Sport and Leisure

Surf’s up as SPASIFIK Sport & Leisure heads to the beach with summer approaching. Our cover feature is on surfing where we profile surfing champion AIRINI MASON who may be blonde, beautiful and blue-eyed, but she’s also Maori. And at just 18 is on the cusp of qualifying for the world tour from her Gold Coast base in Australia.
From the sea to southern California where US columnist SETI MATUA provides an exclusive insight into American Football phenomenon REY MAUALUGA, who is set to emulate his fellow University of Southern California alumni TROY POLAMALU, JUNIOR SEAU and LOFA TATUPU as Trojans who have become stars in the rich NFL.
Another rising star is Warriors rookie of the year BEN MATULINO, one of the key players in the team’s 2008 NRL playoff run and a player to watch in 2009.
Then it’s back to the beach with fitness guru SARAH COWLEY where she takes you for a gruelling yet enjoyable workout that will get you in shape for summer.
Enjoy healthy eating with SERU MAR who returns to a traditional favourite with the festive season looming.
The breathtaking scenery in Hawaii provides the perfect backdrop for our latest CARS feature as photojournalist JAMES ATOA is behind the lens again, capturing the Chrysler 300c ‘Red Raider’ owned by Maori ex-pat Eldon Campbell once used in a music video of rapper DMX.
In TRAVEL, editor PETER REES looks at the recent push in Samoa to promote the country as a SPORTS TOURISM destination and also profiles a Kiwi hotelier continuing the SADIE’S legacy in American Samoa.

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December 29th 2008
Henry wants All Blacks to play in Samoa

An All Blacks test in Apia, a Samoan Super 14 side and Pat Lam to coach New Zealand's top team could all be a reality according to Graham Henry.

December 24th 2008
Nese Malifa – the ultimate rugby nomad

Born in American Samoa, raised in Samoa, rugby trained in New Zealand, and now based in Long Beach, California playing for the USA Eagles national team – Valanese Malifa has seen it all, WINONA NGARO.
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December 24th 2008
FIFA lifts suspension on Samoa

World football body FIFA has lifted its suspension on Samoa following a sports tribunal arbitration decision investigating repeated management problems and mounting debt at its national federation body.
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December 23rd 2008
All Black coach takes island break

All Blacks coach Graham Henry spent the weekend in Samoa as the guest speaker at the inaugural Samoa Rugby Union Awards. The IRB coach of the year has had a successful season after last year’s World Cup disappointment
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December 19th 2008
Tahiti books ticket to world champs in Egypt

Tahiti have won their first ever Oceania tournament, taking out the U20 World Qualifiers in Papeete and booking their ticket to the FIFA U20 World Cup in Egypt, while favourites New Zealand finished third.
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December 18th 2008
Polamalu named for NFL Pro Bowl


Pittsburgh Steelers defensive juggernaut, Troy Polamalu, is one of two Polynesian players named for the NFL Pro Bowl game in Hawaii next February. The long-haired Samoan will line up for the AFC team with Tennessee Titans centre, Kevin Mawae, whose father is Hawaiian.
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December 18th 2008
Australia A pull out, Junior ABs back in Pacific Nations Cup

The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) has pulled out its Australia A side from next season's Pacific Nations Cup, while the NZRU is replacing the Maori team with the Junior All Blacks due to budget cuts
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December 18th 2008
Blowers blows time on top-level career

Former All Black and Manu Samoa rep, Andrew Blowers, once hyped as the next Michael Jones, is set to hang up his playing boots. NEIL REID of xtra sport report
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December 17th 2008
Tahiti downs Junior All Whites

New Caledonia and Tahiti have pushed themselves into pole position to take out the OFC U-20 Championship Tahiti 2008 after both scoring exciting wins on Match Day Two of the tournament.
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December 15th 2008
Rock’s mum shines as DJ Forbes wins top honour

New Zealand sevens captain DJ Forbes won the top award at the 2008 Samoan Sports Awards. But it was the mother of The Rock Dwayne Johnson who was the star of the evening
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December 15th 2008
Champion woodchopper wins top Maori sports award

New Zealand’s world champion axeman Jason Wynyard (Ngapuhi, Ngati Maniapoto) is the supreme winner of the 2008 National Maori Sports Awards.
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December 12th 2008
Vagana gets NRL mentor role

