Pacific Voices Are Owning the Opera Stage. Now the Next Generation Is Stepping Up
“There’s something built in us,” Pene Pati reflected.
“Our ancestors were voyagers. They set out in the canoe, the waka, and they jumped on it without any guarantee. They were like, ‘there’s got to be something out there.’”
For him, that same spirit drives many Pacific creatives chasing their dreams overseas, but also looking at how these innate Pasifika talents are being nurtured in Aotearoa.
If you’ve ever sat in an Islander church on a Sunday morning, you already know the truth the opera world is finally catching up to - Pacific people were born to sing.
The voices are big, the harmonies are second nature. Someone’s aunty is holding a note longer than humanly possible. And the choir director who is also your cousin, is definitely not letting you sit down until you get it right.
So maybe it shouldn’t be surprising that Pacific singers are now some of the most sought after voices in opera houses around the world.…more
Pasifika Women Shine in Screen storytelling at the WIFT Awards
Queen of the screens big and small Anapela Polata’ivao is a finalist in two categories at the Women in FIlm and TV awards, alongside Coconet founder Lisa Taouma who is also a finalist in two different categories.
The annual awards celebrate the achievements of women working across film, television and digital media, from storytelling and directing to journalism and entrepreneurship - areas where four Pasifika women have been put forward to celebrate across the sector.
This year’s winners will be announced at the awards night this Thurs 12th March.
Anapela Polata’ivao ONZM (Sāmoa)
Acclaimed actor, director and theatre maker Anapela Polata’ivao has been nominated in two categories this year. She is a finalist for the 'South Pacific Pictures Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film' for her powerful performance in Tinā, and is also recognised in the 'SKY Award for Moana Excellence in the Screen Industry.'
Polata’ivao is widely regarded as one of Aotearoa’s most influential Pacific creatives, known for her work across theatre, film and television, as well as her leadership within Pacific arts communities.…more
Pacific athletes shine at Polynesian Track and Field Championships in Auckland
“I really hope the games are inspiring to the youth, and maybe give them more examples of excellence in sport outside of the typical avenues they are used to seeing with maybe rugby, football and so on.” - Alex Rose
More than 100 athletes from across the Pacific gathered in Auckland this month for the return of the Polynesian Track and Field Championships, held alongside the New Zealand Track and Field Championships at Trusts Arena from 5 to 8 March.
The championships returned after a decade away, bringing together competitors from across the Moana in an event that celebrates both sport and culture. Delivered by Athletics New Zealand in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the meet also serves as an important stepping stone ahead of a busy international athletics season, including the Oceania Athletics Championships in Darwin, the Commonwealth Games and the World Under 20 Championships.…more
Pasifika Artists Awarded FAME MID-CAREER AWARDS 2026
Congratulations to Pasifika creatives Aloali'i Tapu and Leki Jackson-Bourke, who have been recognised at the 2026 FAME Mid-Career Awards for their outstanding contributions to Aotearoa’s performing arts sector.
Announced at the 2026 PANNZ Arts Market, the awards celebrate artists and production professionals whose work continues to shape theatre, dance and performance across the country. With 55 individuals nominated this year, the awards highlight the depth of talent across the industry.
Established in 2022 and administered by the Performing Arts Network New Zealand (PANNZ) in partnership with the FAME Trust and the Acorn Foundation, the awards recognise practitioners working across contemporary dance, classical music, theatre, producing, stage management, design and technical fields. Each of the six recipients receives a $20,000 prize supporting the next stage of their careers.
“It’s a privilege to honour this year’s recipients and all the hard work, dedication and passion they bring to their craft,” says PANNZ Senior Producer Jo Bond.…more
Tenor - my name is Pati | Premiere | Pene Pati talks about culture, resilience and faith
My Name is Pati, a deeply personal look at the journey of Samoan Operatic powerhouse - Pene Pati: from singing at a rest home in South Auckland Mangere, to becoming the first Samoan tenor to perform on the world's top opera stages in the world.
In an exclusive interview with the Coconet - Pene talks about Faith, Family & the resilience of Pacific People
“Our ancestors were voyagers, they set out in a canoe, the waka, without any guarantee....[they thought] there’s got to be something more out there....It’s in you to be fearless, to go out there and look for hope… the voyager mentality.”
