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Samoans steps up to host Pacific Games
The 16th Pacific Games is in full-swing in Samoa. Alistar Kata takes a look at what it takes to mount this mammoth event and how it impacts on locals and visitors alike...
Grassroots venture grows entrepreneurial spirit
A new community enterprise is giving Pacific families a chance to develop their entrepreneurial spirit with their own pig farming co-operative. Known as the "Co-operapig", it's been established with the help of Cook Islands community group CIDANZ and the landowner.
Talanoa: Community reacts to Miss Heilala fallout
Moana Makapelu Lee sits down with two members of our reporting team, proud Tongans Soana Aholelei and Alice Lolohea, to hear their reaction to the Miss Heilala fallout.
Miss Heilala Background: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUZw4A8ft0w
The controversy that put Miss Heilala in the international spotlight
Tonga's former Miss Heilala Kalo Funganitao has been expunged from Miss Heilala records for not fulfilling her role to crown the incoming Miss Heilala. The Kingdom of Tonga made headlines this week when Funganitao delivered a damning outgoing speech accusing organisers for bullying and mistreatment. Here's what happened.
Pacific news of the week
Seinafolava Sanele Chadwick and Moana Makapelu talk about Miss Heilala news, the Pacific Games tally, Blackcaps domination and... Marama's new baby!
TP+ ‘Deportees of Tonga: Gangsters in Paradise’ filmmaker showcases deportee photo series
Director of 'Deportees of Tonga: Gangsters in Paradise' Todd Henry has developed a reputation for creating imagery which focuses on accuracy of representation. The photographer and filmmaker was at the Sony Photo Talk to screen his short documentary, and to showcase his collection of photography shot in the Pacific.
TP+ Mose Auimatagi Jnr closes in on world champion dream after WBA title win
Super Middleweight boxer Mose Auimatagi Jr has burst onto the world scene after flooring Australian Kerry Foley last month to win the OPBF & the Interim WBA title. The win will likely catapult him into the WBA Top 20.
TP+ Tongan pageant queen: “I was left with no other choice but to speak out”
Outspoken Tongan pageant queen Kalo Funganitao says she had no choice but to speak out over the weekend after an unsuccessful year trying to address issues offline. Now she's calling for a complete revamp of Tonga's iconic Miss Heilala beauty pageant.
TP+ Grace Taylor’s My Own Darling a ‘love hate letter to Auckland’
Award-winning poet Grace Taylor is bringing back her powerful theatre production ‘My Own Darling’ this week from 10-12 July at Auckland’s Basement Theatre. The show reunites the creative trio of Grace Taylor, Fasitua Amosa and Gabby Solomona to reveal a side of Auckland that is often overlooked.
Veronica Pome’e Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model 2019
She is following her dream! Tongan beauty Veronica Pome’e is the first Polynesian model to grace the pages of world-renowned Sports Illustrated. The New York-based model is using her platform to empower women of all ages, sizes and cultures. Soana 'Aholelei caught up with Veronica during her fleeting visit to Tonga and New Zealand.
Are we doing enough to help Pacific people who need medical treatment?
Every year hundreds of people travel from the islands to New Zealand for medical reasons. In some cases, the situation is dire. But things are much more difficult when your immigration status is only temporary and you don’t have the funds to get the right treatment. Alistar Kata met a woman from Samoa who is struggling through this process.
What’s Kris Faafoi’s vision for public housing? – Cabinet Reshuffle
Labour's Mana MP Kris Faafoi is the new Associate Minister for Housing in charge of Public Housing, following the Prime Minister's Cabinet re-shuffle last week. He has 18 months to make an impact before the next general elections. So with many Pacific and Māori families making up a large number of state and social housing residents, or those still on a waiting list, what are Faafoi's plans and vision for NZ's state houses? Moana Makapelu Lee took a trip to his electorate in Porirua to find out.
The Samoan family tackling homelessness through mobile laundry service
Orange Sky is a free mobile laundry and shower service set up in Australia five years ago and has made its way to New Zealand thanks to Samoan Eddie Uini. But as Anauli Karima Fai'ai reports, there's more to the service than meets the eye.
Indira Stewart and Sanele Chadwick talk Miss Heilala controversy and Pacific Games
Indira Stewart and Seinafolava Sanele Chadwick talk Indira's RNZ show First Up, Miss Heilala controversy and the Samoa 2019 Pacific Games.
TP+ New Cook Islands collective aims to grow te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani
Experts in te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani launched the Cook Islanders Teachers & Educators Collective New Zealand (Au Taunga Korero Kūki ‘Āirani o Aotearoa) last night.
The group aims to provide pathways for New Zealand-born Cook Islanders to learn and speak the language, including having it taught across all levels of education.
TP+ Scotland’s oldest university performs beautiful pese for Samoa’s former Head of State
Tagata Pasifika congratulates His Highness Dr Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Ta’isi Efi on receiving his Doctor of Letters from the University of St Andrews in Scotland. Here, the former Samoan Head of State remarks on the beautiful Samoan pese that the University performed at his ceremony.
TP+ The untold story of Jazz in Samoa
A new Samoan documentary is telling the story of jazz in Samoa. We chatted to filmmaker Galumalemana Steven Percival at the preview in Auckland this week.
TP+ Vanuatu eye centre restoring sight in the Pacific
Around 80,000 people in the Pacific are blind. One place making a difference is the Vanuatu National Eye Centre, restoring sight in the Pacific with the support of the Fred Hollows Foundation NZ.
2019 SunPix Pacific Peoples Awards nominations are open!
Nominations are open for the 2019 SunPix Pacific Peoples Awards! Head to sunpix.co.nz/awards to nominate.
Who is Daniel Faitaua?
You would have seen him reading the news on TVNZ's Breakfast, but that's all about to change. Samoan Daniel Faitaua is the new TVNZ Europe correspondent, and he's heading to London next month. Soana 'Aholelei caught up with him this week to talk about his new role and what it means for his family.
Cook Island couple work to help the homeless and end poverty in Auckland’s North Shore
Homelessness is affecting a part of Auckland where many would not expect it to be an issue, the North Shore. Despite its reputation as a wealthy community, there are those struggling with hardship. Amongst it all are two good Samaritans - a Cook Islands couple who are helping people in need. Alistar Kata with this story.
TALANOA: New Minister Cook Islander Poto Williams
This week saw Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern flex her muscle in her first cabinet reshuffle which saw two Pasifika MPs promoted. Kris Faafoi heads inside cabinet, while outside cabinet is incoming minister Poto Williams. Marama sat down with the Christchurch East MP.
Marama and John talk Pasifika MPs, the Pacific Games and Veronica Pome’e
Marama and John talk Pacific news of the week, including the rise of Pasifika MPs, the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa and the first Polynesian Sports Illustrated model.
NZ government announces $65 million boost to tackle gambling harm
The government has today announced it’s updated national strategy to prevent and minimize gambling harm. Currently, about 5% of New Zealand’s population experiences some level of individual gambling harm. The key focus of the new strategy is improving equities for Maori, Pacific and Asian communities which are disproportionately impacted by gambling harm. The Associate Minister […]