Former Kiwi international and Toa Samoa league captain, Nigel Vagana, will join the NRL as an education and welfare officer in January next year.
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December 11th 2008
Auckland City coach Colin Tuaa resigns

Auckland City’s Samoan coach Colin Tuaa has resigned, despite a 3-1 win over Hawkes Bay this week that keeps the team on top of the New Zealand Football Championship.
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December 8th 2008
NZ, Island teams shut out by rampant Springbok 7s

For the second consecutive week, South Africa have shut out defending champion New Zealand, Samoa and Fiji on the IRB World Sevens Series, taking out their home tournament in George for the first time. MELE TU’UHOLOAKI reports
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December 8th 2008
Oceania All Stars go down to Beckham’s Galaxy

David Beckham lived up to his billing despite not scoring a goal as the LA Galaxy proved too good for the Oceania All Stars, who lacked the cohesiveness to be any threat at Auckland’s Mt Smart on Saturday night.
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5th December 2008
Weepu, Forbes, Guilford honoured at NZ Rugby Awards

Taranaki hooker Andrew Hore received the supreme prize at the New Zealand rugby awards in Auckland, but recalled All Black halfback Piri Weepu was also recognised for a stellar year.
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December 4th 2008
Pacific’s greatest soccer star ready for Beckham

The world’s most famous soccer star will meet the best that the Pacific can offer when the LA Galaxy plays the Oceania All Star XI at Mt Stadium in Auckland on Saturday.

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December 4th 2008
Samoa Rugby appoints legend Schuster to coaching role

The Samoa Rugby Union has appointed former All Black and Samoan international Soifua John Schuster and champion sevens coach Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua to major roles in their local development.
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December 2nd 2008
All Blacks draw France and Tonga for 2011 World Cup

The Rugby World Cup 2011 pools have been announced. The draw sees hosts New Zealand pooled with France and Tonga, while Samoa should join Fiji, Wales and South Africa in a ‘pool of death’.
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December 1st 2008
South Africa draws first blood in Dubai

South Africa made a mockery of the pre-tournament favoritism given to Fiji and Samoa as they took out opening leg of the 2008-2009 IRB World Sevens Series in Dubai over the weekend. MELE TU’UHOLOAKI reports.
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December 1st 2008
Nonu shines as All Blacks achieve Grand Slam

The All Blacks claimed their third Grand Slam after defeating England 32-6 at Twickenham on the weekend with Samoan Ma’a Nonu again impressive crowning a year of highlights. MELE TU’UHOLOAKI reports.
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December 1st 2008
Mo’onia Gerrard wins Australian netball’s highest award

Australia’s highest individual netball award, the inaugural Liz Ellis Diamond has been presented to Tongan/Samoan Australian international and Adelaide Thunderbirds defender, Mo’onia Gerrard.
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November 27th 2008
Wanted: Fleet-footed Tongans on ice

What is red, weighs at least 110 kilograms and flies down a mountain in the blink of an eye? If Tongan sports authorities have their way the answer will be a local competitor in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.
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November 26th 2008
Samoa to host 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games

As Samoa moves to promote itself as a sports tourism destination, as outlined in the latest SPASIFIK Issue 29 (Nov/Dec), the island nation has just secured the rights to host the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games.
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November 26th 2008
Fiji tipped to take out Dubai Sevens

Fiji have been tipped as favourites in the opening leg of the IRB World Sevens Series in Dubai this weekend. Reigning Dubai champs and IRB title-holders, New Zealand, are below strength fielding a new-look squad.
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November 25th 2008
Forbes wins IRB Sevens Player of the Year

New Zealand sevens captain DJ Forbes has picked up the world sevens player of the year gong at the IRB annual awards in London. The All Blacks picked up team of the year while Graham Henry was named top coach.
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November 25th 2008
At last, the Pacific Islanders win a test match

It took four years to achieve, but the Pacific Islanders rugby team have capped off their miserable European tour with their first ever test win, albeit against lowly ranked Italy, 25-17, at Stadio Giglio in Rome. MELE TU’UHOLOAKI reports.
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November 24th 2008
Kiwis’ victory inspires All Blacks to Grand Slam glory

Only England stands in the way of the All Blacks completing a third ever grand slam after whipping Wales 29-9 in the latest match of their UK tour, prompting even most ardent British rugby scribe is saying nothing will stop them from achieving that feat. MELE TU’UHOLOAKI reports.
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November 24th 2008
Issue 29 Article
Ta's Right Size

