Coco Solid

Writer/Musician/Artist 

Samoan/German/Māori 

I'm Coco Solid, I'm a writer, musician, visual artist and general media-maker. My real name's Jessica Hansell and I'm Māori (Ngāpuhi) on my mothers side, and Samoan German on my fathers side. My German Samoan grandfather came to Auckland from Apia in the 1940's, the same time as my grandmother migrated from Rarotonga - although she was Samoan she was raised there. So I'm blessed to be a mixed Polynesian bag.

You're a prolific multi-disciplinary artist - what has the journey been like navigating these various creative fields? 

All the mediums I work in, engage with a genuine part of my personality - I also feel all forms of artistry are coming from the same place too. I definitely enjoy change and rotating hats. And I dig amateurism over expertise, identifying as a learner and a beginner especially as I grow and master certain things. It's really just about exploring new dimensions to yourself, I never tire of that.…more

ISAAC TUALAULELEI 

Professional Dancer, Instructor & Aspiring Choreographer 

Samoan 

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Rihanna closed out New York Fashion Week earlier today with a stunning presentation of her SavageXFenty lingerie collection choreographed and directed by our very own Parris Goebel and also featured some of NZ's own ReQuest Dance crew on the catwalk.

She showcased an inclusive line with flexible lingerie for everyone, concluding with the models holding hands showing solidarity.  Check out the show above which was live streamed on Rihanna's YouTube channel from NYC and some of the feedback from people at the show below ...

By Brianna Fruean 

Last month I received a package in the mail. I opened it and was extremely excited to see that it was a “Rise for Pacific Pawa” tshirt. #RiseForClimate and #PacificPawa is a Climate campaign that I’m so proud to be apart of! It is a campaign pushing for our local communities to rise up and truly be the change.

It is no secret that Climate Change is real and that now more than ever we need to take action. I will admit it’s easy to be discouraged when thinking about climate change. In the face of intense heat waves, roaring wildfires, frequent cyclones and rising sea levels it’s easy to lose hope… but this is exactly when WE SHOULD RISE! Now is time we should come together and make a change. This is why, this week people everywhere are campaigning to ‘Rise for Climate”. On the 8th of September in cities, town squares, capital buildings and islands around the world, people rose up to demand that politicians stand with their communities and deliver more than just words.…more

Fepulea'i Margie Apa

CEO for Interim Health New Zealand 

Samoan 

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Counties Manukau District Health Board's Fepulea'i Margie Apa has just been named the chief executive of the interim Health New Zealand.

Health New Zealand and the Māori Health Authority will become permanent entities on 1 July - replacing the 20 district health boards.

Fepulea'i Margie Apa said her work with the Counties Manukau community has prepared her well for the role.

"Working with you [Counties Manukau] over the last 14 years and more proudly the last three as CEO, through measles, through Whakaari, through Covid on top of our usual pressures serving a high needs community, who are deserving and entitled to so much more," she said.

She has about 25 years experience in the health sector and is expected to start her new role in the first quarter of 2022.

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We caught up with Fepulea'i Margie Apa when she was appointed CEO for Counties Manukau DHB - the first Samoan to become a CEO of a district health board in NZ.  Her interview with us below ...…more

* Trigger warning - this article and videos on this page contains discussions about mental health issues & suicide. Viewer discretion and parental guidance is advised.

NRL & Mate Ma'a Tonga star Andrew Fifita shares the moment he tried to take his own life and his journey with Mental Health and depression in the video above.

His story is a reminder that Mental Health is an issue for everyone.…more

KALOLAINE LEPA TALIA ANNE TALEI LOUISE LOKOTUI FUNGANITAO 

Miss Heilala 2018 / Studying Arts (Maori & Pacific Studies) and Law

Tongan 

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Fakatapu mo e Hou‘eiki ‘oku me‘a ni,

‘Alā si‘i kāinga ‘o Tonga Masani

Kae fai atu ha fakafotufotulā

Ki he kaunanga ni mei he Kolongatatá

Uisa ‘alā mo si‘i Funga Matahivá

Kali-‘o-Paú ‘oku te manatuá

Mate ‘ofa kita he Funga Ofolangá

Ko e huli ‘apē ‘o e Kilikilitefuá

Fakama‘unga he Funga Fāuá

Ka ‘e ngalo ‘afē si‘oto mafu tefuá

Vai ko Latai mo e Hoositeá

Ko au Kalolaine Lepa Talia Anne Talei Louise Lokotui Funganitao

Hoto ‘ofa atu hoto ‘ofa fau

Ngata e tala ni kuo mahino atu.

I greet you by first acknowledging the homes of my ancestors.  This is one that I used in my Pre-Pageant Interview for the Miss Heilala Pageant. I am from the villages of Ha’afeva, Mo’unga’one, Ma’ufanga and Fua’amotu - Tonga.  I also have bloodlines from nations elsewhere, one of those being from Fiji, so Bula Vinaka to anyone hailing from there.…more

What to expect at a LGBTQI conference in Samoa?
How about having the opening ceremony and key note speaker from Deputy Prime minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa,  four days of laying fa’afafine issues on the table and a kick ass Fa’afafine pageant that is one of the most popular events in Samoa? Yes! Everything that our Queer warriors before us worked so hard for, and a safe space for all LGBTQI in the Pacific.

“Having the conference here in Samoa will allow us to speak about the issues for LGBTI community in the region" says Tuisina Ymania Brown-Gabriel, the Executive director of the Pacific Human Rights Initiative and Global Ambassador of the Samoan Fa’afafine Association.

One of the many main problems  she wants to highlight are how pastors use religion against the Fa’afafine community.

 “Prosecute all other people that are sinners in the Bible. For example, the Bible specially talks abut no working on Sunday by our tourism industry will fail if they shut down on Sunday.…more