Latest news with #Waka
Scoop
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Te Pāti Māori: He Maimai Aroha Ki A Takutai Moana Tarsh Kemp
Mahuta mai rā ko Matariki, ko Pūanga i Te Tahi o te Tau. Maiea Te Waka o Rangi, maiea Taramainuku kia ruiruia ngā mate nui o te wā. Auē te mamae e ngau kino nei i te ngākau e Takutai Moana, kua riro ki te pō uriuri, ki te pō tangotango ki a Mairerangi, ki Te Pūtahi-nui-a-Rehua noho ai. Takoto mai rā i te pūtahitanga o ngā maunga whakahī kia haoa e Te Kupenga nui a Taramainuku hai whetū ririki i te pō. Te Pāti Māori is heartbroken to confirm that our tuahine, Member of Parliament for Tāmaki Makaurau, Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp, passed away in the early hours of this morning, 26 June 2025. Takutai Moana devoted every breath to the movement for Māori liberation and worked tirelessly to serve her community of Tāmaki Makaurau. As she navigated her health journey, she continued to stand in the House, on our marae, in our communities and she always stood up for our mokopuna. As a movement, we are devastated by this news. Takutai was more than a colleague to us, she was our sister, and we loved her dearly. We wish to take this time to honour our tuahine, to honour her parents, her children, her mokopuna and her whānau. We ask our people and the media to recognise the depth of their grief and to give them time and space to gather, mourn, and celebrate their māmā, their daughter, their nan. Further details regarding her tangihanga and opportunities for the public to pay their respects will be shared once confirmed. In the meantime, we ask media to respect the privacy of her whānau.
Indian Express
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
South African cricket's rugby moment: How Temba Bavuma's men entered a realm occupied by Siya Kolisi's Springboks
Shakira crooned a catchy ditty in Waka, Waka that readily gets plastered on South Africa's cricket triumphs by the rest of the world. It's worth many loops and had its WTC-sized resurrection, since being composed around the time when Australia last lost an ICC final. But at Lord's, it was strains of that authentic anthem 'Shosholoza' streaming in from some corner with Saffer fans, that truly rung in the arrival of cricket as a champion sporting unit, to be gloried in. Shosholoza, which literally means 'keep going forward', has origins in the Ndebele language, and talks of resilience and relentlessness of hard-working miners, urged to keep chugging ahead. It's an earworm to persevere through tough times and even mundane struggles. While it stood for solidarity during the fight against Apartheid, the haunting melody has rung in unity, and Shosholoza gets sung at rugby internationals by whites, blacks and anyone South African, forming quite an aural dome as the Springboks forward pack moves the scrum menacingly ahead. Its appearance at the cricket, finally hyphenated the two contrasting sports and the greatest Springbok, Schalk Burger, declared that South Africa were now 'double World champions.' The Bokks, of course, have the last two quadrennial world titles. But cricket was now invited to the upper perch of sporting significance in South Africa. Their captain Siya Kolisi dropped a bunch of snaps in a slideshow of how Temba Bavuma and his merry men had spent the immediate moments in the dressing room, soon after lifting the mace: they FaceTimed with the Springboks and Kolisi happily bragged about the crossover. A post shared by Siya Kolisi (@siyakolisi) The first Black captain in SA rugby knew must have known how hard it had been for his cricketing compatriot, Temba Bavuma. 'FINALLY' he captioned, perhaps the only man on earth who knew Bavuma's struggles as a skipper of a mixed-race unit, with its humongous political overtones, intimately. But even Kolisi might admit that Bavuma had a far stiffer and deeper challenge in nailing down a global title than he ever did. The Springboks had won the rugby World Cup in 1995 once before, and never competed, having to prove that they were not bottlers. They lost World Cups alright, but 15 men (or 22) in South Africa had treaded that path to glory, and even when transformation kicked in, with steady inclusion of Black ruggers, there was a blueprint, an attested winning style of play, a clear memory of the most watertight scrum defenses and lineout routines, that teams could fall back on without perennially doubting if the plan worked. The Bokks always carried that straight-backed swag in their skills and systems, that downed not just the Wallabies, but the All Blacks and the French, and the Irish. Kolisi and other Blacks like Cheslin Kolbe, Bongi Mbonambi and Makazole Mapimpi had deeply difficult stories of coming up, but walked into Rassie Erasmus' structure, knowing they were bringing flair and formidability to an already strong scaffolding. Bavuma inherited doubts. And failures. And recurring echoes of those failures, that Kolisi, though an inspirational story in reaching the national team, would never have encountered when wading into battles of might, not the mind. The pin-pricks of cloying doubts started even before the first ball was bowled. And each defeat in knock-outs left a bloodied trail of shattered spirits across three formats and four continents. Perhaps it was this shared misery, the intensely scalding memories of knock-outs, that turned the three wise men – Kagiso Rabada, Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram – into a unit, so tight, that their resolves were turned to pure granite. That group of players knew the opponent was Australians, not the goal of transformation to include 81 percent of the Black population. They wanted to be rid of the chokers tag, no doubt, but it stopped being a stranglehold that was capable of careening run chases, and like Bavuma said, they found deep reserves of the ability to fight back from almost any adversity, even a Josh Hazlewood torrent. Proteas coach Shukri Conrad had taken his coaching group to a Springboks alignment camp just before the WTC, where pressure situations were minutely analysed and the Bokks' countering mentality broken down into micro simulations. But even the great juggernaut would not have answers to the tea-time snafu on Day 3 with Bavuma restricted by a snapped hammy. 'I was the one telling Bavuma he should not carry on batting. But Aiden and Temba insisted,' Conrad would recall later. Markram knew like a glorious menacing Springboks scrum rolling forward, that it was the mere sight of him and a limping Bavuma refusing to give in or give up and inching forward like sung in Shosholoza, that would break the Aussies. 'Ultimately, these players know better than any of us,' Conrad would chucklingly admit. The finest two of the Proteas batsmen tried. And try is a swell word in both rugby and cricket. Even Rassie Erasmus was impressed. 'Jaaaaa man, coach Shukz and Proteas, so proud Lekka,' he would say with glee. Lekka was the highest approval in Afrikaans. Cricket had happily found its hyphen with rugby.
