Coco Talanoa — Entertainment / Page 2
Tenor - my name is Pati | Premiere | Pene Pati talks about culture, resilience and faith
My Name is Pati, a deeply personal look at the journey of Samoan Operatic powerhouse - Pene Pati: from singing at a rest home in South Auckland Mangere, to becoming the first Samoan tenor to perform on the world's top opera stages in the world.
In an exclusive interview with the Coconet - Pene talks about Faith, Family & the resilience of Pacific People
“Our ancestors were voyagers, they set out in a canoe, the waka, without any guarantee....[they thought] there’s got to be something more out there....It’s in you to be fearless, to go out there and look for hope… the voyager mentality.”
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By Tikilounge & CNZ Arts Reporter Destiny Momoiseā
Moana Pasifika gives Pacific Content Creators a leg up
Moana Pasifika are creating real opportunities for up and coming content creators by giving them access to home games, behind the scenes moments, and player interactions at Super Rugby level.
In a space where access is everything, this initiative is helping young creatives build portfolios, gain industry exposure, and step into professional rugby environments.
And it is already working.
Some of the creators involved last season have gone on to work with other Super Rugby teams, showing how powerful opportunity and visibility can be.
In this video we explore:
• Why creator access matters in modern rugby
• How Moana Pasifika are supporting emerging media talent
• The impact this is having on the wider Super Rugby landscape
• What this means for the future of sports content in New Zealand and the Pacific
Thumbnail by IG @framesbyharmony
PROWL FEST 2026: Setu Mosegi on Giving Back to the Pacific Community Through Waacking
For Pacific communities, spaces to be seen, heard and celebrated matter.
As part of PROWL FEST 2026 within the Auckland Pride Festival, Aotearoa street dance advocate Setu Mosegi is focused on giving back to the community that shaped him.
Setu spoke about the importance of being the person he once needed. Through waacking, he encourages young Pacific and queer people to take up space confidently and express themselves without apology. For him, dance is freedom, storytelling and connection. It is a way to inspire the next generation to be fully themselves.
Led by Artistic Director Hayley Walters-Tekahika, PROWL FEST centres takatāpui, queer and underserved communities across Tāmaki Makaurau. The kaupapa is about removing barriers and creating culturally affirming environments where Pacific bodies can lead, create and thrive in street dance spaces.
There is still time to be part of the movement.…more
Tongan Star Albert Latailakepa Shines in Disney+ Period Drama The Artful Dodger
Albert Latailakepa never planned on becoming an actor. Like many great origin stories, it started with a couple of mates and a decision that felt low risk at the time.
“I took a leap of faith,” Latailakepa says, recalling his decision to join high school drama classes. “A couple of mates were doing it, so what was the harm, right?” he told the NZ Herald.
That leap would set the Wellington-born Samoan Tongan actor on a path from school drama rooms to Toi Whakaari NZ Drama School, and now onto international screens. Latailakepa is currently two seasons deep into his role as Aputi Savea, a boxing champ turned gravedigger, in Disney+ period drama The Artful Dodger.
A sequel to Oliver Twist, the series follows Jack Dawkins, aka the Artful Dodger, as he navigates life in 1800s Australia. The cast includes Love Actually star Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Harry Potter’s David Thewlis as Fagin, a line-up that left Latailakepa “freaking out a little bit” when he landed the role.
“They eased my nerves a bit when I was on set,” he said.…more
Jason Momoa talks Chief of war, Tongans vs Samoans and Wrecking Crew
Jason Momoa is a Polynesian actor and producer known for his roles in Game of Thrones, Aquaman, Minecraft and more. His new movie “The Wrecking Crew” with Dave Bautista is out 1/28. Jason joins Theo to talk about his community college days in Iowa, how rock climbing helps his focus, and why protecting the beauty of Hawaii has always been important to him.
