Coco Talanoa — Entertainment / Page 1

"We have a lot of talent in Hawaii and a lot of skilled local labor and a lot of stories to share. What we've needed is the opportunity to tell those stories here at home. Working on Chief of War reminded me what's possible when we invest into our own people and we trust our local voices to lead." - Jason Momoa

Hawaii's screen industry has received a major boost after Governor Josh Green signed legislation expanding the state's film tax credit, a move industry leaders say will help attract more productions, create jobs, and ensure Hawaiian stories are told on home soil.

The new law increases Hawaii's annual film tax credit cap to US$60 million, following years of concern that major productions were choosing to film elsewhere due to stronger incentives and lower production costs.

"It expands the tax credits to a more meaningful number, $60 million, and we want to keep going up because doing that means that there's opportunities to bring more films, more attention, more investment into our state," Green said.…more

“Every time we come back with work, it just means so much more. Seeing people who look like us in the crowd…it’s incredible.”

Part circus, part drag, part burlesque, and part live concert, Dangerous Goods brings together powerhouse vocals, aerials, theatre and comedy to explore themes of power, resistance, and joy. 

Internationally acclaimed, award-winning Sāmoan-Australian artist, performer and director Lisa Fa’alafi has spent more than 25 years creating bold, boundary-pushing work that has captivated audiences worldwide.

Fresh from a sold-out season at the Edinburgh Fringe, she’s now bringing her latest production, Dangerous Goods, to Auckland’s iconic Civic Theatre as part of the Auckland Live Cabaret Festival. 

For Fa’alafi, though, this is much more than another stop on an international tour.

“It feels like coming home.”

Born in Aotearoa before growing up in Australia, returning with her work always carries extra meaning. 

“Every time we come back with work, it just means so much more.…more

A Samoan-Chinese-Pākēhā author says his new fantasy book provides a type of character he didn't have as a 10-year-old in love with reading.

Kenneth Chapman said growing up, he loved series like Harry Potter, Lemony Snickets, and His Dark Materials but those fantasy worlds were different to the mixed-race Polynesian family he came from.

Lonasei and the Mystery of Origin Grove is about an 11-year old and her older sister who move into their mother's childhood home - a mansion full of mysterious paintings created by their estranged aunt.

He said it places a Polynesian character in a fantasy world.

"When you're a 10-year-old kid and you're in love with reading, you're not really - or at least I wasn't - thinking about representation and relatability on that kind of cultural level," Chapman told Nine to Noon.…more

A new production of A View from the Bridge at Q Theatre is hitting close to home, with Pacific artists telling a story many families will recognise all too well.

Presented by Silo Theatre and directed by Anapela Polata'ivao, this version centres migrant voices, turning a classic into something deeply personal for Pasifika communities.

“In this instance, the stars have aligned at a time where the lived experiences of our Pasifika actors, whether directly or through their bloodlines, join forces to tackle Arthur Miller’s 'A View From The Bridge.' It speaks to the bones of our migration story and our Dawn Raids experience.”

That connection is what makes this production hit differently. What unfolds on stage, undocumented family members seeking safety, the risk of being exposed, the tension inside the home, is not distant history for many Pacific families in Aotearoa.

It echoes the legacy of the Dawn Raids, when Pacific communities lived with the fear of authorities knocking at the door. That fear, and the choices families made to protect each other, sit at the heart of this story.…more

“It’s an Indigenous-owned studio and the focus for us is bringing that work and uplifting - well, actually not just our people but people in the industry”

Jason Momoa, Taika Waititi and Cliff Curtis have acquired Studio West in West Auckland through their Āriki Group, positioning themselves not just as creatives, but as the ones putting resource behind the kinds of stories Māori and Pacific communities have already proven work.

Across the last two decades, some of Aotearoa’s most successful and widely recognised films have come out of that space. Whale Rider reached global audiences with a story grounded in whakapapa. Sione's Wedding showed Pacific stories could carry at the box office here. Boy and Hunt for the Wilderpeople followed, each reinforcing that local stories, told from here, don’t need to be adjusted to connect.

