July 3rd 2009

New to the Business Page. New iPhone gets Hawaiian touch

New Fashion & Beauty Feature on the Spasifik Sisters Page. The A-Z of Looking Good.

SPASIFIK Issue 33 July/August 2009
ON SALE SOON!

Makutu and Polynesian Spiritualism: Do You Believe?
Young & Struggling: A tale of Pacific professionals trying to make ends meet in two worlds
Leaders of the Pacific: Tongan Prime Minister Feleti Sevele fronts up to SPASIFIK
Robbie Magasiva speaks exclusively about dealing with his sex symbol status
Plus much more...

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July 3rd 2009
MUSIC
South Island Roots Reggae celebrated

Pacific Roots South is a celebration of local reggae bands as well as special guests from Dunedin – ‘Koile, kicks off an annual event of summer sounds in the winter, presented by Pacific Underground.

July 3rd 2009
ARTS
Arts committee needs Samoan representative

Creative New Zealand is calling for nominations for a Samoan representative to the Pacific Arts Committee

July 2nd 2009
FASHION
Toilet paper dress takes Samoan designer to top

A pom pom party dress dubbed ‘the sexy perm’ by Samoan designer Lua Talaoloa E’etau of West Auckland (formerly of Porirua), will add to the theatre of Air New Zealand Fashion Week this year.

July 2nd 2009
FASHION
Competition sends Maori designer to Fashion Week

After taking the top prize at the inaugural Miromoda Maori Fashion Design awards, Maori apparel and footwear brand, Tu Ake, are on their way to Air New Zealand Fashion Week.

July 1st 2009
BOOKS
The literary adventures of Albert Wendt

Last week celebrated Samoan-born author Albert Wendt released his long-awaited Pacific epic The Adventures of Vela. GELISE O’HARE was there to report for SPASIFIKmag.com.

July 1st 2009
POLITICS / PACIFIC REGION
PM Key leads delegation on Pacific islands tour

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key will pay an official visit to four Pacific island countries next week to reinforce the close links New Zealand has with its Pacific neighbours.

June 30th 2009
POLITICS
Minister must address ‘overstayer’ issue: Labour

Pacific Island Affairs Minister, Georgina te Heuheu must address mounting concerns in Pacific communities about the overstayer issue, says Labour Pacific Island Affairs spokesperson Luamanuvao Winnie Laban.

June 29th 2009
EVENTS
Mt Roskill do it again at Bring it On

Mt Roskill Grammar has done it again, winning the Central Zone heat of Bring it On for the second year running. But can they go one step further and break the Southern dominance in the grand final?

June 26th 2009
MUSIC
The day the music died – RIP: Michael Jackson

The ‘King of Pop’ Michael Jackson has died. He was found last night at his Los Angeles home not breathing and pronounced dead Friday morning (NZT). QIANE CORFIELD-MATATA, who attended Jackson’s 1996 concert in Auckland as a 10 year-old, reports.

June 26th 2009
PACIFIC REGION
Niue Premier critical of New Zealand support

The Niue Finance Minister, Premier Toke Talagi, has been strongly critical of New Zealand’s support for the island in his budget speech

June 26th 2009
TRAVEL / PACIFIC REGION
Survivor to film twice in Samoa

Samoa is set to host two seasons of the world famous Survivor reality television series, a report says. The 19th season called Survivor Samoa is currently filming on the island of Upolu.

June 25th 2009
MUSIC
Nesian Mystik breaks NZ top 10 singles record

Auckland-based Polynesian group, Nesian Mystik have broken the New Zealand music charts record for most top ten singles by a local artist after their latest single release ‘RSVP’ broke in at #9 on the singles chart.

June 25th 2009
POLITICS
MP asked to apologise for insulting Tongan Community

Just days after apologising for making sexual comments at work, Labour List MP Carmel Sepuloni kept the pressure on Act MP David Garrett to apologise to the Tongan community for inappropriate comments he made.

June 24th 2009
EVENTS
Bring it On qualifiers set to find central Auckland’s best

Nearly a fortnight after Kelston Girls College took out the West Zone qualifiers, schools from Auckland central will battle out this weekend for spots in the Bring it On Final.

