By Michael Field 

Attended the launching of Tatau: A History of Sāmoan Tattooing, at the Fale Pasifika at Auckland University. Te Papa Press have produced a remarkable work which must surely be in line for a major book award.
It is more the likely going to be the only major cultural study of Sāmoan tattooing for generations - an important fact to consider when faced with British Museum hostility toward the project.
What was sad came in the seminar at the launching conducted by authors Sean Mallon and Sébastien Galliot.

Mallon discussed the various influences that were affecting the design of tatau. I was interested in his comment that the Mau had little effect on design and that so far as the authors could tell , the Mau had focused on song and its uniform, rather than on tattoo.
He said the US occupation of New Zealand Sāmoa did have a striking impact. To prove it he showed a page from their book which showed a line drawing of a male tattoo featuring an obvious American eagle.…more

LEAH PAO 

Retail Manager / Model 

Niuean / Tongan 

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My name is Leah Pao aka the Queen of Tonga aka the Golden Girl. I am a proud descendant of the Pacific and I reign from the islands of Tonga and Niue. I am a retail manager and have recently embarked on my journey as a model. I’m a massive advocate for self love and believe that it is the medicine to heal the world. 

You recently walked NZ Fashion Week for the first time - how was that experience for you?

Walking in NZ fashion week was literally a dream come true. That was the ultimate goal for 2018 and when I walked my first show, I was overwhelmed with emotion because I REALLY DID THAT!!!!  I’m still emotional about it to be honest. Things like this don’t happen for girls like me that often, hence why I’m so emotional.  Not here for the lack of People of Colour but that’s the industry I guess out of all the 100s of models, I literally saw about 4 Pacific Islanders.…more

RUANNA TAGALOASA-LETALU

NATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER - SOLOMON GROUP 

SAMOAN / NIUEAN 

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My name is Ruanna Tagaloasa-Letalu. I am 44 years old. My mother is half Samoan half Niuean. My mother comes from the village of Letogo, my father from the village of Sataoa Safata. I am married with two children both boys (16 and 5 years old). I work for Solomon Group and am the National Partnerships Manager and have been employed for four months. Previously I was employed by the Ministry of Social Development for 18 years. In the last 2.5 years of my work with MSD I was the Operations Manager for Ara (Auckland Airport Jobs and Skills Hub) which was the partnership between government and Auckland Airport to support the 30 year development of the Auckland Airport expansion.…more

ImagineNATIVE Film & Media Arts Festival in Toronto, Canada is the biggest indigenous film festival in the world, and this year Pasifika films represent hard!  

There will be at least 9 Pasifika made stories from Aotearoa at the festival and it is the international premiere of the CoconetTV documentary ‘Marks of Mana’ - which is the only feature film from Aotearoa on the big screen Programme at the festival.  ‘Marks of Mana’ looks at female Tatau in the Pacific and how these ancient marks are being worn again by women today. Coming soon to the Coconet TV!

Check them out below and look out for when they'll be showing at a Film Festival near you!

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MARKS OF MANA 

Lisa Taouma is a Samoan film and television producer and director currently living in Aotearoa. She has worked extensively in the Pacific for over 25 years and is passionate about telling the many diverse stories of this region.…more

EIPUATIARE TUA 

FOOD HARVESTER/GROWER, PHOTOGRAPHER & RED CROSS VOLUNTEER 

COOK ISLANDS 

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My aunt named me Eipuatiare.   As a child growing up in New Zealand, no one could pronounce my name.  To this day, it annoys me when people pronounce my name (or any pacific names) incorrectly. The remedy, my teachers at school shortened my name to Pua, with my parents’ permission.  Eipuatiare means Ei like lei, a garland of Puatiare flowers (Fagraea berteriana) that flourish on Rarotonga. I'm of Cook Islands descent, my Father, the late Iaveta Arthur is from the island of Mangaia, one of the oldest islands in Polynesia, from the district of Oneroa, Tavaenga and my mother the late Kimiora Mami Arthur of Rarotonga from Vaka Takitumu, Ngatangiia Muri.

I was born in Auckland and raised in central Auckland.  Lived my whole life in Herne Bay; previously a working class predominantly Polynesian stronghold and now one of the most affluent neighbourhoods in Auckland City.  I had the privilege of holidaying in Rarotonga almost every year since birth.  I’m the second born of five children.…more

Terron Beckham (well known fitness & sports industry personality - he's also NFL star Odell Beckham Jrs cousin) travels to Samoa to see what it takes for Samoans to chase their weightlifting dreams and lift the small Pacific island to be among the best in the world.

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 ...