Coco Talanoa — Entertainment / Page 1

To celebrate NZ Music Month, Auckland Council presents 'Ka Mua Ka Muri'! Ka Mua Ka Muri is a whakataukī/māori proverb that loosely means to walk backwards into the future. This is referencing knowing where you’re from to know where you’re going.

Now in its third year, Ka Mua Ka Muri is a web series of music performances and interviews with Auckland musicians and songwriters working mostly in the underground/ fringes of the Tāmaki Makaurau music community.

Shot in the second-floor basement of the Auckland Central City Library, providing an intimate environment and a juxtaposition to the typical live performance venues.

Four Pasifika artists have been highlighted as part of this year's line-up, and they'll take to the stage at Kāhui St David's Church for a free, live performance for everyone to enjoy!

Sam V

Winner of 2023 Pacific Music Awards - Best Pacific Soul/RnB artist, Sam V is perhaps the finest male RnB voice in Aotearoa.…more

Hawaiian actor Jason Momoa had previously hinted that he is no longer on the market, but a new Instagram post has revealed his relationship with Puerto Rican actress Adria Arjona.

The actor posted pictures from a trip in Japan, where he can be seen embracing his new romantic partner, captioning the Instagram carousel, "Japan, you are a dream come true... sharing another amazing adventure with mi amor"

Momoa's new relationship comes two years after he and ex-wife Lisa Bonet announced their separation after more than 10 years together.

Despite their break-up, the exes have continued to co-parent their two kids: Lola, 16, and Nakoa-Wolf, 15.

#ReFresh But we can't forget when our very own Pani tried to make moves on the Aquaman actor😂

And when Uncle Sam questioned him about his lead role in the DC Studios movie

But did ya know...? Get to know our young artists Spdrtwnbby, Junior Soqeta and Ruby Coley as they round off some of our rapid fire questions about their journey and tastes in music 🎶🌺

Credits
Director: Brianna Fruean
Camera: Jason Crane
Sound: David Green
Editor: Sefa Taouma
Talent: Spdrtwnbby, Ruby Coley, Junior Soqeta

The Pasifika Entertainment Advancement Komiti (PEAK) proudly presented PEAK Conversations - a celebration of Pasifika filmmaking, entertainment, and community, sponsored by Amazon MGM Studios.

A talanoa with panelists, celebrating the breakthroughs of Pasifika women and reflecting on issues specific to their journeys in the entertainment industry.

The panelists included Auli’i Cravalho (“Moana” and “Mean Girls” actress), Sasha Colby (Winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race”), and Naomi Scott (Founder of Great Scott Productions) with moderator Dana Ledoux Miller (“Moana 2” and “Thai Cave Rescue” Screenwriter).

“Last night made me feel like I’m truly making my mark here in Hollywood. It’s interesting for me to reflect on the fact that a year ago at this event, I knew less people than I could count on one hand..So much affirmation and love was poured into me by how I feel I naturally show up in the world and it made me feel so seen.…more

Today marks the start of TE MARAMA PUORO O AOTEAROA 2024 (NZ Music Month), with AMPLIFYING AOTEAROA | PAOROTIA AOTEAROA the key theme across this year’s event. The month of May will shine a light on those who are the heartbeat of our nation’s music scene, celebrating everyone who helps amplify music from Aotearoa.

This year’s TE MARAMA PUORO O AOTEAROA will look a little different, with a fresh sub-theme each week. Week one will see the amplification of people who make lives better through music, followed by week two, amplifying schools’ through education. Week three will amplify artists on the world stage, before week four, with innovation and new ways of doing things amplified. The month will close with week five, amplifying community and our local and independent champions.

There is something for everyone and many events and activities right across Aotearoa.…more

In May, Neil Amituanai (The Brave, Three Wise Cousins), Dominic Ona-Ariki (The Brave, One Lane Bridge, Double Parked) and Beulah Koale (The Brave, Hawaii Five-O, Next Goal Wins) will return to the stage with Massive Theatre Company at Te Pou Theatre co-directed by Scotty Cotter (Mauri Tau, Neke, Shortland Street) and Sam Scott, with their deeply personal and provocative work, I LOVE YOU G.

