Introducing young filmmaker blazing the scene at the moment... Amberley Jo Aumua!

Kia ora Whanau, Malo ‘aiga my name is Amberley Jo Aumua. I’m 22 years old of Samoan/Maori descent and I’m a storyteller. I grew up in Manurewa , South Auckland and I’m the middle child of 5 siblings.

I directed a short film written by Samuel Kamu called “Waiting.” It’s about two boys who wait outside a dairy for a phone-call. It was chosen as one of six finalists for Best Shorts NZIFF 2017 and took away the jury prize for Best Short Film in New Zealand at NZIFF 2017. It has also been selected to screen at Toronto International Film Festival 2017 next month.

This past year I’ve worked on and supported many projects that I believe in such as Vela Manusaute’s  short film “The Messiah,” Rachel House & Tweedie Waititi’s “Moana (Te Reo Maori)”, and Hanelle Harris’& Mia Marama’s “Baby Mama’s Club” Web series

How did you end up on this path in film?

I’ve always been introverted and in my own world.…more

SESALINA SIMONETTI aka Shezel 

Hair Braider at King Fadez (Kingsland)

Tongan 

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Tell us a bit about yourself - What you do / Where you're from / Your Pacific heritage.

I was born and raised on the North Shore, Auckland. My parents are from Tonga - Dad is also of French/italian heritage and born in Fungamisi Neiafu Vavau Lahi.  My Mum is fromTatakamoTonga / Kolomotua Nukualofa Tonga.  They now live in Auckland.

Before getting this job – I was volunteering for church groups and second hand stores. I’m a full time mother of three kids (7,6 & 3yrs).  Now I’m working here at King Fadez as a full time member doing braids.

Its always been a hobby, something I always enjoyed especially back in high school, when we used to be rocking corn braids for dancing competitions. Then I thought I would start it up at home, so as a part time gig on the side, I was doing corn braids.…more

Keepin it Fresh at Barbercraft 2017! 

Barbers from around New Zealand were out in force to showcase their skills in demonstrations & battles.

The 2 day event also included an industry preview for barbers & others in the hair & beauty industry.

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Credits:  

Director & Editor:  Aaron Taouma

Camera Operators:  Fa'anati Mamea 

Sound Operator:  David Green 

Seta Tamanivalu, Joni Macilai & Manasa Mataele go back to their homeland of Fiji for the Crusaders Super Rugby match against the Chiefs.

Anne Christine Dunn

Paralegal preparing to pass the bar & reigning Miss Hibiscus, Miss Fiji & Miss Pacific Islands 

Fijian 

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Tell us a bit about yourself and your Pacific Island heritage.

I’m full Fijian. My Dad is from Namosi, and my mum is from Nadroga. So usually when I introduce myself, I say I’m from Namosi, vasu i Nadroga. I come from a family of two – there’s just my brother (Amos) and I, who’s 12 years older, and he has three beautiful children.

After living in the United States for so long, what brought you back to Fiji?

After elementary and high school in California, I graduated then moved to Fiji to be with my Dad. The most defining experience for me was definitely moving to Fiji. I don’t think people realise how different life is to what people perceive it to be in America. People think you have “the life” when you’re brought up overseas, but in reality, I didn’t have that, and I was raised by a single mother.…more

By Floris Niu

Leaving the corporate world of NZ for my village Cacao farm in Samoa is a journey into nature, customary land, village life, organic Cacao growing plus re-discovering & re-inventing my island diet…

I had been stuck in a corporate job in NZ, making good money, for almost 2 decades yet my life was going nowhere. I worked so hard and for long hours that my body broke. Yes, your body can break and it warns you about this break-down through sudden and unexplained illness.

Sometimes life tricks you into thinking that everything is going so well…you’re becoming a success and achieving all the goals you thought were important in your life.

Then BOOM! In a split second, you end up in emergency surgery fighting for your life. You end up having serious conversations with God about giving you another chance because you had so many plans…and much more to live for.

I’m almost certain that I am not the first person to bargain with God during a “near-death-experience” episode.…more

The Ultimate Waterman is a New Zealand based global surfing event to find the world’s best all-round waterman across multiple surfing disciplines.

The world’s finest watermen will come together in New Zealand in 2016 to compete in eight different surfing disciplines over nine days. 

The eight disciplines will include:
• Shortboard surfing
• Longboard surfing
• Stand Up Paddle (SUP) surfing
• Stand Up Paddle (SUP) endurance (16km race)
• Big Wave Paddle in surfing
• Waka-Ama endurance (16km race)
• Prone Paddleboard race (technical short course through waves)
• Underwater strength run and swim race (25m underwater run and 25m swim)

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Director: Olly Coddington

We're keepin it fresh with our Pasifika boys in the NRL Pacific Leadership camp.

The NRL run a Pacific Leadership camp and bring in 2 or 3 players from each club who've been identified by their clubs as guys with leadership potential.  

The aim is to challenge and upskill them to enable them to help our Pacific communities a bit more.

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CREDITS:

Directors:  Shimpal Lelisi & Danny Aumua

Camera Operators:  Danny Aumua & Penina Momoiseā

Sound Operator:  Marty Cox 

Producer:  Lisa Taouma

Thank you 

Nigel Vagana, NRL Australia, NRL Welfare & Education, Pasifika Film Fest & University of New South Wales 

Highlights from One Love Festival 2017 in Tauranga ...

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Director/Editor:  Mario Faumui 

Camera Operators:  Darryl Laumua, Jared Leith & Lizie Koroivulaono 

Sound:  Nate Leith & Marcus Lawson 

Researcher:  Olly Coddington 

Production Manager:  Natasha Panui-Morris 

Producer:  Lisa Taouma 

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Thank You:

Pato Alvarez 

Bernadette Talanoa 

Shantelle Mahia