On Sunday 19th June the Samoa Observer published an explicit photo of the deceased body of Jeanine Tuivaiki hanging by a rope from the church rafter, moments after her death by suicide. 

The photo was accompanied by an article referring to her as a man, in a final gesture of derision and disrespect to her identity as a fa'afafine.  

The paper published an apology after widespread outrage and criticism on Monday morning but was deemed unacceptable by most of the community in its lack of sincerity and absurd lack of justification for publishing the photo and article.

Another apology had since been published by the paper after pressure from both the government and local and international community & media, but we ask if this simple printed of words is enough.…more

Pacific Climate Warrior Bruean Fruean speaks with CoconetTV Executive Producer Lisa Taouma from COP26 in Glasgow.

She is there with the Marshall Islands delegation and talks about the impact of her speech, what the experience was like, a brief encounter with US President Joe Biden backstage, why the Pacific delegation are so worried about being heard at this crucial summit for the Pacific region and much more.

Via Champions of the Pacific 

Link to listen to full audio interview here 

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Ray "Sugarfoot" Sefo was five years old when he was gifted his first pair of boxing gloves. 

Sparring was adopted almost immediately with other family members, but it was a movie night at the Sefo's home in Kingsland that saw him fall in love with mixed martial arts. 

"I remember at the age of seven I think it was, my dad had rented a Bruce Lee movie and a Jackie Chan movie, one was Fist Of Fury and the Jackie Chan movie was Drunken Master," he recalled. 

"I was so fascinated by what was happening you know: they were able to use their bodies, their legs, their elbows, their head - like everything just looked so coordinated and being a seven year old it just blew my mind."

Inspired to learn Wing Chun, Sefo was 12-years-old and delivering milk to pay for lessons.…more

An Interpol-issued Red Notice is a global alert to hunt and capture the world’s most wanted.

But when a daring heist brings together the FBI’s top profiler (Johnson) and two rival criminals (Gadot, Reynolds), there’s no telling what will happen. Watch Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Gal Gadot in RED NOTICE, on Netflix November 12.

Kiwi-Samoan Riverdale screen star and musician KJ Apa is Moana Pasifika’s first official fan having secured the Super Rugby club’s inaugural season membership.

He prefaced the announcement on both his own and Moana Pasifika's social media channels before dropping the announcement about the inaugural season membership last night.

The US-based actor said he will be supporting Moana Pasifika from afar and hopes to head home to New Zealand to catch a game as soon as he can.

"I'm really proud of my Samoan heritage and am so excited to be supporting our Pasifika community," he said.

"I know some of the guys in the team and I'm looking forward to seeing them get out on the field and represent our people well."

A further nine Moana Pasifika season memberships are currently up for auction on Trade Me this afternoon starting at $500 - click here to bid  - and are valued at over $1000 including a Platinum season pass to home matches at Mt Smart Stadium plus Dynasty branded merchandise.…more

Described by some as 'Manna from the Sea', 'Black Gold' and the 'Caviar of the Pacific' , the highly sought after Pacific delicacy are found in shallow coral reefs and only rise twice a year - sometimes only once! 

These pacific marine 'worms' are generally reddish-brown (male) or bluish-green (female) and their mating season follows the lunar cycle which is usually the 7th night after a full moon in October.  Sometimes if the mating season hasn't been fruitful the adult palolos will release another set of 'tails' in November.

The catching of the Palolo or "Ta Palolo" in Samoan has to be done in darkness (early hours of the morning) because the palolo will melt in the sunlight.…more

‘It is critical for donor countries to see the bigger picture, to see that this really is a time not to profit, but to be stepping up to support all countries to come through this…. the vaccine needs to be a gift to the world.”  - Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand & former United Nations Development Administrator

* Cover image Samoa vaccination Drive via Radio New Zealand 

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It's the same old - haves and have nots - story. Only this time it stars ‘The Vaccine’. 

The plot; Wealthy nations hustle to get their citizens vaccinated, while the poorer countries are left to feed off the scraps of vaccine donations.

The only problem is, this isn’t a movie. It’s real life and the reality is vaccines are expensive and not easily accessible. Especially for the smaller countries in the Pacific.…more

This Labour Day, Aucklanders had the opportunity to enjoy music and entertainment from some of New Zealand's legendary musical talent at a FREE event in South Auckland.

Dr Rawiri Jansen from WERO Hauora Immunisation Alliance partnered with Samoan hip hop artist King Kapisi to bring summer festival vibes to one South Auckland Drive Thru vaccination station at Rongomai Park in Flat Bush.

The community could drive through, get vaccinated & listen to the music from their cars or take their picnic down to the park and watch the concert.  Featured artists and DJ's included Charlie Pomee, DJ Al Goodie, Che Fu, King Kapisi, DJ Styla, DJ Mateo, Chong Nee, TJ Taotua and more.

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Shot by Penina Momoiseā

Edited by Adrian Mcbirney