Pasifika communities

Pasifika communities reach 'key vaccination milestones'

There were a total of 17,899 doses administered yesterday, including 5679 first doses and 12,222 second doses.

To date, 92 percent of eligible people in New Zealand have had their first dose and 85 percent are fully vaccinated.

The ministry said the country's Pacific communities had reached "some key vaccination milestones", with 90 percent having officially received their first dose, and 80 percent fully vaccinated.

Eleven of the 21 DHBs had reached 80 percent first doses for Māori, it said in a statement.

Petition for Dawn Raids apology handed over to New Zealand Parliament

The petition, led by youth advocates Josiah Tualamali’i and Benji Timu, contained more than 7,000 signatures nationwide.

Before the passing of the petition, Timu told members of Parliament who were in attendance he was involved in the petition because he loved Pacific people.

“Right now, a lot of our people don’t want to talk about it, but now you have a new generation of Pacific people that understand this part of the history, which we are only finding out about as we are adults.

Future of rugby league is with Maori and Pasifika communities, new CEO

About 200 people turned out on Monday to support the mihi whakatau ceremony for Andre Whittaker - who's of Cook Islands and Tahitian descent.

The Wellington league community was out in force for the ceremony - a pleasing sight for new CEO Andre Whittaker.

"We've had representatives from across all the clubs and what's been really nice too is some of the older members, life members in Wellington are re-engaging with the game again, so fantasic, and our Pasifika communities, of course, he said.

Pasifika culture and heritage celebrated in Wellington

Thousands attended the Wellington Pasifika Festival on Saturday, thought to be the largest in at least a year, with Auckland's Polyfest and Pasifika festivals cancelled in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Festival goers were treated to Pacific music and dance, arts and crafts and delicious island cuisine.

But it is much more than just a festival to the people involved, such as the president of the Wellington Solomon Islands community Glorious Oxenham or 'Aunty Glo', as she is more commonly known.

Rise in pyramid schemes targetting Māori and Pasifika sparks warning

Natalie Vincent, of Ngā Tāngata Microfinance, said many pyramid schemes use cryptocurrencies, and are promoted primarily to Māori and Pasifika families.

Vincent said a new pyramid scheme is being sold to vulnerable people in the form of 'gifting' or 'koha' with the promise of making quick money.

It suggests people can get up to $20,000 after making three payments of $150.

Vincent said some people might make money at the very early stages, but further on, as is the nature of such schemes, it will collapse, leaving no money for anyone.

Pacific health expert says the death of former Cook Islands PM a harsh but clear reminder of Covid-19

“It’s brought up the reality.

Pacific health professor 'concerned' at high rate of infant deaths among Tongans and Samoans

Head of Pacific Health Section at Auckland University Professor Vili Nosa told Pacific Breakfast that his team are embarking on a million dollar research project on infant care in Pacific communities. 

Nosa said they have been “collecting statistics but they’ve yet to find out why it's recurring among Pasifika communities".

The two year research will be on Samoan, Tongan, Cook Island, Maori and Niuean infant care practices and mothers.