Critical medicines and medical support provided to Tonga through 'Ofa Atu Tonga fund raiser
Yesterday medical supplies and equipment were packed by players from the Moana Pasifika rugby team into a shipping container destined for Tonga.
The container will be met by a team from Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) who were deployed on Wednesday 30 March to provide on the ground medical assistance, primarily mental health support through a team of specialists who can engage directly with those traumatised by the recent natural disasters as well as the current Covid-19 outbreak.
The PMA team in partnership with the respective governments of Tonga and New Zealand are working closely together to ensure that the medical supplies purchased through the donations from Moana Pasifika’s fundraising efforts are received by the local hospitals to be used on the affected communities.
Moana Pasifika’s fundraiser ‘Ofa Atu Tonga - With Love Tonga’ kicked off on 4 February at their pre-season game against the Chiefs and raised more than $75,000 for the people of the Kingdom of Tonga.…more
Roman Reigns on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon
Roman Reigns talks with Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon about his family’s wrestling history, Triple H’s impact on his career and what it's like to have blood in your eyes.
Introducing 'The Morning Shack' - Tim, Regan & Aaron
Niu FM have changed up their breakfast show for the first time in 7 years!
Comic content creator Regan Foa'i aka Just the Norms has teamed up with long-time friend, podcaster and founder of the 'Bakery Run' Tim Te Ati Awa to give listeners an energy burst to their day. They provided cover over the Christmas/New Year period, but they're back by popular demand and this morning was the social media duo's first official day in the breakfast show hot seat.
If you're in Auckland tune in to 103.8FM in the mornings from 6am - 10am Monday to Friday and if you're outside Auckland, you can listen in via the iheart radio app.
In the meantime get to know the guys and the shows producer Aaron Pulemafaga below ...
Regan: My name is Regan Foa'i, I'm half Niuean on my Mums side from the village of Alofi Tonga and half Tokelauan on my Dads side from the atoll of Fakaofo. I was born and raised here in Mangere from South Auckland.…more
Nigel Vagana's five star night | Unreal Moments
Samoan and Kiwis rugby league legend Nigel Vagana was featured in the latest NRL 'Unreal moments' videos.
He had a great stint with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs but one specific night in 2002 left all footy fans in awe. Check the highlights from that night in the video above.
For all our different Samoan Superheroes
By Dahlia Malaeulu
Our Mase had come home from school a little wired which was nothing new. He completed his after school routine of uniform off, favourite after school clothes on, lunchbox on the bench before pacing around the house until he was ready for the daily recall of his latest obsessions.
Superheroes were on today’s agenda.
Facts about Spiderman and Optimus Prime came first. I took my usual position on the couch next to him as he re-enacted scenes and lines from his favourite books and films in real time. My job was to listen, answer rhetorical questions and ask many more for Mase to enlighten me with all his superhero wisdom.
Then out of the blue came a surprising question, ‘Mum, why don’t we have Samoan superheroes?’ I took a moment to search the corridors of my mind for an answer.
‘We kind of have Samoan superheroes but they were around a really long time ago,’ I replied.…more
First Covid-related death recorded in Samoa
via RNZ Pacific
Samoa has recorded its first Covid-19 related death.
The Ministry of Health confirmed a 67-year-old with multiple ailments died shortly after he was admitted to the Lalomanu District hospital on Upolu Island on Wednesday. The death comes 13 days after the first community transmission case was detected.
The ministry said 172 new cases had been reported as of Thursday afternoon. This brings the number of community cases recorded since March 17 to 1831 of which 1408 are active community cases.
Ministry data shows that 101 children under five have tested positive but the prevalence of infections is significantly higher among those aged from 15 to 35 and steadily increasing. The ministry confirmed 20,643 rapid antigent tests had been administered since the first case was detected.
About 97% of community cases are in Upolu with the remaining 3% in Savai'i.
There are no community cases recorded for the islands of Manono and Apolima Tai.…more
Rose Matafeo on Kelly Clarkson
Samoan actor and comedian Rose Matafeo was recently on the Kelly Clarkson show to talk about Season two of her HBO Max series 'Starstruck'.
She dishes on filming the show during lockdown, living alone in her London bachelorette pad and starting stand-up comedy when she was 15.
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Get familiar with Rose here where she shares with us her journey to comedic stardom, her love for cats and her vehement distaste for her Rastafarian parents choice in music.
Turf War Weigh-ins: Barry Hall head butts Sonny Bill Williams
The 'Turf War' Weigh-ins yesterday between Barry Hall and Sonny Bill Williams got a bit feisty with Barry head butting SBW in the face during their face-off.
Sonny weighed in at 109 kgs while Barry has given away more than 11kgs weighing in at 97.8kgs.
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The Sky Sport team caught up with Sonny yesterday for a quick chat - check out their interview below.
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
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.
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Check out the trailer for the second season of 'Starstruck' below -