Coco Talanoa — Coco News / Page 13

via 7NEWS Australia

The family of a 23-year-old man knocked unconscious in a brawl outside a popular Surry Hills pub is coming to terms with the heartbreaking reality he may not live.

Evander Tuala was viciously attacked as two groups clashed early Saturday morning, police already charging two men as they vow to hunt down others involved.

Yesterday medical supplies and equipment were packed by players from the Moana Pasifika rugby team into a shipping container destined for Tonga.

The container will be met by a team from Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) who were deployed on Wednesday 30 March to provide on the ground medical assistance, primarily mental health support through a team of specialists who can engage directly with those traumatised by the recent natural disasters as well as the current Covid-19 outbreak.

The PMA team in partnership with the respective governments of Tonga and New Zealand are working closely together to ensure that the medical supplies purchased through the donations from Moana Pasifika’s fundraising efforts are received by the local hospitals to be used on the affected communities.
 
Moana Pasifika’s fundraiser ‘Ofa Atu Tonga - With Love Tonga’ kicked off on 4 February at their pre-season game against the Chiefs and raised more than $75,000 for the people of the Kingdom of Tonga.…more

Niu FM have changed up their breakfast show for the first time in 7 years!  

Comic content creator Regan Foa'i aka Just the Norms has teamed up with long-time friend, podcaster and founder of the 'Bakery Run' Tim Te Ati Awa to give listeners an energy burst to their day.  They provided cover over the Christmas/New Year period, but they're back by popular demand and this morning was the social media duo's first official day in the breakfast show hot seat.

If you're in Auckland tune in to 103.8FM in the mornings from 6am - 10am Monday to Friday and if you're outside Auckland, you can listen in via the iheart radio app.

In the meantime get to know the guys and the shows producer Aaron Pulemafaga below ...

Regan: My name is Regan Foa'i, I'm half Niuean on my Mums side from the village of Alofi Tonga and half Tokelauan on my Dads side from the atoll of Fakaofo.  I was born and raised here in Mangere from South Auckland.…more

via RNZ Pacific 

Samoa has recorded its first Covid-19 related death.

The Ministry of Health confirmed a 67-year-old with multiple ailments died shortly after he was admitted to the Lalomanu District hospital on Upolu Island on Wednesday.  The death comes 13 days after the first community transmission case was detected.

The ministry said 172 new cases had been reported as of Thursday afternoon.  This brings the number of community cases recorded since March 17 to 1831 of which 1408 are active community cases.

Ministry data shows that 101 children under five have tested positive but the prevalence of infections is significantly higher among those aged from 15 to 35 and steadily increasing.  The ministry confirmed 20,643 rapid antigent tests had been administered since the first case was detected.

About 97% of community cases are in Upolu with the remaining 3% in Savai'i.

There are no community cases recorded for the islands of Manono and Apolima Tai.…more

via RNZ Pacific  & local news outlets

Cover photo of Fiji health workers by Leon Lord/AFP/Getty Images

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Solomon Islands figures soar, Vanuatu confirms their first Covid related death, Medical staff test positive in American Samoa, Over 200 active cases in the Cook Islands, the Tongan Prime Minister tests positive for Covid and more ...

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AMERICAN SAMOA

American Samoa now has 527 reported cases of Covid-19 in the community.  51 new cases were confirmed after tests were conducted at Department of Health clinics and LBJ Hospital over the weekend.

Acting Chief of Staff for LBJ Hospital Dr Akapusi Ledua reported a physician from LBJ Hospital had been admitted to the Covid ward - one of four doctors among 11 staff members of the hospital who have tested positive.

80.9% of the territory's population is fully vaccinated.  Federal medical personnel are on island helping the territorial health authorities's response.

As Covid-19 continues to spread across Tutuila health officials are encouraging people to stock up or prepare for when one family member becomes positive.

Governor Lemanu P. S.…more

Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Saunoamaali'i Karanina Sumeo was on Breakfast to talk about the importance of addressing ALL pay gaps - ethnic, gender and disability pay gaps and urgently introducing pay transparency as we celebrate International Women's Day.

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Via the NZ Human Rights Commission

Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Saunoamaali'i Karanina Sumeo was on Breakfast to talk about the importance of addressing ALL pay gaps - ethnic, gender and disability pay gaps and urgently introducing pay transparency as we celebrate International Women's Day.

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Via the NZ Human Rights Commission

“I’m in South Lismore and it’s completely gone. In my house, all my furniture has been destroyed, my beds gone, my clothing’s all wet, the carpets caked in mud, the walls are sweating”

When Analia Tamamoka Hedley moved to Australia two years ago to live and work, she was greeted by smoke in the sky from the Australian bush fires.  

Shortly after settling into her new life in Lismore, northeastern New South Wales, the world shut down with Covid.  Today she went home to find everything she owns has been destroyed in the flooding that has overwhelmed Lismore and other parts of Queensland & NSW.

“Things come in threes right? So this has to be it, that’s enough now, I’ve had enough” she laughs 

Analia who is of Niuean heritage and born & bred in New Zealand, said the first she heard about evacuating was from the SES (State Emergency Services) at about 4.30pm on Sunday.  

“Someone had sent me a screenshot of a message from SES and so before I left I tidied my kitchen.…more

via Radio New Zealand 

The Southern Cross Cable cut during the volcanic eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai and subsequent tsunami last month has been finally repaired.

Tonga Cable Limited chair Samuiela Fonua confirmed that the cable was restored and handed over to his company just before midday today.

He said he was very pleased to get the restored cable which resumes Tonga's phone and internet fully today after they had limited internet for a month.

"We just had a long meeting with the cable repair team, we are preparing a presentation to the Prime Minster of Tonga tomorrow," he said.

"It is all done now, the cable was handed over to us this morning just before noon, now it's with the ISPs (Internet Service Providers)."

The cable repair ship Reliance took 20-days to repair the fibre-optic cable and finally handed it over after 24-hours of testing yesterday.…more

Extra support is being made available to Māori and Pacific communities as they continue to face the impact of the current Omicron outbreak.

This is in addition to the Care in the Community boost the Government announced last week to help all families who need to self-isolate as well as the social service organisations and community providers working hard to support them.

“We know Omicron is likely to disproportionately affect Māori and Pasifika communities and the Government is committed to making sure vulnerable whanau received the support and care they deserve,” Minister for Whanau Ora and Associate Minister of Health Peeni Henare said.

“With Omicron cases increasing it is important whānau have the support they need to self-isolate and stop the spread of the virus."

Using the $140 million funding, 160 Māori and Pacific health providers will together support Māori and Pacific households throughout Aotearoa.…more