The year that was – Entertainment

Local DJ Eddie Eddilicious Chambers DJs at Big Day Out, one of Aucklands biggest music festivals.

Samoan hip-hop legend King Kapisi releases a music video for Salvation, which was shot on location at Pacific Resort Rarotonga, the Punanga Nui marketplace and in Muri lagoon.

A Japanese film crew from Osakas MBS, which broadcasts a Saturday morning news programme called Shittoko!, or Better know!, film footage for their breakfast programme in Rarotonga. The show features a short segment called Sekai No Asagohan or Breakfast around the World, which literally features breakfast around the world, and purports to be one of the countrys most popular weekend morning programmes.

California blues songster Diana Harris performs at the Little Polynesian.

Filmmaker Nikki Siulepa a part of the Tagata Pasifika team films Snow in Paradise, a short film documenting life after nuclear testing in the Pacific, in Aitutaki. The film features a local cast.

Young Sid of popular Kiwi hip-hop group Smashproof performs at Rehab.

California soul sensation Edna Love and her band perform at Little Polynesian.

Motone Productions organises an opera night at Crown Beach, featuring Benjamin Makisi and protg Bonaventure Allan-Moetaua.

Award-winning New Zealand artist Tiki Taane, formerly of popular group Salmonella Dub, performs in Rarotonga.

Tereora College students got a surprise during their Career Expo Tyree of Smashproof made an appearance and did an impromptu rhyming performance.

British television series Shipwrecked films its eighth season on Aitutaki.

New Zealand R&B recording artist and producer Vince Harder hits Rehab.

Prime Minister Henry Puna performs at Conrad Jupiters Casino in Brisbane for the Queensland-based Cook Islands community at a gala fundraiser, earning himself the nickname Elvis.

Thomas Peyroux directs Once Upon a Reef, a fabulous play with local cast and crew and performed entirely in Cook Islands Maori. The audience raved about the raw talent and the seamless production of the legend Pipirima.

Motone Productions organises a music festival at Club Raro featuring divas Ladi6, Julia Deans and Bella Kalolo. The opening acts were local songstresses Kura Happ and Tara Kauvai.

New Zealand band Unity Pacific films a music video in Rarotonga.

Polynesian Tax Free Ltd owner Trevor Richards who in his heyday was the frontman for popular 1970s acid rock group Ticket dusts off his leather pants and exercises his vocal chords. Richards, together with his old band, performs at Aucklands Powerstation alongside New Zealand Hall of Famers Hello Sailor and Dragon.

Sydney-based Atiuan performers Family in Trust tour Rarotonga, performing at Whatever Bar, Banana Court, Hidies and Tupapa Centre.