Church ministers have key role in sharing Covid-19 Vaccine message
Church leaders within the Pacific community have played an important role in spreading the health messages during the Covid-19 pandemic and we will need their support to endorse the benefits of vaccinations, says a leading Pacific doctor.
Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) member and General Practitioner at The Fono, Dr Natalie Hopoi, completed her Master’s in Public Health at the University of Auckland in 2018. Her thesis focused on the role that Samoan Methodist church ministers played in promoting health literacy within their congregation.
Dr Hopoi chose this topic because she was raised in a Samoan speaking Methodist church herself and knows the influence of church ministers in our community.
“The majority of Pacific people are Christian and rely on the messages received by their church ministers to make important health decisions for themselves and their families.”
As the world is dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr Hopoi says it is important that our church ministers are fully informed about the Covid-19 health guidelines and are educated about the vaccines, which started rolling out in New Zealand last week.…more
Champions of the Pacific - Ken and Naitoa Ah Kuoi
RNZ Pacific's new sports show Champions of the Pacific premiered the first of their new weekly sports show. Check out the video above which looks at the rugby legacy of the Ah Kuoi family.
.
Wellington Samoa Rugby Union President Ken Ah Kuoi remembers watching his dad play rugby in Samoa before he too began running around the fields of Apia barefoot with a ball under his arm.
Kiwis rugby league legend Fred Ah Kuoi is also on the family tree as well as a couple of ex Manu Samoa internationals.
Now settled in Wellington, Ken follows the fortunes of his son, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, who is about to begin his second year of Super Rugby with the Chiefs.
Although Ken, who still makes regular cameo appearances for the Marist St Pats Presidents team, reckons he'd still beat the Moana Pasifika lock in a foot-race.
.…more
PRIDE - PASIFIKA STORIES - SHANEEL LAL
Shaneel Lal
(They/Them)
Activist/ Student/ Co-Founder of “End Conversion Therapy NZ”
Fiji
.
Shaneel Lal is a multifaceted and intersectional activist. They have been vocal and influential in bringing to light various issues around racism, transphobia, indigenous land issues, systemic injustice and much more. Shaneel is a co-founder of the organisation “End Conversion Therapy NZ” and has been an avid voice around the need for a ban on Conversion Therapy. They’re currently a student at The University of Auckland, and on top of all that is actively educating people on social media on how to be more conscious citizens of humanity.
If you could have the world's attention, how would you introduce yourself?
I am many things, but deep down, I am a young person who wants to change the world. I do not wish to be protected. I want to be free. And I want the same for my people. A young person who has seen, felt, and experienced too many things that I shouldn’t have.…more
Life in Savaii for a kiwi Samoan
By guest writer Datia Wilson
It has been just under two years since I have returned to Savaii, to take care of my grandmother who has advanced dementia. Although raised in Savaii as a child with my brother and understanding aspects of Faasamoa, I had come over from NZ with an overseas mentality.
I had lived such an independent life in NZ, I remember thinking on our return I could still wear what I want, go out at whatever time and not really caring about others opinions. Oh boy, was I wrong! It only took a couple of firm conversations with my uncle (chief of our family) explaining how crucial it is I understand that I am now living in the village still upholding their traditional ways. With that comes the responsibility of being the face of the family and carrying the family’s reputation.…more
RNZ Pacific launches new sports show Champions of the Pacific
RNZ Pacific is launching a new sports show "Champions of the Pacific" next Wednesday.
RNZ Pacific Sports Journalist Talei Anderson and News Editor Koro Vaka'uta front up for a new weekly sports show to be broadcast across the Pacific via short wave radio, on RNZ National at 9:40pm on Wednesdays, on rnz.co.nz and as a podcast. Champions of the Pacific launches today, with a new episode every Wednesday.…more
PRIDE - PASIFIKA STORIES - Teneva Ropati
Teneva Ropati
(She/Her)
Student/Basketball Player
Samoa
.
Teneva Ropati is a young Samoan woman from the villages of Taufusi and Vaivase. She was born in New Zealand and raised in West Auckland. Teneva is a passionate basketball player and on top of all this is proud to call herself “gay af”.