Taura Tukaroa is convinced the Right Size Me pilot programme initiated and operated by the New Zealand Institute of Sport saved his life. The 47-year-old Cook Islander, along with Tofiga Fepuleai from the Laughing Samoans and NZIS CEO Fiso John Fiso, were among the eight Pacific men, all categorized as overweight, that participated.
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November 24th 2008
All hail, World Champion Kiwis

With ‘no regrets’ as their motto, the Kiwis defied all the pre-match hype suggesting they had no chance of upsetting the world’s best team with a stunning 34-20 victory over Australia in the Rugby League World Cup final. MELE TU’UHOLOAKI reports.
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November 20th 2008
All-Star Classic to feature 138 of Hawai’i’s top players

Hawaii’s high school football will attract national attention thanks to an inaugural All-Star football game Friday, December 12 at Aloha Stadium. The Hawaii Union Builders (HUB) Foundation will present the Hawaii All-Star Football Classic.
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November 20th 2008
Fiji sinks New Zealand’s All Whites in Lautoka

A Roy Krishna double strike was the toast of Lautoka on Wednesday night (AEST/NZT) as Fiji earned a 2-0 win over a ten-man New Zealand side in the final match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup – South Africa – Oceanian qualifiers.
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November 20th 2008
Rokocoko saves All Blacks from history repeating

Fiji-born wing Joe Rokocoko saved the All Blacks from the brink of defeat against Munster with his last gasp try which prevented a repeat of the historic 1978 victory by the famous Irish club side in a game befitting the occasion.
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November 18th 2008
Vatuvei named World's best winger, Folau best centre

Two Tongans were named as the world’s best players in their positions at the inaugural international rugby league awards dinner in Brisbane.
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November 18th 2008
France make Islanders pay for poor discipline

Poor discipline and a player sent off ruined a good start by the touring Pacific Islanders against France who used their numerical advantage to run away with a well deserved 42-17 victory in Marseille.
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November 18th 2008
NZ shows FIFA, Pacific region worthy hosts

Football (soccer) may be a minority sport in and in the Pacific. But the successful hosting of the inaugural FIFA U17 Women’s World Championship, which came to an end in New Zealand last weekend, may have changed that.
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November 18th 2008
Irish green with envy after losing to All Blacks

The All Blacks survived the suffocating atmosphere of 80,000 plus at Dublin’s Croke Park to walk away with a hard fought 22-3 win against the Irish with Samoan duo Ma’a Nonu and Mils Muliaina impressive for the tourists.
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November 18th 2008
Kiwis need perfection to stop Aussie juggernaut

As expected, Pacific minnows Fiji were hammered by World Cup favourites Australia, while the Kiwis lacklustre win over England in the other semi-final didn’t exactly inspire confidence ahead of their grand final showdown. MELE TU’UHOLOAKI reports.
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November 17th 2008
Veteran slugger Masoe boxes on

Veteran Samoan-born Kiwi boxer Maselino Masoe keeps on postponing retirement after winning the vacant WBO Asia Pacific Super Middle crown thus improving his professional record to 29-5 (27 KO’s).
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November 17th 2008
Kiwi Ferns retain women's league World Cup

New Zealand reinforced its standing as the dominant force in women's rugby league by pounding Australia 34-0 to retain its World Cup crown at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.
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November 17th 2008
Samoa Sports Awards Finalists Named

The Samoan Sports Awards is one of the biggest events on the annual NZ Samoan community calendar and this December’s ceremony will again feature a strong line-up of athletes and personalities. The finalists for the 2008 awards have now been named.
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November 13th 2008
Finalists announced for 2008 National Maori Sports Awards

Rugby league legend Ruben Wiki and ultra-marathon runner Lisa Tamati head a world-class field of finalists at the 2008 National Maori Sports Awards.
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November 13th 2008
Controversy boils over Kiwis haka

The decision by the England rugby league team to turn their backs on the Kiwi’s pre-match haka during last weekend’s World Cup match in Newcastle has stirred up a hornet’s nest with the English being called ‘disrespectful’.
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November 12th 2008
Fiji wins AUD$300,000 - and date with the devil

Fiji have become the first Pacific island team to qualify for a semi-final spot at a Rugby League World Cup after thumping a dogged Ireland side 30-14 on Monday evening.
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November 11th 2008
Pacific Islanders gunned down by England

