Celebrating 10 Years of Blue Rose Cafe
Ten years ago, partners Robbie Kainuku and Lenny Steven opened a small café in Sandringham with five tables and a big dream: to serve the food they love — honest, comforting Pacific soul food.
“We started Blue Rose because we wanted to start something up that had our food that we like to cook, with our Pacifica, Māori flavors through it,” says Robbie.
It began with a simple vision, but the impact has been global. “People come there, that’s their first stop. We just got in from LA or Australia, and we got told to come here. Even this family from Singapore — Nana, Mum, Dad, grandma, auntie, uncle, all the kids. They Googled Pacific food, and this place came up.”
Robbie grew up in Māngere and learned to cook from his mother. “She was a Pākehā and made really good Island food. When she married my dad, she wanted to learn and do it really well... My mum’s my biggest inspiration.”
Among the café’s best-loved items is the palusami pie, which Robbie proudly calls his creation.…more
Chief Of War - Moses Goods Talks Chief of War and Preserving Hawaiian Culture
Hawaiian Actor Moses Goods speaks of his life's work that has lead him to this role of 'Moku' in 'Chief of War'
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Interviewed by Shar Tuiasoa of Punky Aloha Studios
A Chip Off the Old Block: Ivana Lauitiiti Makes Stunning NRLW Debut
The name Lauitiiti is back in the headlines — and this time, it’s Ivana.
On a rainy Sunday in Newcastle, 19-year-old Ivana Lauitiiti made a powerful NRLW debut for the One NZ Warriors during Magic Round, following in the footsteps of her legendary father, Ali Lauitiiti. And just like her dad did 26 years earlier, she marked the occasion with a try.
Coming off the bench in the first half, the Ōtāhuhu Leopards junior crashed over for the Warriors’ first points of the match, helping to spark a gritty 12-6 win over the Cowboys — the club’s first away win since rejoining the NRLW. In just 24 minutes on the field, Ivana ran for over 100 metres, made nine tackles, and delivered a momentum-turning defensive hit that’s already doing the rounds on social media.
“I wasn’t even thinking,” Ivana told NRL.com after the game. “Coach said to run with intent, so I just went for it.…more
WOMEN OF THE ISLANDS - MAINEI KINIMAKA
Can you please introduce yourself, your culture and where you're from?
Aloha kākou, ʻo Maineialoha Kinimaka koʻu inoa. No Anahola, Kauaʻi mai au.
Aloha, my name is Mainei Kinimaka and Iʻm from Anahola on the island of Kauaʻi.
Surfer turned Filmmaker - what was your journey into filmmaking like?
I had a pretty unique journey into filmmaking, given that Iʻm from Kaua’i, which is a place that not many filmmakers have come from so far. I grew up in a family of waterman and women, and so surfing was the foundation of my childhood, and it was the first pathway that introduced me to photography and visual arts.
The ocean has always been a huge inspiration to me, as has been Kauaʻi and it’s natural environments, but most of all I would say it’s the people of Hawaiʻi that inspire me the most in the stories that I tell. I was lucky enough to be mentored by Jason Momoa from the age of 19, and that was my official pathway into working hands-on in the film industry.…more
Sunia Turuva on Tigers Move, Benji's Influence & Faith Influenced by his Mum
Fijian Winger Sunia Turuva talks about his fijian roots, his mother's influence and his move to the Tigers
TSUNAMI ALERT: PACIFIC NATIONS ON HIGH ALERT AFTER MASSIVE RUSSIAN EARTHQUAKE
A magnitude 8.7 earthquake struck near Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, triggering widespread tsunami warnings and advisories across the Pacific.
Coastal communities across the Pacific are urged to stay alert and follow all official instructions. Tsunami waves may arrive in multiple surges and vary in size.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed a tsunami had been generated, warning of potentially destructive waves. Waves between 3 to 10 feet (1 and 3 meters) above tide level are possible in Hawaii, Chile, Japan, and the Solomon Islands. Waves greater than 9 meters are possible along parts of Russia and Ecuador.…more
Va'ine Fresh: South Auckland Comedy Workshops Giving Pasifika Wāhine the Mic
When Cook Islands Māori comedian Rhiannon McCall was asked what she was doing to uplift other Pasifika women in the comedy world, the question stopped her in her tracks.
“I was asked what I was doing to support and uplift other Cook Islands women in the comedy industry and realised that I was doing nothing!”
That moment, shared during the Cook Islands Women in Leadership Summit, became the spark for Va'ine Fresh, a new comedy programme in South Auckland created by and for Pasifika wāhine and gender-diverse creatives.
The free five-week workshop series is about breaking down barriers, whether geographic, cultural or economic, and giving Pacific women a space to explore comedy on their own terms. It will culminate in a live showcase of the participants’ work.
Rhiannon teamed up with Samoan and Palagi producer Sarah Richards to help bring the idea to life.…more
Fresh New Voices: RNZ and Partners Announce Winners of Development Fund for Asian and Pacific Creatives
RNZ, in partnership with the Pan-Asian Screen Collective (PASC) and Pacific Islands Screen Artists (PISA), has announced the eight selected projects that will receive funding from the RNZ PASC PISA Development Fund.
This initiative, launched in early 2025, aims to help skilled Asian and Pacific storytellers realize their screen ideas. The response was overwhelming. A total of 67 submissions arrived from across the country, showcasing stories that reflect the rich creativity and cultural perspectives of Aotearoa’s diverse communities.
After a careful selection process led by industry experts and cultural advisors, eight standout projects—four from each group—have been awarded $20,000 in development funding. The aim is to prepare these projects for the next step: production funding, with RNZ supporting them as a platform.
RNZ Commissioner Tim Burnell emphasizes RNZ’s commitment to better represent Aotearoa’s diverse voices. “This fund helps great ideas move closer to becoming reality,” he said.…more
HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS - ZAIRE UGAPO
ZAIRE UGAPO
SAMOAN
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE
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Please introduce yourself, your culture, and where you're from.
My name is Zaire Ugapo. I am a full Samoan born and raised in Manurewa, South Auckland. My Dad is from Saina Faleata, Solosolo and Toamua. My Mum is from Faleasiu, Vaivase, Samauga and Lefagaoali’i. They currently reside in Saina Faleata.
What was your upbringing like in South Auckland, and how did sport first enter your life?
I grew up in Manurewa, attended Schools in the area and like most Polynesian kids, I spent a lot of time at church with my family. Fortunately enough, the schools I attended and my community encouraged sports and physical activity. I started playing club sport when I was 6 years old, I played soccer for Papakura City FC.…more
Explained: The Traditions Behind the Tui Nayau Installation
“A chief is to lead in every aspect, to help his people not just by words but by actually delivering what they have promised and I will try with all my might and with all I have to lead you all.”
The installation of the Turaga na Tui Nayau, Sau ni Vanua o Lau and Tui Lau Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara was a fusion and display of culture and tradition.
Na ‘Meke Taki Ni Yaqona VakaTuraga’
This week has witnessed the revival of traditions and customs that, until now, lived only in the stories shared by our elders. Among the most remarkable was the Meke Taki Ni Yaqona Vakaturaga, a traditional kava ceremony dance that has not been performed in decades. The last known documentation of this dance dates back to 1990, making its reappearance a moment of cultural resurgence. This sacred tradition has been brought back to life, offering a rare glimpse into our ancestral heritage.…more