Coco Talanoa — Events / Page 13

Last night’s Vodafone NZ Music Awards saw many of our amazing Pacific artists take out awards in competitive categories. HUGE congrats to these artists on their contribution to New Zealand music. Here are our Pacific winners!

Kings - Breakthrough Artist of the Year

Sole Mio – Highest Selling album

Aaradhna – Best Female Solo Artist

Unity Pacific – Best Roots Album

SWIDT – Best  Urban Hip Hop Album

Fat Freddy's Drop - International Achievement 

Kings with his Tui for Breakthrough artist of the Year 

Now to touch on some of our observations from last night.

Best Urban/Hip Hop Album of 2016 – Won Initially by Aaradhna, re-awarded to SWIDT.

‘Urban’, what does this actually mean? Why was the only Hip Hop category paired with the word ‘Urban’? Hip Hop music in New Zealand is an explosive and creatively rich genre, that is more than capable of standing alone without this word.…more

Samoa's 5th annual GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) conference comes to a close this morning and as they go back to their villages they have been challenged to think about their own development as leaders.

72 lucky Year 7 and 8 girls from Savai'i, Upolu and Manono came together at Papauta College for the five day conference which started on Tuesday.  The girls heard from speakers on issues related to career development, health, nutrition and domestic violence awareness.

Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson from Conservation International was one of the speakers at GLOW and discussed the environment in the girls world.

"The GLOW conference improves from year to year and this year brought together some amazing, intelligent young girls from Savaii and Upolu. I was exactly like one of those girls having grown up in Savaii and gone to StTheresas Primary School, so I have a great appreciation for the type of exposure these programmes give young girls.…more

"Learning to be your true, authentic self in a world where conformity is the mode of acceptance.  Be you, Be Brave."

FrancMarie was founded on the talents and dreams of its’ Head Designer Frankie Lolohea, a burgeoning designer with an eye for design and a desire to introduce a new aesthetic to the world of fashion.

Frankie Lolohea at her 'We The Brave' show at 1885

She recently showcased her 2nd collection at 1885 in Britomart.  The collection aimed to encourage ownership and celebration of ones' quirks and differences in a world where conformity is the mode of acceptance.  

Since her debut last year she has since gone on to style and create individual pieces for a range of clients including Auckland-based DJ/FRANCMARIE model DJ Al’Goodie and most recently, SWIDT who proclaimed themselves 'Best Dressed' at the Vodafone NZ Music Awards dressed in FrancMarie! 

SWIDT wearing Francmarie at the Vodafone NZ Music Awards 

She debuted her first collection last year at Ludus Magnus and dedicated it to her Dad.…more

Hosts Dominic Nimo & Moemoana Schwenke are Keepin it Coco at the 3rd annual Pasifika Film Festival in Parramatta Sydney!

Join them as they rock the red carpet on opening night & chat to some of our Pacific celebs! 

Credits:

DOP & Editor - Danny Aumua 

Talent - Dominic Nimo & Moemoana Schwenke 

Suggested Links:

Pasifika Film Fest 2015

Adorn 'Tales of the Teine Sa' Trailer 

A whole weekend dedicated to Pasifika film saw some of the OGs of our fledgling industry engage with 10 young scriptwriters to help them hone their craft.

"Just the luxury of being able to spend time with these guys that we've always looked up to is so inspiring for me..These guys are our giants that we stand on.." said MIT student Gabriel Faatau'uu.

From Samoan astronauts to old skool legends, drama and urban Pacific realities - the 10 scripts chosen for the writing lab saw many exciting new scenarios being presented for development.

Sima Urale who was described as our 'Jane Campion' talked about the huge difference in film making today and the many new pathways availble for creative ideas.

One of these includes The Coconet TV as a platform for films to be played out online.

Over two days young writers had intensive script time with experienced filmmakers who talked about the many trials and tribulations of making their own work.

One common issue with writers, was being typecast as 'Pacific filmmakers' expected to tell certain types of stories.…more

Fashion, Style, Creativity & Polyswag in full effect on this Pacific Runway ....

Credit:  Camera & Edit Danny Aumua 

Suggested Links:  

Pacific Fusion Fashion Show 

Fresh hosted by Krit & Diamond Langi 

In the Pacific we do many things well - famously we navigate great oceans, turn out some pretty alright sports people, make good pagipopos and as it turns out some really great artists. Like our domination in the sports and music arenas, arts is one place where Pacific people win - it's where we trump it in coloring up the Kiwi landscape with our brown awesomeness and unique perspective.

We are the jewel in the crown in fact for organisations like CNZ where a 2011 survey cited the Pacific art forms in NZ as being some of the most popularly attended in the country. So we love it when our cream of the crop are honoured every year by Creative NZ, who celebrate the best of Pacific arts and awards five artists accolades and dosh to acknowledge their talents.

This year two actors scoop the pools in the senior artist award - the OG's of Pacific theatre and acting Oscar Kightley and David Fane.…more

The Coconet spoke to Deirdre Corbett before she embarked on her journey to Mongolia to compete in the Miss Face of Beauty International.

You can check out our Humans of the Islands interview with her here  

She is now back in New Zealand and shares her experience with us ....

I was so nervous once I left New Zealand. I couldn't believe this was actually happening!  That I would be competing with about 50-60 girls in a couple of days.

Mongolia is such an amazing place to be in. When I arrived I felt so welcomed and loved by everyone which made me even more excited about everything! Not many people know about this place which makes it even more special!

The hospitality, people and the memories I will forever cherish. Their food is amazing!!!!! I'm pretty sure I have gained a bit of weight haha!

I've learned so many things through out my journey in mongolia such as the food, people, schools, temples etc. The competition was an unforgettable experience.…more

Fijians are fun-loving people. Even though Fiji was known around the world in the late 1700s and early 1800s as the ‘Cannibal Islands’, during peaceful times, games were played by children, young adults and even older ones. It was a time of joy that brought unity and prosperity to the land. When theVanua (referring to both land and people here) was peaceful and prospering, fruits of labour from every corner of Fiji is shared by everyone and this included bountiful land and marine resources.

With the diversity of Fiji’s archipelago, one will find Fijians living on the outer islands such as the Provinces of Lau (Eastern Fiji), Kadavu (Southern Fiji), and Lomaiviti (Central Fiji) for instance (see map). Others live on the main islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, the 2 largest islands. This meant that some tribes are located in the mountains accessinglong meandering rivers from the provinces of Navosa, Ba, Ra, Naitasiri and Namosi. 

Games and relevant tools would vary from place to place as theywould utilize natural resources that were in abundance in those areas.…more

Veisisivi Meke is the traditional dance competition which has been running for the past 4 years in Auckland as part of the Fiji Language Week events.

It is always the most popular of the events along with the main FIJI DAY event.  It's an event where traditional song & dance are encouraged especially for the NZ born children.

Winners:

1. Yasana O Cakaudrove

2. Na Seni Rosi Ni Waikato

3. Santa Ana Meke Group.

Veivisivi Meke happened at the Mangere Centre Park Stadium, where the Fiji Day event also occured on Saturday 8th October.

This year the launch of FLW was held at the Auckland Museum along with the launching of the Museums Pacific Access Collection programme that was attended by well over 300 people.

The theme for FLW is - 'Na Noqu Vosa me'u Bula taka' which means 'My language, learn it, speak it, live it!'

The Museum kindly opened their doors to the community and showcased some of the Fiji Collection that they have in their vault – the Fiji Collection is the biggest out of the Pacific Collection.…more