More recently, Tinā and Chief of War have continued that trajectory, showing the same stories can scale internationally without losing their grounding.…more

Looking for fun things to do in Auckland this Easter long weekend? From immersive theatre and glowing light festivals to carnival thrills and family-friendly egg hunts, there’s something for everyone. Here’s our pick of the best events happening from April 3–6.

Swimming with Sharks

When: Friday, April 3 | 10:00 am – 3:30 pm
Where: Auckland Museum, Central Auckland
Ages: All ages

Dive into the depths of the ocean without getting wet! Swimming with Sharks is a theatrical, immersive experience created with the internationally renowned puppet theatre company Erth. Discover the diversity of sharks in New Zealand waters, from the bioluminescent kitefin shark to a five-metre-long great white, all brought to life through expressive puppetry.

Shows run for 20 minutes, with children invited to get up close on floor cushions and adults welcome to enjoy from sofas at the back.

Dreamer: Auckland’s New Indoor Light Festival

When: Friday, April 3 – Sunday, April 12 | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Where: New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC), Central Auckland
Ages: All ages

Step inside a glowing world of colour and imagination at Dreamer.…more

“There’s something built in us,” Pene Pati reflected.

“Our ancestors were voyagers. They set out in the canoe, the waka, and they jumped on it without any guarantee. They were like, ‘there’s got to be something out there.’”

For him, that same spirit drives many Pacific creatives chasing their dreams overseas, but also looking at how these innate Pasifika talents are being nurtured in Aotearoa.

If you’ve ever sat in an Islander church on a Sunday morning, you already know the truth the opera world is finally catching up to - Pacific people were born to sing.

The voices are big, the harmonies are second nature. Someone’s aunty is holding a note longer than humanly possible. And the choir director who is also your cousin, is definitely not letting you sit down until you get it right.

So maybe it shouldn’t be surprising that Pacific singers are now some of the most sought after voices in opera houses around the world.…more

Queen of the screens big and small Anapela Polata’ivao is a finalist in two categories at the Women in FIlm and TV awards, alongside Coconet founder Lisa Taouma who is also a finalist in two different categories. 

The annual awards celebrate the achievements of women working across film, television and digital media, from storytelling and directing to journalism and entrepreneurship - areas where four Pasifika women have been put forward to celebrate across the sector. 

This year’s winners will be announced at the awards night this Thurs 12th March. 

Anapela Polata’ivao ONZM (Sāmoa)

Acclaimed actor, director and theatre maker Anapela Polata’ivao has been nominated in two categories this year. She is a finalist for the 'South Pacific Pictures Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film' for her powerful performance in Tinā, and is also recognised in the 'SKY Award for Moana Excellence in the Screen Industry.'

Polata’ivao is widely regarded as one of Aotearoa’s most influential Pacific creatives, known for her work across theatre, film and television, as well as her leadership within Pacific arts communities.…more

Congratulations to Pasifika creatives Aloali'i Tapu and Leki Jackson-Bourke, who have been recognised at the 2026 FAME Mid-Career Awards for their outstanding contributions to Aotearoa’s performing arts sector.

Announced at the 2026 PANNZ Arts Market, the awards celebrate artists and production professionals whose work continues to shape theatre, dance and performance across the country. With 55 individuals nominated this year, the awards highlight the depth of talent across the industry.

Established in 2022 and administered by the Performing Arts Network New Zealand (PANNZ) in partnership with the FAME Trust and the Acorn Foundation, the awards recognise practitioners working across contemporary dance, classical music, theatre, producing, stage management, design and technical fields. Each of the six recipients receives a $20,000 prize supporting the next stage of their careers.

“It’s a privilege to honour this year’s recipients and all the hard work, dedication and passion they bring to their craft,” says PANNZ Senior Producer Jo Bond.…more