An epic festival of All Blacks, Māori and Pasifika rugby matches has been confirmed for Aotearoa / New Zealand this July with the All Blacks, Māori All Blacks, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa all in action, and two blockbuster double-header match days unveiled.

New Zealand Rugby's Pasifika Engagement Manager, Eroni Clarke speaks to the media following the announcement of the All Blacks' Steinlager Series fixtures against Tonga and Fiji.

2021 Steinlager Series

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All Blacks vs Tonga, Saturday 3 July, 7.05PM, plus Māori All Blacks vs Manu Samoa (kick-off TBC), Mt Smart Stadium, AUCKLAND

All Blacks vs Fiji, Saturday 10 July, 7.05PM, Forsyth Barr Stadium, DUNEDIN

All Blacks vs Fiji, Saturday 17 July, 7.05PM, plus Tonga vs Samoa (kick-off TBC), FMG Stadium Waikato, HAMILTON

* Tickets go on pre-sale on 1 June and Public sale on 4 June.

We go behind the scenes of our Teine Sa series with actor Frankie Adams.

She talks about what made her want to do the series, learning about the different goddesses and stories from ancient Pasifika legends, the scene she was most nervous about, the choreography in fight scenes and what she does to train for them plus much more.

Watch the full Teine Sa series here - the rest of the episodes will play out this week: https://www.thecoconet.tv/the-coconettv-series/im:23351/

Born and raised in Christchurch, New Zealand 16–year–old schoolgirl Sapphire Tamalemai and her family relocated to Australia after the deadly earthquakes in 2011. For Sapphire, it was an opportunity to pursue her musical dreams.

Her father, who was her number one fan, passed away in her arms from a heart attack just before she applied for The Voice. 

He worked three jobs to support her music dreams and had always wanted her to apply for the show. Sapphire's mum and her sister were side of stage at her Blind Audition.

Andrew Johns has lifted the lid on the conversation that led to a bid to coach the Samoan national team with brother Matthew and cross-code legend Sonny Bill Williams.

"For me I'm a proud Samoan, everyone knows that I'm a proud Pacific Islander, not just Samoan I'm proud of all the boys.  I'm a really vocal man when it comes to us as a Pacific Nation, we represent so much on the field but we seem to lack that representation off it ... I'll be keen to help out where I can" - Sonny Bill Williams 

Apulu Uta'ile'uō Tu'u'u Mary Kalala Autagavaia breaks down some of the ideas behind Aitu/ atua in Samoan culture, and gives her perspective on the spiritual realm of the Teine Sā and the concept of the Va in Pacific epistemologies.

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Teine Sā trailer 

Teine Sā - the ancient spirits of the Pacific are stirring. Revered and feared in equal measure, these sacred gods have crept back into the modern world to engage with five different women facing their own demons..

Teine Sā is a series of stories of modern day issues impacting Pacific women who look to the atua of the past for guidance. 

Teine Sā are the ancient spirit women, with the ability to bless and curse in equal measure.

From the notorious goddess Telesa to the Hiama of the Solomon Islands, these tales of the unexpected take age-old stories on many twists and turns.

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Last night the Samoan head of State Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, revoked the results of the general election held on the 9th of April and has instructed the nation to vote again on the 21st of May due to the continued deadlock in Samoa (both parties are on 26 MPs each) 

The leader of FAST, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa does not agree with this decision and has spoken out about actions that she calls wrong and unlawful - “We denounce this behaviour, and the misuse of resources and public officials to hold on to power. We must follow this process without diversion or trickery,” she said in a press briefing.

However, the caretaker Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has commended the Head of State for his decision to call a fresh election and said that his party leaves the results of the next election "Up to the Lord" 

Journalist Va'ai Nah Folasa asks the question "What if Gods plan doesn't suit your own personal plan?" 

Last week I wrote an article on Samoa's spiritual and constitutional foundation on God.…more

Elizabeth Kite

Community Organiser / Founder of Tonga Youth Leaders / Pacific Youth Representative to the Commonwealth

Tonga

Elizabeth V Kite is the Founding CEO of Take The Lead (TTL), formerly known as Tonga Youth Leaders, a Non-Government Organization that focuses on empowering underrepresented groups in Tonga to lead in places of national decision making. TTL run’s various leadership programmes including the only annual mock parliament for young women and girls, She Leads Fale Alea ‘O Tonga.…more

Cover photo credit:  The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame 

The 2021 NFL Draft was the 86th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible players for the 2021 NFL season. The draft was held in Cleveland from Thursday the 29th of April to Saturday 1st of May.  

Five quarterbacks were selected in the first round including the first Polynesian player to be picked in this years draft - Zach Kapono Wilson - who is of Native Hawaiian heritage and was the #2 overall pick.   The draft also marks the third time the first three picks (Lawrence, Wilson, and Lance) were Quarterbacks.

There are a total of nine players of Polynesian Heritage who were picked up in the 2021 NFL draft and 2 of them were in the Top 10 draft picks - get familiar with them below.

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Polynesian 2021 Draft Picks in order below: 

Zach Kapono Wilson: Native Hawaiian - Quarterback 

#2 pick overall, drafted by the New York Jets.…more