Speech: 60th Anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship between Aotearoa New Zealand and Samoa- “Lifelong Friends – Uō Mamae"
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Adern gave an impassioned speech to Samoa to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship between the two countries. She is leading the first international delegation in Samoa since Covid hit the world.
The group has a representative from every party in parliament - including Christopher Luxon, Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Carmel Sepuloni, and Minister of Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio. The Prime Minister acknowledged the trauma of NZs colonial governance of Samoa in history, but looked to an exciting future between the two nations.…more
Commonwealth Games Weekend Wrap - Pacific Islands
The 22nd Commonwelath Games kicked off in Birmingham, UK on the 28th of July with the opening ceremony held at the Alexander Stadium. 11 of our Pacific Islands nations are competing - Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu & Vanuatu.
The theme of the games is 'Sport is the beginning of all' and the Pacific Islands nations walked out in alphabetical order together with Australia and New Zealand under the Oceania region.
Swipe through for some of our teams marching in.
We've put together a few of the highlights from the weekends competition as well as a couple of 'Ones to watch' in events that are still to come.
-
History makers
Solomon Islands and Tuvalu have teams that have qualified for Beach Volleyball for the very first time at the Commonwealth Games.
Hanna Marasalau & Calorose Sisia (below) are the womens pair who debuted at the games for the Solomons losing to England in their first game but will play fellow Pacific Islanders Vanuatu next and Scotland in their final pool game.…more
Pacific News Headlines: 29th July 2022
Watch a wrap-up of your week in news from across the Islands, in under a minute.
The Manly Sea Eagles pride jersey debacle comes to an end, after players and management reach a compromise.
-
Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
Behind the Scenes: Grubbies Burgers Celebration | Keepin It Fresh
Join us as we head to Brisbane and meet the hard-working team behind Grubbies Burgers & Hawaiian BBQ as they celebrate their first anniversary.
Serving up Brisbane’s biggest, baddest burgers and Hawaiian bbq platters, the Pasifika community shows up and out to celebrate their fav spot with an appearance from Goodnas finest - Lisi and friends.
-
Keepin It Fresh brings you all the freshness happening in our Moana communities, from Siva Afi Festivals to Pacific Cabarets.
-
Credits
Director & Camera Operator - Dave Parker
Sound Operator - James Kennedy
Editor - Tuki Laumea
Thank you Ben Niumata
Coco Sports Talk - Commonwealth Games Edition: Niue Boxing, Tonga Shot Put & Wrestling
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.
In this episode we meet a few of the Pasifika athletes who are about to compete in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, UK.
We meet a couple of the young men in the Niue Boxing Team at their fundraising event in Grey Lynn - Duken Williams and Deniro Pao Clarke plus check out their sparring session with legendary fight coach Lolo Heimuli.
We head over to the Kingdom of Tonga to visit rising Tongan shot put star 'Atamaama Tu'utafaiva and then we're back in Auckland to meet a history making wrestling team.…more
52% of lawyers face racial profiling in workplace, survey finds
by Mariner Fagaiava-Muller
After revered barrister Tiana Epati was mistaken for a criminal defendant at court, the Pacific Lawyers Association surveyed how frequently lawyers are being profiled. Mariner Fagaiava-Muller reports.
Outrage ensued when Epati, the former NZ Law Society president, was taken amiss for a defendant.
There are around 1500 Māori and Pacific court lawyers in Aotearoa, and many of them have met similar encounters with court staff.
Those who witnessed others being profiled could recount up to five such instances.
Within the wider legal workplace environment, 52% of lawyers said they’ve been racially profiled at least once during the last seven years.
That’s according to a survey conducted by the Pacific Lawyers Association, in partnership with Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa.
Out of those who have been subject to racial profiling themselves, only 18% reported it.…more
Jason Momoa leaves car crash unharmed
Jason Momoa remains completely uninjured after enduring a head-on traffic collision with a motorcyclist.
The California Highway Patrol confirms the actor was hit by a motorcycle while driving his 1970 Oldsmobile on Old Topanga Road in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Celebrating Cindy of Samoa - Happy Birthday
The celebrated Cindy of Samoa has brought joy to so many Islanders around the Pacific - on her bday she shared 3 fave things about her life in Samoa and a special song medley Fresh from Apia with her back up singers (above)
"My favourite food is Eleni. Our people are so creative cooking eleni. You can have eleni everyday and it never tastes the same. Our people have worked out 1000 ways of cooking Eleni. Yummy.
I find The faafafines the most Inspirational people in Samoa. They still are going through a hard life and still they live life to the fullest and with no apologies. They are survivors. My favourite song is “Cindy The Best” not simply the best. Lol!
My favourite dresses are my Tina Dresses cause I made a living out of them and took me places." - Cindy of Samoa
Check out some of her hilarious moments on FreshTV below -
Tongan Opera singer Filipe Manu wins Lexus Song Quest
Cover Photo credit: RNZ Hagen Hopkins - Filipe Manu, winner of the Lexus Song Quest 2022
On Saturday evening the Lexus Song Quest finale was back after a 4 year break and featured five talented young opera singers along with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. This year New Zealand's most prestigious competition took place at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington with up to $95,000 in prizes and the Lexus Song Quest crown.
Each of the finalists had to perform a song with Terence Dennis accompanying them on the piano and two arias with the New Zealand Symphony orchestra. The five opera hopefuls were judged live on the night but there could be only one ... and that one was three time finalist Filipe Manu.…more
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson makes an epic surprise appearance at Comic Con as Black Adam
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson wowed fans at Comic Con San Diego with an epic surprise, in person appearance dressed in his full Black Adam costume to share exclusive footage from the highly anticipated superhero movie.
Black Adam is set to be released on the 21st October introducing the DC antihero for the first time and co-stars Pierce Brosnan as Doctor Fate, Aldis Hodge as Hawkman, Noah Cintineo as Atom Smasher and Quintessa Swindell as Cyclone.
Peep the Black Adam San Diego Comic Con Teaser Trailer above and his epic entrance plus the full Black Adam panel below ...