Every year the Auckland Festival of Photography bestows an Auckland-based artist with the opportunity to create new work, which is then later exhibited as part of the festival celebrations. To celebrate its 10th Annual Commission, the AFP has commissioned 3 artists to showcase for the festival, Saynab Muse, Qiane Matata-Sipu (Cook Islands, Te Wai-o-hua, Waikato-Tainui) […]

Three Pasifika women have been named as finalists in this year’s New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. Samoan/Māori author Lani Wendt Young is a finalist for the Young Adult Fiction Award for Afakasi Woman. Afakasi Woman was re-released in hardcopy form by New Zealand publisher OneTree House last year, featuring a cover […]

The Pacific community can be applauded for complying with strict funeral limitations during Covid-19 and embracing new ways to farewell our loved ones, says leading funeral director Francis Tipene. Last Friday 29 May, the New Zealand Government relaxed social distancing restrictions at funerals, which began at the start of lockdown to members of the deceased’s […]

New Zealand not-for-profit Pasifika organisation Le Va has been selected by the Ministry of Health Suicide Prevention Commissioning Office to administer part of a $3.1 million community fund which supports communities to create innovative solutions to prevent suicide. Le Va Chief Executive and clinical psychologist Denise Kingi-Uluave said, “A critical aspect of preventing suicide requires a […]

Samoa Cyber Aufaipese, the first virtual choir made up of Samoans around the world, have released a new video celebrating Samoa Independence Day, 1 June. Called ‘Independence Project 2020’, the choir sings Le Atua Mamana e: Hymn 352 from the EFKS Hymnbook, arranged by Rev Letupu Faauuga Matautia, and Samoa’s national anthem, Samoa Tula’i, composed […]

Auckland-based engineering firm Beca is trialling a new artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot called ‘Tala’, which will allow Samoan language speakers to give voice to their opinions in public consultations.

Despite Government extensions to work visas for Regional Seasonal Employment workers until September, employers and workers are calling for New Zealand and the Pacific Island governments to work together to open borders for repatriation with concerns of limited jobs in the next few months. Moana Makapelu Lee with this story.

1 News Pacific Correspondent Barbara Dreaver picked up two gongs at the Voyager Media Awards recently for her work on the tragic Samoan measles outbreak. She talks about covering the epidemic and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

With New Zealand comfortably in Alert Level 2, many companies are getting back to business. For some small companies, they've had no choice but to work throughout the lockdown.