Unique anti-cancer properties found in Tongan marine sponges, sea cucumber & sea squirts
Research by Victoria University of Wellington PhD graduate Taitusi Taufa has found new medicinal properties in marine sponges collected from Tongan waters, including several unique anti-cancer compounds.
“Through my research I isolated several new natural products with unique and interesting anti-cancer properties, which could help us in the future to synthesize and design new anti-cancer drugs.”
He says his interest in the medicinal properties of natural marine products can be traced back to his childhood on Tongatapu, the main island of Tonga. When he was 8 years old growing up in Tonga he accidentally poked a stick into his cousins eye and doctors there had told them there was nothing they could do and he would never see out of that eye. However, a traditional healer in a neighbouring village applied drops from a local plant and within a month his cousin could see again.
“As a child, my grandparents and mother often used plants and herbal remedies to treat us when we were sick.…more
HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS - SIAKI SI'I
SIAKI FEKITOA NA'A JR aka SIAKI SI'I
ACTOR/DANCER/MODEL/SINGER & EVENT HOST
TONGAN
My name is Siaki Fekitoa Na’a Jr. also known as Siaki Sii. I am third generation to my family name Siaki and I am named after my dad. I was born in the Kingdom Island of Tonga and migrated to Los Angeles, CA at the age of 11 months old.
With my culture it is imperative to name which village my parents are from because that’s how islanders determine your family lineage. My dad is from Pokotala/ Uiha and my mom is from Kolovai/Foui therefore, with Tongan culture we claim the village our father comes from which makes me a proud Pokotala from Ha’apai. Although I am from this amazing island I was given an opportunity of a lifetime to live in the land of the free to work towards an AMERICAN DREAM! My mom is a US citizen by birth and my dad is a Tongan citizen by birth. So I am blessed to be both.…more
TRIBUTE: IN LOVING MEMORY OF PUA MAGASIVA
Pua Magasiva beloved father, brother, son and actor lit up our screens and our lives with his joy and light.
He has been put to rest by the hundreds who loved him from around the country in a beautiful outpouring of alofa.
Manuia lau malaga from the huge community of people who loved you.
SIVA AFI TEINE TOA - MOEMOANA SCHWENKE
By Moemoana Schwenke
So this year Siva Afi teine Toa from all around the world were blessed with a women’s open division for the World Fireknife Championships held in Hawaii at the Polynesian Cultural Centre.Stars aligned and 7 strong and fierce women met in one place to go head to head in a tough competition.
It was an empowering moment for myself just to be apart of it, history in the making. Besides being just a siva Afi competition it really was also celebrating the fact that women can do anything. It was definitely nerve racking but when I was fortunate enough to forward onto the finals I really just felt so proud to be a woman and to be a Samoan, and knowing that made me feel like a winner already.
Before a show hands get sweaty, you may start doing yourself or fear dropping or losing control of the stick, but nerves disappear when you believe in yourself and believe that you know your stuff. Being a female Fireknife dancer is very special.…more
Fresh out da Box - Tevita Hamani
Youth worker Tevita Hamani shares why he's Fresh out da Box and talks about his upbringing, family and why he's passionate about the involvement of youth in politics as a member of Tongas Youth Parliament.
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Credit: Malosi Pictures & Tutu on the Beach
WOMEN OF THE ISLANDS - INDIRA STEWART
INDIRA STEWART
JOURNALIST
TONGAN / FIJIAN
Tongan documentary maker and journalist Indira (Moala) Stewart has made history in the 2025 Voyager Media Awards by having two documentaries in finals of the 'Best Long Form Documentary' category, and featuring as talent in the Coconet's 'Myths and Maidens' piece which is the third finalist in the category.
Best Current Affairs (long) or Documentary
Believers & Betrayers: Inside the Shincheonji ‘Cult’ – Indira Stewart, Will Green, Charlotte Mckenzie | TVNZ
Gang Mums – Indira Stewart, Rewi Heke, Jorja Parsons, Tom Hood | TVNZ
Myths & Maidens – Lisa Taouma | Coconet TV, RNZ
Indira's work is also nominated in two other categories at this year's Voyager Media Awards
Best Current Affairs (short)
Children of Prisoners – Indira Stewart | TVNZ
Le Mana Pacific Award
Children of Prisoners; Believers & Betrayers; Israel and the Pacific – Indira Stewart | TVNZ
WORLD SCHOOL 7s 2019 HIGHLIGHTS
Keepin it Fresh at the World School 7s with highlights from the competition that included teams from Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, Canada, Australia and more held here in New Zealand.
Showcasing up and coming talent from high schools around the world.
KJ APA REMEMBERS LUKE PERRY on THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JIMMY FALLON
Samoan actor KJ Apa - he currently stars as Archie on Riverdale & will also star in the upcoming Netflix romantic comedy The Last Summer which comes out on the 3rd of May.
He visited the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon recently and talked about what he'll miss most about his Riverdale co-star Luke Perry and explained his photo tribute he posted on Instagram after his sudden death in the video above.
He also chops it up with Jimmy about his love of romantic comedies and touring with his rock band Legend.
Check it out in the vid below
HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS - VINCE HARDER
VINCE HARDER
SINGER / SONG WRITER / MUSICIAN / ARTIST
SAMOAN
I was born and raised in West Auckland and lived there for the first half of my school life.…more
THE OLD BROWN WOMAN - A Pasifika short story
by Rosa F.F, Media Design School student
The old brown woman struggles slightly as she straightens her almost frail frame to a stand. Her dry cracked lips part slightly to send up a quick thank you, seemingly to the air above, as she retrieves the empty disposable coffee cup that lay misplaced on the staffroom floor, carelessly tossed without thought, waiting for someone to do their job.
Soon, she thinks to herself tiredly. Toeitiiti.
Only two more weeks of this hardship and she would be able to finish up her thirty-something years at her tedious cleaning job.
Soon she would be able to collect her pension and finally rest at home without having to worry about being jolted in fear that she had overslept.
Her youngest daughter was finally working to help support their large aiga, particularly with the ever increasing rent and bills, so things would be much different now.…more