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April 7th 2008
New SITUATIONS VACANTon the Classifieds Page

May 9th 2008

New gangs article and blog on the Community/Health page

New article on the Careers/Education page

May 9th 2008
FILM
Mia Blake in the short film spotlight
Tongan actress Mia Blake stars in This is Her, one of three New Zealand short films chosen to screen at the 62nd Edinburgh International Film Festival this June.
Read more

May 8th 2008
BLOG ARTICLE
Where do Pacific peoples draw the line on sex?
Where do we draw the line between what is tasteful and offensive? Pacific peoples and their cultural values are often at odds with mainstream New Zealand where being politically correct is increasingly a turn-off. SPASIFIKmag.com investigates.
Read more

May 7th 2008
MUSIC
East Coast proud – Zero T represents
They’ve been compared to the hip-hop group Black Eyed Peas, but Zero T are true blue East Coasters representing Gisborne. SPASIFIKmag.com editor PETER REES speaks to band member Nikki Kennedy.
Read more

May 7th 2008
POLITICS
Pacific Ministerial Advisory appointments made
Pacific Island Affairs Minister Luamanuvao Winnie Laban has announced the reappointment of nine members and the appointment of four new members to the Ministerial Advisory Council (MAC).
Read more

May 6th 2008
HUMOUR / POLITICS
Obama or Clinton – should we care?
SPASIFIK’s Tickled Pink humour columnist IRENE PINK is finding the race for the US Democratic Nomination between senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton fascinating to watch.
Read more

May 6th 2008
EVENTS
Maori teen crowned Miss New Zealand
A 16-year-old Maori secondary school student was crowned the new Miss World New Zealand last Saturday. Kahurangi Taylor, who attends Auckland Girls' Grammar School student becomes the pageant’s first winner in almost three years after the event went through a hiatus.
Read more

May 5th 2008
ENTERTAINMENT
Tem' spills the juice on Dr Ropata's return
Dr Hone Ropata’s much anticipated return to Shortland Street will see him schmoozing with nurses, upsetting a few characters, and gaining a new love interest. DOMINIKA WHITE speaks exclusively with Temuera Morrison about reprising his famous alter ego.
Read more

May 5th 2008
MUSIC
Cydel, Scribe, 3HD dominate Music Awards nominations
Three artists who have already been exclusively profiled by SPASIFIKmag.com are up for three awards each at this month’s Pacific Music Awards, after finalists were announced in Manukau.
Read more

May 5th 2008
EVENTS
Who will be crowned Miss Samoa NZ?
Seven beauties will vie for the Miss Samoa New Zealand crown at this year’s pageant in Manukau on 10 May.
Read more

May 5th 2008
ENTERTAINMENT
Nokise returns to his comic roots
London based stand up comic James Nokise started his stand up comedy career in New Zealand five years ago. His homecoming for ‘Beige Against the Machine’ gave him the opportunity to speak with DOMINIKA WHITE.
Read more

April 30th 2008
POLITICS
Togia wins US conservation award
American Samoa’s Congressman Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin has congratulated US Department of the Interior 2008 Cooperation Conservation Award winner Tavita Togia of the National Park Service.
Read more

April 29th 2008
EVENTS
Kiwi celebs' heading for Brisbane Festival
The Maori and Pacific community in Brisbane is preparing to host the inaugural Pasifika Spectacular Festival on May 10. And a bevy of Pacific entertainers from New Zealand are heading over.
Read more

April 24th 2008
EVENTS
Kiwi street dancers off to the USA
SPASIFIKmag.com editor PETER REES checked out the talent at the 2008 NZ Hip Hop Dance Champs in Manukau.
Read more

April 23rd 2008
MUSIC
Samoan artist finds success in Hollywood
Samoan artist Gary King has found success in Hollywood thanks to his song “Your Eyes” having a predominant presence in the remake of the original 1980 horror movie release starring Jamie Lee Curtis "Prom Night", reports JAMES ATOA from the US.
Read more

April 21st 2008
ART
Waitakere's Samoan art 'fathers' honoured as laureates
Painter/sculptor Fatu Feu’u, and dance group director Lemi Ponifasio have been honoured as Waitakere City arts laureates.
Read more

