Briefs - Close Encounters
Fabulous. Brilliant. Vibrant. Fun. A whole lot of “colossal” brought into one!
Fez Fa’anana, creative director of Breifs - Close encounters, has brought the magic to Auckland. A variety show that encompasses circus, drag, burlesque and comedy all through the art of theatre.
“It’s theatre in a bent, upside down world”. He chuckles.
A New Zealand born Samoan, raised in Australia, Fez felt responsible in portraying strong messages through his new show as an expression of protest and peace.
“For this show in particular, I wanted to address some of the crazy stuff that’s going on at the moment. Cars are being used as weapons, we’ve been questioned about equality and marriage; in Australia there’s uncertainty and un-rest in public spaces… …I just wanted to make a show to demonstrate how extraordinary we humans are.”
Being a Samoan bearded lady brings elements of uniqueness to a show such as this one.
“The Samoan culture is about reflecting your habitat and reflecting your lifestyle.…more
THE FI is in the JI
And so it comes to this. Kiwi supporters trying to dissect the results of the past two weeks. In this we can tell a couple of things. Firstly, they didn’t expect Tonga to win. Secondly, they didn’t expect Fiji to win either.
But the Bula boys with the most flamboyant afro’s in the competition showed the Kiwi’s that the Fee was in the Gee (Fiji), and unlike David Kidwell’s post match interviews, there was a coherency around this Fiji performance that will have the small islands partying into the wee hours of the morning.
As games go, this one was much tighter than the Kiwi/Tonga bash fest. This was an 80 minute mystery. The type of game that has sports betting agencies on edge. But more importantly, it was a game that proves the island teams are on the rise, and that the Kiwi fan base is in shreds.
Last week the Tongan fans packed the Hamilton stadium, outnumbering the kiwi supporters at least 20:1. This week it looked like I could count the Kiwi supporters on both my feet.…more
TAI TUIVASA - UFC DEBUT
Watch as Tai "BAM BAM" Tuivasa starts off his journey embarking on his UFC debut 3 years ago.
The foboriginal (Samoan/Aboriginal) kid from the area will fight tomorrow morning on the UFC 254 prelims at UFC Fight Island.
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Episode 2:
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Episode 3:
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Episode 4:
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Episode 5:
10 things you need to know about the Tongan election
While rugby league and the prospect of a Tongan team taking the World Cup is currently gripping Tongans around the world, in the Kingdom there is an election to be won today.
Massey University Pasifika Director Associate Professor Malakai Kolamatangi will be an observer at the election and says this is what you need to know ahead of the vote.
* The election is a year early after King George Tupou the sixth dismissed the country's scandal-ridden Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva and dissolved parliament in August and called for a fresh election.
* The Government was dissolved on the advice of the Speaker of the House Lord Tu'ivakano and the Tongan Privy Council. It follows a series of Government controversies including the dismissal of three cabinet ministers including one convicted of bribery, the creation of a golf course at the Popua wetland and heritage area, a decision to part privatise the National Broadcaster and the decision to pull out of hosting the Pacific Games.…more
Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
Mate Ma’a Tonga – The mighty Tongans topple the mighty Kiwi team with a well placed jandal to the eye.
Last night we saw the RLWC 2017 spring to life. A titanic struggle of Polynesian warriors defying the laws of physics and pound each other to a pulp. If this game kept to script New Zealand should have come out with a few bruises but a win safely in the bag. The only problem was someone forgot to give the Tongan team the memo, that when you are down by 10 odd points you are supposed to roll over and die.
With a full stadium of red and white flags, and Tongan songs in full voice, the Kiwi’s could have been excused for thinking they were playing in Nuku’alofa. The crowd atmosphere was phenomenal and only intensified as the Tongans questioned, then bludgeoned the Kiwi defence. The simple game plan worked. Hard running forwards would muscle up on the New Zealand defense, while the young halves would pepper the New Zealand back three with high balls and a good chase.…more
MANU SAMOA: A Viewer Comments
If we are all honest with ourselves, then there is no surprise the Samoa Rugby Union is broke. Who could have guessed that after years of financial mismanagement and corruption the once mighty Manu would be brought to its knees in such an embarassing fashion?
Well we all did really.
The fact that it happened today doesn't make it any easier to swallow. The alarm bells were there, and culminated in a player revolt at the 2011 World Cup. The promises made by the board and the Prime Minister have changed nothing. The levels of corruption at SRU must be so deeply rooted you would need Wonder Woman and all her sisters from the girl island to dig for a thousand years before you could weed it all out.
Yes there were a few that fought a good fight in the name of the Manu and it's players, but most of them, where it most mattered sat back and enjoyed the ride. In a sense I'm glad it has come to this.…more
MEET DANIEL FA'ALELE
Meet Daniel Fa'alele, a 6 ft 9, 180 kg Samoan/Tongan, 17 year old out of Melbourne Australia.
He gained a football scholarship to the IMG Academy High School Football team in Florida after a chance meeting with a NFL recruiter in a Melbourne gym and before he'd even played a game in the US he'd already received College scholarship offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida State, Hawaii, Miami, Michigan and Oregon State!
Check out more of his story here in this article on Sports Illustrated
HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS: KATHARINE & JESSIE ATAFU-MAYO
KATHARINE & JESSIE ATAFU-MAYO
Fine Arts & Visual Arts Students
Samoan/Palagi
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Katharine: We’re New Zealand born Afakasi’s. Half Samoan from Mum’s side and half European from Dad’s. I’m the eldest of three girls. We initially grew up in Te Atatu North but after a little shuffle around, we’re now living in Grafton. I keep busy now days with a lot of study and work. I’m currently a second year Fine Arts student at Whitecliffe School of Art and Design and I’m working part time fixing people’s Internet at a telecommunication Centre. Busy, busy, busy!
Jessie: I sit nicely in the middle of the Mayo sister clang. I’m in my last year of studying Visual Art’s at AUT and work part time in retail. Like my sis, lot’s of our time is spent on study and work but I think if we ever get spare time these days we love to explore, check out art galleries and chill on our back deck listening to music.
What inspired you both to want to become artists?
Growing up we were constantly surrounded by creatives.…more
EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO BE - Tonga Leiti's Association
An ad campaign to create awareness of the need for law reform so that people with diverse Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities are not discriminated against in the Kingdom of Tonga.
TANOA - Samoa Clothing Store Open in Onehunga
Samoa’s very own Tanoa clothing store has made it’s way to the shores of Aotearoa. Co-owners, Aaron Forsgren and Taupa'u Bruce Leiataua opened their Onehunga branch in October and we were privileged to be apart of it.
Aaron Forsgren expressed his excitement about their new store.
“When we first started this company, our original focus was to utilise local Samoan and Polynesian artists to help develop this. We’ve done that and now it’s always going to be our vision - that we will promote the Polynesian Heritage in a big city.”
All Blacks legend, La'auli Sir Michael Jones, had a few great things to say about his brother-in-law’s brand too.
“I’m really proud of my brother Bruce and the team. I’m proud of everyone involved. I feel blessed to be apart of it in the small way that I’ve been able to contribute - along with the support from the rest of our family.…more