Coco News

LUSI FAIVA - SPIRIT OF ATTITUDE AWARD WINNER

Earlier this evening, the Attitude Awards took place - a black-tie gala event celebrating the achievements of those in the disabled community.  As with every year, the nominations are filled with incredible and inspiring stories from both people living with disabilities and able-bodied people who support them. 

Tonight the 'Spirit of Attitude' award which is awarded to someone who has had a unique journey and has risen to the challenges of their disability and applied a positive, 'can-do' spirit,  was won by Lusi Faiva who is of Samoan heritage.  Coco congrats Lusi!  

Born with Cerebal Palsy, Lusi was taken away from her birth parents by the state and placed in an institution.
She was adopted by the Jone's who gave her the support she needed and enabled her to have continued development, then at 13 she was reconnected with her birth monther and Samoan culture.  Her determination toward taking the spotlight and mic which led her to join the family choir and make steps into musical theatre.…more


Entertainment

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson responds to 5 yr old Angelou Brown's letter

Last Wednesday marked White Ribbon Day - the international day when people wear a white ribbon to show that they do not condone violence towards women.

In honour of White Ribbon Day, 'She is not Your Rehab' (a non-religious and non-legislative movement whose mission is to impact the culture around abusive relationships, domestic violence and unhealthy ideals of masculinity) sent a 'She is not your Rehab' t.shirt to Samoan superstar Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson.  They also launched a very special campaign video featuring founder Matt Brown's 5 year old son Angelou Brown.

The video went viral with over 1 million views on both instagram and facebook.

And less than a week later, the man himself has responded to Angelou with this heartfelt post and has also shared the video on his own instagram with all 204 million of his followers!

Check out his message to Angelou and his father here - 


Sports

Mark Hunt on Return Against Paul Gallen - Submission Radio

The Super Samoan Mark Hunt sat down with the Submission Radio boys and discussed his upcoming fight against Paul Gallen, what he's been doing since his last UFC fight, whether he'd consider taking on Mike Tyson and more 


Pacific Blog

Drill rap – What it means for Pasifika?

By Lefaoali’i Dion Enari

Drill rap artists such as One Four and HP Boyz are Australian hip hop icons. But what does this mean for Pasifika?

There is no question of the talent, innovation and influence they possess. For many of their fans, they are amazing musicians. However, for Pasifika youth, particularly in Australia, they see more than just rap artists, more importantly, they see their brothers, cousins and themselves.

As a Pasifika person growing up in Australia; our realities were never reflected in the hip hop industry.

I can remember clearly, much of the hip hop we consumed in Australia was either by white Australians or imported from America or the United Kingdom.

Even the hip hop we heard from other Pasifika people either came direct from the Islands, New Zealand or America. Although I was proud to hear hip hop from people that looked like me and were connected through ethnic ties, I still felt disconnected.…more


Sports

Junior Fa's coach Eugene Bareman on the Parker vs Fa fight being postponed.

After it was confirmed last week Junior Fa had to withdraw from the December 12 fight due to medical reasons, both Junior Fa and Joseph Parkers camps came together for a press conference yesterday to reveal a new date for the bout which has been delayed until February or March 2021.

It's a move Fa's fired-up trainer Eugene Bareman says is just the latest installment in "the Higgins Show"

Watch the full statement from Eugene and responses from fight promoter & Joseph Parker's manager David Higgins and Parkers Coach Kevin Barry in the video above.

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Video Credit:  GladrapChannel


Sports

Juju Smith-Schuster buys a house for his family

Samoan NFL player Juju Smith-Schuster shares how he grew up sleeping on the floor most of his childhood and didn't get his own room until he got to the NFL.  

He surprised his family earlier this year buying them a new house.


Sports

Future Stars Of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga | Pacific Combine 2020

“Rugby, it’s the game played in heaven”

The future stars of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga participated in the 2020 Pacific Combine for a chance to showcase their talents and learn new skills to help them become complete rugby players.

Find out what happened over the three day event earlier this year.


Entertainment

MAMA'S MUSIC BOX | Trailer

The makers of hit films, Three Wise Cousins, Hibiscus & Ruthless and Take Home Pay, are aiming to finish 2020 with something to smile about. They have just released the new trailer for their Pacific Christmas film – Mama’s Music Box.

Mama’s Music Box is a Christmas comedy where on Christmas Eve two grandchildren Matai (Unaloto Funaki) and Sam (Sieni Leo’o Olo) looking for their grandmother’s (Yvonne Maea-Brown) music box for very different reasons. What starts as a simple search turns into a wild chase as they uncover family secrets and unexpected obstacles in a race to get the perfect present before Christmas Day.

Mama’s Music Box is the feature film debut for Sieni Leo’o Olo (a.k.a Bubbah) and first time in a lead role for Unaloto Funaki. It also marks the return of Yvonne Maea-Brown in her third feature film appearance.


Coco News

Congrats to our Pasifika winners at the 2020 Women of Influence Awards

Coco congrats to all of our Pasifika winners at the 2020 Women of Influence Awards which were held last night here in Auckland.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban

In 1999, Hon. Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban became the first Pacific Island woman to be elected to the New Zealand Parliament. She was Minister of Pacific Island Affairs, Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, and Associate Minister of Social Development, Economic Development and Trade.

Dame Winnie resigned from Parliament in 2010 to take up her current role. She is chair of the Public Services Commission Public Service Pacific Fale Governance Group; patron of the Wellington Pasifika Business Network and the Cancer Society Relay for Life; a Creative New Zealand Arts Council board member; and a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors and the Council of the National University of Samoa. She is a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit and was bestowed the Samoan chiefly title Luamanuvao.…more


Entertainment

ONEFOUR & The Kid LAROI “My City” | Beat x Beat: Inside Out

Hear from the artists who are putting Western Sydney and Australian drill music on the global stage.

ONEFOUR's "My City" feat. The Kid LAROI is a defiant tirade that questions the narratives that surround their lives, but check it out as they look to unite outlying suburbs of Sydney.