Amidst the unveiling of the King's Birthday Honours List, the spotlight falls on the remarkable achievements of Pasifika individuals. These honourees exemplify excellence, embodying resilience and innovation in their respective fields. As our Pasifika whanau celebrate those who have contributed excellence to their communities, get to know them here!

Officers of the NZ Order of Merit (ONZM)

Anapela Polataivao

For her contributions to the Pacific performing arts - Anapela will be well known to our Coconet audience, having made multiple appearances playinga wide array of characters, most notably one half of the hilarious 'Pani & Pani' duo.

She has directed multiple works, including Sol3 Mio’s original opera Alofagia: Le Opera and Tusiata Avia’s Wild Dogs Under My Skirt’, some of which have toured NZ, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Rev. Taimoanaifakaofo Kaio

For services to the Pacific community - In 2001, Very Reverend Taimoanaifakaofo Kaio assumed the role of Moderator for the North Shore Presbytery in Epsom, and then served as the Moderator General of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand from 2018 to 2021.…more

Keep it Fresh with Reid and Sky as they take us to Niue for their island wedding. Celebrate family, tradition and love with these newlyweds as they journey home to tie the knot 👰🏽‍♀️🤵🏽‍♂️🌺

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Keepin It Fresh brings you all the freshness happening in our Moana communities, from Siva Afi Festivals to Fashion Shows

Credits
Director: Shimpal Lelisi,
OPC: Damon Fepuleai
Editor: Damon Fepuleai, Laura McBeath
Talent: Sky O'Brien, Reid Fuemana-Elisaia

To celebrate NZ Music Month, Auckland Council presents 'Ka Mua Ka Muri'! Ka Mua Ka Muri is a whakataukī/māori proverb that loosely means to walk backwards into the future. This is referencing knowing where you’re from to know where you’re going.

Now in its third year, Ka Mua Ka Muri is a web series of music performances and interviews with Auckland musicians and songwriters working mostly in the underground/ fringes of the Tāmaki Makaurau music community.

Shot in the second-floor basement of the Auckland Central City Library, providing an intimate environment and a juxtaposition to the typical live performance venues.

Four Pasifika artists have been highlighted as part of this year's line-up, and they'll take to the stage at Kāhui St David's Church for a free, live performance for everyone to enjoy!

Sam V

Winner of 2023 Pacific Music Awards - Best Pacific Soul/RnB artist, Sam V is perhaps the finest male RnB voice in Aotearoa.…more

What do the riots in New Caledonia tell us about green colonialism in the age of climate action?

The recent riots in New Caledonia have brought to light a complex web of historical grievances: the pillaging of Pacific minerals and an unjust transition to renewable energy.

To understand the 2024 unrest in this context it is essential to delve into the island’s colonial history. Namely its valuable nickel resources, and the implications of environmental policies that come at the cost of the community.

The French take Kanaky

Kanaky, now named New Caledonia, is a French territory with a long history of colonial rule and resistance by the indigenous Kanak people of the land. European colonisation began in 1774, and France formally annexed New Caledonia in 1853.

Since then, the Kanak people have often been marginalised economically and politically, leading to numerous conflicts and calls for independence.

The struggle for self-governance has been a persistent theme in New Caledonian history.…more

Hawaiian actor Jason Momoa had previously hinted that he is no longer on the market, but a new Instagram post has revealed his relationship with Puerto Rican actress Adria Arjona.

The actor posted pictures from a trip in Japan, where he can be seen embracing his new romantic partner, captioning the Instagram carousel, "Japan, you are a dream come true... sharing another amazing adventure with mi amor"

Momoa's new relationship comes two years after he and ex-wife Lisa Bonet announced their separation after more than 10 years together.

Despite their break-up, the exes have continued to co-parent their two kids: Lola, 16, and Nakoa-Wolf, 15.

#ReFresh But we can't forget when our very own Pani tried to make moves on the Aquaman actor😂

And when Uncle Sam questioned him about his lead role in the DC Studios movie

Polynesians and fight fans around the world are celebrating the victory of Samoan-Australian Cruiserweight boxer Jai Opetaia after he defeated Mairis Briedis of Latvia for the vacant IBF World Cruiserweight Title!

He is also the Ring Magazine champion. 

When the two fought previously on the Gold Coast in 2022, Jai was a promising youngster and Briedis admittedly underestimated his skills and abilities. In an epic battle that went twelve rounds, Briedis fought with a broken nose and Jai had his jaw broken in two places.

Jai won the fight but had to go straight to hospital because as he said later, “My jaw wasn’t even attached to my skull.”

For ‘Opetaia v Briedis II’ Jai found it hard to find his rhythm and won the first eight rounds on most people’s score cards but failed to knock down the Latvian. Neither fighter ever really looked in danger of knocking the other out or down.…more

Script to Screen welcomes eight new filmmakers who have been selected for the tenth South Shorts Mentorship Programme! 

Over the next six months, the participants will embark on an incredible journey of development led by acclaimed screenwriter and director Briar Grace-Smith (Rūrangi, Cousins, Waru).  

During this time, the participants will take part in five group workshops that will include script read-throughs, group discussions, writing exercises, and insightful sessions with guest filmmakers. By the end of the Programme, the filmmakers will have produced a polished script.  

Four of the eight selected filmmakers are of Pasifika descent, get to know them here!

Claire Patolo

Claire Patolo (Lauli’i, Faleapuna, Safune) is of Samoan descent. She is an emerging filmmaker from Tāmaki Makaurau. She has mostly worked in the production team on music videos and short films and is currently working on finishing her first short film script. She has a Master’s degree in Communications from Auckland University of Technology and is currently completing her PhD.

Feenuu Lefono

Feenuu Lefono is an emerging Samoan writer and filmmaker from Otara, South Auckland.…more

Samoan recording artist Pati AF sits down with us to talk about her upcoming work 'Ka'a: The Concert Experience' happening this weekend, Friday 17th and Saturday 18th May 2024🎤🔥

She gives us the run down on the inspiration behind the concert and how it came to be about, don't miss out! Grab your tickets here 🔗

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Filmed and Edited by Destiny Momoiseā

But did ya know...? Get to know our young artists Spdrtwnbby, Junior Soqeta and Ruby Coley as they round off some of our rapid fire questions about their journey and tastes in music 🎶🌺

Credits
Director: Brianna Fruean
Camera: Jason Crane
Sound: David Green
Editor: Sefa Taouma
Talent: Spdrtwnbby, Ruby Coley, Junior Soqeta

By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific

A Niuean boxer based in Aotearoa New Zealand is heading to Russia to compete in the 2024 World Friendship Games, seen as the potential rival to the Paris Olympics.

Commonwealth bronze and Pacific Games gold medalist, Duken Holo Tutakitoa-Williams, has set his sights on Russia instead of the Olympics, after finding out Niue could not compete at the Summer Olympics.

Niue is self-governing in free association with New Zealand, and Tutakitoa-Williams said like many other smaller nations, it does not have a recognised National Olympic Committee.

Niue Island Sports and Commonwealth Games Association (NISCGA) is an associate member of the Oceania National Olympic Committees.

After winning a bronze medal at the 2022 Birmingham Games, the Niue team was aiming for gold in Paris 2024.

The team started their training camp for the Pacific Games in hope they would be able to qualify for the Olympics.

Five weeks in, Niue Sport held a meeting and told them Niue can't even qualify for the Olympics.…more