June 24th 2009
WHAT'S NEW IN SPASIFIK?
Anuhea – sultry Hawaiian singer takes on the world

Hawaiian music sensation Anuhea Jenkins is a name you will be hearing more off in the coming months. From scratching a living on Maui to attracting international attention on the world’s biggest online music service.

June 24th 2009
PACIFIC REGION / TRAVEL
Lu'au for Obama could be boon for Hawaii tourism

Performers from Hawaiian-based Tihati Productions' Polynesian shows are bringing Island song and dance to the White House for president Barack Obama. WAYNE HARADA of the Honolulu Advertiser reports.

June 23rd 2009
PACIFIC REGION
Father of Pacific History Dies

A man regarded as the world's foremost authority on the cultures of the Pacific has died in Auckland while returning home to Rarotonga

June 23rd 2009
NATIONAL NEWS
Call for Matariki to be a national holiday

Toi Whenua, the group coordinating Auckland’s Matariki celebrations, wants the Maori New Year to become a national holiday.

June 22nd 2009
PACIFIC REGION
Keisha Castle-Hughes joins Greenpeace in Pacific

Academy Award nominated Kiwi actress Keisha Castle-Hughes leaves for the Cook Islands this week as one of a range of high profile climate ambassadors working with Greenpeace New Zealand.

June 19th 2009
STREET BEAT
Should Maori get free entry into uni?

SPASIFIK intern Gelise O’Hare hit the streets of Auckland city to find out what New Zealanders think about Maori Party co-leader, Dr Pita Sharples’ suggestion that Maori should get free entry into university

June 19th 2009
ARTS
Art gallery gives hope to Maori artist

After years spent in and out of prison, a chance encounter with a stranger opened up a new pathway for Maori artist Steve Hikaiti. NATASHA GREER reports

June 19th 2009
PACIFIC REGION
Palau divided over countrymen fighting for U.S.

Palau one of a handful of Pacific islands that have suffered a disproportionate number of casualties in the US-led war on terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of islanders enlisted became U.S. soldiers in part to escape poverty. JOHN M. GLIONNA reports

June 18th 2009
NZ MUSIC
The Bazooka Kid

Samoan rap artist PNC aka Sam Hansen, released his sophomore album ‘Bazooka Kid’ earlier this month. His controversial single ‘Tonight’, the latest off the 12-track album, has soared in popularity. On a crisp morning at the Auckland-based Dirty Records studios, the humble star spoke to SPASIFIK intern Gelise O’Hare.

June 17th 2009
PACIFIC REGION
Sexy name plan unnerves French Polynesia

French Polynesia's president has landed himself in hot water over a suggestion the country take a new name that has "sexy" connotations for some islanders.

June 15th 2009
EVENTS
Kelston Girls rule the west at Bring it On

The All Blacks may have lost over the weekend, but it was all smiles out west Auckland for Kelston Girls College students after their big win at the opening event for Bring it On 2009.

June 15th 2009
PACIFIC REGION
NZ swine flu cases double – island communities affected

After being declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) last week, the number of swine flu cases in New Zealand more than doubled over the weekend including 14 cases found in the Samoan community in Christchurch.

June 12th 2009
PACIFIC REGION / TRAVEL
Cook Islands: world's first recession free country

The Cook Islands Government has announced that the nation has officially decided not to take part in the worldwide recession, making it the world's first Recession Free Oasis.

June 11th 2009
ART
Artists demarcate their Pacific existence

Cutting-edge works with a strong sense of identity will be the focus of the upcoming exhibition ‘Don’t Pacify Me’ at St Paul St Gallery (School of Art & Design, AUT) in Auckland city.

June 11th 2009
EVENTS
Best from out West to ‘Bring it On’

The Bring it On Auckland secondary schools hip-hop dance competition returns bigger and better in 2009 with the first qualifying heat taking place out west on 13 June. Massey High School will be defending their title.

June 10th 2009
PACIFIC REGION
Auckland 12th best city to live, Port Moresby near bottom

Just days after being named the most peaceful nation on Earth, New Zealand can celebrate again after Auckland was named in the top 20 best cities to live. The news is not so good for the rest of the Pacific

June 10th 2009
PACIFIC REGION
Obama wants to dump Guantanamo detainees in Palau

The Obama administration is in talks with the remote South Pacific island nation of Palau to resettle some or all of 17 Chinese Muslims now held at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.

