Tell us a little bit about yourself and why you started hair dressing?

My name is Celeste Agnes Nannette Read. That is a really European name for a girl from the villiage of Toomatagi in Apia. I was born in Pago Pago and then raised in Western Samoa until the age of 9, where my entire immediate family moved to Hawaii to support my mother at university and for a more progressive life. I have always been a resilient and resourceful child with a strong rebellious streak, and so at the age of 14, I was sent to live with my Palagi father in New Zealand. Arriving from Hawaii to Taumarunui was an eye opener, but I went with it, believing I would be there for a year. We soon moved to New Plymouth where I still live today.

Leaving school after 6th form was tough as it meant giving up on university and becoming an art teacher. I chose to become a hairdresser much to my Mothers dismay. (Not going to University was a big deal).…more

When you thought it couldn’t get any better, it just did. Renowned for their strikingly bold and beautiful pasifika prints, MENA have officially launched their summer collection for 2017.

After first being established in Samoa, 2002; now many moons later, MENA has found it’s way to the central suburb of Grey Lynn, Auckland. A family business run by four sisters (Agnes, Jackie, Gina, Charlene) and their mother (Mena Loheni), it was important for them to showcase more of their cultural pride through another unique collection.

The ‘Salamasina collection’ was named in honour of Queen Salamasina; a significant Samoan leader who held four chiefly titles that earned her the paramount status of Tafa’ifa.

Jackie Loheni expressed the meaning behind why it was important for her and her sisters to name this collection.

“We wanted to pay tribute to Salamasina but it was also a reflection on our customers too. Strong, working women.”

As well as beauty found within the clothing of this collection, MENA collaborated with Shahana Jewellery, a renowned pearl jeweler, who intergrated gorgeous pieces to match the attire.…more

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

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

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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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

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, 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

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