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By Tikilounge & CNZ Arts Reporter Destiny Momoiseā
Dave Rennie: The First All Blacks Head Coach of Pasifika Heritage
"I’m honoured to represent the Cook Islands"
New Zealand rugby has reached a landmark moment. Dave Rennie, of Cook Islands descent through his mother from Titikaveka, Rarotonga, has been named Head Coach of the All Blacks through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup. This makes him the first coach of Pasifika heritage to take the reins of Aotearoa’s most iconic rugby team.
For many of us in the Pacific community, this is more than a coaching appointment—it’s a milestone that reflects the significant impact Pacific peoples have had on rugby in New Zealand. A large percentage of Super Rugby and All Blacks players are of Pacific descent, yet this is the first time one of our own has led the team from the top. Rennie’s appointment sends a powerful message: Pacific people belong at every level of rugby, from grassroots to the pinnacle of the game.
Rennie spoke proudly of his heritage at his first press conference. “She [my mother] was hardworking, inspirational… I know she’d be really proud. I’m honoured to represent the Cook Islands,” he said.…more
Palau Linked Tanker Hit Near Strait of Hormuz as Pacific Braces for Higher Oil Prices
A ship linked to Palau has been seen ablaze near the Strait of Hormuz after reportedly being struck by a projectile, as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to escalate.
The tanker at the centre of the incident, MT Skylight, was widely identified in early reports as Palau-flagged. However, the Palau Ship Registry has clarified that the vessel was no longer registered under Palau at the time of the attack.
In a statement issued from Koror on March 2, 2026, the registry said the tanker had been removed from its records in January 2026 under established compliance and regulatory procedures.
“Certain media reports have referred to the vessel as being registered under the flag of Palau,” the statement read. “The vessel was removed from the Palau registry in January 2026 in accordance with the Registry’s established compliance procedures and applicable regulatory requirements.”
The clarification follows reporting from the Oman Maritime Security Centre, which said the incident occurred about five nautical miles north of Khasab Port in the Strait of Hormuz.…more
Moana Pasifika gives Pacific Content Creators a leg up
Moana Pasifika are creating real opportunities for up and coming content creators by giving them access to home games, behind the scenes moments, and player interactions at Super Rugby level.
In a space where access is everything, this initiative is helping young creatives build portfolios, gain industry exposure, and step into professional rugby environments.
And it is already working.
Some of the creators involved last season have gone on to work with other Super Rugby teams, showing how powerful opportunity and visibility can be.
In this video we explore:
• Why creator access matters in modern rugby
• How Moana Pasifika are supporting emerging media talent
• The impact this is having on the wider Super Rugby landscape
• What this means for the future of sports content in New Zealand and the Pacific
Thumbnail by IG @framesbyharmony
Three Samoan Seasonal Workers Killed by Inadequate Median Barriers, Coroner Finds
Three Samoan seasonal workers are being mourned across Aotearoa and Samoa after a crash a coroner says could have been prevented if highway median barriers had met modern safety standards.
In findings released publicly on Tuesday, Coroner Alison Mills concluded that the deaths of Ta’avao Kelemete, Uili Fa’aofo and Leauga Jerry Leauga on State Highway 1 between Bombay and Ramarama on August 26, 2024, were avoidable.
The three men, all related, were travelling in a van with colleagues when a southbound truck crossed the median and collided with them. They died at the scene. A 21 year old remains in critical condition, and two others were injured.
Initial police indications suggested a tyre blew out on the truck, causing it to veer off course. But the coroner found the tragedy was compounded by a legacy wire median barrier installed in the late 1990s that failed to prevent the truck from crossing into oncoming traffic.
Mills stated the crash could have been prevented if the median barrier had been up to current safety standards.…more
New Fa’alupega Mobile App Bridges Ancient Samoan Tradition and Modern Technology
“Fa’alupega is not just words. It is the map of who we are and where we come from.”
For Julius To'o, that belief sits at the heart of the new Fa’alupega mobile app, launched in Porirua, Wellington and now available on iOS and Android.
At a time when more Sāmoans are being raised outside their ancestral villages and fluent speakers are declining globally, To’o says the decision to digitise one of Sāmoa’s most sacred cultural practices was not about convenience, but continuity.
“By placing this knowledge in a mobile format, we honour our elders and orators while empowering the next generation, whether they live in Sāmoa, New Zealand, Australia, the United States or beyond, to engage confidently with their identity. This is about protecting our culture in a digital world without compromising its meaning.”
Fa’alupega, the honorific language that acknowledges chiefly titles, village hierarchies, ancestral lands and lineages, has traditionally been passed down through service, ceremony and direct guidance from elders and tūlāfale. For some, the idea of digitising such sacred knowledge may raise concerns.…more