Story collated and written by Haitelenisia Afemui ‘Uhila Angilau for her 'Ordinary Tongan Lives' facebook page

“At about 2:30pm yesterday, we were at Fanga selling a truck-load of manioke. After 30 minutes of sitting there, we sold one basket. That’s when I called my Mom and asked to speak to my Dad. I wanted his permission to give away the cassava for free—especially for those in dire circumstances after the cyclone. My Dad grows a lot of different crops. We help him and we also sell his crops. Knowing him, I knew he’d say yes. It’s something he’s always done so of course he said yes. We stopped selling right away and headed straight to Pātangata. We stopped at every house to drop a basket for each family. Many of them thought they had to buy them.

They told us how they live off the ocean and don’t have tax allotments for farming. I really felt for a lot of them. They definitely needed it. Some people ran to their houses to get seafood in exchange for what we gave.…more

On Monday the 3rd of August, the State of Victoria in Australia entered a State of Disaster (Stage 4 Lockdown).

Many of the Pasifika communities in the State were needing precise information on the lockdown rules in order to pass on to families and elders where English is their second language.

Rita Seumanutafa and the Standing Together - Brimbank Pasifika Facebook page have worked together with local translators to get this resource and information out to the Pasifika communities. 

Please find this important information below summarised and translated into Fijian, Niuean, Samoan & Tongan.

** IMPORTANT COVID UPDATE **

As promised, here are the STAGE 4 RESTRICTIONS in Pacific languages. We apologise for the delay in getting these organised, government is too slow for us and our Pasefika communities need accurate information ASAP, so we have called on our local elders for help with this.…more

As part of her Cacao and Kofe retreats she runs on Ms Sunshine Farms for tourists and locals, Chocolate Creator Floris Niu is transforming the way Samoans think about Koko Samoa - imparting her knowledge and experience in growing and processing cacao to creating new cooking traditions with her brand of organic Koko Samoa.

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Shot & Edited by Denisa Maňásková.

Narration & Story - Floris Niu 

Producer - Liz Ah Hi 

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* This content has been developed with support funding from the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR)

Get to know the Valu famili from the first ever Tongan language drama series: 'Brutal Lives - Mo'ui Faingata'a'

The full series premieres here tomorrow night on the CoconetTV 

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Soane Valu 

Played by Joe Folau 

Soane, the ‘Shark’ Valu was the hope of the South Pacific. Twenty years ago, the Tongan boxer had the world at his feet and the hopes and dreams of the whole Pacific until it all came crashing down when he lost the challenge for the World Heavyweight title.  Too embarrassed to return to Aotearoa, Soane hid away in America for 20 years until he is confronted by his father’s spirit.  Soane returns home for his father but is too late.  He’s rejected by his three kids he left behind and his angry sister.  But his problems run far deeper when he discovers the family’s curse and the spirit that’s been tormenting him and his family. He must do what it takes to protect his loved ones.…more

BRUTAL LIVES - MO'UI FAINGATA'A 

ACTOR PROFILE 

SESILIA PUSIAKI 

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Malo e lelei my name is Sesilia Pusiaki Tatuila daughter of Ahosivi and Asipesio Tatuila. My dad is from Lapaha and mum is from Atata. I’m the third eldest of five and was raised on the Northshore, Northcote. My mother and father were one of the founding members of the Tongan Catholic Community on the shore so being part of this wider Tongan community played a big role in my life growing up and even though we’ve moved to Onehunga my Northshore community and families will always be a part of me. My father taught Tongan faiva within the church there so singing, dancing and performing was a way of life for me so graduating from P.I.P.A empowered me to realise that being a Tongan performing artist is who I am. Did I also mention I’m a mother of five. Their numbers are eight/ six/ five/ two and nine months, as well as a partner that supports everything I do. I’m BLESSED.…more

BRUTAL LIVES - MO'UI FAINGATA'A 

ACTOR PROFILE 

SESILIA PUSIAKI 

.

Malo e lelei my name is Sesilia Pusiaki Tatuila daughter of Ahosivi and Asipesio Tatuila. My dad is from Lapaha and mum is from Atata. I’m the third eldest of five and was raised on the Northshore, Northcote. My mother and father were one of the founding members of the Tongan Catholic Community on the shore so being part of this wider Tongan community played a big role in my life growing up and even though we’ve moved to Onehunga my Northshore community and families will always be a part of me. My father taught Tongan faiva within the church there so singing, dancing and performing was a way of life for me so graduating from P.I.P.A empowered me to realise that being a Tongan performing artist is who I am. Did I also mention I’m a mother of five. Their numbers are eight/ six/ five/ two and nine months, as well as a partner that supports everything I do. I’m BLESSED.…more