Coco Talanoa — Coco News / Page 1

“For our families who migrated from Te Moana nui a Kiwa, the dream was simple but profound — to create a better future. To see Pacific people in these positions affirms our place in Aotearoa and sends a clear message to our children: that leadership at the highest levels is not out of reach,” Dr Emma Dunlop-Bennett told The Coconet.

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington has announced Dr Emma Dunlop-Bennett as its new Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Pasifika), a role she steps into with a wealth of experience and strong connections to Pacific communities.

A proud daughter of Samoa (Sā Petāia, Sā Te’o, Sā Atoā) Emma follows in her legendary mother Tagaloatele Peggy Fairburn-Dunlop’s footsteps at Victoria, who is now semi retired.

Tagaloatele Professor Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop is a trailblazing Pasifika academic and an expert in a range of Pacific development issues who was the inaugural director of the Pacific Studies department Va‘aomanu Pasifika at Victoria University, where Emma will now take up residency.…more

Pacific influencers are turning down lucrative offers from offshore gambling companies, some worth tens of thousands of dollars, citing concerns about the harm gambling causes in their communities.

The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) and Inland Revenue (IRD) have already cracked down on influencers in New Zealand found promoting unlicensed gambling websites, warning that such endorsements are illegal and carry penalties. Despite this, gambling agencies continue to target content creators, with Pasifika and Māori influencers often at the top of their lists due to their large youth audiences.

Samoan influencer Joe Fa’agase said the scale of the offers shows how much companies value Pacific voices. “I’ve definitely noticed a rise in gambling companies reaching out. Personally I’ve been offered up to $4000 just for a single story and I know some creators who were offered even more. I saw one Māori creator who was offered half a million and it makes you realise how valuable our voices have become to these kind of companies.”

For Fa’agase, the decision to say no was about responsibility to his audience.…more

Samoans head to the polls today in what’s shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable elections in the country’s history.

Samoa’s ballot boxes may be full of promises, but like the beehive in Wellington, it’s the delivery truck that everyone is waiting for.

With political rivalries, cost-of-living struggles, and global powers watching closely, here’s a run down for beginners to Samoa’s Election 101: 

Why is Samoa voting now?

This election comes earlier than expected after months of political turmoil.

• Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa was forced to call a snap election when her minority government couldn’t pass the 2025/26 budget in May.
• Before that, she survived two no-confidence motions within weeks, but her hold on power was shaky.
• The crisis followed a messy split inside her former party, FAST, after disputes with its chair, La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt.
• On top of that, power blackouts, rising inflation, and infighting piled pressure on her leadership.

For many Samoans, the hope is simple: stability.…more

Samoa bets big on solar to fix its broken power system

Did you know Ta‘ū Island in American Samoa is one of the few places in the world that runs entirely on solar power? For the past seven years, the island’s 600 residents have relied on Tesla batteries and solar panels instead of diesel generators - a rare Pacific success story in renewable energy.

Now, just a short flight away, Western Samoa is trying to catch up. The country has signed off on a multi-million dollar loan deal to expand solar power across its two main islands, Upolu and Savai‘i.

It comes after a rough year. In March, Samoa’s government declared a 30-day state of emergency as rolling power cuts crippled businesses, schools, hospitals, and households. Ageing generators, cyclone damage, and skyrocketing demand left the national grid on the brink. For many, the blackouts weren’t just inconvenient - they were devastating.…more

Step into any Samoan household and you’ll likely find a piece of Eveni. A school uniform, an elei shirt, or a dress reserved for Sunday best.

It’s a brand synonymous with Pacific identity. Yet behind the familiar label lies a story that stretches nearly a century — from copra trading posts to the global fashion stage and now their first shop in Tamaki Makaurau! 

From the All Blacks to the smash hit Signature Choir, Eveni’s distinctive elei print is popping up in the spotlight across the region. 

The story begins in 1929, when the Carruthers family opened their first business under the name I.H. Carruthers Ltd. “Our story begins in 1929… a family business started as cocoa and copra merchants, operating networks of rural trading stations across our islands,” says Eveni Marketing Director Hether Vaai.

For decades, the family thrived as merchants, but by the 1970s, Samoa’s rural trading economy began to falter. Something had to change. “The move into fashion was a strategic pivot, not an original objective,” says Vaai.…more

“With Smartie, we are proving the Pacific can lead in creating practical, culturally relevant technology.”

That’s the vision driving the Cook Islands–born super app making waves across the Pacific. Smartie is the brainchild of a local tech entrepreneur Brett Baudinet who saw an opportunity to blend community values with cutting-edge solutions and in doing so, change how locals and visitors connect, pay, and experience island life.

The app’s current features include Pay and Food Delivery, but its roadmap is ambitious: Tours, Rideshare, and even a kids’ financial literacy app are already in development. It’s all part of a plan to create a single, easy-to-use platform for both residents and tourists.

“It is inspiring to see Pacific-led technology solving problems in ways that reflect our realities,” says founder Brett Baudinet “Our tourism-driven economy needs tools that work for visitors, while our communities need technology that makes everyday life easier.”

The spark for Smartie was lit years ago. After working in website development since 2000, Baudinet noticed the lack of simple, affordable payment solutions for smaller markets like the Pacific.…more

It’s Restaurant Month in Tāmaki Makaurau, and Trivet Restaurant on Albert Street is inviting diners to experience a menu that blends international influences with the warmth of Pacific hospitality.

At the centre of it all is executive chef Uelese Mua, or Chef Wallace, who says the inspiration behind Trivet is rooted in his own upbringing.

“My thoughts behind Trivet… Well, a trivet is a device that was used to protect tables so you could put a hot pan or pot on it. With my upbringing, to’onai was always one of the highlights of the week. You break bread with family, catch up and the rest of the world fades away. Those moments, the table becomes sacred to me, so with that in mind, I wanted Trivet to protect that sacred table.”

This August, Trivet is offering a specially curated two-course Restaurant Month menu for $55 per person. Guests can enjoy Trivet classics and the restaurant’s signature flatbread with coconut butter. Wine matches are available for $12 per glass.…more

In Ōtara, three organisations are breaking down barriers to help Pacific communities get their licences.

DriveStar, Community Driver Licensing Workshop, and MintedVR have teamed up to run four-day workshops in Gagana Samoa, Lea Faka-Tonga, and English in hopes of making the learner’s licence process accessible, culturally relevant, and empowering. From the Otara Library to communities as far as Hastings, this kaupapa is transforming lives — one licence at a time.

George “Fiji” Veikoso – Pacific Reggae Pioneer and Beloved Voice

Ratu George Veikoso, known to the world simply as Fiji  was more than an award-winning musician. He was a storyteller, a bridge between cultures, and one of the most recognisable voices of Pacific music. His passing at the age of 55 has left the Pacific in mourning.

Born in Tailevu, Fiji, George’s love for music began early. Surrounded by a family of talented singers and musicians, his earliest performances were in church. In 1987, after political unrest in Fiji, he moved to Hawai‘i, where his sound began to take shape – a smooth blend of reggae, R&B, hip-hop, jazz, and traditional island harmonies. It became known as the “Lost Coast Sound,” and it would carry his name far beyond the Pacific.

His 1994 album Evolution marked the beginning of a career that would span decades. Fiji went on to release Born and Raised, Gratitude, and many more, earning millions of streams and a place in the soundtrack of island life.…more

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