2022 NZ International Film Festival playing both tonight and tomorrow morning before it heads south to screen in Christchurch, Wellington and Dunedin over the next couple of weeks.
"This heart-breaking story details Fa'amoana John Luafutu’s time as a state ward. At its core, it is a story about fathers and sons, intergenerational trauma and redemption. Using his voice for the voiceless, Luafutu and Fijian director Nina Nawalowalo vitally bring this story to light. A must-watch for all New Zealanders. Using his voice for the voiceless, he vitally brings the story to light.
'A Boy Called Piano' is the product of a long-term collaboration between Nina's theatre company 'The Conch', Fa'amoana John Luafutu and the Luafutu aiga. The film blends dramatised sequences and powerful interviews with beautiful aerial and underwater photography – translating Nawalowalo’s celebrated visual storytelling to the screen for the first time." - Lana Lopesi.…more