
Independence remembered: Samoa's story
This Week on Radio Australia — we're turning up the volume on independence and the voices shaping the Pacific, from music and arts to sport and politics.
On Nesia Daily, hosts Jacob McQuire and Michael Chow reconnect with one of the very first voices they featured nearly two years ago — marking Samoa's Independence Day on June 1st with a powerful reflection on identity and progress.
On Politok, journalist Scott Waide dives deep into PNG's energy crisis. He unpacks how decades of power cuts are putting lives at risk — and why the system still hasn't been fixed.
And on Nesian Footy, Sam Wykes and Tinirau Arona sit down with Oneata Schwalger. She's gone from playing both codes to chasing a new dream — coaching at the top level.
Relax into your Sunday morning with two hours of the best stories from across the Pacific. Host, Kuntamari crofts, will take you on a Pacific Sundays journey, bringing you stories that will inspire, entertain and inform you.
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ABC News
6 hours ago
- ABC News
Hopes rising that international rugby league will return to Vanuatu later this year, for the first time in nearly decade
The wheels are in motion for the return of international rugby league to Vanuatu, nine years after they last played on home soil, and seven years since they last played at all. It's been a long wait for head coach Lionel Harbin to take the reins once again, and serve the country from where his great-grandparents were blackbirded to Australia many decades ago. Meanwhile with his club hat on, he continues to lead the Capras in the Queensland Cup, and he's just drafted former Rookie of the Year, Morea Morea, into his squad from the PNG Hunters. Coach Harbin is aiming to get the young Kumul's highly promising career back on track, while in the background he'll be busy raising a squad to represent Vanuatu on their international come back.

ABC News
a day ago
- ABC News
'So much talent': Pacific Break Samoa launch concert highlights region's best music acts
Thousands gathered under the stars at Apia's waterfront on Friday night as Samoa hosted its first Pacific Break launch concert, an event designed to spotlight emerging musical talent from across the region and officially open this year's competition. For artists like Mr Cowboy, one of Samoa's most recognisable performers, the concert was more than a showcase — it was a platform for stories and opportunity for aspiring artists. "I've always loved singing, it's something I love sharing with people, to bless their lives with my music and my story," he said. "The reason I'm involved [in Pacific Break] is because I know there is so much talent across the Pacific that could benefit from expert advice and guidance to further their music careers." Samoa's very own hip hop artist Mr Tee took the stage performing hit song Pitonuu Solosolo. ( ABC Pacific: Dinah Lewis Boucher ) Each year ABC Radio Australia hunts for the best unsigned musical talent the Pacific region has to offer through the Pacific Break competition. The concert featured performances from well-known Pacific Break winners, alongside local Samoan acts including Mr Tee, Tofaga Meke and Mr Cowboy, at the free, family friendly event at Apia's Friendship Park. Young Sefa and Nesia Daily's Jacob McQuire and Michael Chow hosted the night, which saw local crowds turn up in the thousands. The crowd brought good vibes in Apia on Friday night. ( ABC Pacific: Dinah Lewis Boucher ) In the Pacific, it's often challenging for women to launch careers in the music industry, explained singer-songwriter and 2022 Pacific Break winner Danielle. But winning the competition, she said, helped kickstart her breakout year. "It has opened doors for me beyond imagination. I've been able to perform in New Zealand, all across Australia at different performances, I've met so many other artists, so the experience is really, really good," Danielle said. Chris Kamu'ana Rohoimae, Solomon Islands, was crowned Pacific Break winner last year, and Danielle, Papua New Guinea, won in 2022. ( ABC Pacific ) Talented musician and singer from the Malaita Province of the Solomon Islands, Chris Kamu'ana Rohoimae also reflected on the opportunities the competition has created. Visiting Samoa for the first time, he shared how the platform helped launch his career after winning last year, beating more than 300 entries. Fijian rapper and songwriter Ju Ben taking the Pacific Break stage. ( ABC Pacific ) Fijian artist Ju Ben, who was a sugarcane worker by day and a hip hop-reggae artist by night when he submitted his winning entry, offered encouragement to others considering entering the competition. "For all the upcoming artists wanting to enter the Pacific music competition, don't worry about what anyone thinks. If you have the talent, if you have what it takes, please enter," he said. The crowd came alive when local Samoan artist Tofaga Meke took the stage. ( ABC Pacific: Dinah Lewis Boucher ) Reflecting the shared message of the night, Young Sefa called on emerging Pacific artists to take the leap. "Creativity, originality is needed. Calling upon all our great artists, musicians, singers out there, this is your chance," Young Sefa said. "If you overthink and you don't put out any music, this is your chance for your voice of not only yourself, but your culture, to be heard." Pacific Break Samoa 2025: where the music was loud and the youth had the best moves. ( ABC Pacific: Dinah Lewis Boucher )

News.com.au
a day ago
- News.com.au
Every NRL club will have an NRLW team in the future as the league's administration makes big plans
The NRL is planning for all clubs – including the incoming teams in Perth and PNG – to have sides in the NRL and NRLW in the coming years. The women's competition has expanded to 12 teams this season, with the Warriors returning to the league alongside the Bulldogs who will play their first game against Newcastle on Friday night. There are still five NRL clubs that don't have a team in the NRLW yet – the Storm, Panthers, Dolphins, Sea Eagles and Rabbitohs – but chief executive Andrew Abdo remains confident they will eventually join in the not-too-distant future. 'We're in dialogue with all the clubs that don't currently have a licence around a number of factors – their investment into pathways and grassroots football in their geographical regions, high-performance facilities, centres of excellence and their plans and strategy and stadium as well,' Abdo said at the season launch in Sydney. 'How they're planning a strategy for growth and how that fits in with our overall plan. 'We're all aligned around the vision of ultimately having each team housing both a men's and women's team and we're in dialogue with each club on a bespoke strategy for that.' Expansion isn't as simple as bringing in more teams given the game doesn't want to rush things and risk thinning the talent pool too quickly. Record participation numbers mean growth will occur naturally, while there's clearly a thirst for more footy given the record TV ratings and crowd figures for this year's women's State of Origin series. 'It's a key strategic question and it's one that we're working on with everyone in the system – the clubs, the players association (and others),' Abdo said. 'The commission is really focused on growing the women's game, but that growth doesn't necessarily mean just more teams. 'It's making sure that we have an increase in talent, and it's also the type of competition that we run and the length of that competition. 'That's multiple factors, so it's not just the number of teams.' Meanwhile, Abdo says he's not concerned by the Rugby League Players Association's stance on the ARL Commission's proposed new powers that allow them to now charge players for on-field offences. An RLPA statement earlier this month said it had 'serious concerns' with the decision to amend the judiciary code that gives the ARLC 'absolute discretion and extraordinary powers' to charge players. It has now reportedly filed a formal dispute on the grounds that it wasn't properly consulted about the mid-season change. 'They're entitled to say what they want to say,' Abdo said. 'They've made their representations both publicly and to us, so we'll consider those and meet with them to try to continue the dialogue in a positive and constructive manner. 'We're not concerned (because) we feel like we followed due process, but we'll sit down and talk through it. 'I think it's an insurance policy in rare circumstances where the commission might feel that the policy hasn't been properly applied.'