.
If you could have the world's full attention, how would you introduce yourself?
My name is Teneva Ropati, I’m 20 years old, Samoan and gay af lol.
Is Pride month something that you personally celebrate?
Absolutely! I love the feeling I get seeing everyone be 100% themselves and not caring. Especially at Big Gay Out. I always feel so at home being around complete strangers. It’s odd but I understand it. I feel the most proud of our community during Pride month — and I’m pretty damn proud every other time of the year.
What has been your relationship with the phrase "coming out"? Was “coming out” a process you had to go through with your family?
Bittersweet is probably the best word to describe my experiences.…more
COVID-19 vaccines – Keeping our families safe
As New Zealand prepares to roll out the first lot of Covid-19 vaccines tomorrow, Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield, says he hopes there are good vaccination rates amongst the Pacific community to strengthen their resistance of Covid-19.
Dr Bloomfield and a panel of Pacific health clinicians who are also members of the Pasifika Medical Association (PMA), spoke at a national zoom talanoa last night attended by over 600 Pacific church, community, and youth leaders. Hosted by the Hon. Aupito William Sio, Minister for Pacific Peoples, the focus was on providing information and answering questions regarding the Covid-19 vaccinations.
Dr Bloomfield said, “We are adamant that we do not want New Zealand being the route where Covid-19 gets into the Pacific.
In preparation for our Covid-19 vaccination campaign, we are thinking not just about New Zealand but about our Pacific neighbours, and in particular the countries across the Pacific region.…more
Love in the age of Covid - Isabella Moore and Benson Wilson
We are Benson Wilson and Isabella Moore. Two Kiwi Sāmoan opera singers living and working in London. Our love story is rather unique, in that it began only months before the coronavirus world pandemic hit. It created hurdles couples in the early stages of a relationship would never normally have to endure, but our shared culture, history, passion for music, and values carried us through and made us stronger than ever. And this is our story of how we found love in the age of COVID.
Aotearoa has a strong choir culture and it was in the NZ Secondary Students Choir that we first met as high schoolers where we became fast friends. From that day on we were both on similar operatic paths, but were on them separately or ‘just mates’ (haha!).…more
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson On The 'Extraordinary' Women He Cast In 'Young Rock'
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson introduces the women who play the powerful females who shaped his life: Ana Tuisila plays The Rock's grandmother, Lia Maivia, and Stacey Leilua plays his mother, Ata Johnson.
Stacey and Ana have just been nominated for a HCA TV award (Hollywoods Critics Association) for Best Actress and Supporting Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series Comedy and Dwayne himself is also up for a Best Supporting actor role in Young Rock! The "Young Rock" Series is nominated for Best broadcast network series, Comedy.
Check out who they'll be going up against below -
Stacey shared the news on her social media this morning saying:
My first nomination ever! How exciting.. #YoungRock is also nominated for Best Broadcast Network Series (comedy) - Thank you to the Hollywood Critics Association for the love . Leeeeets Goooo Team #YoungRock! and big BIG love to my fellow show nominees Lee Joe Ana Tuisila Dwayne The Rock Johnson and all the amazing people who made this series a hit .
Family Support Packages available for Pacific families in need
Tevita Funaki, CEO of The Fono - an organisation providing medical and social services to Pacific communities in Auckland and Northland, has a clear message to those needing food and welfare support during the unexpected lockdowns.
“We are ready to respond,” he says.
The Fono and other community organisations across Auckland including Pasifika Futures partners; The Village Community Services Trust, Mt Wellington Integrated Health Care and South Seas Healthcare, mobilised their staff and resources immediately in preparation to support vulnerable families who need urgent assistance.
Since the announcement, Mr Funaki’s team have been working around the clock to restock their shelves, made possible through donations from local businesses and support from the Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) through Pasifika Futures - the Whānau Ora commissioning agency for Pacific families.
“We’ve been through this before, this is our third lockdown. Our team are experienced now and are familiar with what support our communities need “, says Mr Funaki.…more