This show delves into the complexity of friendship, illustrating the constant navigation and negotiation involved in maintaining and evolving these bonds. It explores intricate dance of friendship, where le va and trust intertwine. It portrays the essence of showing up for each other, the resilience required to weather storms together, and the transformative journey towards forging friendships into brotherhood.

Neil, Dom and Beulah (and co-director Scotty) first met more than a decade ago at Massive when they were in the cast of award-winning show The Brave, which toured New Zealand and overseas in 2012 – 2015.

Those early days at Massive solidified the friendship between them and ignited their ongoing love affair with theatre and performing.…more

Auckland Theatre Company is set to ignite Rugby World Cup fever once again in Auckland, this time with a vibrant stage adaptation of the beloved Aotearoa film "Red, White and Brass."

From June 18 - July 6, the ASB Waterfront Theatre will come alive with the energetic tale, led by a group of Tongan superfans, promising audiences an unforgettable experience.

Set in 2011 in Wellington, the now familiar story revolves around Maka (JP Foliaki), a passionate Tongan rugby fan determined to secure tickets for the monumental Tonga versus France Rugby World Cup game.

When faced with the disappointment of missing out on tickets, Maka and his friends come up with a daring plan—to form a Tongan marching brass band for the pre-match entertainment.

But here's the twist: they know nothing about marching, nor do they possess any instruments.…more

The Auckland waterfront was transported to the Islands by the voices of Pasifika opera stars with ‘The O.Gs’ epic opera one off event! 

Spearheaded by Samoan tenor and visionary Siliga Sani Muliaumaseali'i, the first Pasifika to sing professionally with a New Zealand opera company as a teenager, this extraordinary event has been a long-held dream - "The O.G’s" concept is a tribute to the Original Pasifika Opera Stars. The name "O.G" holds various interpretations, including "Opera Giants," "Oceanic GAFA genealogy" in Samoan, and "Original Gangstas."

The O.G's that took center stage are SIliga Sani Muliaumasealii, his older brother celebrated Baritone Eddie Muliamasealii, famous Tongan tenor Ben Makisi, mezzo-soprano Lotte Latukefu, guest soprano Deborah Wai Kapohe and award winning soprano Aivale Cole who told the arts festival:

'The O.G’s represent a homecoming for these iconic artists, offering them a platform to sing their songs and share their stories.…more

The screen sector in Aotearoa has exploded with Pasifika content in the last 10 years - made mostly by Pasifika women!

This years Women In Film & Television NZ Awards saw 6 Moana women finalists across different categories: 

CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS YEARS WINNERS

Abba-Rose Vaiaoga-Ioasa: Hinterland Woman To Watch Award 2024

Ashlee Fidow: Queenstown Camera Company Craft Award 2024

Ngaire Fuata - Warner Bros. Discovery Award for Moana Excellence in the Screen Industry 2024

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These are a few of the Pasifika women who are making their mark on screens big and small in Aotearoa. These include our tuakana producers and directors who have made stories for Pasifika audiences across digital, film and TV mediums in both drama and factual content.…more

From Security Guard, to a featuring artist. ROM3 has come a long way in his unlikely journey into the music industry. 

Originally from Long Beach, CA, and raised in Lakewood, WA, ROM3 considers Washington his home. Little did he know that his life would take a dramatic turn when he started working as a security guard, eventually leading him to collaborate with none other than NBA Youngboy.

Rome's initial foray into the world of music wasn't intentional. One day, in a lighthearted moment, he jokingly offered to be the American rapper, NBA Youngboy's singer. 

“When I first started working for him, I asked him if he needed a singer but I was just saying it as a joke because I had that thought in me that I’m just his security“ 

Never imagining that this jest would set off a chain of events that would change his life forever. Despite being surrounded by co-workers who hesitated to visit the artist's studio, ROM3 took the initiative to explore NBA Youngboy's creative space and, in doing so, discovered a new passion.…more