Donny Tuimaseve: Samoan Javelin Thrower
23yr old, javelin thrower Donny Tuimaseve is ready to perform for Samoa at his second Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. He has made the finals and will be Samoa's final athlete to compete.
Tuimaseve is self-taught in the art of javelin throwing, watching vision and tips on YouTube to refine his javelin craft over the years. In that time, he has thrown a national record for Samoa twice, with the most recent being a 69.05m throw at last month’s Pacific Mini Games in Northern Mariana Islands.
Born in Samoa, he had never seen javelin on the TV or even heard of the sport until one day at high school he came across the light spear equipment designed to be thrown as far as possible.
Read more about Donny's INCREDIBLE story here: https://www.people2u.com.au/news/don-ing-the-red-and-blue-on-the-world-stage/
South Auckland high schools bond over love for maths
by Mariner Fagaiava-Muller
The South Auckland Maths Challenge or SAMC, celebrates budding mathematicians who don’t have all the flashiest resources, but all the smarts.
On a wintry Wednesday morning, you’ll find the De La Salle College gymnasium hissing with hyena laughs and fa’aumu.
Inside are Year 9 and 10 students from 12 schools across South Auckland - it’s the fifth time they’ve met this year, to face off against each other in mathematics.
Each school is represented by three or four students, stationed at desks where they’ll receive an equation.
Once they’ve made a calculation, a runner from the team will run a lap around all the others and get their answer marked.
The first school to answer ten equations correctly is crowned the winner.
There’s a strong sense of comradery in these competitions. Winning is the least important part.
“Here everyone cheers for you even if you don’t go to the same school,” one student says.…more
Commonwealth Games 2022 - Pacific History Makers & One's to Watch
History was made this morning for one of our smallest island nations - Niue! Heavyweight boxer Duken Williams made history for Niue when he beat his opponent - Cook Islander Michael Schuster - in the Quarter finals to be guaranteed a Bronze medal.
It will be the first time Niue has ever won a Commonwealth Games medal.
He now faces Samoan Heavyweight contender Ato Plodzicki-Faoagali in the Semi-final. Ato is also chasing Gold this time round after taking Silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
* Photo above: Duken Williams after making history this morning for Niue in his Quarterfinal. Photo Credit: Express & Star
Many of our Commonwealth Games teams wound up their campaign last night - so who is left to cheer on this weekend? We've got the deets for you below.
NB: All times given below are in NZT
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COOK ISLANDS
The Cook Islands Triples Womens Lawn Bowls team have made the semi-final! They take on England from 7.30pm
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Fiji, Kiribati & Tuvalu's athletes have all finished competing in their respective events.…more
WOMEN OF THE ISLANDS - KIRSTEN FISHER MARSTERS
Kirsten Andrea Fisher-Marsters
Swimmer
Cook Islands
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Kia orana, I'm Kirsten Fisher-Marsters. I am a competitive swimmer. I represent my fathers side of the family who are Marsters from Palmerton Island in the Cook Islands. I have alot of love for both New Zealand and the Cooks and if I am asked where I feel at home, it would be wherever my family is.
What has your experience been like representing Cook Islands at the Commonwealth games?
Everytime I put my Cook Islands uniform on, I feel honoured. What I love about the Commonwealth Games is being with fellow kukis from different sports. We have a very special team spirit and when I hop on the blocks ready to race I want to do well for my team and for my country, we are there for each other to celebrate our achievements and support eachother if things don't quite go our way. That's why I love representing Cook Islands.…more
What awaits you in Beautiful Samoa
“Beautiful is back” – that is the latest slogan taking social media by storm as Samoa officially opened its borders in the beginning of August.
The excitement of a nation that has been closed to travelers for almost 3 years due to the pandemic was felt through the wonderful display of welcome at the Faelolo airport earlier this week. Cultural dances and songs filled the airport as each traveler was welcomed with fresh flower garlands, beautiful smiles and a heartfelt “Talofa!”. It was truly a welcoming ceremony that befits this island nation known as ‘Beautiful Samoa’.
