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Economic Times
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Fiji singer death: Who was George Fiji Veikoso, and has the cause of death been revealed?
George Brooks Veikoso, widely known by his stage name Fiji, has passed away at the age of 55. The news of his untimely demise was confirmed on July 23, 2025, by Polynesian Music via social media, which described him as 'more than an artist — a voice of the people and a movement in himself.' The cause of his death remains undisclosed, sparking questions across the Pacific diaspora as fans ask: how did Fiji passed away? Born on May 10, 1970, in Buretu, Tailevu, Fiji, George Veikoso came from modest beginnings. Influenced by musical relatives, including the late Sakiusa Bulicokocoko and Isireli Racule, Fiji began singing in church before launching his professional career. His first gig paid just five U.S. dollars — a moment that marked the start of what would become a monumental musical journey. After political instability following Fiji's 1987 coups d'état, Veikoso relocated to Hawaii. It was there that he carved out his signature sound, a fusion of reggae, R&B, jazz, and traditional Polynesian rhythm, often called the 'Lost Coast Sound.' His debut solo album 'Evolution' marked a turning point, not only in his career but in the genre of island music at popularity skyrocketed as his music spread across the globe. In 1998, he won the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for Male Vocalist of the Year and Favorite Entertainer of the Year. He later earned a Grammy nomination for the compilation 'Island Warriors.' His songs — including co-writing the theme for Baywatch Hawaii — captured the spirit of island life while reaching far beyond the Pacific. With over 500 million streams as of 2023, Fiji's discography resonated with both Polynesian natives and global reggae enthusiasts alike. Some of Fiji's most beloved tracks include: Lia Smokin' Session Sweet Darlin' Morning Ride Jowenna These songs weren't just music — they were part of communal experiences: played at weddings, funerals, road trips, and daily family life. There was, as fans often say, 'a Fiji song in every island playlist.' Polynesian Music, in its emotional tribute on Instagram, described Fiji as a 'light in the dark,' stating, 'His music wasn't just something we listened to. It was something we lived through.' Fans and fellow musicians have since flooded social media with condolences and memories, describing him as the "GOAT" — Greatest of All Time — of Pacific music. Many are still seeking clarity about how did Fiji passed away, as no official statement has been made public about the circumstances of his accolades extended beyond music awards. In 2014, he won the Best Pacific International Artist Award at the Pacific Music Awards. In 2021, he received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the Manukau Institute of Technology, further cementing his legacy. His work extended to cinema and television as well. Fiji made a cameo in the surf-themed Hollywood movie Blue Crush , and his voice became synonymous with Baywatch Hawaii , co-singing the theme Let Me Be The One with Glen Medeiros. While the announcement that Fiji died has shaken the Pacific community, his impact endures. His music continues to bring together generations and remains a bridge connecting Fijians at home and abroad. Colleagues in the industry lauded his role in opening doors for young Pacific Islander artists, calling him a standard-bearer for authenticity, soul, and cultural pride. Despite his larger-than-life persona on stage, George Veikoso was known for his humility and warmth in personal interactions. Friends and family recall his deep belief in music as a vessel for healing, connection, and spiritual grounding was evident not just in his lyrics but also in the way he lived — rooted in his culture, devoted to his craft, and endlessly generous in spirit. 'He gave us so much,' Polynesian Music's statement concluded. 'We will carry it with us forever.'George 'Fiji' Veikoso's death leaves a profound void in the global music landscape, particularly among Polynesian communities. His songs remain a testament to his message: resilience, unity, and love. As tributes continue to pour in from around the world, the sentiment remains clear — though Fiji died , his voice lives on. George Brooks Veikoso, popularly known by his stage name Fiji , was a celebrated Pacific Islander musician known for his fusion of reggae, R&B, jazz, and traditional Polynesian rhythms. Born in Buretu, Tailevu, Fiji, he later rose to prominence from Hawaii, shaping what came to be known as the 'Lost Coast Sound.' George Veikoso passed away on July 23, 2025. The news was confirmed by Polynesian Music via social media.
