Taika Waititi is a filmmaker. An award-winning, thought provoking, entertainment producing, story telling, naturally talented filmmaker. And this March his latest feature film, BOY, will be released in cinemas across the country. Having come from two of the world’s most prestigious film festivals, the tale about a young kid living on Aotearoa’s East Coast is already gaining international recognition. QIANE CORFIELD-MATATA caught up with our latest MOVER & SHAKER to talk about movies, Michael Jackson and how to join a gang.
While the name Ali conjures images of a legendary heavyweight boxing champion, Fijian Shamima Ali’s battles are against physical violence and for women’s rights across the Pacific. NATASHA GREER interviews our LEADER OF THE PACIFIC.
For 20 years Marama Holyoake lived with, wed and had five children with Shiloh Rickard. She endured savage beatings, punishments that included being locked up in a cupboard for more than a week, and bears a tattoo she was forced to have by her husband that would chain her to him for life. It didn’t. By 2006 she overcame her fears of retribution and headed from Dunedin to Auckland to start a new life, shrinking from a morbidly obese 245kg recluse who hated herself and growing into a confident, educated woman who at 83kgs is a third of her previous size. In an exclusive to SPASIFIK, the 43-year-old speaks out in the hope that other women who are victims of domestic violence can gather the courage to start afresh. She spoke to SPASIFIK editor INNES LOGAN.
Think you have money troubles? You’re not alone in this country. Far from it. New Zealand spends $1.15 for every dollar it earns. It may be part of the OECD group of 30 nations, but per capita it carries the third highest debt and its economic growth and productivity comparative to other countries has seen it steadily sliding down the ladder during the past two decades. Think this has nothing to do with you? Think again. As our ageing population grows, so does the demand for more taxpayer dollars to be spent on health and superannuation. And that demand will fall increasingly on the younger and faster growing Maori and Pacific populations. SPASIFIK editor INNES LOGAN looks at our current plight and how we can turn it around for the country, for our community … and for ourselves.
SPASIFIK received a lot of response from the Healthy Living feature published in issue 86. Readers were influenced to make changes to their lifestyles and were eager for more articles on healthy living. Our regular health and fitness columnist, Sarah Cowley, who has been with us for two years, was inspired by the comments and became convinced that in order for her column to raise more health awareness for Pacific and Maori people. Sarah will look at simple changes to improve health, share advice about healthy food options and put the latest fitness crazes to the test. She’ll let us know if those fitness fads are good to go or just for show. First up as our COVER STORY…ZUMBA!
He’s known as The Beast, is regarded as the world’s best winger in rugby league and is certainly the most feared. But in a sport rocked by off-field controversies involving high profile star players, administrators had no reason to fear Manu Vatuvei would be among them. INNES LOGAN spoke to the Vodafone Warriors giant Tongan winger who’s gentle at heart – off the field.
Issue 37 also contains stunning photo spreads with Te Papa’s newly released Tatau and the new Huia book The People of the Land, which includes photos by our own QIANE CORFIELD-MATATA in our BOOKS section.
Minister’s son Fastua Amosa bares all in our COMEDY CORNER, while in SPORT & LEISURE section Fiji celebrates its rugby sevens victory in Wellington, it’s Kai Time as Pete Peeti provides our latest delicious FOOD recipe with Cajun spiced trout steaks on cherry tomato, spinach with garlic tossed koura (fresh water crayfish) and in TRAVEL we visit the undiscovered tourism Pacific destination of Papua New Guinea.
There’s all this and much more in our latest issue of SPASIFIK. Get it now!