Theres so much new and old things to do on island. You can climb Mt Silisili in Savaii, see turtles on your way to Namua and treat yourself to all the goodies at Sula Bakery in Mota'a. The options on how to spend your time in the 685 are endless.
Whether you are a returning visitor, citizen or a first time-traveler—Samoa is a destination that should be on your “must travel'' list.…more
Commonwealth Games 2022 - Pacific Islands Update
We're over half way through the games now and Samoa are currently leading the medal tally for the Pacific Islands with 1 Gold and 3 Silver by way of their weightlifters.
Fiji currently have the double silver from their Fiji Rugby 7s teams & a bronze in Weightlifting, Papua New Guinea has a Silver in Weightlifting and Nauru managed to bag a Bronze in weightlifting before they finished their Commonwealth Games campaign too.
Catch up on our weekend wrap here and the Pacifics first Gold medal here
It's been a busy couple of days for our Pasifika athletes so we've got results & who to look out for as we head into the weeekend for you below.
NB all times indicated below are in NZT.
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COOK ISLANDS
Alex Beddoes is the Cook Islands sole track athlete and ran his 800m heat yesterday with a season best time of 1:52.72
Kuki boxer Tawhiri Toheriri-Hallet went down to Cyprus' Rafail Pafios over the weekend but you can check out his story in the video below.…more
Pacific News Headlines: 3rd August 2022
Watch a wrap-up of your week in news from across the Islands, in under a minute.
Samoa wins gold at the Commonwealth Games - the winner hailing from a family of athletes.
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Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
Commonwealth Games 2022 - Pacific Islanders in Action
The Pacific islands have snatched their first 2022 Commonwealth Games GOLD ladies and Gentlemen!
In fact, our Pasifika athletes managed to collect one Gold and two Bronze medals in Weightlifting for three of our island nations early this morning.
Samoa have won their first Gold with 23yr old Don Opeloge smashing the Commonwealth Games record in the Mens 96kg Weightlifting final. He strolled in and snatched 171kg and clean & jerked 210kg giving him an aggregate score of 381kg (also a Comm Games record). Fijian Taniela Rainibogi picked up Bronze in the same event.
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Earlier in the evening Maximina Uepa picked up a Bronze medal for Nauru - one of the smallest Pacific island nations competing at the Commonwealth Games! How good?!
Maximina competed in the 76kg division lifting 96kg in the Snatch and 119kg in the Clean & Jerk.
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Take a look at how our Pacific Islands teams are tracking and who we should look out for over the next few days at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
NB all times indicated below are in NZT.…more
Pacific Music Awards 2022 - Meet the first time finalists
The biggest celebration of Pacific Music in New Zealand returns with crowds again for the live Pacific Music Awards event on Thursday 4th of August.
There are 26 finalists in total with a mix of new musicians debuting music, established music artists, Pacific industry icons and everything in between.
This year iconic Samoan singer-songwriter Fa'anana Jerome Grey will be honoured with the Pacific Music Awards Lifetime Achievement award and there will be a new Creative New Zealand award - the recipient will be announced on the night.…more
Support to Samoa’s Climate Change Plan and rebuild of Savalalo Market
Prime Minister Ardern met with members of Samoa’s Cabinet in Apia, today, announcing the launch of a new climate change partnership and confirming support for the rebuild of the capital’s main market, on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship between Aotearoa New Zealand and Samoa.
“I am pleased to reaffirm our commitment to Samoa — and the priorities of the Government of Samoa — as we mark this milestone in our countries’ shared history,” said Jacinda Ardern.
“Through the Samoa–Aotearoa New Zealand Climate Partnership, we are committing NZ$15 million in flexible finance to support the delivery of Samoa’s climate change priorities. This funding will help build Samoa’s resilience to the impacts of climate change and its transition to a low emissions economy. We will work with the Government of Samoa to determine governance arrangements, and opportunities for future investments.
At the request of Samoa, Aotearoa New Zealand will also provide NZ$12 million toward the rebuilding of the historic Savalalo Market, which was destroyed by fire in 2016.…more