Events

We are Samoa Gala - Home Base

Meet Mata.

He’s the youngest of the Grey siblings and can be described as: “homegrown, self-taught, trial by fire because he had to play the bass for his dad’s gigs, who evolved into a studio musician and can pretty much play with the best of them BECAUSE of his experience as a kid (coupled with his BA from UC Irvine’s School of the Arts).”

Mata dreamed of being a football player, until one year on the summer of his junior year, he earned a coveted music scholarship from the Brian Campbell Foundation, which enabled him to attend an exclusive camp for music hosted by Berklee College of Music, a school known for putting out artists like Eric Clapton and John Mayer.

Listen in on how this one summer music camp became the TURNING POINT in his life, when he made the decision to pursue music as a career.

Today, the Grey's brother is a singer-songwriter and the lead guitarist for the hit band Common Kings.…more


Entertainment

Samoan comedian Rose Matafeo on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert'

Samoan comedian Rose Matafeo makes her first ever appearance on late night US television with an interview on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert'.

She talks with Stephen about the second season of the show she created and also stars in - 'Starstruck' which airs on HBO Max in the States and finds common ground with him as the two discuss their love for "The Lord of the Rings" and the actors from Peter Jackson's films.

Threads?  Rose is wearing a pink trouser suit made by luxury London design brand ME+EM.

Check out the trailer for the second season of 'Starstruck' below - 


Sports

Jersey Presentation: Viliame Kikau 100 Games milestone

An emotional Viliame Kikau receives the jersey for his 100th NRL game from his family during a surprise visit from Fiji.

Watch the special NRL video from the time Viliame went back to Fiji to visit his family and shared the unbreakable bond he has with his brother Jope (who surprises Vili shown in the video above) - click here to watch 


Events

We Are Samoa Gala - Caring for our Elders

Caring for our elders is a natural part of our culture that often gets underestimated as a huge undertaking. It’s a bit like becoming a parent … you can never really grasp the level of responsibility, patience, care, and compassion you need to have to tend to the needs of your ageing parents or grandparents.

When you layer in something like diabetes or heart disease and all of the extra knowledge and understanding and empathy that has to come with it, it’s a jolt to the system.

Fa'anana Jerome Grey's daughter Ana shares her insights on how things played out with their dad when he had his first stroke, and then a second. She also gets pretty vulnerable about witnessing their Mom’s battle with diabetes slowly getting more difficult and eventually taking her from their family. Both diseases run prevalent in our Pacific Islands community.…more


Sports

Hemi 'The Heat' Ahio - WBC Middle East Heavyweight Champion

In October last year, Hemi 'The Heat' Ahio made history winning the first-ever World Boxing Council (WBC) Heavyweight title in the Middle East when he fought Mohammad Ali Bayat Farid on Amir Khan's Crypto Fight Night in Dubai.

The South Auckland born, Tongan heavy hitter and his coach Doug Viney share Hemi's fight night experience, winning the WBC Middle East Heavyweight belt and goals for the future.

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Public Interest Journalism funded by NZ on Air 

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Director - Penina Momoiseā

Editor - Sefa Taouma 

Camera Operator - Adrian Mcbirney 


Entertainment

Young Rock - Season 2 Trailer

Watch Dwayne Johnson return in the hilarious sitcom about his extraordinary life starring Pasifika stars from down under Stacey Leilua, Uli Latukefu, Ana Tuisila and Fasitua Amosa.  Check out the trailer above.

If you're in the US tune in to NBC where the new series will premiere in NBC's Tuesday comedy block at 8pm.

While we wait to see if TVNZ picks up the series for audiences here, you'll also be able to watch it on PeacockTV but you'll need a VPN.

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Dwayne also recaps Season 1 and shares what you can look forward to coming up in Season 2 in this sneak peak video below - 


Coco News

Update: Covid-19 in the Pacific Islands

via RNZ Pacific  & local news outlets

Cover photo of Fiji health workers by Leon Lord/AFP/Getty Images

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Solomon Islands figures soar, Vanuatu confirms their first Covid related death, Medical staff test positive in American Samoa, Over 200 active cases in the Cook Islands, the Tongan Prime Minister tests positive for Covid and more ...

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AMERICAN SAMOA

American Samoa now has 527 reported cases of Covid-19 in the community.  51 new cases were confirmed after tests were conducted at Department of Health clinics and LBJ Hospital over the weekend.

Acting Chief of Staff for LBJ Hospital Dr Akapusi Ledua reported a physician from LBJ Hospital had been admitted to the Covid ward - one of four doctors among 11 staff members of the hospital who have tested positive.

80.9% of the territory's population is fully vaccinated.  Federal medical personnel are on island helping the territorial health authorities's response.

As Covid-19 continues to spread across Tutuila health officials are encouraging people to stock up or prepare for when one family member becomes positive.

Governor Lemanu P. S.…more


Coco News

Addressing the Pacific Pay Gap and introducing Pay Transparency

Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Saunoamaali'i Karanina Sumeo was on Breakfast to talk about the importance of addressing ALL pay gaps - ethnic, gender and disability pay gaps and urgently introducing pay transparency as we celebrate International Women's Day.

Via the NZ Human Rights Commission


Coco News

Addressing the Pacific Pay Gap and introducing Pay Transparency

Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Saunoamaali'i Karanina Sumeo was on Breakfast to talk about the importance of addressing ALL pay gaps - ethnic, gender and disability pay gaps and urgently introducing pay transparency as we celebrate International Women's Day.

Via the NZ Human Rights Commission


Coco News

Lismore Floodings: "All I've Got Left Is My Passport"

“I’m in South Lismore and it’s completely gone. In my house, all my furniture has been destroyed, my beds gone, my clothing’s all wet, the carpets caked in mud, the walls are sweating”

When Analia Tamamoka Hedley moved to Australia two years ago to live and work, she was greeted by smoke in the sky from the Australian bush fires.  

Shortly after settling into her new life in Lismore, northeastern New South Wales, the world shut down with Covid.  Today she went home to find everything she owns has been destroyed in the flooding that has overwhelmed Lismore and other parts of Queensland & NSW.

“Things come in threes right? So this has to be it, that’s enough now, I’ve had enough” she laughs 

Analia who is of Niuean heritage and born & bred in New Zealand, said the first she heard about evacuating was from the SES (State Emergency Services) at about 4.30pm on Sunday.  

“Someone had sent me a screenshot of a message from SES and so before I left I tidied my kitchen.…more