WOMEN OF THE ISLANDS - ELSIE POLOSOVAI
ELSIE POLOSOVAI
ACTRESS/MISS LAURU - MISS SOLOMON ISLANDS CONTESTANT
SOLOMON ISLANDER
A young Solomon Islands teenager encounters bullying and micro-aggressions at school, and takes fate into her own hands when she is visited by a guardian spirit of her family.
When Vani is the victim of racism at an all white high school, her Hiama reminds her of her inner power.
WOMEN OF THE ISLANDS - CAROL AGAFILI
CAROL AGAFILI
CRICKET PLAYER / CRICKET DEVELOPMENT
OFFICER SAMOAN
- What is your Pacific Heritage? - I am full Samoan.
My mum is from Sili Savai’i and Dad is from Sala’ilua.
- Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Mangere and Manurewa. I went to Wiri Central School, a primary and intermediate school in Manurewa. Then I went to McAuley High School where I finished in 2020. The end of 2020 was that start of my cricket journey.
- Did you grow up playing kilikiti?
Yes I grew up playing Kilikiki with my dad. I always attended his team training and games because I enjoyed watching and then eventually started playing for Ao Atua and G.I.
Kilikiki was not just another sport for me, it was where we all got together and enjoyed the sport we love to play.…more
International Singer-Songwriter Teddy Swims Rocks Pacific Clothing Label FUGAWI
Kuki Airani designer Morghan Ariki Bradshaw, the brains behind clothing label FUGAWI, celebrated a milestone in her brand's journey earlier this week when international singer-songwriter Teddy Swims took to the stage wearing her design.
This is not the first time Bradshaw’s work has adorned a popular musician.…more
Road to Paris: Tongan Swimmer Noelani Day Prepares for Second Olympics
"My background was completely different from your average collegiate swimmer, which for a while made me a bit insecure, but now it is something I am proud of. I grew up in a country where we did not have proper facilities or a swimming pool, so we trained in the ocean. I am slowly overcoming it and understanding that the pathway to the Olympics looks different for so many athletes. Mine might not be the most conventional, but I wouldn’t have it any other way."
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As the first Olympic swimmer born and raised in Tonga, Day’s achievements are historic. Her goals extend beyond swimming, as she pursues degrees in Human Biology and Documentary Film, while also working at USC. Balancing her academics, future career plans, and Olympic training has required strategic preparation and time management.
Day’s swimming journey started in Tonga, a collection of islands without an Olympic-size pool. Her early training was in the ocean and at makeshift facilities like hotel pools and navy bases.…more
Google Translate adds New Pacific Languages
Google Translate continues to expand its reach, recently adding 110 new languages thanks to the advanced PaLM 2 language model. Including seven Pacific languages: Chamorro, Chuukese, Fijian, Marshallese, Tahitian, Tok Pisin, and Tongan.
The new Pacific languages join previously added Hawaiian, Māori, and Samoan.
Languages are key to preserving culture and identity, making this a very exciting development. For Pacific communities, Languages are vital links to our ancestral heritage. Including these languages in Google Translate will hopefully help support their revitalization and sustain their use for future generations.
Selecting languages for Google Translate involves prioritising the most commonly used varieties to make translations accessible and useful. With the help of advanced technology and collaboration with linguists and native speakers, Google is hopeful this will ensure accurate and culturally relevant translations.
While this expansion is a significant step forward, some are not optimistic about the accuracy of the translations. Machine translation, especially for languages with fewer resources or complex grammatical structures, can sometimes be imprecise.…more
“Bring them from the world of darkness to the world of light” with Francis Tipene | Mandate
Funeral Director and one half of the Casketeers, Francis Tipene of Tipene Funerals, talks life, business, fame and the honour of taking care of the great Fa'anānā Efeso Collins in this final farewell.
#LISTEN to more of the Mandate podcast: here
Virtual Tour of 'The Healer Stones of Kapaemahu' Unveiled by Bishop Museum
Earlier this week the Bishop Museum announced the launch of an immersive virtual tour displaying their exhibition ‘The Healer Stones of Kapaemahu.’