April 21st 2008
POLITICS
Samoa Transport Bill passed despite second protest march
The controversial Transport Amendment Bill that has divided Samoans for months has been passed by the Samoa Government. This is despite a second protest march involving over 20,000 people that took place just days earlier. CHERELLE JACKSON reports.
Read more

April 16th 2008
BOOKS
Tongan poet gets intimate with new book

Poet Karlo Mila’s new book A Well Written Body is a collection of intimate poems about such things as identity, the Pacific, and love. She tells DOMINIKA WHITE why she wrote it.
Read more

April 16th 2008
ENTERTAINMENT
Temepara wins Dancing with the Stars
Netballer Temepara George and partner Stefano Olivieri have been crowned this year's Dancing with the Stars champions after a hotly contested final on Tuesday evening.
Read more

April 12th 2008
ENTERTAINMENT
SPASIFIK’s queen of laughs joins Lady Bunch

SPASIFIK columnist IRENE PINK is part of the Lady Bunch comedy act which is performing in Auckland and Wellington as part of the New Zealand International Comedy Festival.
Read more

April 12th 2008
ENTERTAINMENT
Samoan-Maori dancer into top six

Young Samoan-Maori dancer Graeme Isaako (Purcell) has made it into the top six of the ‘So you think you can dance Australia’ reality television show contest.
Read more

April 10th 2008
ENTERTAINMENT
It’s Netball vs League for Dancing finale
Actress Miriama Smith was voted off Dancing of the Stars on Tuesday night leaving former Silver Fern Temepara George and ex-Warriors captain, Monty Betham to fight out the grand final on 16 April.
Read more

April 9th 2008
POLITICS
National Party selects Samoan to run in Maungakiekie
Auckland City Councillor, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, 37, has been selected as the National Party candidate in the Maungakiekie electorate.
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April 7th 2008
POLITICS
Historic day in Washington for American Samoa
April 3 was an historic date for the U.S. House of Representatives as well as for the people of American Samoa.
Read more

April 4th 2008
POLITICS
MP Su’a steps down Manukau deputy mayor

Su’a William Sio announced his resignation as Manukau City’s deputy mayor as he was sworn in as a member of parliament on 1 April in Wellington. This was his inaugural address to parliament.
Read more

April 3rd 2008
EVENTS
Master tatau artist makes mark
Traditional Samoan tattooing is on public display after a Sacred Mark Symposium was launched at the UNITEC campus in Mt Albert, Auckland
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April 3rd 2008
FASHION BLOG ARTICLE
by CATHERINE TOLI
Do you wear skins? If so defend yourself! Do you keep the tags on your clothes? Or is there another fashion trend out there that is more interesting? Let us know here at Spasifik.
Read more

April 2nd 2008
MUSIC / ENTERTAINMENT
A matter of life and death: Top Kiwi DJ speaks out
Revered Kiwi deejay, DJ Sir Vere tells FELETI STRICKSON-PUA how his 10 year old son inspired him to invite an all-star ensemble of the nation's top hip-hop artists to record the chart rising single Think Twice in an exclusive interview with SPASIFIKmag.com.
Read more

April 2nd 2008
ENTERTAINMENT
Temepara dances on as Polynesians rule DWTS
Temepara George has always been a dynamo on the netball court. Her quick feet have now made her a hit on the dance floor after waltzing into the top three of hit TV show Dancing with the Stars.
Read more

April 1st 2008
ENTERTAINMENT
Barclay honoured at Indigenous TV broadcasting forum
A pioneer of Maori television and film, the late Barry Barclay, was honoured at the closing ceremony of the first ever World Indigenous Television Broadcasting Conference in Auckland.
Read more

29th March 2008
MUSIC
Raiders of the South Seas video

Raiders of the South Seas is the title track to the debut album by N.C.T.C. – Norf Cyde Tongan Cru – who hail from the North Shore region of Auckland city. The group recently returned from a successful visit to the Kingdom.

Click HERE to view the music Video.

