Experiencing "MISS FACE OF BEAUTY INTERNATIONAL 2016"
The Coconet spoke to Deirdre Corbett before she embarked on her journey to Mongolia to compete in the Miss Face of Beauty International.
You can check out our Humans of the Islands interview with her here
She is now back in New Zealand and shares her experience with us ....
I was so nervous once I left New Zealand. I couldn't believe this was actually happening! That I would be competing with about 50-60 girls in a couple of days.
Mongolia is such an amazing place to be in. When I arrived I felt so welcomed and loved by everyone which made me even more excited about everything! Not many people know about this place which makes it even more special!
The hospitality, people and the memories I will forever cherish. Their food is amazing!!!!! I'm pretty sure I have gained a bit of weight haha!
I've learned so many things through out my journey in mongolia such as the food, people, schools, temples etc. The competition was an unforgettable experience.…more
IN CELEBRATION OF PARRIS!
Parris continues to inspire!
At the end of 2019 she has made the Queen's New Years 2020 list and will receive the New Zealand Order or Merit for services to dance, Justin Biebers Music video "SORRY" which Parris choreographed, directed, edited and dances in with her Request Dance Crew is the 6th most viewed video of the DECADE (now with over 3.2 billion views) & she just announced she'll be teaming up with JLO again to choreograph the half time show for the Super Bowl!
For a decade now, Parris Goebel has continued to evolve and inspire. We look back at some of the defining moments in her career.
In 2018 Parris Goebels dance crew The Royal Family celebrated their 10 year anniversary.
Most recently she was awarded the 'Pacific Business Trust's Legacy Award' for creating a lasting legacy for our Pacific People.
"I couldn't help but cry as they announced my name and the whole room stood up. This means the world to me to be acknowledged by my people. Proud Polynesian.…more
The Palagi fire dancer
Tim Noyce picked up the hobby of fire dancing while living in Samoa in 2012 and this year he returned to Samoa and competed for the first time at the 15th Annual Siva Afi Competition in Apia.
Check out Polynesian Entertainers Ltd
Book Tim's Fire Dance crew-TahiMana for your function
Suggested Links:
Samoans getting Zumba Fit but Obesity still on the Rise
On a muggy day at Samoa's Maninoa Beach, tired competitors in an ocean canoeing regatta take a break to let the kids expend some energy.
Barefoot and shrieking with laughter, they run races along the sand, pushing rods of wood with wheels made from empty corned beef cans.
When full, these cans of processed meat fill shelf after shelf in Samoan supermarkets, and are often blamed for rendering 80 per cent of adults overweight or obese.
But the active weekend scene playing out on Maninoa Beach is increasingly common in the small island nation, where physical activity rates have climbed drastically.
Sleek versions of the traditional outrigger canoe are increasingly used for sport in Samoa.
Between 2002 and 2014, the average amount of time Samoan adults spent doing physical activity — whether for recreation, work or transport — rose from 35 minutes per day to more than two hours. The vast majority of Samoans are now meeting World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations in this regard.…more
Coco Congrats to our Pacific Island candidates voted in to their local councils
New Zealand's local body elections ended on Saturday with the preliminary results in by Saturday afternoon.
The governing body consists of the mayor and a number of ward councillors which differ depending on the region. For example Auckland has one mayor and 20 ward councillors.
The governing body focuses on the big picture and on region-wide strategic decisions and are responsible for things like making rates and bylaws, regional strategies, policies and plans and consulting with and considering the views of local boards before making a decision which affects the communities in the local area.
Congratulations to these Pacific Island candidates who were voted in as ward councillors.
Auckland - Manukau Ward
Alf Filipaina
Fa'anana Efeso Collins
South Wairarapa District Council
Lee Carter
Dunedin City Council
Marie Laufiso
Local board members are also important as they have a significant and wide-ranging role - they make decisions on local matters, provide local leadership and build strong local communities.
The local boards provide important local input into region-wide strategies and plans including those of the council-controlled organisations.…more
NA QITO VAKAVITI (TRADITIONAL FIJIAN GAMES)
Fijians are fun-loving people. Even though Fiji was known around the world in the late 1700s and early 1800s as the ‘Cannibal Islands’, during peaceful times, games were played by children, young adults and even older ones. It was a time of joy that brought unity and prosperity to the land. When theVanua (referring to both land and people here) was peaceful and prospering, fruits of labour from every corner of Fiji is shared by everyone and this included bountiful land and marine resources.
With the diversity of Fiji’s archipelago, one will find Fijians living on the outer islands such as the Provinces of Lau (Eastern Fiji), Kadavu (Southern Fiji), and Lomaiviti (Central Fiji) for instance (see map). Others live on the main islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, the 2 largest islands. This meant that some tribes are located in the mountains accessinglong meandering rivers from the provinces of Navosa, Ba, Ra, Naitasiri and Namosi.
Games and relevant tools would vary from place to place as theywould utilize natural resources that were in abundance in those areas.…more
FIJI BATI vs TOA SAMOA
Huge crowds are expected in Apia for the first test ever in Samoa this afternoon between Toa Samoa and Fiji Bati.
The game is also special because it marks 30 years of rugby league in Samoa and will be the first time the national team has clashed with their rivals since they were beaten by Fiji at the Rugby League World Cup three years ago!
Matt Parish, Head Coach of Toa Samoa said of his side "The team is full of young and exciting young players and they’ve got plenty of good football in front of them. We have about five to six players playing for the Toa Samoa for the first time and we are very much looking forward to seeing them play on Saturday in a national arena. We’ve also had some experienced players who played in the last World Cup and Four Nation’s tournaments and the Pacific Test.…more
HELP FOR HOMELESS FROM CROSSPOWER NZ & "THE STREET STORE"
"The Street Store" had it's first Pop-Up store in Otara based out of Crosspower New Zealand's premises today.
Crosspower NZ who are a charitable trust based in Otara, Auckland decided to tackle some of the need & poverty they saw in their local community by providing practical help and supplies through The Street Store which they ran out of their dance studio today.
'The Street Store' is the first one officially registered in New Zealand. It's based in South Africa and has now gone world wide as you can register to run one in your country. It is hoped that if it went well today they'll be able to run more of them in different locations - the idea being that it's "Community helping Community"
We spoke to the project manager Casey Smith and organising committee member Charene Siakimotu about how the day was going earlier.…more
Veisisivi Meke and Fiji Language Week 2016
Veisisivi Meke is the traditional dance competition which has been running for the past 4 years in Auckland as part of the Fiji Language Week events.
It is always the most popular of the events along with the main FIJI DAY event. It's an event where traditional song & dance are encouraged especially for the NZ born children.
Winners:
1. Yasana O Cakaudrove
2. Na Seni Rosi Ni Waikato
3. Santa Ana Meke Group.
Veivisivi Meke happened at the Mangere Centre Park Stadium, where the Fiji Day event also occured on Saturday 8th October.
This year the launch of FLW was held at the Auckland Museum along with the launching of the Museums Pacific Access Collection programme that was attended by well over 300 people.
The theme for FLW is - 'Na Noqu Vosa me'u Bula taka' which means 'My language, learn it, speak it, live it!'
The Museum kindly opened their doors to the community and showcased some of the Fiji Collection that they have in their vault – the Fiji Collection is the biggest out of the Pacific Collection.…more
Women of the Islands: Esther Greenwood
Esther Greenwood
Create Team Director at Equippers Church Auckland
Fiji