The exhibition explores the meanings of four large stones that were historically placed on Waikīki Beach in honour of four māhū - individuals of dual male and female spirit - who brought healing arts from Tahiti to Hawaii.
Although the stones, renderings of which took residence at the Bishop Museum two years ago, have survived for centuries, the story of their significance has long been suppressed and the respected role of māhū erased.
In an effort to document and memorialise gender and sexual diversity across Hawaii the Bishop Museum alongside Lei Pau Ala Queer Histories of Hawaii are proud to offer the virtual tour which enables all to experience The Healer Stones of Kapaemahu from the comfort of home.
The immersive experience enables viewers to virtually walk through the exhibition in its entirety.
Encounter life sized renderings of the stones, absorb the written knowledge and stories and observe captivating film on the virtual tour of The Healer Stone…more
Chief Human Rights Commissioner says this is the perfect time to get RSE scheme right
Saunoamaali'i Dr Karanina Sumeo, Acting Chief Human Rights Commissioner, sees the current proposal to increase Pacific workers in New Zealand's Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Scheme as a pivotal opportunity to rectify longstanding issues.
In response to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's push to expand the RSE workforce, Commissioner Sumeo emphasized that addressing past shortcomings is essential. She pointed to a comprehensive inquiry conducted by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment in 2022, which uncovered significant concerns about the treatment of Pacific workers. Issues such as substandard accommodation and unfair pay deductions were highlighted, prompting calls for urgent reforms.
In an interview on Pacific Mornings Commissioner Sumeo expressed "This moment presents a crucial chance for New Zealand to implement the recommendations from the inquiry,"
"By doing so, we can not only improve the RSE Scheme but also ensure that the dignity and rights of Pacific workers are upheld."
She noted that Samoa has been particularly vocal in advocating for reforms on international platforms, underscoring the global scrutiny on New Zealand's human rights record in this area.…more
The Whau Pasifika Festival Set to bring out young and old!
The Whau Pasifika Festival is back for another year, set to take over West Auckland from July 6-13, 2024! This year’s theme, “E Lē Tū Fa’amauga se Tagata,” meaning “no one stands alone, no one succeeds alone, and no one suffers alone,” underscores the festival's focus on community, togetherness, and intergenerational collaboration. This profound Samoan proverb, notably referenced by the late Fa’anana Efeso Collins during his maiden speech last year, who was a strong supporter of the festival.
Ina Patisolo, Director of the Whau Pasifika Festival, emphasizes the importance of multi-generational involvement. “We’re thrilled to bring together people from all walks of life to celebrate our rich heritage and collective resilience. The Whau Pasifika Festival embodies community spirit and Pacific pride,” she says. “It’s more than an event; it’s a testament to the enduring spirit of our people” across all ages.
This year's program was designed to attract all generations! Young and old, with events that highlight Pacific Island traditions, arts, and performances.…more
First place is just a number | Telesia Tanoa’i | TEDxWellington
In her journey through academic competitions, 16-year-old Telesia Tanoa'i confronts the weight of her own expectations and the toll it takes on her mental well-being. As she navigates through numerous disappointments, Telesia discovers a transformative realisation: by prioritising purpose over perfection, she finds the resilience to persist and grow.
Telesia's story is a testament to the power of purpose in overcoming setbacks and finding fulfillment amidst challenges. Telesia Tanoa’i is a Samoan New Zealander with an international view of the world. As the daughter of a diplomat, she has spent her childhood in Taiwan, Fiji, and New Zealand. She is a year 12 student at Wellington’s Samuel Marsden Collegiate, where she is the Māori/Pasifika representative on the Head Girls’ Committee. For Telesia, the issue she cares about the most, and the one she considers to be critical for her generation is climate justice.
Telesia’s film “Telesia 2 the World” has so far been selected for four Film Festivals in the US, UK and New Zealand, including Māoriland Film Festival.…more