29th March 2008
TRAVEL/TOURISM
Palau tops Asia-Pacific tourism list

Palau and the Cook Islands feature highly in new United Nations figures on tourism contributing to the GDP of 34 Asian-Pacific nations.
Read more

March 27th 2008
POLITICS
Samoa making progress
Judith Collins, National Party Spokeswoman for Pacific Island Affairs and Clevedon Electorate MP, praises the contribution of New Zealand-born and educated people to the Samoan economy and Cook Islander to graduate with early childhood education qualifications.
Read more

March 27th 2008
POLITICS
Pacific Youth benefit from $8.1 million investment
Pacific youth are set to benefit by the New Zealand Government’s latest funding injection of $8.1 million for five independent research projects.
Read more

March 27th 2008
ENTERTAINMENT
Behind the laughter
The Laughing Samoans break new ground in 2008 as they take their popular comedy act to the UK and Tonga for the first time. VAIMOANA TAPALEAO went behind the scenes of their latest show Crack Me Off.
Read more

March 27th 2008
ARTS
Exploring her Samoan heritage helps artist see the light
In her travels to Rarotonga, Samoa and New Caledonia, Samoan artist Niki Hastings-McFall was impressed by the vibrancy of colour seen in the houses and clothing.
Read more

March 25th 2008
POLITICS / REGION
Absentee military vote proposal for American Samoans discussed
American Samoa’s Congressman in Washington, Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin, invited Command Sergeant Major Iuniasolua T. Savusa to discuss Samoans in the military and absentee voting for servicemen based abroad.
Read more

March 25th 2008
MEDIA
Maori TV set to host World Indigenous Television conference
Indigenous broadcasters from around the world will converge on Auckland for the inaugural World Indigenous Television Broadcasting Conference hosted by New Zealand’s national indigenous broadcaster Maori Television.
Read more

March 20th 2008
POLITICS
Su'a gets the call to Parliament
Manukau deputy mayor Su’a William Sio will be sworn in as Labour’s newest member of parliament in Wellington on 1 April.
Read more

March 20th 2008
ENTERTAINMENT
Temuera Morrison returns as Dr Ropata
He has been cast in a variety of famous characters, from Jake “the Muss” Heke to Jango Fett from the Star Wars prequels. Now Temuera Morrison returns to that role that first made his name, Dr Hone Ropata on Shortland Street.
Read more

March 20th 2008
FILM
Capturing the passion of Pacific people
SPASIFIKmag.com intern DOMINIKA WHITE was at Pollywood Six08 and finds out why it is one of Celebrate Pasifika month’s most popular events.
Read more

March 19th 2008
EVENTS
ASB Polyfest diversifies: But in what direction?
SPASIFIKmag.com was at the 2008 ASB Polyfest at the Manukau Sports Bowl which attracted close to 90,000 people during the four day event. Editor PETER REES takes a look at where the iconic event is headed.
Read more

March 18th 2008
STYLE
Our Nathan with Trinny and Susannah
SPASIFIK Beautylicious columnist Nathan Kake spent four days with British style gurus Trinny Woodhall and Susannah Constantine from the smash hit series What Not to Wear and Trinny & Susannah Undress the Nation. Nathan was the make up artist and hairstylist for the pair when in New Zealand for styling sessions at Westfield shopping centres to help customers dress with confidence for their shape and size.
For an exclusive behind-the-scenes look read more.

March 18th 2008
FINANCES / COMMUNITY
Climbing petrol prices concern kiwis
Rising petrol costs have hit consumers hard in the pocket, particularly vehicle owners in New Zealand, which has one of the world’s highest people to vehicle ratios.
Read more

March 18th 2008
PACIFIC REGION /GOVERNMENT
Pacific citizens benefit from Transit Visa exemption
Travellers from most of the Pacific Island nations will soon be able to transit through New Zealand to other countries without needing a Transit Visa.
Read more

March 17th 2008
POLITICS
Right Hand Drive bill tabled in Samoan parliament
The controversial Right Hand Drive Bill was finally tabled in Samoa’s parliament after months of debate between the government and a local consortium, People Against Switching Side (PASS). Samoa’s top non-government body has now stepped in, disappointed at government’s decision to throw out a petition against the Bill.
Read more

March 17th 2008
MUSIC
Hip-hop stars unite to help youth
Some of the biggest names in New Zealand hip hop have joined forces to encourage wise decision-making in young Kiwis.
Read more