Even with just a week of preparation under their belt, the touring Pacific Islanders rugby team were disappointing in a 39-13 loss to England as seek their first international test win since their inception four years ago.
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November 11th 2008
Weekend wins little too late for Pacific teams

The puzzling Rugby League World Cup draw now sees Toa Samoa and Mate Ma’a Tonga finish near the bottom while PNG are fifth despite not winning a game. The Kiwis and Fiji are still alive though, writes MELE TU’UHOLOAKI.
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November 11th 2008
Kahui keeps his cool in All Black win

Move over Dan Carter. Richard Kahui is not only proving to be a Maori heartthrob on the rise, but he’s also a handy rugby player. The strapping Waikato centre starred in the All-Blacks 32-6 win over Scotland which kicked off the UK tour. MELE TU’UHOLOAKI reports.
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November 7th 2008
Toa Samoa dumped from World Cup, Fiji survives

A disappointing and ill-disciplined performance plus some pedantic refereeing saw Toa Samoa dumped from the World Cup in a 34-16 shock loss to Ireland, who will now play Fiji who progressed to the semi-final playoff despite going down in a last minute loss to Scotland.
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November 7th 2008
ANZ Championship netball squads named

The ANZ Championship has announced the team lists for the ten teams ahead of the 2009 season. All teams, except the Central Pulse based in Wellington have confirmed their 12 players.
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November 7th 2008
Mealamu to captain All Blacks against Scotland

Auckland hooker Keven Mealamu will become the fourth player of Pacific ancestry to captain the All Blacks in a test match when they take on Scotland at Murrayfield this weekend.
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November 7th 2008
New Zealand Super 14 teams named

The NZRU has announced their 2009 Super 14 squads. Among the first time players chosen are sevens star Victor Vito of Samoan descent, for the Hurricanes, and rising Maori hooker Hika Elliot from Hawkes Bay.
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November 5th 2008
England beware, warns Pacific Islanders

Manu Samoa centre Seilala Mapusua has warned England the Pacific Islanders are ready to ruin Martin Johnson's debut as team manager on Saturday (Sunday NZT/AEST).
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November 4th 2008
Pacific Islanders land in England for tour

The 2008 Sports Hydrant Pacific Islanders have landed in the UK and went straight into camp over the weekend, immediately starting preparations for their game with England this Saturday.
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November 4th 2008
NZ teams reign supreme in Pacific armed forces rugby tourney

An unusual turn of events saw the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) team play the NZDF Academy team in the rain-soaked final game of the Pacific Nations Military Rugby Tournament
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November 3rd 2008
All Blacks a shadow of what they could be?

In the wake of the All Blacks hard fought, albeit unspectacular 19-14 victory over the Wallabies in Hong Kong over the weekend, UK rugby writers are already claiming the All Blacks are vulnerable.
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November 3rd 2008
Toa Samoa wins battle of Pacific, Australia in box seat

In one of the most intense international rugby league matches ever played, Toa Samoa helped put to rest the ghosts of Manu Samoa’s loss to Ikale Tahi at the Rugby Union World Cup last year, by beating Mate Ma’a Tonga 20-12.
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November 3rd 2008
Aussies back on top as Silver Ferns edged in Brisbane

The Australian Diamonds clinched the second and final test of the Holden Series in Brisbane downing the Silver Ferns 43-41 to even the honours in 2008. But Australia are in the box seat retaining their number one ranking and doing the job without their best players.
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Maori and Pacific peoples love their sports, whether they are playing or watching. And the new SPASIFIKmag.com Sport & Leisure section captures that passion perfectly with a feast of content to satisfy even the most ardent fan. We provide in-depth and exclusive interviews, profiles and features with athletes and teams making the headlines. But we go even further, delving into the personalities and their cultural heritages, going beneath the headlines, and investigating right at the source to get the real stories behind the faces.

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Warm Pacific Greetings to Travel the Pacific with SPASIFIK. What makes our site so unique from all the rest? Well, we’re more than swaying palm trees on white sandy beaches. Yes, we’re that, but much more as well. You, the readers of SPASIFIK, have a strong interest and passion for the Pacific, and we deliver with a background on each nation or territory, its people, culture, history, geography, climate, language and SO much more. As well as travel stories with its unique SPASIFIK spin, we’ll have links to stories that relate to features concerning that destination elsewhere on SPASIFIKmag.com. This is your site and we welcome your stories and photos and news of any relating must-see events wherever you are in the Pacific.
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