Addressing the Pacific Pay Gap and introducing Pay Transparency
Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Saunoamaali'i Karanina Sumeo was on Breakfast to talk about the importance of addressing ALL pay gaps - ethnic, gender and disability pay gaps and urgently introducing pay transparency as we celebrate International Women's Day.
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Via the NZ Human Rights Commission
Lismore Floodings: "All I've Got Left Is My Passport"
“I’m in South Lismore and it’s completely gone. In my house, all my furniture has been destroyed, my beds gone, my clothing’s all wet, the carpets caked in mud, the walls are sweating”
When Analia Tamamoka Hedley moved to Australia two years ago to live and work, she was greeted by smoke in the sky from the Australian bush fires.
Shortly after settling into her new life in Lismore, northeastern New South Wales, the world shut down with Covid. Today she went home to find everything she owns has been destroyed in the flooding that has overwhelmed Lismore and other parts of Queensland & NSW.
“Things come in threes right? So this has to be it, that’s enough now, I’ve had enough” she laughs
Analia who is of Niuean heritage and born & bred in New Zealand, said the first she heard about evacuating was from the SES (State Emergency Services) at about 4.30pm on Sunday.
“Someone had sent me a screenshot of a message from SES and so before I left I tidied my kitchen.…more
Moana Pasifika named for historic debut against Crusaders
Via Moana Pasifika
Pictured above Left to Right: Ereatara Enari, Captain Sekope Kepu and Almanda Motuga. Photo credit: Taylah Johnson
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Moana Pasifika have named an historic side for their inaugural Super Rugby Pacific match against the Crusaders on Friday night at 7.05pm.
Their maiden voyage into the competition comes in round three after the postponement of the first two matches due to the team needing to self-isolate with Covid cases.
Head Coach Aaron Mauger recognises the significance of the match and what it means for Pacific Island Rugby.
“This has been 26 years in the making and after recent challenges, it’s good to finally be here.
For many it will be their debut and significantly they are getting the opportunity to take to the field and compete, when perhaps an opportunity wouldn’t be available.…more
'We are Samoa Gala' - Sisa Grey & 'O le Olaga o Samoa'
The Grey family is proud to announce the launch of the Jerome Grey Performing Arts Scholarship Fund, a program designed to provide scholarships, mentorship programs, and resources to young Pacific Islanders looking to pursue a career in the arts.
Whether it be a career in music, acting, theater, dance, fashion, painting, or culinary arts, there are so many budding artists out there in the Pacific community aching to pursue their dreams, but often it becomes a matter of access to resources, information or just the encouragement that IT. CAN. BE. DONE!
Jerome Grey's daughter Sisa gets raw with us & shares her personal experience of working towards a standard education or a degree that didn’t feel authentic to her and didn’t fill her cup. It was only when she stepped into her truth to pursue her love of acting that she was able to bring together a very, very rare opportunity to combine her love of acting, her love of the Sāmoan culture, and her love and deep appreciation for her Dad’s music to the small screen.…more
Fijian-Australians Play "Never Have I Ever"
Selai, Bayvick, Thelma, Ilisavani, Voli K and Maika play Buzzfeed's version of "Never Have I Ever" Fijian edition.
The group of proud Fijians talk about Fijian accents, being asked about playing 7s and questions about Kava. Buzzfeed even puts them in the hot seat asking about the birds and the bees conversation in a Fijian household. This lot give hilarious commentary on the Fijian-Australian experience.
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Video from Buzzfeed Oz
Living with HIV | Akanuanua Podcast
(Disclaimer: This episode may not be appropriate for younger audiences. Contains explicit topics)
In this episode of Akanuanua our host Doran sits down today with the longtime Queer advocate Geoff Ruaine. They talk about living with HIV, sex work, grinder and much more!
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This podcast touches on HIV and the misconceptions around it. It is important to be well informed with the right infomation to understand HIV and AIDS. Information like the following;
HIV and AIDS are not the same thing. HIV is the virus that when left untreated, can lead to AIDS. However, in 2022, treatment for HIV has advanced to the point where people living with HIV can live happy, healthy lives without fear of passing on the virus to their partners.
Part of having healthy and enjoyable relationships is getting tested for HIV and STIs regularly. Knowing your status is important. You can stay informed and healthy by getting tested for HIV and STIs every six months.
You can now test from the privacy of your own home with an HIV self-test kit.…more
'We are Samoa' Gala - the story behind the song
When Fa'anana Jerome Grey's children first came up with the idea of celebrating the 75th birthday of their father, they knew that it would have to be done in a big way so that everyone could share in this milestone year. They threw out several ideas of what they could call this momentous occasion.
After bouncing a few ideas back and forth between the siblings, nothing seemed to feel right, but they always came right back to the song “We Are Sāmoa”.
In this video, eldest son Tinifuloa Grey shares why this song hit their dad and Sāmoa like lightning when the country of Sāmoa called upon him to travel with the Manu Sāmoa rugby team to represent Samoa across Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
There are many amazing songs that come from Sāmoa, but what they are proud of is that 'We Are Sāmoa' is the only patriotic song that’s sung both in English and Sāmoan, that Sāmoans around the world can sing with pride and it be that moment that unites us all.…more
Va'aiga Tuigamala Highlights
Today the Pacific and Rugby community mourn the passing of the legendary Va'aiga Tuigamala. We look back at the incredible life he lived and the career path he blazed.
Va'aiga Lealuga Tuigamala, also known as Inga, was a professional rugby union and rugby league player. Born in Samoa, he represented New Zealand in rugby union, winning 19 caps, and later Samoa in both rugby league and rugby union. He played in one rugby league and two rugby union World Cups.
The Southern Cross cable that connects Tonga to the outside world is fixed
The Southern Cross Cable cut during the volcanic eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai and subsequent tsunami last month has been finally repaired.
Tonga Cable Limited chair Samuiela Fonua confirmed that the cable was restored and handed over to his company just before midday today.
He said he was very pleased to get the restored cable which resumes Tonga's phone and internet fully today after they had limited internet for a month.
"We just had a long meeting with the cable repair team, we are preparing a presentation to the Prime Minster of Tonga tomorrow," he said.
"It is all done now, the cable was handed over to us this morning just before noon, now it's with the ISPs (Internet Service Providers)."
The cable repair ship Reliance took 20-days to repair the fibre-optic cable and finally handed it over after 24-hours of testing yesterday.…more
Don't Be Afraid To Be YOU | Akanuanua Podcast
Welcome to the Akanuanua Podcast! A space to unpack what its like being a part of the ever-evolving MVPFAFF Queer Pasifika community.
The Talanoa is guided by our host, Doron Semu. He is an ‘afakasi Samoan siapo maker, acupuncturist and community advocate raised in Tamaki Makaurau, Aotearoa. His most recent interview with Tagata Pasifika on conversion therapy has opened conversations within the pasifika religious community about the treatment of the LGBTQIA+ community. He has been a guest on podcasts such as ‘A thoughtful faith’ and ‘Malaga’. Over summer, he held community workshops with support with from Rainbow Youth for the queer Pasifika and Maori community.
In this episode of Akanuanua our host Doran sits down today with Bianca Hope Dawson Puia.
She is a trans woman who, with the support of her family, is undertaking gender-affirming surgery. While at High School, Bianca challenged her school and principal by working with her local MP to allow her and other gender diverse students to wear the school uniform that best reflects their identity. Bianca is breathtaking, bold and brave.…more