Tonga's first All Black
Did you know that the first Tongan All Black was Walter Batty?
Born in Tonga in 1905 to an English father and Tongan mother, Walter donned the black jersey 92 years ago in 1928.
He played as a loose forward, and was part of the team that took on the British and Irish Lions during their New Zealand Tour in 1930. Batty was also an Insurance Agent by profession, and joined the Royal New Zealand Artillery as a sargeant during the Second World War - where he won the Distinguished Conduct Medal after holding off an attack by Italian tanks until his unit could be reinforced. Singlehandedly. How's THAT for Tongan Power!
Read more on Walter Batty here!
.
Here are all the Tongans who have rocked the All Blacks Jersey:
ARTHUR JENNINGS
Played for the All Blacks in 1967
He was also the first Fijian to play for the All Blacks (he is of Fijian & Tongan heritage) and is the uncle of current Mate Ma'a Tonga representatives Michael and his brother Robert.…more
Heilala helps Tonga rebuild
Check out the awesome work still going on to help rebuild Tonga's Tongatapu and Ha'apai islands!
Founded in 2014, Heilala is non-profit organisation that helps disadvantaged communities around the world. Over the years, they have witnessed millions of dollars' worth of furniture, equipment and IT simply sent to landfill, and decided to established a not-for-profit organisation that does something worthwhile with all of that invaluable merchandise.
Heilala worked with the Government of Tonga to rebuild Ha'apai's infrastructure with retired and donated products from Australia.
To donate or contact Heilala, check out their website!
The Rock Shakin' it Off on Lip Sync Battle
Check out Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson rockin' it out to this Tay-Tay classic!
Proving that he's not only the man in the ring and in action movies, The Rock lays the smackdown on Jimmy Fallon on the new show Lip Sync Battle. Maybe he's getting ready for his role in the upcoming Disney movie Moana!
Girl on a Corner
After their sell-out season as part of the Auckland Arts Festival and Pride Festival, Girl on a Corner is back for a return season!
Early one morning in 1997 Eddie Murphy picked up Shalimar Seiuli, a Samoan fa'afafine, on Santa Monica Boulevard. Their encounter sparked an epic Hollywood media scandal. The next year Shalimar was dead. In Victor Rodger's Girl on a Corner, Shalimar gets to tell her brief life story and offer some variations on what may or may not have happened.
Girl on a Corner is the bold new work from the award-winning writer of Sons, My Name is Gary Cooper, Black Faggot and At The Wake.
Directed by Arts Laureates Anapela Polataivao and Vela Manusaute of the legendary Kila Kokonut Krew and stars Hope Lelei Prescott-Faletau as Shalimar, with Aleni Kilakokonutkrew Tufuga , Mika-Toloa Joanna Taufa Fisiinaua, Gabriel Halatoa, Sandy Fakaua and Hans Masoe.
Celebrating the life and work of Papa Joe Williams
Dr Joseph Williams MBChB, MPH, QSM,QSO
Te mamae nei te ngakau no tatou metua, Papa Joe Williams, tei takake atu na roto ite moe roa. Na te Atua te aroa kite kopu tangata e kia tatou katoatoa i roto i teia taime tumatetenga
It is with the deepest sadness that the Pasifika Medical Association announces the passing of their respected and much-loved Patron Dr Joseph Williams MBChB, MPH, QSM, QSO.
Dr Williams has served his country, the Cook Islands, his community in New Zealand and his many patients for more than 60 years. He spent 25 years in the Cook Islands and served as Minister of Health and Education in 1974 to 1978, Minister of Health, Tourism, Transport and State-Owned Enterprises from 1994 to 1996 and Prime Minister in 1999.
Dr Williams was born in Aitutaki, went to Northland College, graduated from Otago Medical School in 1960 and later completed a Master in Public Health at the University of Hawaii.…more
Australian Government moves to ban Kava imports
In a move that has shocked the Pacific Island community in Australia, the current allowance of 2 kilograms of kava per person will end in a bid to stop it's abuse.
Kava is already illegal in Northern Territory and Western Australian Aboriginal communities like Arnhem Land because of the health, social and financial impacts.
What do you think? Do you think that it's fair for a Pacific legacy to be banned? Read more on the story here!
Junior Seau - Pro Football Hall of Fame
The late Junior Seau will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
"One by one, the newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame stepped onto the stage as their names were called. When the eighth man elected Saturday, the late Junior Seau, was announced, his two sons stood with the group."
Photo Cred: Samoa Observer
Seau retired from pro football after the 2009 season. A standout on San Diego's only Super Bowl team, he was later inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame and the team retired his number 55. Seau committed suicide with a gunshot wound to the chest in 2012 at the age of 43. Later studies by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) concluded that Seau suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a type of chronic brain damage that has also been found in other deceased former NFL players.
Your legacy lives on! Malo Lava Junior!
SUGGESTED LINKS:
Sonny Bill Williams vs Chauncey Welliver
Check out the highlights from SBW's fight with Chauncey Welliver at the NRL Footy Show Fight Night in Sydney last night!
Showing impressive boxing form against his American opponent, the all-rounder outclassed Welliver in eight rounds to win the match by unanimous decision!
Super-Bowl first timer Sealver Siliga
Repping it for our Poly's, Sealver Siliga will be taking to the field for his first Super Bowl for the New England Patriots!
The Utah-native is the first player from his high-school to be drafted into the NFL, and says he is always proud of where he's come from. Go Sealver!
Check out his full story here!
Don't forget the lyrics!
When the Samoan Netball Team lined up to play against NZ's Silver Ferns this week in Fiji for the Oceania Netball Tri Series, this was probably the last thing they thought would happen!
But 10 points to Epeli for carrying on... and minus 10 points for the phone.