Pinati’s Keke Pua’a Goes Global in Jason Momoa’s Wrecking Crew
As Jason Momoa’s new blockbuster Wrecking Crew hits our screens, audiences have been quick to engage with the Pasifika faces in the film, as well as the iconic Pasifika places featured throughout.
The special, tasty flavours of Pinati’s keke pua’a and keke mamoe are known far and wide in Aotearoa, a much-loved Pasifika comfort food that has helped cement the Pinati’s legacy.
Now, the legendary pork buns are also in the spotlight, appearing in glimpses of Ōtāhuhu, where many scenes in Wrecking Crew were filmed.
“It was so awesome seeing our Pinati’ keke pua’a sign and our exterior on the street in this big global film. Being there while filming with all the crew and the cast was a lot of fun, and we were right in the action.”
The keke pua’a also became a favourite among cast and crew on set, a hot, tasty handheld option during long shoot days.…more
Pasifika Cast of The Wrecking Crew Talk Culture, Strong Pacific Women and Real Scraps
In this exclusive interview, members of the Pasifika cast from The Wrecking Crew sit down to talk culture, brotherhood, and the real-life scraps that shaped both the series and their own journeys.
Wrecking Crew STREAMING NOW - on PRIME!
Nonosina take on the Jennifer Hudson Show
Pacific dance on a global stage. Tiana Nonosina Liufau shares how our movements come from island life, the ocean, the land, and the rhythms we grow up with. Through Nonosina Polynesia, you see how culture lives in the body and how our stories are carried every time we move.
About Nonosina Polynesia
Founded in 1965, world-renowned Nonosina Polynesia is based in Anaheim, California and is known for its community and cultural performances both locally and abroad. For nearly six decades, Nonosina has shared authentic Polynesian dance, music, and professional stage training, positively impacting thousands of lives. Rooted in values of dedication, humility, mutual respect, and strong work ethic, Nonosina is a cultural home for dancers of all backgrounds who share a deep respect and love for Polynesian culture.
The group celebrates it's 60 years by taking Pacific Dance Global!
The incredible Tiana Liufau gave us this 'How to drum like a tahitian boss' years ago - a video that is still relevant to today!
Matt Damon praises Dwayne Johnson's Performance in Smashing Machine
In a recent interview on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Matt Damon talked about his experience watching The Smashing Machine and singled out one particular scene that really hit him emotionally.
He said the moment where Dwayne Johnson’s character is in a hospital after an overdose “really walloped me” and stayed with him because of how raw and authentic it felt. Damon described how Johnson built that scene collaboratively with director Benny Safdie and pulled from his own life to shape the performance.
Damon explained that when he asked Johnson about how that scene came together, Johnson said they worked on it together and that the emotional core came directly from his own experiences.
Johnson has said in multiple interviews that to portray that breakdown, he drew on deeply personal memories from his family life — especially his father’s struggles with alcoholism and his mother’s cancer diagnosis and treatment. Those lived experiences helped him access the vulnerability required for the scene, particularly moments of denial, fear, and emotional collapse.…more
DWAYNE JOHNSON FIRST SAMOAN TO BE NOMINATED FOR A GOLDEN GLOBE
“Over the last years, I’ve lost 15 friends who are all wrestlers and fighters to addiction... I’m so happy we made this film. It is a love letter to those that I just talked to you about.”
With that reflection, Samoan actor Dwayne Johnson steps into history as the first Samoan to ever be nominated for a Golden Globe.
After more than 60 films, his transformative turn as MMA fighter Mark Kerr in Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine has earned him long overdue awards recognition and a place in the Golden Globes record books.
For Johnson, this moment is about far more than awards. “Mark Kerr had it all and lost everything, and has since become sober... Life is good because he’s sober and because he made it. And not everyone is that lucky. That’s the movie that we wanted to make: a nod to those who fight.”
Johnson is nominated for best performance by a male actor in a drama, with Emily Blunt also recognised for her supporting role.
His journey with the film began seven years ago.…more