KJ Apa - Black Beatles Cover
Check out KJ and Asha's cover of Black Beatles, originally by Rae Sremmurd ft. Gucci Mane. You might recognize this song from the Mannequin Challenge.
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The wider issues around the brutal reality of children living in the SVSG shelter
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Samoa Victim Support Group - A Ray of Hope to many
The Samoa Victim’s Support Group (SVSG) is an organization dear to my heart & it always will be.
Last April was the opening of the Ray of Hope House, a home built in honour of my late father and all that he stood for: love, kindness, and a special generosity for those in need.
The home was built to be a place of comfort and peace for young mothers that experienced traumatic journeys of sexual violence - 6 bedrooms, 18 beds, and a nursing room that I will always be proud of.
SVSG takes in everyone that comes to their door in search of a life free from violence. However, they do not always have the resource to accommodate their ever-expanding shelter. The majority of their staff mostly consists of temporary volunteers so it is also difficult to keep consistency of operations.
In whatever way they fall short as an organization, it is but a molehill in comparison to the mountain of incredible work they do, the lives they save, and the contribution they make to the welfare of our country.…more
THE WAY TO MOANA
Take a look behind the scenes at the research that went into making Moana.
Disney recognised the value of working with communities & people in the various islands to help craft the story. The directors went to Tahiti, Moorea, Samoa & Fiji to get a deepers sense of the traditions that built the islands & themselves and the songwriters drew upon the islands rich musical cultures & the diversity of music in this part of the world!
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MARK HUNT SUES UFC for 2.5 MILLION
SAMOA OKA FESTIVAL
The 2nd annual 'Oka Festival' took place in early December last year in Beautiful Samoa.
It was a great day out to see local aspiring chefs compete together - Horace Evans owner of Home Cafe & Joe Lam owner of Scalini's Restaurant (& organisers of the Oka Fest) break down the criteria for judging and why you should put it in your calendar this year!
The competition requires participating restaurants to submit a team of 3 that will compete in 3 separate categories, coconut husking and milking, tuna filleting and Oka making, using local ingredients to create one unique Oka dish.
Credit:
Director/Editor: Mario Faumui
Cam Op: Dazzlombard
Sound Op: Wilhelm Voigt
Researcher: Lizie Koroivulaono
Thank You:
Samoa Tourism Association
Taumeasina Island Resort
Samoa Culinary Association
Joe Lam
Horace Evans
Home Café
The Rock Responds
Every month Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson responds to his The Rock YouTube comments & questions.
He started off 2017 with his January Q&A here - enjoy!
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MOANA and Climate Change!
Over the past few weeks our very own Polynesian heroine has taken the world by storm. After years of trying to search for little bits of ourselves in Jasmine, Mulan and Elsa, our Pacific people finally have a MOANA to call our very own. Instead of looking to the western world, the western world is now stopping, turning around and looking to us.
Almost everything in MOANA gave me chills, from the Tatau on Chief Tui to the familiar beats of Te Vaka. Although, there was one scene that stood out the most to me, the scene where Grandma Tala’s spirit appears to reinsure MOANA of her purpose and MOANA sings “I am a girl who loves my island, I’m the girl who loves the sea, it calls me”. At the sound of those lyrics images of Pacific climate change warriors and activists started appearing in my head.…more
SAVEA BROTHERS vs WILLIAMS SISTERS
Ardie & Julian Savea took off their rugby boots and picked up tennis rackets for a good cause at the ASB Classic yesterday.
They took on the Williams sisters - Venus and Serena - in a charity match which raised over $65k for the city of Kaikoura which had been badly damaged in an earthquake towards the end of last year.
The boys also had help from another tennis star Caroline Wozniacki and at one point even Venus jumped sides against Serena.
Great day out and a chance to see tennis super stars in action!
Check out some more of the highlights below ...
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The People & Moments that made us 'Proud Nesians' in 2016
Before we step into 2017 lets take a look back at the people and moments that have made us 'Proud Nesians' in 2016
In no particular order:
Pita Taufatofua - Tongan Flag Bearer at the Rio Olympics
Um Yeeeeeees Pleeeeeease Pita!
Kings single 'Don't Worry Bout It' beats Lordes 'Royals' record for longest number of consecutive weeks at Number 1!
We caught up with Kingdon Chaplle-Wilson earlier in the year here
Steven Adams signs $140 million contract extension with the OKC Thunder
This makes him the highest paid NZ athlete
So much love for Moana this week in particular as it opened to the public in New Zealand and Australia. I don't know anyone who has seen it who hasn't felt emotional or proud at the way we've been portrayed as Polynesians.…more