JOSEPH PARKER - FUTURE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD
Coco Exclusive: The Coconet is the only media that has been allowed inside Joseph Parkers Las Vegas training camp.
He shares how it's all going and how he plans to beat Andy Ruiz to create history and become NZ and Samoa's first heavyweight boxing champion of the world!
Credits -
Director & Editor: Tuki Laumea
Cameraman: Hayden Aull
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Joshua responds to Parkers call out
DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE - WHY WE SHOULD CARE
The Dakota Access Pipeline is a US $3.7 billion project that will cross 4 States, run through Sioux sacred burial sites and change the landscape of the US Crude Oil Supply.
Basically, if the pipeline is built it will carry at least 470,000 barrels of crude oil per day from the Bakken oil fields in North Dakota down to a terminal in Illinois, where it will be shipped to refineries and turned into usable fuel.
For most of this year, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North Dakota have been waging a battle against the proposed oil pipeline that would run near their reservation. Media attention has slowly built around the protests with celebrities like Jason Momoa and Leonardo DiCaprio using their platform to show their support.
The Great Sioux Nation are protesting the proposed pipelines for 2 main reasons that affect them directly:
* The pipeline would cross right under the Missouri River at Lake Oahe, the reservation’s main source of drinking water.…more
STEVEN ADAMS SET TO SIGN LUCRATIVE EXTENSION OFFER
Rumour has it that NZ/Tongan NBA Basketball superstar Steven Adams is set to receive a massive pay rise!
Adrian Wojranowski, editor of TheVertical.com tweeted earlier today that Adams and the Thunder were negotiating a deal in the $100m ($140m NZD) range, which is expected to be completed by the October 31 deadline (tomorrow in the US).
Basketball journalist Eric Horne who covers the Oklahoma City Thunder for 'The Oklahoman' also claims that In locking down Steven Adams, the Oklahoma City Thunder have secured their core for the foreseeable future.
"For as long as the Thunder have been a competitive team, Serge Ibaka's been that defensive anchor, and when they traded him [on June 23], they were really pushing their chips in on Steven Adams as a young centre-piece," Horne said.
If these reports are correct and Steven does sign said deal, it would make him NZ's highest paid athlete.
Coco congrats Steven!
Baller Shot Caller for Real!
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COCO SHORTS WORKSHOP
A whole weekend dedicated to Pasifika film saw some of the OGs of our fledgling industry engage with 10 young scriptwriters to help them hone their craft.
"Just the luxury of being able to spend time with these guys that we've always looked up to is so inspiring for me..These guys are our giants that we stand on.." said MIT student Gabriel Faatau'uu.
From Samoan astronauts to old skool legends, drama and urban Pacific realities - the 10 scripts chosen for the writing lab saw many exciting new scenarios being presented for development.
Sima Urale who was described as our 'Jane Campion' talked about the huge difference in film making today and the many new pathways availble for creative ideas.
One of these includes The Coconet TV as a platform for films to be played out online.
Over two days young writers had intensive script time with experienced filmmakers who talked about the many trials and tribulations of making their own work.
One common issue with writers, was being typecast as 'Pacific filmmakers' expected to tell certain types of stories.…more
TONGAN SWIMMERS MAKE THIER MARK IN FIJI
Two young Tongan swimmers, Finau ‘Ohuafi (15) and Noelani Day (13) brought home a total of 16 medals between them, including 9 Gold and 7 Silver, after competing in the SC Central Region Age Group Invitational 2016 in Suva, Fiji.
The local swimmers from Malolo Swim Club represented Tonga in 19 events over the two-day competition last week against swimmers from Fiji and Samoa at the Damador Aquatics Center.
Team Tonga organizer, Vila Day said they are very happy with the swimmers.