NZ Herald
09-05-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
Autymn Williams graduates as nurse, inspired by death of partner Jeremiah Glassie
'When I first started the nursing degree, I was determined to head to oncology, having first hand experience with Jeremiah's cancer in the final years of his life,' Williams told the Herald. 'But working now in children's community care is amazing and I love it. I know this is where I'm meant to be.' Studying through her grief Williams credits her faith for giving her the strength and motivation she needed to live her life alongside grief. Head of Nursing at Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT), associate professor Deborah Rowe (Ngāi Tahu) praised Williams for completing her degree following Glassie's death. 'Autymn was one of our top Bachelor of Nursing – Māori students. She was absolutely passionate about her studies, motivated, resilient and tackled every challenge that came her way," Rowe told the Herald. 'Autymn received a number of awards throughout her training,' she said. One award was for top student of the semester, and another award from Te Whatu Ora recognised her role as a health ambassador for the Counties-Manukau region. She also won the Pro Care Māori nursing award for 2024. Williams, 23, travels to schools to deliver immunisation programmes, treats students suffering from ailments like skin infections, provides treatment for Rheumatic Fever, and works alongside Well Child and some acute in-home nursing. 'It gives me so much job satisfaction,' Williams said. Young romance, alongside cancer Williams met Glassie in 2018 through a cousin who played in the same Cook Island band as Glassie, a drummer. She was 18 and in Year 12 at Tamaki College, while Glassie, two years older, was working for DHL at Auckland Airport. The two hit it off, but later that year Glassie was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. 'He was 20 and I was 18 and still at high school,' Williams said. 'He was diagnosed in 2019 when I was Year 13.' Williams said Glassie was so positive about life, 'but it always made me cry thinking about his cancer. I was so in denial about him living and me having a future with Jeremiah Autymn Williams 'He was upbeat and positive ... I was so in denial about him living and me having a future with Jeremiah,' Williams said. Advertisement Advertise with NZME. Marriage was not discussed or on the cards, she said. 'We were just focused on healing,' Williams said. After completing Year 13, Williams took a break to support Glassie through his cancer. She would go to his hospital chemo treatments and help out at home, she said. Discovering the magic of nursing Glassie spent 12 months in hospital and that exposed Williams to the unselfish role nurses play in the health system. 'I enrolled for the course while Jeremiah was alive and when he passed later that year, I knew I just had to go for it,' Williams said. Glassie died on December 17, 2020. 'Jeremiah was just the most positive person,' Williams said. 'He never complained. I am glad I took the two years out to be with him. 'I know he would be very proud that I have completed my degree and that I am getting on with life.' Williams said her parents' love and her twin sister's support got her through when Glassie died. 'I wasn't there when Jeremiah became unresponsive at his home and I cried and cried on my dad's shoulder. Jeremiah passed the next day and my family and faith helped me get through.' An indigenous approach to nursing Williams initially signed up for a mainstream nursing degree, then changed her mind and opted for the tikanga Māori course instead. 'I wanted to learn nursing from a Māori perspective,' Williams said. 'It was a very intimate course and the support from tutors and classmates was amazing. 'Mainstream [nurses] learn the philosophies of Florence Nightingale whereas the tikanga Māori [students] study Princess Te Puea. 'I shared my story with my classmates early in the course so everyone knew my circumstances. The tutors really push your 'why' and Jeremiah was my why.' MIT launched the Māori nurses qualification in 2020 - the year Williams applied - in order to attract more Māori to health careers. Te Tohu Paetahi Tikanga Rangatira aa-Tapuhi, Bachelor of Nursing Māori (TTPTRT) prepares nurses to deliver healthcare as registered nurses with a particular focus on indigenous tikanga, reo and kaupapa. Nurses who complete TTPTRT are employed in frontline nursing, research, administration, education, public health and mental health in hospitals and communities. 'The qualification is designed for those who are starting out on a journey in reo and self-identity, as well as others fluent in te reo and well-versed in tikanga,' Rowe said. Waikato waiata 'Timatangia Te Puea' provides the philosophy underpinning the programme. While every nursing degree carries the same clinical components, TTPTRT has an increased focus on tikanga practices. Rowe said this was an acknowledgement of Princess Te Puea Heerangi's commitment to advancing the health outcomes of the Waikato people, the delivery of care in a Māori environment and the ongoing importance of continuing her work. She said Williams' journey has been an inspiration for others. 'It's not surprising to hear of her 'why' in choosing to go into nursing. A number of tauira (students), whether Māori or non-Māori, we have, are inspired to give back to the community either because of the experiences they have had with whānau or extended whānau. 'In understanding tikanga, they can approach a patient in a different way. They can use those cultural competencies and values to engage a patient in their care. We saw during COVID the part different approaches played when Māori and Pasifika interacted with their own people to build trust.' Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Student's Rallying Call For Unity: ‘I'm Tired Of Discrimination'
