Tagata Pasifika - Welcome
TP+ Pusi Urale: A Village in Ōtara
#WATCH Despite her failing eyesight, Samoan artist Pusi Urale continues to paint and exhibit her incredible work in galleries up and down the country. Check out her latest exhibition "A Village in Ōtara" at the Fresh Gallery in Ōtara, showing till September 21st.
Pacific All Blacks shine in Bledisloe Cup demolition of the Wallabies
Fijian speedster Sevu Reece carried his winning form onto the international rugby stage with a brilliant performance against the Wallabies at Eden Park last night. It was one of many highlights to come out of the All Blacks’ 36-0 drubbing of Australia to win the Bledisloe Cup for the 17th consecutive year – a stark […]
The Solomon Islander mastering the art of pounamu carving
Pounamu, or greenstone, is an iconic Kiwi treasure highly valued by Māori and those who wear it. Our reporter Moana Makapelu Lee took a trip back to her iwi roots on the West Coast to meet Pacific Islander Steve Gwaliasi, who knows everything there is to know about this finite resource.
Kiwi-Samoan action-comedy Take Home Pay
If you loved Three Wise Cousins and Hibiscus & Ruthless, you're in for a treat. Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa has a new film coming out called TAKE HOME PAY. Soana 'Aholelei sat down with the Samoan writer and director.
Meet New Zealand’s best apprentice builder
It's not often you see university graduates turn to the trades to pursue a financially secure future, but that's exactly what one Tongan builder's done. Cedric Folaumoetu'i has transitioned seamlessly, and is now encouraging more Pacific people to consider a career in trades.
Climate Change – are our smaller island nations being overlooked?
Climate change was high on the agenda at the Pacific Islands Forum in Tuvalu this week. Although leaders came to an agreement in the official communique, in the end our smaller island nations still felt their concerns about climate change are being overlooked. Joining Alistar to discuss what this means is University of Auckland Associate Professor Yvonne Underhill-Sem.
John and Star chat Pacific news of the week
John Pulu and Alistar Kata discuss the Pacific Islands Forum in Tuvalu, the Samoan Prime Minister's praise of The Rock and more.
Talanoa: ‘Jonah’ TV miniseries based on the life of All Blacks great Jonah Lomu
John Pulu chats with one of the writers, Halaifonua Finau, and actor Mosese Vea'ila, who plays the leading role as Jonah Lomu.
Te Kūki ‘Āirani Film Festival 2019
The second Te Kūki 'Āirani Film Festival was held recently in Rarotonga. Organised by filmmaker Joshua Baker, it was an opportunity for Pacific Islands filmmakers to share their films with a Cook Islands audience. The Festival included films Vai, Marks of Mana, For My Father's Kingdom, Joey and the Leitis along with NZ short films Liliu, Maria,Toa'puapagā Strength in Suffering and Hinekura.
General Fiyah releases music video for ‘It’s You’ ft. Three Houses Down
Check out 13-year-old singing sensation General Fiyah’s latest music video – It’s You ft. Three Houses Down. Directed by long-time collaborator Samson Rambo. He may be young, but already General Fiyah has proven his place in the NZ music scene. Earlier this year General Fiyah took out the Pacific Music Awards NZ On Air Radio […]
Crew to sail to NZ from Tahiti using celestial navigation
Media release: Thursday, August 15, 2019 A double-hulled canoe will depart Tahiti next week and navigate to Aotearoa using the stars, moon and currents to guide its voyage, announced Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage Chief Executive Bernadette Cavanagh. “The passage from French Polynesia to New Zealand will be difficult and dangerous, and a […]
Shepherds Reign release epic ‘Legend’ music video featuring Poly warriors and boxing legend David Tua
Polynesian metal band Shepherds Reign have released a new epic music video, ‘Legend (Ressurected)’, starring Samoan boxing legend David Tua. The video first premiered on RNZ Music, described as ‘a homage to fathers and role models’. Leading up to the music video, Shepherds Reign released promo clips showing various Polynesian warriors from Aotearoa, Fiji, Cook […]
Tiumalu Peter Fa’afiu appointed to Amnesty International Board
Press Release: Amnesty International Amnesty International (AI) members from around the world have elected new Directors to their International Board at the AI Annual Global Assembly this month. Among those is New Zealander and AI Aotearoa New Zealand Chair, Tiumalu Peter Fa’afiu. The Asia Pacific region now holds three out of nine positions on the Board. […]
Samoan Prime Minister praises Dwayne Johnson for his role in Hobbs & Shaw
Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has praised the High Chief Seiuli, better known as Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, for his role in the latest blockbuster movie Fast and Furious: Hobbs & Shaw. “I take my hat off to Seiuli,” said the Prime Minister in his weekly radio programme on National Radio 2AP. The Prime […]
Talanoa: How effective is Cook Islands Language Week?
How effective is Cook Islands Language Week as a means of keeping the language alive? Joining Alistar Kata to discuss is University of Auckland student Tangatakiikii Rupeni, who is currently completing her masters on the future of the reo.
Selina Tusitala Marsh performs ‘Tokotoko’s 2 Year Tale’
To celebrate the end of her tenure as New Zealand's Poet Laureate for 2017-2019, Selina Tusitala Marsh performed her poem 'Tokotoko's 2 Year Tale' inside our Sunpix Studios. This year Marsh was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to poetry, literature and the Pasifika community in the 2019 New Years Honours.
New Zealand Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala-Marsh
Pacific poet Selina Tusitala-Marsh shares her verses of wisdom with Soana 'Aholelei, highlighting the significance and the power of poetry and her special Tokotoko.
NZ film celebrates 40 years of Herbs
A new film celebrating 40 years of the iconic Pacific reggae band Herbs is due to hit New Zealand cinemas. John Pulu sat down for a chat with the band's founder, Toni Fonoti.
Tokoroa celebrates Cook Islands Language Week
The official launch of Te 'epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani took place this year in Tokoroa, the home of the Cook Islands community in New Zealand.
TP+ RnB singer Sam V releases new album “I Made This While”
We sat down with singer/songwriter and proud Cook Islander Sam V and his producer EDY about the release of their new album "I Made This While". With heavy influences from Craig David and Brandy, the collaborative effort is available from today.
John Pulu and Star Kata sing Te Noo Nei Au by Sunset Special
John Pulu and Star Kata cover Te Noo Nei Au by Sunset Special to celebrate 'Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani. Enjoy!
#CookIslandsLanguageweek
A quarter of pregnant Pacific women in New Zealand experience symptoms of depression, research shows
Around a quarter of pregnant Pacific women in New Zealand experience symptoms of depression during pregnancy, research shows. University of Auckland’s Growing Up in New Zealand longitudinal study of more than 6,000 children and their families has found that Pacific women living in New Zealand are far more likely to experience symptoms of prenatal depression than other […]
Online Pacific business portal launches to help businesses in Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa and Papua New Guinea
Business Link Pacific (BLP) officially launched last week to help businesses in Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa and Papua New Guinea. The Business Link Pacific portal is an online platform funded by the New Zealand Government to connect quality business advisors with small and medium-sized businesses in the Pacific region. Over 800 businesses and business advisory service […]
Te ‘Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki ’Āirani launch in Tokoroa
Cook Islands Language Week 2019 kicked off on Sunday with a vibrant launch in Tokoroa. This year’s theme is Taku rama, taau toi: ora te Reo – My Torch, Your Adze: The Language Lives.