Coco Talanoa — Events / Page 2

Toa Samoa fans and supporters at Mangere Town Centre in South Auckland celebrating their teams historic campaign at the Rugby League World Cup even after a loss.

Celebrations continued after the grand final for these sons of Samoa whose impact on this Rugby League World Cup and the game itself is undeniable.

It’s just the beginning … 🇼🇸🇼🇸🇼🇸

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Public Interest Journalism funded by NZ On Air

The final Rugby League World Cup jersey presentation for the Toa Samoa boys ahead of the Grand Final at Old Trafford in Manchester on Sunday 20th November (NZT).

Samoan Prime Minister Hon. Fiame Naomi Mata'afa and Deputy Prime Minister Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio were in attendance and the Honourable Fiame opened up the formalities with a speech before the boys were presented with their jerseys.  "SAMOA IS NOT A COUNTRY. SAMOA IS AIGA" she shared.

Great to see family members were able to make the trip up to support the boys for the historic occasion.

"Negative body image is a big issue with our young women & with this exhibition we hope to do our part in empowering our young girls to love what they look like no matter what shade of brown, shape, size they are, imperfections & to celebrate their unique features. They are Polynesian Queens" - Sisters United.

The 'Brown & Beautiful' exhibition is currently on at the Fresh Gallery in Otara until next Saturday the 19th of November & celebrates the natural beauty of our Pasifika young women, their different shades of brown skin and varied shapes and sizes.…more

For the first time since 2018, Pasifika Film Fest is back for a fully in person program at Riverside Theatres, Parramatta with events also taking place across the park, at Arts and Cultural Exchange, Parramatta, from the 24th to 27th November.

To see what films are showing and to buy tickets, go to the Pasifika Film Fest website plus keep an eye out on their social media pages for updates.

In the meantime check out the trailer above.

Enjoy highlights from the F.I.N.E Festivals opening fiafia night at the Mangere Arts Centre showcasing Pasifika LGBTQI+, MVPFAFF+ performing artists.

The festival itself ran over 3 days and was run by F’INE Pasifika Aotearoa Trust celebrating Pasifika rainbow and queer communities.

F.I.N.E festival featured a series of workshops, facilitating a space to exchange knowledge with the wider community, while also giving artists an opportunity to creatively tell their stories.

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Credits

Director - Shimpal Lelisi 

Camera Operator - Mary-Lou Raela 

Sound Operator & Editor - Sefa Taouma 

By Mabel Muller

A new art exhibition by a Samoan visual artist hopes to challenge people’s perception around skulls and what it normally represents in the western culture.

Aua e te fefe - Don’t be afraid by Raymond Sagapolutele is currently on display at Auckland’s Bergman Gallery, showcasing a range of artworks centred around the image of a skull.

The exhibition is a culmination of Sagapolutele’s art and photography work over the last few years and represents his journey of exploring his identity as a Samoan in Aotearoa and how he fits in.

Sagapolutele said the skull, which is usually perceived as a prop to frame horror, can be viewed in a different light when seen through a Samoan lense.

“When I first started doing this I was looking at it from a Samoan perspective in relation to what the bones of our ancestors represent…

“Liutofaga is an old practice where in Samoa, because you have family graves, they would sometimes reuse the plot and so there’ll be a process of re-interring your previous family members.…more

The Lower Hutt Events Centre was host to the freshest Poly reggae artists to come outta NZ hosted by Biordi and Holy Boy Dom and featured an amazing lineup of talent.

We caught up with Samoan musician and singer Wayno who shares where he got his start in music, musical inspiration, performing at One Love for the first time, connecting with other artists in the industry and more.

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Director- Johnson Raela 

Editor - Sefa Taouma 

Camera Operator - Marc Weakley

Sound Operator - Kevin Hill 

The first Pasifika Global Citizen award winner, Brianna Fruean is presenting at the Global Citizen Festival!  Tune in to see her present as well as live performances by Metallica, Charlie Puth, Jonas Brothers, MÅNESKIN, Mariah Carey, Mickey Guyton, and Rosalía perform live from NYC's Central Park and Usher, SZA, Stormzy, Gyakie, Sarkodie, Stonebwoy, Uncle Waffles, and TEMS, perform live from Accra's Black Star Square as part of this year's Global Citizen Festival.

With Priyanka Chopra Jonas hosting in NYC + Danai Gurira hosting in Accra, this show combines the power for activism with music to make a huge impact.  This year, with a new mission that’s more urgent than ever, Global Citizen is embarking on an ambitious campaign that spans the world. With a focus on empowering adolescent girls and women so that we can End Extreme Poverty NOW, Global Citizen is calling on world leaders, corporations, and philanthropists to do more than they’ve ever done before.…more

Jason Momoa arrived in to Auckland Airport on the 15th September and was greeted with a pōwhiri by kapa haka group 'Ahina i te Kaupapa' from Rāhui Pōkeka (Huntly).

Word on the street is that Jason is here in Aotearoa scouting locations for his upcoming Apple TV, Hawaiian historic show, Chief of War.

More on the show here - https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/jason-momoa-write-star-hawaiian-history-drama-series-rcna23259

Ka’a - Samoan for little sh**, or a young person who enjoys going out.

Samoan, South Auckland based artist Pati showcases her new album in her new show KA’A. When asked what we should expect from this show, Pati promised to deliver “Good music, laughter, sadness, and a safe space to be a little sh**.”

And deliver she did. 

KA’A is a love letter to all young, brown women who face constant judgment by their own communities. To the girls who carry their peoples expectations like a second skin. The girls who love their village, but don’t feel loved in return. 

In her tear jerking showcase Pati displayed her range in this body of music and theatre combined. An actor, writer, show director, and musician, seriously what can’t she do? 

I don’t know what I was expecting going into the basement theatre last night, all I knew was to expect the unexpected.…more