NZ Herald
23-04-2025
- NZ Herald
Far North news in brief: Far North iwi co-chair; waka ama nationals and Metalfest addition
Police are investigating an alleged robbery in Kaingaora on Sunday evening. Police were called to Church Rd at 5.45pm. After following lines of inquiry, police identified and found four alleged offenders. Four young people were due to appear in Kaitāia Youth Court this week. Waka ama nationals Three teams from Te Tai Tokerau will take place in the Waka Ama Long Distance Nationals from today until Sunday, in Porirua. Nga Hoe Horo Outrigger Canoe Club, from Kaitāia, Tirohanga Waka Ama, Kawakawa and Mitamitaga o le Pasefika Va'a-alo Canoe Club, Whangārei are among 59 clubs from around the country taking part in Wellington. The event at Ngāti Toa Domain will host 1050 paddlers competing on a circuit racecourse completing distances of 8km, 16km, or 24km, depending on their respective divisions. The event includes paddlers from J16 up to Master 75, inclusive of adaptive paddlers. Far North assault Police were called to reports of a serious assault in Te Tapui Rd, Matauri Bay, on Sunday evening. One person was arrested but there were no reports of injuries. Health staff backpay Health NZ Te Whatu Ora has paid $31.1 million in Holidays Act backpay to current Te Tai Tokerau staff. The remediation payment was needed because staff were not paid correctly for their holidays since 2010. A total of 3776 Northland nurses, doctors, allied health staff, healthcare assistants, cleaners and administrators were paid the remediation last week. Former workers are expected to be paid by the end of the year.
FACT
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- FACT
Waka promises a Polynesian poolside paradise in Ras Al Khaimah
This new restaurant is located within Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort. Ras Al Khaimah has long been a go-to spot for UAE residents looking to hit reset. Whether it's a relaxing weekend staycation or a quick escape from city life, the emirate is known to deliver. And now, there's one more reason to make your way up north. Get ready to indulge in Polynesian cuisine at Waka. Located within the recently opened Sofitel Al Hamra Beach Resort, Waka finds a scenic spot between Ras Al Khaimah's largest pool and the sea. This island-inspired retreat promises a memorable meal that's packed with fire and flavour for the ultimate Polynesian experience. Waka translates to canoe, giving a nod to Polynesia's seafaring legacy, which represents exploration, sustainability and a connection with the ocean. And from the moment you walk in, you'll be whisked away to a journey of the senses. The design and decor feature influences from across the Polynesian archipelagos — with a bit of South and Central American flair. A mix of black and white woven rattan furnishings and drums doubling up as seats tie the space together – think Moana vibes all around. As the sun sets, Waka's beach terrace comes alive with live music, fire dancers and Tiki-inspired cocktails to elevate the evening. A Cuban Duo sets the mood with their soulful sounds, followed by DJ Timo taking over the deck. The menu at Waka takes you on a culinary cruise. Expect ceviches, seafood salads, and slow-roasted meats, including Roasted Seabass, Char-Grilled Octopus and Sticky Lamb Chops, to grab your tastebuds with flavour. Complimenting these dishes will be the cocktails, featuring the likes of Mai Tai, Margarita, Piña Colada and much more. Waka promises a culinary journey in Ras Al Khaimah, blending Polynesian flavours with a unique dining atmosphere. So, if you're craving something fresh, this is the spot you won't want to miss. GO: Visit for more information.
Buzz Feed
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
The Internet Is Heavily Divided After Rapper Waka Flocka Shared His Controversial Opinion On This Hypothetical Family Scenario
Rapper Waka Flocka unintentionally caused a heated debate online after sharing his views on a popular hypothetical question. To me, Waka will always be known as the artist who helped shape my college experience by creating my friend group's theme song for those years with " No Hands." But after a recent interview on the It's Giving Podcast with Sarah Fontenot, he'll be known for stirring up the emotions of a lot of audience members who disagree with his opinion on this circumstantial scenario. Sarah asked the Atlanta rapper, "Scenario: You're on a boat in the middle of the ocean with your wife and your child — a young child. Both of them get lodged into the water..." and before she could even finish, Waka replied, "My wife." "You're gonna save your wife? Why?" she asked. "Yeah, that's my wife. I loved my wife before I loved my child. How the fuck could I choose my child over something or someone that created you," he answered. Although Waka is currently single without any biological children of his own, he did help raise his stepdaughter with his ex-wife Tammy Rivera, while they were dating and during their marriage between 2014-2022. He continued to double down on his response saying, "respectfully," he'd just have to create another child. "I cannot make the same woman I loved. It's impossible. You can't play with love." The host enthusiastically agreed but revealed she received a ton of comments from people saying that she only felt that way because she isn't a mother yet. Well, in the famous words of journalist and TV host, John Quiñones, what would you do? Heidi Gutman / ABC Tell me why you answered the way you did in the comments! And if you want to see what else was discussed on the It's Giving Podcast with Waka Flocka, you can watch the full interview below: View this video on YouTube
