The New Zealand Aria competition is one of Australasia’s most prestigious singing competitions. The event, in its current format, has been held annually for the past 13 years. Formerly known as the Rotorua Lockwood Aria, the competition offers life-changing opportunities to entrants and has launched the careers of some fine young singers.

The event is the largest competition of its kind in the country, and its fame has spread throughout Australia’s world of opera. The New Zealand Aria attracts aspiring opera stars who pit themselves against some of Australasia’s best young singers. The opportunity this engenders, along with the attractive prize money, contribute to the performer’s further development in this demanding art. Entrants often go on to take part in major productions both in New Zealand and overseas.

The high numbers of contestants who have already been trained overseas and have returned to New Zealand, or conversely have plans toward furthering their development with offshore experience is reflected in every artist with ambition to achieve. The New Zealand Aria grows with each experience.…more

One of the true gentlemen of world rugby, Keven Mealamu is New Zealand’s most-capped Super Rugby player of all time. 

The RWC final between NZ and Australia will be the last game for All Black - Keven Mealamu.

Check out these 12 facts you may or may not have known...

1. He was a standout performer in the All Blacks RWC 2011 success, turning out in six matches in the Tournament and captaining the side against Japan. 

2. Keven has been wearing the black jersey since 1995, when he turned out for New Zealand Under 16. Despite the long career his passion for rugby and the respect with which he is regarded by teammates and opponents remains undimmed.

3. Mealamu took on a new leadership role in 2006, captaining the Blues through a challenging Rebel Sport Super 14 campaign.…more

When the great Richie McCaw plays his final game for New Zealand on Saturday, the debate over his standing in the pantheon of All Blacks greats will intensify. The current All Blacks coach, Steve Hansen, has already put him on a pedestal, but John Hart, coach of the 1987 Rugby World Cup-winning side, had a different answer when asked in 2013 whom he believed was the greatest player ever to pull on the famous black jersey.

"To me, clearly, Michael Jones," Hart said. "Without peer, a man who played all three loose forward positions, and with the skills to play in the midfield. A freak on the field, and a gentleman off it."

Talking to Jones is an unexpected experience: His calm voice and gleeful persona seem at odds with the notorious physicality of his playing days. When he stood in the All Blacks back row, he had the nickname Iceman, partly due to the brutal injuries he sustained but also due to his cold demeanour.

Like McCaw, he never really put fist to face.…more

I'm a dancer from New Zealand who has been selected to back up dance for Jennifer Lopez in Las Vegas.

I come from a small town Tokoroa and always dreamt of being a dancer. A passion of mine that started from a very young age and has now become a reality.....

Being from Tokoroa, i was limited to achieving this dream. I had to commute to and from Hamilton and Auckland 3-4x a week for classes and rehearsals as well as maintaining a full time job.

It was physically, mentally and financially challenging but i knew i had to make it work.

In 2012 i auditioned for Parris Goebels The Royal Family. A choreographer and company i knew i had to be apart of to grow as a dancer and achieve my dream.

I was successful and have been apart of the company ever since.

The move to Auckland was the biggest sacrifice i had to make. I always saw Tokoroa as my home. I was comfortable, i had my family and didn't no the outside world.…more

Director: Parris Goebel
Producer: Parris Goebel
Animator: John Hwang 
Production Company: Taktix Films

Tongan Creatives sing Faka'anaua in thanks to Fatai during Fatai LoungeJam2015. Tongan Creative Lavinia Uhila won a lounge jam with Fatai during her lounge jam tour of New Zealand. This was their thank you song at the end of the night - Faka'anaua.

Check out more from The Tongan Creatives on The Coconet TV

Watch Fatai jamming on her 'Lounge Room Tour'

I remember it well, spending three hours at Gatwick Airport in the UK, while the Customs agents tried to locate one of their people who knows what a Samoan passport looks like, to verify the existence of my country. They found an agent finally, who came over, took my passport and declared: "Sorry, this is not Somalian."

The feelings I had at that point ranged from a deep anger to a sense of amusing dismay at the fact that my beloved island Paradise of Samoa in the middle of the South Pacific, was mistaken for a war torn country in Africa.…more

The St Tropez-based Festival des Antipodes ends today (NZ time), having handed out its awards over the weekend.

A pair of older titles took awards for New Zealand. The Dark Horse won the festival’s Grand Prix, while Whirimako Black won Best Actress for her role in White Lies. The jury (pictured below) was led by Bryan Brown.

Robert Connolly’s Australian Paper Planes, recently on release here, took the Audience and Best Actor (Ed Oxenbould) awards.

Eight NZ titles played in and out of competition at the festival.

Festival des Antipodes award winners were:

Grand Prix
The Dark Horse, James Napier Robertson

Best Actress
Whirimako Black, White Lies

Best Actor
Ed Oxenbould, Paper Planes

Audience Award
Paper Planes, Robert Connolly

Prix Nicolas Baudin Short Film Award
All God’s Creatures, Brendon McDonall

- Screenz

Make You ILL - is our first ever Lyric Music Video.
This is the Track that has Debuted our NEW career in becoming Artists. Enjoy smile emoticon

Directed & Edited by: Cortney Stowers 
Produced by: Vince Harder 
Makeup & Hair by: Deelicious Makeup 
Styled by: Mitchell Vincent
Dancers: Nathan Kara, Carlos Skipper, Johnny Puleanga

Special Thanks to:
Stan Walker
HMG
Abby-Lee Harder
Vince Harder

Would love to thank our team for being dedicated and passionate! 
Was a pleasure to have you all on set for Make You ILL and we cannot wait for the next journey with you all. Exciting times! smile emoticon 

Much love from The Oneill Twins.xxx