Three Samoan Seasonal Workers Killed by Inadequate Median Barriers, Coroner Finds
Three Samoan seasonal workers are being mourned across Aotearoa and Samoa after a crash a coroner says could have been prevented if highway median barriers had met modern safety standards.
In findings released publicly on Tuesday, Coroner Alison Mills concluded that the deaths of Ta’avao Kelemete, Uili Fa’aofo and Leauga Jerry Leauga on State Highway 1 between Bombay and Ramarama on August 26, 2024, were avoidable.
The three men, all related, were travelling in a van with colleagues when a southbound truck crossed the median and collided with them. They died at the scene. A 21 year old remains in critical condition, and two others were injured.
Initial police indications suggested a tyre blew out on the truck, causing it to veer off course. But the coroner found the tragedy was compounded by a legacy wire median barrier installed in the late 1990s that failed to prevent the truck from crossing into oncoming traffic.
Mills stated the crash could have been prevented if the median barrier had been up to current safety standards.…more
New Fa’alupega Mobile App Bridges Ancient Samoan Tradition and Modern Technology
“Fa’alupega is not just words. It is the map of who we are and where we come from.”
For Julius To'o, that belief sits at the heart of the new Fa’alupega mobile app, launched in Porirua, Wellington and now available on iOS and Android.
At a time when more Sāmoans are being raised outside their ancestral villages and fluent speakers are declining globally, To’o says the decision to digitise one of Sāmoa’s most sacred cultural practices was not about convenience, but continuity.
“By placing this knowledge in a mobile format, we honour our elders and orators while empowering the next generation, whether they live in Sāmoa, New Zealand, Australia, the United States or beyond, to engage confidently with their identity. This is about protecting our culture in a digital world without compromising its meaning.”
Fa’alupega, the honorific language that acknowledges chiefly titles, village hierarchies, ancestral lands and lineages, has traditionally been passed down through service, ceremony and direct guidance from elders and tūlāfale. For some, the idea of digitising such sacred knowledge may raise concerns.…more
Tourism at Risk? Airlines Warn Over Samoa’s $180 Departure Cost
Airlines are pushing back after the Samoa Airport Authority confirmed a sharp hike in departure costs at Faleolo International Airport, with carriers warning the move could price out local families and hurt tourism.
From 1 March 2026, passengers aged 12 and over departing Samoa will face a combined $180 in airport charges. The existing departure tax will rise from $65 to $80, while a new $100 Aerodrome Facility Charge will be introduced. The fees apply to all bookings made or modified after that date and will be automatically added to airfares.
The International Air Transport Association has raised concerns about the impact on connectivity, particularly for island nations. In a statement, IATA said the increases would add to the cost burden for Samoan nationals and the diaspora, as well as tourists, and urged the government to reconsider.
‘Talofa Airways’ director Jeffrey Hunter told RNZ Pacific the increase is significant, especially for smaller aircraft operators servicing regional routes. While acknowledging the airport authority’s need to recover infrastructure costs, he said higher fares could make travel unaffordable for some families.…more
HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS - TYRUN
TYRUN
NIUEAN/SAMOAN
MUSICIAN
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Introduce yourself, your Pacific heritage, where you grew up and what you create.
Fakaalofa lahi atu kia mutolu oti, ko e higoa haaku ko Tyrun. Yo, I’m Tyrun, Aotearoa born Niuean-Samoan singer/songwriter/artist based in Tāmaki Makaurau! While creativity drives me into creative projects that traverse multiple creative disciplines, my main goal is to make music for your ears, eyes and heart.
Take us back to the beginning. What did music sound like in your home growing up?
It sounded like the melting pot I see around me, the intersection of Pasifika identity being built in the diaspora, in Aotearoa. It sounded like The Nolan Sisters, Boney M, Gladys Knight, Brandy, Britney Spears, Pretty Ricky, 3LW, Adeaze, Aaradhna. It sounded like a Fresh Off Da Boat mixtape - sounds of rnb, soul and pop crafted into mixes that made you want to sing and move.
You’ve said, “I do not see many stories about being queer and Niuean.…more
HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS - DENYCE SU'A
DENYCE SU'A
ACTOR, WRITER & STORYTYELLER
Denyce Su'a Comes Full Circle with New Massive Theatre Company Production HOME MADE
Fresh off the return of her deeply personal stage production Talosaga, Denyce Su'a is stepping into a new role, directing HOME MADE, the latest original production from Massive Theatre Company as the company celebrates its 35th anniversary.
