We’re joined now on Pacific Breakfast by Yvonne Timaloa, one of the team behind the Pasifika Against Coronavirus Facebook Page, informing, engaging & entertaining our Pasifika community online during COVID-19.

Punialava’a is a Pacific band formed in the 1960’s in Samoa by singer-song writer Lale Peteru.

Lale and Punialava’a journeyed with various band members right up to the early 1980’s.  Lale met his wife, female vocalist Vini Sofara who added a unique vocal dynamic that helped establish the sound of Punialava’a that migrated in the hearts and memories of Samoans to New Zealand, Australia, USA and other parts of the world.  The dynamic duo went on to have four children who have helped transition the family band into the current era and beyond.

Punialava’a won the LifeTime Achievement Awards in the pacific Music Awards in 2018 and this year are finalists for the Pacific Music Awards Best Pacific Gospel Artist and Best Pacific Language categories.  We welcome Nanai Veillani the eldest of the Peteru children he explains the proud history of the band and hopes for the future.

Dr Rawiri Taonui is an independent writer, researcher and advisor. He was New Zealand’s first Professor of Indigenous Studies.   Dr Taonui is a well-known political writer who has written over 400 newspaper and magazine articles and book chapters. 

He joins us this morning to talk about the importance of ethnic specific data in relation to COVID-19.

We’re joined now on Pacific Breakfast by Cook Island fashion designer Richard Tekeu.

Dr Maryann Heather is a GP at the SouthSeas Healthcare clinic who has a range of experience working in New Zealand, Australia, Samoa, American Samoa and China. 

Of Samoan descent, she is experienced in general medicine and emergency medicine but her main area of interest is primary care and especially Pacific health. Dr Heather holds medical qualifications from the University of Otago and the University of Auckland, and is a member of the Royal NZ College of General Practitioners (Pacific Chapter) and an Executive Committee Member for the Auckland Faculty, in addition to being a Senior Lecturer in Pacific Health (School of Population Health University of Auckland).

We’re joined on Pacific Breakfast now by 2020 Pacific Music Awards nominees in the Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist category, Lomez Brown & Raggadat Cris to talk about their nominations & music.

This morning on global politics we discuss Russia, China & North Korea.

Bernie Smith Chief Executive for The Monte Cecilia Housing Trust, in Auckland, one of New Zealand's leading community housing providers, joins us on Pacific Breakfast to talk about their recent international award & work they do in the community.

The Pacific Climate Warriors movement has Pacific youth rising peacefully to protect the Pacific Islands from Climate Change.

Fenton Lutunatabua is a writer, photographer, media relations expert and climate change activist based in the beautiful islands of Fiji. 

Fenton is the Pacific Managing Director for 350 Pacific who has worked extensively across the region and the world, elevating  the voices of people at the frontlines of climate impacts.

Matt Brown is an internationally acclaimed barber and hair artist, author, husband, and father of three known for ‘giving great cuts’ and ‘inspiring great men.’

 He is a survivor of family and childhood sexual abuse and shares his story with the men who frequent his busy Christchurch-based shop, My Fathers Barbers, as a way to foster vulnerability, healing, and connection.

His barbering skills and dedication to reviving the craft of barbering have seen him embark on a teaching tour across the US with the world’s top barber, but his real calling lies in his work to end toxic masculinity and the cycle of domestic violence affecting families across New Zealand.

Matt started his business with a simple set up in a garden shed; as his talent and client list steadily grew, he gained a large following on social media, which he now uses to share messages of inspiration and overcoming.