DWAYNE THE ROCK JOHNSON HONOURED WITH THE MTV GENERATION AWARD
This evening Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson accepted the Generation Award at the 2019 MTV Movie & TV Awards, telling fans that “the most powerful thing that we can be is ourselves.”
"What you saw up here tonight that's who I am, I'm proudly half black and half Samoan and I wanted to bring those cultures here for the world to see. Yes, it's important to be your authentic self, I'm a walking example of that." - The Rock
The Generation Award celebrates beloved actors whose diverse contributions to both film and television have turned them into household names. Past recipients of the award include Chris Pratt, Will Smith, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Wahlberg, Sandra Bullock, Jamie Foxx, Johnny Depp, Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler, Mike Myers, Tom Cruise, Jim Carrey, and the Fast & Furious franchise.
WOMEN OF THE ISLANDS - KEZIA SALANOA
KEZIA SALANOA
FILM STUDENT
SAMOAN / SWISS / ITALIAN
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Talofa, Bonjour! My name is Kezia Salanoa, I’m 22 years old and I come from Samoa. I was born in Switzerland. My dad is full Samoan from Falefa and my mum is afatasi Swiss and Italian. I am the second of three girls and I am currently living in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. Most FAQ is do you wish you grew up in Europe? And honestly, no. Im so thankful to have been raised in the Samoan culture and environment, not neglecting my palagi side (which I love just as much), I just love that I have the fa’a Samoa with me anywhere I go. I guess I can say I have the best of both worlds.
My parents met in Honolulu, Hawaii through YWAM (Youth With a Mission) they were both in missions ministries helping with the Hawaiian community, the homeless and users. After a few months and mango picking, they fell in love.…more
WHERE THE WILD STOMPED IN - HAPPY PAPA'S DAY
It's Fathers Day in the USA today and Jason Momoa has shared this beautiful video.
He writes: -
For me, it started off so simple. A boy on a motorcycle for the first time tearing through the backyard. It was only a moment in time, but the ride changed something in me, it was the moment where the wild stomped in.
I saved an old rusty motor to build a bike one day, and it’s taken three decades to fulfill the dream. Over the years the dream evolved and now all I wanted was to build a bike with my children, to give them the same experience I had as a child, to give them the wind, and the freedom of the ride.
A broken motor inspired a dream, and taught me it’s better to share those moments with my babies, the moment where the wild stomped in.
What started out as a visit to Harley-Davidson to pay my respects turned into a new partnership. I wanted to honor their legacy, too ride is in my blood.…more
SAY MY NAME - RUGBY EDITION
#SayMyName
Watch, listen and learn on how to say some of your favourite rugby players names!
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Click here for #SayMyName - League Edition
ON THE RISE - PAFE MOMOISEA X BASKETBALL
On The Rise basketballer Pafe Momoisea talks about growing up in Manurewa, South Auckland, getting a scholarship to play basketball for a US university in South Carolina and his dream of being in the NBA.
WOMEN OF THE ISLANDS - AVI'I FA'ALUPEGA MAGELE
AVI'I FA'ALUPEGA MAGELE
RUGBY REFEREE
SAMOAN
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What made you want to be a referee?
First of all cause I love rugby. It’s like a family culture. Ever since when I was young … it’s very funny cause my Dad use to play rugby and I had two older brothers. So when I was in primary school and my two older brothers were in colleges, so that was like Super Rugby before I mean Super 12, before Super Rugby as we call it right now. So back in days, when not every family in the villages had tv. So our family got one, got lucky enough to get one. So we had that culture where we compete, like me and my mother and my other brothers we compete, we watch the games and we had that culture watching Super 12 rugby and compare who’s gonna win.
So that’s where actually where it built up my passion in rugby, I didn’t see that much about women’s rugby during that time.…more
VUNILAGI VOU OPENS IN OTAHUHU
South Auckland's newest art gallery, community & consultancy space Vunilagi Vou opened in Otahuhu a week and a half ago with a large group exhibition WWJD:2 featuring predominantly local, South Auckland based artists. We talked to Director & Artist-Curator Ema Tavola about the exhibition as well as her hopes & dreams for the gallery.
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I’m a Fijian-New Zealander with maternal heritage connecting me to England and Ireland, and paternally to the island of Dravuni, Kadavu in Fiji, and Suva, where I was born. I was brought up in England and Belgium, and finished secondary school in Wellington. I bounced around between Fiji and New Zealand until I started tertiary studies and settled in South Auckland; I’ve been here for almost 18 years now.
For the past 15 years I’ve worked as a curator, arts project manager, advisor and advocate for Pacific art and South Auckland. I started my career formally as Pacific Arts Coordinator for what was then Manukau City Council, and in that capacity was able to establish Fresh Gallery Ōtara, an exhibitions gallery in the Ōtara Town Centre.…more
THE HEELS ARE ALIVE - FINE FATALE
Ahead of their upcoming foray into the world of cabaret we talk to Fine Fatale Co-Director & Choreographer Mario Faumui about their new show 'The Heels are Alive'
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Who is Fine Fatale and how/why did the group form and can you also talk about the role you have in the group etc?
Fine Fatale was a springboard off of PIPA & LIMA DANCE.
It was about creating our own space and not so much relying on other industry folks to do it for us when we can create a space to tell our stories ourselves. I’m the Co-Director and Choreographer alongside my Kelly Rowland Amanaki Prescott-Faletau.
Your show 'The Heels are Alive' premieres this Thursday - can you tell us about the show and why it's unique?
The Heels Are Alive is a celebration of people from all walks of life. Whether you is a little kitty kat heel, a construction boot heel, a church stomping heel, a 6 inch business woman heel stomping K Road, or even barefoot on the earth vibes.…more
PLAYER CATCHUP - MA'A NONU
Blues midfielder Ma'a Nonu sits down with Mils Muliaina to chat about his early days at the Hurricanes, his move to the Blues plus more.
HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS - TOVIA VA'AELUA
TOVIA VA'AELUA
COUNTRY MANAGER, RHIPE NZ (THE CLOUD CHANNEL COMPANY & CHAIRPERSON OF PASIFIKA IN IT
SAMOAN
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I was born in Sagafili, Samoa and had four siblings but moved with only three of them to NZ because immigration laws back then limited migrant families to no more than four children. We lived in Grey Lynn like most but then moved to Avondale to be closer to dad’s work – hence all the schools we attended were there. My mum is from Falelatai which explains why I have the titles I do and dad came from Lalomalava. Our family has always been in law enforcement and I was preparing to enter but was told by my father and brother that I wasn’t allowed because it would “change” me. And I had already graduated with a Major in Education and realized I wasn’t inspiring enough to be a teacher, so I shifted to technology.
What were the pathways that led you to what you're doing now?
This crazy palagi woman (whom I still love dearly to this day – e.g.…more