Lui Vilisoni-Oliver Niu FM & 531 PI Program Director at the PMN offices in Manukau vs Lui back in the day on air at Niu FMs Brown Street studio.

Update to original story - 

On the 14th June 2023, Niu FM was one of 8 commercial and regional radio stations given a NZ on Air Award for playing more than 20 percent local music content over the airways in 2022 at the NZ on Air Music Showcase in Auckland. 

They were also the only Pasifika radio station recognised with this award.

We talked to Programme Director for Pacific Media Network (which includes Niu FM) Lui Vilisoni on why it's been important to play out local NZ Pasifika artists vs overseas artists on the station.

"The first reason is, who else will champion our artists if not us? I see and hear so much quality music from our NZ Pasefika artists, but they’re not picked up as much.…more

Coco Sports Talk with Penina and Ashley - covering all things sports from a Pasifika female lens!

#CocoSportsTalk looks at the many stories of Pasifika people involved in sports of all kinds, and the trials and tribulations of the talented athletes from all sectors of our community.

This episode we're excited to have Tongan Director and film maker Tony Vainuku join us via Zoom from Salt Lake City, Utah.  Tony is the Emmy Award winning Director of the 2015 film 'In Football We Trust' and more recently co-directed the Manti Te'o episode of the UNTOLD Season 2 series - 'UNTOLD: The girlfriend who didn't exist'.

Here he shares with Ninz & Ash how the opportunity came about to direct the documentary, how he was able to get Manti onboard with sharing his story to a global audience, what he learned from doing the doco, why it's so important for our people to tell our stories ...…more

Wan Squad 

Dancers

Papua New Guinea 

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Wan Squad are a Papua New Guinea based dance crew made up of 6 - Pyan Ng Manager and Creative Director, David Chee dancer & crew leader and Fred Mathew, Joel Vene, Max Raoma & Lloyd Nadile who are all dancers.

We caught up with Pyan Ng, Wan Squad's Manager and Creative Director after they'd competed at the World Hip Hop Dance Championships in Arizona last week.

How did the group start and how long have you been together? 

The group was formed in 2018 (08.08.18), I had recently just moved back to PNG to help my father with his business and I had just met David Chee who had a dream to travel/compete on international stages and he asked if I would be interested in coaching him to take a team to the Hip Hop Internationals.…more

Back at ya with another episode of "Not Another Talanoa"

We're joined by young Pacific journalist Paige Faiga'a. Her and Mariner chat about how they know each other, what its like in the industry, imposter syndrome and much more!

Bringing you a spin-off from the hit Fresh segment, the Not Another Talanoa! podcast is a deep dive into the hot human discourse from a young Pacific lens. Join Mariner, Producer Brianna and their special guest co-host as they riff off news and current affairs and controversial topics with perspectives you’ll be able to relate to. Line your stomachs y’all, this trio deliver their opinions straight - no chaser.

The internet has been buzzing over the last 24 hours after the 2nd Season of Netflix's UNTOLD series opened with the Manti Te'o story - 'Untold:  The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist' co directed by Ryan Duffy and Tony Vainuku.

Key name right there - Tony Vainuku.  Not just because Tony is one of the Directors, but because if it wasn't for him, Manti may not have been open to sharing his story.   

The Samoan NFL players incredible story is told in the Netflix two part episode (screening now - peep the trailer above).  It details the scandal around the Hawaiian born, former Notre Dame football standout who was infamously duped into believing his longtime girlfriend (who he never met in person) died just before his 2013 BCS National Championship game, before it was revealed that his dead girlfriend wasn't dead, his girlfriend or was even real.…more

“I love that this is a story that isn’t centered around the raids, but around a family who went through the raids. There’s a clear distinction” Gaby Solomona ‘Fuarosa’ in the Dawn Raids play. 

It’s no secret that we as Polynesian peoples are very Patriarchal. From how the feaus are done, to who get’s to speak at family functions, who stays home to look after the kids, who gets the titles. Even our storytelling is very male dominated.

In the past most stories, shows, films I have watched, including the one I, myself made, have all been very male dominated. So I was so excited to see that the 3 women who hold the story and family together in Dawn Raids are such integral parts of this show. Gaby Solomona (plays Fuarosa) speaks to the importance of the 3 women. Stating that while the show still has male voices, there are equally if not more important female voices that come through too.

Gaby shares “You’ve got the mum who is the glue of the family, the matriarch.…more

Aaron Leha'uli, John Vake, Sione Sika & Tiger-Lily Cocker-Lemalie were part of the Tongan Wrestling team that competed at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The team made history as it was also the first time Tonga have ever had a wrestling team compete at the Commonwealth Games.

John Vake breaks down the history of wrestling in Tonga, famous Tongan wrestlers and more for us here - 

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Watch the full episode below 

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Edited by Sefa Taouma 

Camera & Sound Operators - Penina Momoiseā & Sefa Taouma 

Interviewers - Penina Momoiseā

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Public Interest Journalism funded by NZ on Air 

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Catch up on more of our Sports Talk eps here - 

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson became Ellen's "biggest guest" when he appeared on her show in 2003 during her first month on the air.

The actor made his last appearance in 2019, when he talked about his early morning wedding in Hawaii.