June 10th 2009
PACIFIC REGION
Pacific meeting reveals shocking domestic violence stats

A Pacific Regional Meeting on Violence Against Women being held in Fiji has been told that five of six murders in Tonga in the first five months of this year were domestic violence related homicides.

June 10th 2009
PEOPLE
SPASIFIK intern begins career journey

With an eye towards a career in journalism, Gelise O’Hare, is excited about starting that journey with SPASIFIK as she begins her internship as part of the University of Auckland’s Tuakana Programme

June 9th 2009
NEWS
Kapa haka leader dies

Taini Morrison, a rangatira in the renaissance of kapa haka, died suddenly yesterday.

June 9th 2009
PACIFIC REGION
Former Tongan PM dies

Former long-serving prime minister of Tonga, Baron Vaea, has died aged 88. He died late Sunday after being in poor health since late last month.

June 8th 2009
MUSIC
Spacifix still chasing the dream in Oz

Award winning band Spacifix have started with a clean slate after moving across the Tasman to Australia. The band members share their plans with NATASHA GREER who travelled to Brisbane.

June 8th 2009
ENTERTAINMENT
Dr Magasiva adds his own medicine to the ‘Street’

From Sione’s Wedding to hosting Tagata Pasifika, Samoan heartthrob Robbie Magasiva is now taking on the bustling corridors of our favourite hospital drama, Shortland Street. NATASHA GREER reports.

June 8th 2009
WORLD NEWS
New Zealand ranked most peaceful country in the world

Despite the world getting more violent in the current global recession, New Zealand is now the world’s most peaceful country according to a Global Peace Index survey.

June 8th 2009
PACIFIC REGION
Gomes elected New Caledonia president

The New Caledonian Congress has elected Philippe Gomes as the new President for a five-year term to replace Harold Martin.

June 5th 2009
ENTERTAINMENT
Stowers croons his way into Stars in their Eyes final

Well known Auckland entertainer Thomas Stowers crooned his way, Barry White style, into the final of Stars in their Eyes, beating off a strong challenge from stunning Cook Islands model Sara-Lina Brown.

June 5th 2009
ENVIRONMENT
Pacific Islands win UN climate change recognition

Pacific islands vulnerable to rising sea levels have won a symbolic victory at the United Nations, with a resolution recognising climate change as a possible threat to security.

June 5th 2009
PACIFIC REGION
NZ Defence humanitarian mission in Pukapuka

The Royal New Zealand Navy’s amphibious support ship HMNZS Canterbury embarked on a humanitarian mission to the remote islands of Pukapuka, in the Cook Islands.

June 3rd 2009
POLITICS
Education, housing, health for Pacific people

Pacific people will benefit from several Budget 2009 initiatives, including significant extra funding for education, housing and health, Pacific Island Affairs Minister Georgina te Heuheu says.

June 3rd 3009
POLITICS
Budget Punishes Sole Parents

CARMEL SEPULONI, New Zealand’s first MP of Tongan descent and the Labour Party’s Associate Spokesperson on Tertiary Education and Social Development, comments on the National Government’s budget announced last week.

June 3rd 2009
POLITICS
Greens’ appoint Maori MP as new co-leader

The appointment of Maori MP, Metiria Turei as the new co-leader for the Green Party on 30 May has been applauded by her parliamentary colleagues.

June 2nd 2009
Tonga political reforms may take two years: King

Reforms to Tonga's semi-feudal political system could take two years, said its ruler King Siaosi Tupou V, despite government indications that these would be introduced earlier.

June 2nd 2009
ART
Anna Crawley exhibition at SPASIFIK

SPASIFIK hosted its first ever art exhibition in conjunction with the Okaioceanikart Gallery featuring the works of talented Samoan artist Anna Crawley.

June 2nd 2009
PACIFIC REGION
Families fear for Tuvalu hostages

Desperate families around the Pacific are praying for the safe release of 11 Tuvaluan sailors and one Fijian on board the German cargo ship Hansa Stavanger.