Article – Mary Afemata – Local Democracy Reporter The teenage winner of the Race Unity Speech Awards has used her platform to lay down a challenge to those in power. 'Diversity should be more than just a moment,' Pillay said. 'Diversity is everything… All of this, it means nothing if we cannot practise what we preach.' Jordyn Joy Pillay, a Year 12 student at Ormiston Senior College in Auckland, won the title of national champion and the Tohu Whetumatarau – Ministry for Ethnic Communities Award for Vision. The finals were hosted by Ngā Kete Wānanga Marae at Manukau Institute of Technology's Ōtara campus. Pillay was chosen as the winner over the weekend after competing with six female finalists. 'Diversity should be more than just a moment,' Pillay said. 'Diversity is everything… All of this, it means nothing if we cannot practise what we preach.' Rather than settling for cultural weeks and symbolic gestures, Pillay called for student voice panels in schools, co-designed curriculums that reflect Aotearoa's true diversity, and spaces where young people feel safe and heard. 'I am so sick and tired of the same discrimination that forced me, a new migrant just two years ago, to spend my lunchtime in the school toilet just to avoid the hateful comments.' Chief Children's Commissioner Dr Clare Akhmad served as master of ceremonies, guiding the audience through a morning of bold, solutions-driven speeches by rangatahi. Akhmad said the rangatahi had not simply delivered performances, but presented a roadmap for decision-makers. 'And what I saw was that the messages of the rangatahi, they really were resonating and so now I really hope that they are taken forward in real action,' she said. 'Too often our mokopuna don't have a say in the decisions that affect their daily lives,' she added. 'Local councils, schools and government agencies need to be creating pathways for youth to participate, even before they are eligible to vote.' She said platforms like the Race Unity Speech Awards help build that bridge. But the responsibility now sits with those in positions of power. Minister for Ethnic Communities Mark Mitchell, Race Relations Commissioner Dr Melissa Darby, NZ Police Deputy Chief Executive Jill Rogers and Police Superintendent Rakesh Naidoo were among those present. Dr Darby said race unity helped to strengthen democracy. 'The broader the voices, the more diverse, and I guess the more opportunities we give and ensure that people have to have their voices heard, the better it is for all of us.' Her comments echoed Pillay's message, that it was time to stop treating inclusion as a campaign and start treating it as everyday governance. Jessica Tupai, last year's Race Unity champion and now Youth MP for Wellington Central, said the competition helped her build the confidence to engage with government. However, many of her peers are still being left out. 'It's not that we don't care about politics. It's often that no one explains it in a way we can understand or access,' she said. 'Go to the schools. Talk with us, not at us.' She said Pacific and Māori youth are often burdened with leadership responsibilities within their own communities but are still overlooked in formal civic spaces. 'We are orators. We are storytellers. Sharing our voice is how we give back.' Minister Mark Mitchell also acknowledged the critiques and said the government was listening. 'Words are easy, but actions matter,' Mitchell said. He acknowledged the powerful ideas shared by finalists, including pitches for virtual reality education and more culturally inclusive teaching, and said they deserved serious consideration. Pillay ended her speech with a call for unity, not just in principle but in practice. 'I am the ocean. I am us. We are the ocean. Together we mean much. For my strength is not that of an individual, but rather that of the collective.'
Scoop
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Student's Rallying Call For Unity: ‘I'm Tired Of Discrimination'
Article – Mary Afemata – Local Democracy Reporter Rather than settling for cultural weeks and symbolic gestures, Pillay called for student voice panels in schools, co-designed curriculums that reflect Aotearoas true diversity, and spaces where young people feel safe and heard. The teenage winner of the Race Unity Speech Awards has used her platform to lay down a challenge to those in power. 'Diversity should be more than just a moment,' Pillay said. 'Diversity is everything… All of this, it means nothing if we cannot practise what we preach.' Jordyn Joy Pillay, a Year 12 student at Ormiston Senior College in Auckland, won the title of national champion and the Tohu Whetumatarau – Ministry for Ethnic Communities Award for Vision. The finals were hosted by Ngā Kete Wānanga Marae at Manukau Institute of Technology's Ōtara campus. Pillay was chosen as the winner over the weekend after competing with six female finalists. 'Diversity should be more than just a moment,' Pillay said. 'Diversity is everything… All of this, it means nothing if we cannot practise what we preach.' Rather than settling for cultural weeks and symbolic gestures, Pillay called for student voice panels in schools, co-designed curriculums that reflect Aotearoa's true diversity, and spaces where young people feel safe and heard. 'I am so sick and tired of the same discrimination that forced me, a new migrant just two years ago, to spend my lunchtime in the school toilet just to avoid the hateful comments.' Chief Children's Commissioner Dr Clare Akhmad served as master of ceremonies, guiding the audience through a morning of bold, solutions-driven speeches by rangatahi. Akhmad said the rangatahi had not simply delivered performances, but presented a roadmap for decision-makers. 'And what I saw was that the messages of the rangatahi, they really were resonating and so now I really hope that they are taken forward in real action,' she said. 'Too often our mokopuna don't have a say in the decisions that affect their daily lives,' she added. 