Latest news with #Tokelau
Scoop
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Pacific Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Awarded To Opetaia Foa'i
The Pacific Music Awards Trust is proud to announce the 2025 Ministry for Pacific Peoples Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to one of the South Pacific's most influential cultural and musical ambassadors - Opetaia Foa'i. An artist whose passion for Pacific culture has shaped his music and inspired others, Opetaia Foa'i has spent over three decades championing the stories, languages, and rhythms of the Pacific. As the frontman and founder of the renowned Polynesian band Te Vaka, and a key songwriter for Disney's Moana and Moana 2, Foa'i has brought the heartbeat of the Pacific to global audiences. Opetaia was born in a Tokelau settlement in a small village called Alamagoto in Samoa, to parents from Tokelau and Tuvalu. Growing up, he was surrounded by traditional rhythms, songs and dances which laid the foundation for his music today. From the outset of his career, Foa'i has been sharing his culture and stories with the world. Over his 30-year career, he hasn't wavered - consistently writing music in the languages of Tokelau, Tuvalu and Samoa with topics highlighting stories and concerns from his parts of the world. In 1995, Te Vaka was formed by Opetaia Foa'i and quickly gained international acclaim, performing at major festivals across Europe, the US, and the Pacific. Singing in in Tokelauan, Tuvaluan, and Samoan, the band resonated deeply with audiences, celebrating Pacific identity while addressing pressing issues such as climate change, human rights, and cultural preservation. Foa'i's songwriting brilliance caught the attention of Walt Disney Animation Studios, leading to his collaboration on the Moana soundtrack alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda and Mark Mancina. His contributions, including the iconic 'We Know the Way,' marked a historic moment bringing Pacific languages to the Billboard charts and into the hearts of millions worldwide. Rev Mua, spokesperson for the Pacific Music Awards Trust, says: "The Pacific Music Awards humbly announces Opetaia Foa'i, Tuvalu Tokelau Samoan global Pasifika Music pioneer as the 2025 Pacific Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Recipient'. 'For over thirty years, Opetaia has Tautua served musically, locally, nationally and internationally. From, local to global, navigating Pacific languages, cultural identity development and Pasifika. Oceania Climate Change issues.' Throughout his career, Opetaia has received numerous accolades including multiple Pacific Music Awards, New Zealand Music Awards, and international honours including American Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards. His music has not only entertained but has educated and empowered, giving voice to Pacific stories on the world stage. In 2023, he returned to the Disney scene to contribute to Moana 2, once again collaborating with Te Vaka musicians and vocalists to continue the legacy of Pacific storytelling through song. Opetaia shares 'I'm grateful to be honoured with this year's Lifetime Achievement Award'. 'It has been a long but fulfilling journey so far taking our Pacific music to the world. In my work I have found great strength in using our Pacific languages and it's great to see the Pacific Music Awards continuing to uplift and encourage artists to use our languages in their music'. 'I hope the younger generations continue to proudly carry the torch for our rich culture' says Opetaia. Now based in Sydney, Australia, with his wife and four children, Opetaia continues to create, inspire, and advocate, currently working on a new Te Vaka album. The Pacific Music Awards will take place at on Thursday 21st August 2025, at the Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau. To listen to all the nominees, here's the official PMA 2025 Finalist Playlist. Tickets for the 2025 Pacific Music Awards are available for purchase through this link here. The 2025 Pacific Music awards will be live streamed by Tagata Pasifika on TP+ ( For more information: About the Pacific Music Awards In 2004 the Pacific Music Awards Committee (PMAC) was formed to realise a vision and the inaugural Pacific Music Awards debuted at Pasifika Festival in March 2005. Encouraged by the success of the awards the PMAC set about developing an annual event as a significant highlight of the New Zealand music industry calendar. The awards committee formed a Charitable Trust to organise and host the awards, and are driven by a simple core objective: to create and manage an event that acknowledges the success of Pacific artists, celebrates and promotes excellence in Pacific music and encourages young Pacific musicians to aspire to a higher level of achievement.
RNZ News
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Pacific Waves for 19 July 2025
NZ Samoan music producer dies suddenly; Bougainville's Kauona says he'll win presidency; Cook Islands gear up for 60th celebrations; Budget talks underway in Tokelau. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Basketballer Te-Hina Paopao carries Tokelau roots heritage into WNBA
By Elena Pasilio* in Tokelau Te-Hina Paopao has never set foot on the atolls of Tokelau where her family roots run but she has cemented her footprints in Tokelau history as the first of Tokelau heritage to be drafted into the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). "I loved it," she said on Zoom about taking her historic place in the league. "It's something I'm proud of and something I'm going to cherish." WMBA star Te-Hina Paopao celebrates being drafted with her family. Photo: Supplied/ Te-Hina Paopao When Te-Hina Paopao was drafted by the Atlanta Dream on April 14, 2025, she didn't attend the draft venue in New York City and instead chose to celebrate with her close family and friends in Oceanside, California. Adorned in flower garlands and crown, a puletasi matching pair with her family and a tifa - the traditional Tokelauan wear that honours the value of women - she carried her Polynesian heritage with quiet pride. "Something that I'm actually really proud of was wearing a pule (tasi) at my draft party," Te-Hina shared with RNZ. "We wore it as a family unit, me and my siblings and my dad and mum were matching with the same fabric." FROM LEFT: Isaia Paopao, losefa Aviu, Tiare Paopao, Te-Hina Paopao, Te-Hina Nansen (Niece), Paul Paopao (Father) Linkoln Nansen (Nephew) Diana Aviu Paopao (Mother) Israel Paopao. Photo: supplied/ Te-Hina Paopao For Te-Hina, this special day wasn't just about personal achievement - it was about representation. "It's something that I wanted to showcase because not a lot of people know about our culture, especially in the league," she said. "And that's something that I wanted to start off on the right foot was letting people know that I'm really proud of my culture." Te-Hina's choice of traditional attire and her decision to celebrate with her family was a statement in a space where Pacific representation is rare. "You'll see me wearing more pule (tasi) before game days," she said. "So, you know, tune in, see what the fabric will be looking like." Te-Hina Paopao with her family. Photo: supplied/ Te-Hina Paopao For young aspiring Pacific Island athletes watching her rise, Te-Hina's message emphasises the importance of leaning on family support, on cultural heritage and an unwavering sense of faith. "There's no pressure at all, just be who you are," she urges kids in the Pacific. "Have great faith, trust in God, lean on your family because your family's always gonna have your back. Trust the process and just take it one day at a time." Although she has made history, Te-Hina spoke to RNZ with the humility of someone who knows her journey is only beginning. "The work doesn't stop," she said. "I mean, now I got a job - and that job is to play basketball. And outside of that, I'm just speaking on who I am and trying to bring everyone to know more about my culture." * This story was written by Elena Pasilio, who is Nukunonu's environment officer and a trained journalist.
