Coco Talanoa — Coco News / Page 11

by Mariner Fagaiava-Muller

Delivering an emotional valedictory speech on Thursday, he thanked mentors, parliamentary colleagues and his kāiga.

Kris Faafoi also poked fun at fellow Pasifika in the Labour Party caucus.

“To my Pacific caucus colleagues, fakafetai lahi lele,” he said.

“Our Pacific caucus shows the connection that Labour has to our Pacific community.”

“I'm not sure when we'll get another Tokelauan, but we will, and I'm sure Anahila [Kanongata’a-Suisuiki] will be there to take a selfie.”

In 2010, Faafoi took over the reins of the Mana electorate from Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban.

He thanked the “amazing and talented” current MP for Mana, Barbara Edmonds.

“[She] has a long future in that seat, and I am sure she will make a massive contribution to the country during her tenure,” he said.

The highlight of his ministerial career was accompanying Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on a visit to Tokelau, he said.…more

Watch a wrap-up of your week in news from across the Islands, in under a minute.

Fiame Naomi Mata'afa has landed in Aotearoa making noise not for her politics, but her fashion.

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Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air

by Mariner Fagaiava-Muller & Teherenui Koteka

Māori herald their New Year with the rising of the Matariki star cluster, but it’s used too by Pacific Islanders to track time and seasons.

In Hawai’i, the Pleiades star cluster is called Makali’i. It appears at sunset, as opposed to sunrise as Aotearoa sees it.

Whereas Matariki is observed in Aotearoa during June/July, Makali'i in Hawai'i comes about during the latter end of the year around October.

Kamehameha Schools tells the traditional mo’olelo (story) about how the name came to be.

“It begins with the evil deeds of an aliʻi of Kona on the island of Hawaiʻi. He greedily decides to hoard everyone’s food into one enormous carrying net and travels with it to the highest stratum of the heavens, where he hangs it up.”

“Meanwhile, the ravenous people hastily gather to plan a way to get their food back. A little mouse bravely consents to take on the arduous task. He successfully gnaws on the net until the food drops to the earth.…more

" ... What excites me is the opportunity to continue serving my community by providing a platform where our people can share their stories. I also look forward to working with Tofiga to shift misconceptions about Pasifika people because this is truly our time as a people to be unapologetically proud of our origins." - Inangaro Vakaafi 

Radio 531pi has announced its new look mid-morning show called ‘Island Time’, featuring legendary entertainer Tofiga Fepulea’i alongside journalist and co-host Inangaro Vakaafi.

The pair aim to deliver a show that is creative, fresh and fun when it launches this Monday 27 June at 9am.

“My vision for the show is to continue to be myself as an entertainer but also show more of Tofiga as the father, husband and passionate Pasifika male that I’ve grown to be through my upbringing, my faith and culture,” says Fepulea’i.

“I hope people will enjoy the new tag team of Ina and myself on air.…more

Aysha Nanai-Leifi was selected by Converse to represent the big shoe company at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival in New York.

The Samoan creative walked the prestigious red carpet alongside notable industry names, on her way to take center stage to share her experience as a young brown storyteller. 

The Tribeca Festival is an annual film festival organized by Tribeca Productions. It takes place each spring in New York City, showcasing a diverse selection of film, talks, music, and art. This year the festival was attended by names like Taylor Swift, Lupita Nyong'o, ASAP Rocky and John Legend. Among these celebrities and creatives was proud Pasifika woman Aysha Nanai-Leifi. 

Converse flew Aysha out to New York to speak on a panel at TribecaX2022 titled "HOW CONVERSE CREATES NEXT WITH ITS ALL-STARS". The Converse All-Stars serves as a global network connecting creatives, providing digital and physical experiences, commissioned work and mentorship to a community around the world. A community in which Ms. Nanai-Leifi has been proud to be part of since she was 20 years old.…more

A Modern Guide to an Ancient Art has just been launched and released today! 