'Local councils, schools and government agencies need to be creating pathways for youth to participate, even before they are eligible to vote.' She said platforms like the Race Unity Speech Awards help build that bridge. But the responsibility now sits with those in positions of power. Minister for Ethnic Communities Mark Mitchell, Race Relations Commissioner Dr Melissa Darby, NZ Police Deputy Chief Executive Jill Rogers and Police Superintendent Rakesh Naidoo were among those present. Dr Darby said race unity helped to strengthen democracy. 'The broader the voices, the more diverse, and I guess the more opportunities we give and ensure that people have to have their voices heard, the better it is for all of us.' Her comments echoed Pillay's message, that it was time to stop treating inclusion as a campaign and start treating it as everyday governance. Jessica Tupai, last year's Race Unity champion and now Youth MP for Wellington Central, said the competition helped her build the confidence to engage with government. However, many of her peers are still being left out. 'It's not that we don't care about politics. It's often that no one explains it in a way we can understand or access,' she said. 'Go to the schools. Talk with us, not at us.' She said Pacific and Māori youth are often burdened with leadership responsibilities within their own communities but are still overlooked in formal civic spaces. 'We are orators. We are storytellers. Sharing our voice is how we give back.' Minister Mark Mitchell also acknowledged the critiques and said the government was listening. 'Words are easy, but actions matter,' Mitchell said. He acknowledged the powerful ideas shared by finalists, including pitches for virtual reality education and more culturally inclusive teaching, and said they deserved serious consideration. Pillay ended her speech with a call for unity, not just in principle but in practice. 'I am the ocean. I am us. We are the ocean. Together we mean much. For my strength is not that of an individual, but rather that of the collective.'
Scoop
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Student's Rallying Call For Unity: ‘I'm Tired Of Discrimination'
The teenage winner of the Race Unity Speech Awards has used her platform to lay down a challenge to those in power. 'Diversity should be more than just a moment,' Pillay said. 'Diversity is everything… All of this, it means nothing if we cannot practise what we preach.' Jordyn Joy Pillay, a Year 12 student at Ormiston Senior College in Auckland, won the title of national champion and the Tohu Whetumatarau – Ministry for Ethnic Communities Award for Vision. The finals were hosted by Ngā Kete Wānanga Marae at Manukau Institute of Technology's Ōtara campus. Pillay was chosen as the winner over the weekend after competing with six female finalists. 'Diversity should be more than just a moment,' Pillay said. 'Diversity is everything… All of this, it means nothing if we cannot practise what we preach.' Rather than settling for cultural weeks and symbolic gestures, Pillay called for student voice panels in schools, co-designed curriculums that reflect Aotearoa's true diversity, and spaces where young people feel safe and heard. 'I am so sick and tired of the same discrimination that forced me, a new migrant just two years ago, to spend my lunchtime in the school toilet just to avoid the hateful comments.' Chief Children's Commissioner Dr Clare Akhmad served as master of ceremonies, guiding the audience through a morning of bold, solutions-driven speeches by rangatahi. Akhmad said the rangatahi had not simply delivered performances, but presented a roadmap for decision-makers. 'And what I saw was that the messages of the rangatahi, they really were resonating and so now I really hope that they are taken forward in real action,' she said. 'Too often our mokopuna don't have a say in the decisions that affect their daily lives,' she added. 'Local councils, schools and government agencies need to be creating pathways for youth to participate, even before they are eligible to vote.' She said platforms like the Race Unity Speech Awards help build that bridge. But the responsibility now sits with those in positions of power. Minister for Ethnic Communities Mark Mitchell, Race Relations Commissioner Dr Melissa Darby, NZ Police Deputy Chief Executive Jill Rogers and Police Superintendent Rakesh Naidoo were among those present. Dr Darby said race unity helped to strengthen democracy. "The broader the voices, the more diverse, and I guess the more opportunities we give and ensure that people have to have their voices heard, the better it is for all of us." Her comments echoed Pillay's message, that it was time to stop treating inclusion as a campaign and start treating it as everyday governance. Jessica Tupai, last year's Race Unity champion and now Youth MP for Wellington Central, said the competition helped her build the confidence to engage with government. However, many of her peers are still being left out. 'It's not that we don't care about politics. It's often that no one explains it in a way we can understand or access,' she said. 'Go to the schools. Talk with us, not at us.' She said Pacific and Māori youth are often burdened with leadership responsibilities within their own communities but are still overlooked in formal civic spaces. 'We are orators. We are storytellers. Sharing our voice is how we give back.' Minister Mark Mitchell also acknowledged the critiques and said the government was listening. 'Words are easy, but actions matter,' Mitchell said. He acknowledged the powerful ideas shared by finalists, including pitches for virtual reality education and more culturally inclusive teaching, and said they deserved serious consideration. Pillay ended her speech with a call for unity, not just in principle but in practice. 'I am the ocean. I am us. We are the ocean. Together we mean much. For my strength is not that of an individual, but rather that of the collective.'