Premiering at Te Pou Theatre from 22 to 25 July before travelling to ONEONESIX from 29 to 31 July, HOME MADE explores belonging, identity, whānau, friendship and the people and places that shape what we call home.
For Denyce, directing the production marks a significant milestone.
"I've been describing it as my 'full circle' moment with the company. I joined this company at 19 years old, and was an ensemble member for a number of years. In 2016, I did the emerging artists production as an actor and so now, 10 years later, to be directing the show is pretty buzzy. I feel super blessed."
She says being part of Massive's 35th anniversary makes the experience even more meaningful.…more
HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS - ROMI WRIGHTS
ROMI WRIGHTS
TOKELAUAN/SAMOAN/AFRICAN AMERICAN
ARTIST
Introduce yourself, your pacific heritage and what do?
Taloha ni! My name is Romi Wrights.I am of Tokelauan, Samoan, and African American descent. I’m a mother and a singer-songwriter, and at the moment I’m currently studying law with the hope of becoming a music lawyer.
What was your journey into your arts like?
It’s been a long journey.I’ve been pursuing this dream for at least 15 years. It hasn’t been smooth, and there were definitely times when I wanted to give up, but looking back I’ve learned so much along the way and wouldn’t change a thing.
Did you always know you wanted to be an artist/musician?
Yes, I’ve known since I was 11 years old that I wanted to be a singer. Growing up, I joined every choir, kapa haka group, and school production I could, just to sing as much as possible. I also took bass lessons, but my heart always kept pulling me back to singing.…more
Teenager Charged Over Shooting of Former NRL Star as Underworld Feud Intensifies
Teenager Charged Over Shooting of Former NRL Star as Underworld Feud Intensifies
A 16-year-old boy has been arrested and charged in relation to the shooting of former NRL premiership winner Matt Utai, as Western Sydney’s escalating gang conflict spills further into public view.
Police allege the teenager handled the firearm used in Tuesday morning’s targeted attack on the 44-year-old outside a Greenacre home just after 6am. Utai was shot multiple times and rushed to hospital, where he remains in a serious but stable condition following surgery.
Detectives believe the attack was not random. Authorities suspect the intended target may have been Utai’s son, Iziah Utai, who is believed to be overseas.
Alleged Underworld Feud
Police believe the violence is connected to rising tensions between the once-powerful Alameddine crime family and a group described by authorities as the “Coconut Cartel,” which Superintendent Brad Abdy has labelled a “crime for hire group.”
Investigators allege the feud culminated in the shooting of Utai and has involved a string of retaliatory shootings and arsons across Sydney’s west.…more
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
Destanee Aiava Blasts ‘Racist and Misogynistic’ Tennis Culture as She Announces Shock Retirement
“Behind the white outfits and traditions is a culture that's racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile to anyone who doesn’t fit its mould.” Destanee Aiava slams racsim in professional tennis
When you carry the hopes of your people onto a stage that was never designed with you in mind, the weight is different.
Samoan Australian tennis player Destanee Aiava has announced that 2026 will be her final year in professional tennis, closing a chapter that began when she was just a teenager with a racquet and a dream. For many across the Pacific diaspora, she was more than a ranking - she was representation, a brown girl in white tennis gear, standing in spaces that have historically excluded people who look like her.
In a powerful and deeply personal statement, Aiava reflected on the cost of dedicating her entire life to the sport.
“From the moment I had my first lesson at Casey Tennis Club, my entire life was tennis,” she wrote.…more
Pacific unemployment still highest in NZ months after State of the Nation warning
State of the Nation report warned Pacific families were falling behind. New unemployment figures show little has changed.
When The Salvation Army released its State of the Nation 2026 report in February this year, it painted a devastating picture for Pacific communities across Aotearoa.
The report found Pacific children were experiencing the highest rates of material hardship in the country. Nearly three in every ten Pacific children were living without essentials, almost half were experiencing food insecurity, and Pacific people faced the highest unemployment rate of any ethnic group.
Three months later, new unemployment figures suggest those warnings have not eased.
Statistics released on 7 May show Pasifika unemployment remains the highest in New Zealand at 11.9 percent, compared with a national unemployment rate of 5.3 percent. In Auckland, where nearly two-thirds of Pacific people live, unemployment sits even higher at 13 percent.
Although slightly lower than the December 2025 quarter, the rate is still higher than this time last year.…more