The book 'Lāuga: Understanding Samoan oratory' is being Launched at the Museum of New Zealand: Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington. The launch includes saunoaga by author Dr Sadat Muaiava, Hon. Aupito William Sio (Minister of Pacific Peoples), Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban (Assistant Vice-Chancellor, Pasifika, Victoria University), and Caren Rangi (Chair of Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa). Students of Samoan Studies at Victoria perform songs and Siva Samoa from the Tautua Dance Academy.

Lāuga or Samoan oratory is a premier cultural practice in fa'asamoa (Samoan culture). Its intricacies are what sets apart a simple speech from an ancient art of speech. Dr Le'ausalilo Sadat Muaiava has put together a book to guide the reader through a lāuga and its key stages. It’s an ideal companion for those who may be called upon to speak at significant occasions, those wanting to improve their knowledge and skills, and all those interested in fa'asamoa.…more

TheCoconetTV is extremely proud to acknowledge the knighting of Associate Pacific Dean, Dr Colin Tukuitonga, in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours. Dr Tukuitonga is awarded with the Knights Companion Order of Merit (KNZM), a top accolade for his services to Pacific and Public Health.

The honour acknowledges Dr Tukuitonga’s extensive history of service to his Pacific community, both in Aotearoa, further into the Pacific region and on the global stage.

Sir Tukuitonga is one of our most prominent Pacific figures in the health sector in Aotearoa, the region and globally, having held leadership roles in public health and in Pacific development. His voice was crucial in advocating for Pasifika during the Covid crisis in Aotearoa, and he has been consistently vocal in pointing to inequities for Pasifika in the Health system and pushing for policy to impact Pasifika in better ways.

Sir Tukuitonga has held several highly influential offices, including Director General of the Pacific Community (SPC), Commissioner and Co-ordinator for WHO Geneva, Chief Executive of the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs and Director of Public Health, Ministry of Health.…more

Pacific scholar Toeolesulusulu Professor Damon Salesa earlier this year began his role as the vice-chancellor of AUT University.

He is the first Pasifika person in Aotearoa to be at the helm of a university.

In the spirit of Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa, we chat to le afioga Toeolesulusulu about his humble beginnings, his drive and his vision.

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Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air

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Director: Mariner Fagaiava-Muller

Camera Operator: Riki Reinfeld

Editor: Damon Fepulea'i

How to Loiter in a Turf War - A novel by Jessica Hansell aka Coco Solid has not only been flying off the shelves but has also made #1 on the Time Out Book Charts.

Māori (Ngāpuhi) and Samoan creative Jessica Hansell, also known as Coco Solid is well known for her work as a writer, musician, visual artist and general media-maker. She has an impressive portfolio of work including creating animated TV series Aroha Bridge, receiving the 2019 Arts Foundation Laureate Award, and completing her Fulbright Creative Residency at The University of Hawai’i where she began writing her first novel - How To Loiter in A Turf War, which was released just this month.

The novel follows the lives of three friends living in Tamaki Makaurau as they navigate gentrification, racial tensions, coming of age, and identity. It has been described as “Fast, ferociously brilliant, crack-up funny and unforgettably true.”

The book comes at a time where young Pasifika readers are hungry for Pacific stories told on pages by writers with shared experiences.…more

by Mariner Fagaiava-Muller

There’s a lot of sad juju around South Auckland at the mo, so let’s pick up the energy by shining light on some already bright Southside superstars.

I’m a bit biassed as a resident of the hood for all 21 years of my life.

There truly ain’t no better side than the Southside.

Blazes trailed, praises sung, paths paved. Not despite, but because it’s just how South Auckland rolls.

Here’s just four South Aucklanders carving up excellence in their respective fields:

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, current Blues and former NRL player

Entering only his ninth union game for the Auckland Blues, after some nine years spent at the Sydney Roosters and New Zealand Warriors - you could say RTS is just getting started. He moved to South Auckland from Samoa, attending Ōtāhuhu College. Something about that water in Õtāhuhu breeding champions…

Roger is a Dally M Medalist (2018), Captain of the Year (2020), Winger of the Year (2013) and  Premiership Winner (Roosters, 2013).…more