Martha Samasoni, host of the Oriana TV show "Who Runs the World" has become the first non-American to be a Board Advisor to the American-based Artists Music Guild. 

Martha joins an elite group of people as a Board Advisor, including the amazing Chubby Checker of "Let's Twist Again" fame.

The illustrious company she joins doesn't end there, last year for the Guild's Heritage Awards, the hosts for the event were Regina Belle ("A Whole New World" with Peabo Bryson) and Montell Jordan ("This Is How We Do It").

Vaka Tautua is a national for Pacific by Pacific health and social services provider. At the helm of this organization is C.E.O Dr Amanda-Lanuola Dunlop who has 25 years' experience and expertise in health policy development, management, relationship management, research and evaluation. 

 

Amanda holds a Doctorate in Community Health from The University of Auckland. She is of Samoan and Māori (Ngāti Maniapoto and Waikato-Tainui) heritage and  was raised in Samoa.

Pasifika Futures is a Whanau Ora Commissioning Agency that works with regionally based providers and partners to build the capability and capacity of Pacific families. 

Pasifika Futures will visit Pacific communities across the country - from Invercargill to Kaitaia - to seek feedback that will inform how $151 million dollars of government funding for Pacific aspirations in health, housing, education and economic development, will be invested. 

We have the Pasifika Futures CEO Debbie Sorensen with us this morning to talk more about the work they do in the community as well as the consultation meetings with our Pasifika communities throughout Aotearoa.

Pacific communities are being encouraged to be part of discussions on how $151 million dollars of Government funding should be invested for Pacific aspirations in Aotearoa. 

Pasifika Futures team will start community conversations on MOnday 27th July and spend three weeks travelling the length of the country reaching out to Pacific families and their communities.

Their first stop will be in Invercargill and the Pacific Island Advisory Charitable Trust is their partner who promotes wellbeing, education and cultural development of Pacific Island people who live in Southland.  Dr George Ngaei is a representative of the Pacific Island Advisory Charitable Trust.

Dinnie Moeahu is an Entrepreneur, Business Mentor, Youth Mentor, and was voted Taranaki Daily News Person of the Year 2019 for his campaign that raised more than $100,000 for the Little Fighters Trust which helps families who have a child with a life threatening illness.  The inspirational Dinnie Moeahu is a first term New Plymouth District Councillor

Hon Simon Kofe is the Minister of Justice, Communication and Foreign Affairs in Tuvalu.  He is a lawyer by profession and has previously held positions as an associate in private practice in Fiji, Crown counsel in the Attorney General’s Office of Tuvalu, Assistant Peoples Lawyer of Tuvalu, legal advisor of the Fisheries Department and Senior Magistrate of Tuvalu.

Tuvalu’s Government has signed a large deal with satellite company Kacific to provide increased access to internet and mobile network capabilities.

Le afioga ia Fepulea’i Margie Apa is CEO of the Counties Manukau District Health Board and served as the lead DHB CEO for the 4 Northern region DHBs during the pandemic period. 

Margie’s career spans more than 20 years in the public sector in Wellington and Auckland, including serving as Director, Population Health and Strategy at the Counties Manukau DHB, Deputy Director-General of Sector Capability and Implementation at the Ministry of Health, and senior leadership roles at Capital & Coast DHB and Counties Manukau DHB. 

In her volunteer life, Margie also serves as Chair of Presbyterian Support and Chair of World Vision New Zealand.

Sis is a spinoff from Baby Mama’s Club series and set to debut on Comedy Central network this week.

Gabrielle Solomona, Hillary Samuela and Suivai Pilisipi Autagavaia front this special.

The storyline follows the friendships of cousins Malia, Gee Gee and Miki. They’re street stylish, and hilariously relatable. As they navigate through a series of misadventures, the Polynesian millennials learn about life and sisterhood.

The Hip Hop and Street Dance collective ‘'Projekt Team' will be debuting a new and exciting installation dance performance work called 'KO AU', which translates to 'I am'.  The performance will explore cultural narratives and personal stories of 9 dancers from Projekt Team. Projekt Team is New Zealand's newest and freshest Hip Hop and Street Dance collective made up of street dance freestylers from  Auckland, Wellington, Rotorua, Christchurch, Australia, Vanuatu, Japan and the UK.  Projekt Team organise Street dance events for the community and participate in street battles nationally and internationally. 

We’re joined now by Josh Mitikulena, one of the choreographers with the Projekt Team for more on Ko Au.

Rita Seumanutafa is a highly-respected leader, educator and member of the Pacific Island community in Melbourne. Since emigrating to Australia 18 years ago.

 Rita has contributed to the Pacific music and creative arts scene in Australia by founding and directing various Pacific choirs, advocating for more Pacific talent to be on the stage, and also encouraging Pacific families to continue their creative skills as much as they can. 

Rita has been a church musician for the EFKS church since she was 10 years old (EFKS East Tamaki) and continues this role at her church in Australia. 

As an academic, Rita is currently a researcher for the Pacific Island gallery redevelopment project at Melbourne Museum, and also completing her PhD in Ethnomusicology at the Conservatorium of Music, University of Melbourne.