“Finau and Noelani both did exceptionally well, and we were very happy with their performance, especially given that they have not been to a pool competition in over two years - they have been doing mostly open water“
"Leading up to the comp, we were lucky to have Scenic hotel allow them to use their pool, but only from 6am to 7am, before guests were up. We made the most of this kind offer and had training there about 5 mornings a week.…more
MARK HUNT PREPARES FOR POTENTIAL LAWSUIT AGAINST UFC
"The Super Samoan" has been in the Octagon with three fighters who have failed drug tests and he's had enough. He's demanding a change, wants provisions made in his contract to deter other fighters from cheating, and is willing to fight UFC in court.
Mark Hunt has rained down fire and brimstone at Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) ever since Brock Lesnar was flagged by United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) following their fight at UFC 200 this past July, and he has yet to let up on his harsh criticism of the fight promotion.
The No.7-ranked UFC heavyweight has let it rip in the last few months, repeatedly bashing the promotion several times publicly and insisting they do more to rid their roster of cheating fighters after learning Lesnar tested positive for hydroxy-clomiphene, an anti-estrogen agent, in both in and out-of-competition drug tests issued by USADA for UFC 200. To use a driving analogy, he's far beyond honking the horn and asking someone to move.…more
PACIFIC RUNWAY
Fashion, Style, Creativity & Polyswag in full effect on this Pacific Runway ....
Credit: Camera & Edit Danny Aumua
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Fresh hosted by Krit & Diamond Langi
CREATIVE NEW ZEALAND ARTS PASIFIKA AWARDS
In the Pacific we do many things well - famously we navigate great oceans, turn out some pretty alright sports people, make good pagipopos and as it turns out some really great artists. Like our domination in the sports and music arenas, arts is one place where Pacific people win - it's where we trump it in coloring up the Kiwi landscape with our brown awesomeness and unique perspective.
We are the jewel in the crown in fact for organisations like CNZ where a 2011 survey cited the Pacific art forms in NZ as being some of the most popularly attended in the country. So we love it when our cream of the crop are honoured every year by Creative NZ, who celebrate the best of Pacific arts and awards five artists accolades and dosh to acknowledge their talents.
This year two actors scoop the pools in the senior artist award - the OG's of Pacific theatre and acting Oscar Kightley and David Fane.…more
Humans Of The Islands - David Laumatia
David Laumatia
Senior Sargeant, New Zealand Police
Samoan
I grew up on Panama Road in Otahuhu (Auckland, New Zealand) - back then Panama was known for producing quite a good number of League players and my brother was one of them. He (Bryan Laumatia) ended up playing for Cronulla Sharks, NSW. I came from a working class background and my Mum and Dad came from Samoa to New Zealand in the early 1960's. My Mum is three-quarters Chinese. I’m number three out of six kids - we all turned out pretty well, none of us got into any trouble. If anyone of us was going to get in trouble growing up, it would’ve been me. I was a bit of a rascal.
Growing up in New Zealand, did your parents place strong emphasis on Samoan culture and tradition in your upbringing?
We definitely went to church and experienced all of that but one thing that wasn’t pressed as much, and I wish it was, was speaking Samoan in the household.…more
BILLIE PAEA - 2016 Overall Musclemania Australia Champion
Coco congrats to Billie Paea Dziah PT for taking out the Lightweight Bodybuilding Class and then the Overall Musclemania Australia Title for 2016.
Billie who is of Niuean descent and grew up in New Zealand is now based in Canberra as a Personal Trainer. He was involved with a lot of sports in his early years from touch rugby, rugby and athletics and represented Niue at 3 Commonwealth Games and Pacific Games as a 100m sprinter.
His journey into the world of Bodybuilding was inspired by his Dad who also had a great physique and owned a gym in the 1980’s. Billie admired the likes of Arnold and Franco Columbo.
Billie presented a World-Class Physique topped with one of his truly epic crowd stopping posing routines.
He now has his eyes on Vegas for his debut in the Musclemania World Pro Ranks.
Watch out Vegas, this man is a class act, with the body, the moves and the style to top it off.…more