The Rock shares his special Christmas story book with his millions .... and millions of fans at Raw is War 

via Radio New Zealand 

Black Ferns hooker Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate says she had a breakdown on tour and disparaging comments from coaching staff led to anxiety and hyperventilation.

Northland player Ngata-Aerengamate posted on social media that she had a "mental breakdown" on the team's end of year tour to England and France.

The Black Ferns lost all four games on tour.

Ngata-Aerengamate, of Cook Island Māori and Ngāti Porou, said she struggled to decide whether to speak up or not.

She posted on instagram below:

New Zealand Rugby's head of professional rugby Chris Lendrum said the allegations are concerning and they are taking the matter seriously.

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Women in Sport Aotearoa chief executive Rachel Froggatt says Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate is not alone in experiencing bullying and mental health issues on her team.

Froggatt spoke to Susie Ferguson on Radio New Zealand - click here to listen to the interview 

Women in Rugby Aotearoa also released this statement below in support of Te Kura and anyone else who may have experienced the same issues.…more

* Trigger warning - this article contains discussions about mental health issues & suicide. 

After having three of his close friends reach out to him during lockdown to let him know they were struggling, young Samoan/kiwi Steven Edgar decided he needed to take action and try to raise more awareness around mental health issues & suicide.

The 22 year old said it really hit home when one of those friends tried to take his own life.  "My mate ended up in a coma after attempting to take his life and after he woke up from the coma I was like that's it! I really need to do something to raise awareness.  

I'd come across this guy on instagram (dancer Dave Kuresa), who had shared doing a 12 hour staircase challenge to raise awareness around mental health in Brisbane and I thought 'I could do that here in Auckland and try raise awareness here'" he said.…more

Tomorrow People have ended the year on a high with a 16-track album – including 3 new songs! Journalist Mariner Fagaiava-Muller catches up with two of the groups founding members Avina Kelekolio & Tana Tupa'i.

The album 21 features the 11 #FirstFriday tracks, two Māori bonus tracks, and three new previously unreleased tracks.

“21 represents a celebration for us. After a year of challenges, it is a nice way to wrap everything up,” says band music director, Avina Kelekolio.

“21 not only showcases the hard work we put in during the year, but it also represents maturity within the band and in some ways, a new start, kinda like a 21st birthday,”

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Wellington’s Tomorrow People are one of Aotearoa’s most loved reggae bands. The seven-piece group, made up of Avina Kelekolio, Tana Tupai, Hennie Tui, Fredwyn Kisona, Te Aranga Savage, Snow Chase and Duane Te Whetu, have a string of Gold and Platinum hits to their name including ‘Souljah Feeling’, ‘Feel Alright’ and ‘Take It Away’.…more

via RNZ Pacific 

There is a call for Pacific peoples to rally around parents of newborns today, Safe Sleep Day.

My Baby's Village is an initiative led by the Pacific Infant Care Collective that aims to ensure Pacific parents of newborns have all the support they need to keep their baby safe.

The organisation said there has been a spike in unexplained deaths among infants across Auckland over the past two years.

SUDI, or Sudden Unexplained Death in Infancy, describes when a baby dies from an unexplained cause or through accidental and preventable circumstances.

About half of the Auckland region's SUDI deaths each year are Pacific tamariki.

Police National Partnerships Manager for Pacific Peoples Superintendent Fata Willi Fanene said the call "for more support follows stubbornly high rates of Pacific infant SUDI across Tamaki Makaurau, Auckland over the last decade."

She said Pacific people make up almost 15 percent of Tamaki Makarau's population yet Pacific babies make up 40 to 50 percent of SUDI deaths in Auckland each year, with most in deprived areas.…more

The highly-anticipated Barbarians versus Samoa match at Twickenham was cancelled shortly before kick-off after several members of the Barbarians tested positive for COVID-19.

It was a gut wrenching end for the Samoan players in particular who formed a playing squad without coaches and players from the Southern hemisphere due to Covid restrictions.  The game was to be the only autumn match and for some their last international match.

Watch the boys perform the national anthem and siva tau & the BBC interviews an emotional Joe Tekori after what would have been his retirement match.

By Taualofa Totu’a & Penina Momoiseā

A new generation of Moana artists across the diaspora are redefining innovation, using social media platforms to build communities, market their work and support other budding creatives online. There’s room for everyone and all are original - from 3D collages to energetic illustrations, to calendars and skillful art prints. Join the growing audiences of Pacific artists this Xmas and support their work! 

If you’re still stuck on what to gift for your loved ones, order a personalised commissioned piece by talented local Samoan illustrator Kerilyn Clarke, or opt for Fijian artist James Sanday's pacific patterns.

Read on to see where to get the best art for your own fale or for your loved one’s this Xmas season.  

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PACIFIC WEAVE, FLAGS, MAPS & CREATURES OF THE PACIFIC!

Who: Pac Art by James Sanday 

Pac Art is the work of Fijian-Rotuman artist James Sanday. He moved to New Zealand as a child, bringing the patterns and lines of the Pacific Islands with him.…more

This week on Let's Talanoa, Dr Lesina interviews well known Pacific Youth Advocate and Educational Psychologist, Sonia Pope. 

Together they talk about the things that our young people are facing each day as they navigate through COVID-19, vaccine passes, different opinions and more.  Listen up for Sonia's practical tips!