| |
|
Welcome to the March / April edition of the Pacific
Navigator.
Much has transpired since our previous edition and
we extend a very warm welcome to those of you who
are visiting Event Polynesia for the first time.
Summer in the Southern Hemisphere has had its fair
share of weather upheavals with cyclones and the
fateful tsunami in the Solomon Islands causing havoc
in the tiny island nation. A great number of
villages and settlements were swept away and scores
lost their lives and their livelihood. Our
condolences to the many families in the Solomon
Islands who lost their loved ones in this tragedy.
In this edition of the Pacific Navigator we take a
look at BOXING. We turn our attention to the former
rugby league Warrior Monty Betham as he makes his
debut into professional boxing. The Black and White
Pro-Am staged in Apia by eventpolynesia.com and
Polynesian Xplorer also offered a good opportunity
to salute some of Samoa’s prized boxers.
In EMPLOYMENT, we take a closer look at how the
Seasonal Labour Scheme offered by the New Zealand
Government would boost Pacific Islands economies.
SAMOA SPG2007 UPDATE, Apia is buzzing with the South
Pacific Games fever hitting town. We bring you the
latest developments.
In BUSINESS, Event Polynesia continues to promote
economic and business reporting with the
introduction of the Business of the Week feature in
the SAMOA newsroom; other newsrooms to follow. Here
the spotlight is on our Pacific businesses as we
celebrate their efforts in surviving the odds in the
global market. Let your fingers do the walking when
looking for the best deal services by clicking on
our online DIRECTORY.
BOXING - THE BETHAM WAY:
Boxing took the front seat in Apia with an exclusive
Boxing Tribute evening to honour some of Samoa’s
prized fighters both past and current. Guest boxers
on the night included Ali Afakasi, George Tanoa and
Monty Betham senior.
Ali Afakasi was Samoa’s first gold medalist at the
South Pacific Games in 1966 at New Caledonia and
again in Papua New Guinea in 1969. George Tanoa was
a gold medalist for American Samoa at the Guam South
Pacific Games and later a Golden Glove champion in
the US. Monty Betham senior won international titles
in the Commonwealth Games. Now his son Monty Betham
junior hopes to emulate his success and legacy.
In his debut into professional boxing, former rugby
league star and Warriors captain Monty Betham junior
out slugged his taller, more experienced opponent
Vai Toevai in the sixth round. The 28-year-old
former rugby league star and Warriors captain who
bears the same name as his father, proved the
critics wrong.
More than 3,000 boxing fans filled the new Faleata
Gym # 2 in March. To add humour to what was a
memorable tribute to Samoa’s national sport, a
special bout between the lovely Princess Tiger of
Upolu and Princess Liz of Savaii saw the latter take
top honours.
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi was
pleased with the fight and congratulated promoters
eventpolynesia.com and Polynesian Xplorer for
bringing the fight to Samoa. Click on links below to
view photo coverage:
•
MONTY BETHAM IN APIA 2007
•
BLACK & WHITE PRO-AM FIGHT
EMPLOYMENT - SEASONAL LABOUR SCHEME:
Announcement last year by the NZ Prime Minister, at
the Pacific Islands Forum in Fiji, regarding a new
seasonal labour scheme for workers from six Pacific
Islands, was welcomed by the NZ Pacific Business
Council (NZPBC). These countries are initially Fiji,
Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu, but it
is envisaged that the scheme could later extend to
other Forum countries.
The NZPBC Chairman, Gilbert Ullrich, says that “this
should be mutually beneficial to both NZ and those
six Pacific Islands - as NZ’s horticulture and
viticulture industries need a seasonal influx of
planters, pruners, harvesters, packers, etc, and a
pool of largely unskilled people from the Islands
need well paid work and new skill sets. In addition
to the significant remittances currently sent by
Pacific Island New Zealanders, this could pump a
further NZ$30 to NZ$35 million into these Island
economies, if the bulk of the net earnings are
repatriated back home.
The Immigration Minister, David Cunliffe, has
confirmed that up to 5,000 Island people will be
taken each year, for a maximum of seven months. If
one is to do a quick calculation, then at say $11 or
$12 per hour, this would (on a 40 hour week), amount
to between NZ$57 and NZ$62 million gross for six
months work (or about NZ$45 to NZ$50 million, net of
income tax and ACC). As the Minister has said, the
seasonal workers must not be exploited, and
employers are required to provide board and
lodgings, and pay half their airfares. Minimum adult
wage rates are currently NZ$10.25 per hour, and any
deductions for say food and accommodation cannot
drop their gross take-home pay below that minimum
figure - so between NZ$11 and NZ$12 per hour looks
likely.
NZPBC Vice-Chairman, Melino Maka, believes that this
scheme, provided it is carefully thought out, should
inject much needed earnings into small Island
economies, which are often struggling to maintain
acceptable standards of living. Maka says, “But to
make this happen, we have to see that the maximum
amount of each worker’s earnings is remitted back to
their home country, thereby avoiding any chance for
these valuable earnings being squandered in NZ -
which could then discourage the worker from
returning home, resulting in family dislocation, and
an absence of any of his or her earnings reaching
the family in the Islands.
SAMOA PREPARES FOR GAMES EXTRAVAGANZA:
The Samoa Government has injected millions of Tala
into its preparations to host the South Pacific
Games in August 2007. This is evident in the
constructions of new sporting facilities at the
Tuanaimato Sports Complex as well as other
facilities around Apia. Work is also carried out in
the construction of a number of bridges and the
widening of all major roads towards the Sports
Complex.
Work is also underway with the upgrading of the Apia
Park complex which was the sporting ground of the
South Pacific Games back in 1983 when Samoa last
hosted these Games.
In April, a delegation of government officials from
China was in Apia to sign a SAT$650 million deal
with the Samoan Government to boost the preparations
for the games later this year. The visiting
delegation also opened the magnificent Apia Park
Stadium which went through a SAT$19,000 facelift
carried out by engineers from China.
New additions to the main stadium include a giant
television screen and media centre. Plastic seats
from the world famous Melbourne Cricket Ground in
Australia has also been installed to increase the
stadium are seating capacity to over 20,000.
Twenty two countries will compete in 33 sports when
the Games begin on August 25. More than 5000
athletes and officials are expected to attend. Watch
this space as we bring you regular updates on
Pacific Navigator as Apia counts down for the 13th
South Pacific Games.
BUSINESS - PACIFIC CHOICE:
Our clientele continues to grow as more companies,
organizations advertise online with us; reaching new
audiences including Pacific people overseas. Click
on the listing below to find hot new deals:
NEW ZEALAND - DIRECTORY:
•
Aro Memorials Supplying the finest quality
headstones for over 20 years!
•
Grandpak Treat your loved ones with food
items from Grandpak!
•
Institute of Applied Learning
Practical courses, flexible time, job placement!
•
McIntosh Timber Laminates
Suppliers of laminated structures to the Pacific!
•
Pacific Business Trust
Supporting Pacific business activity & ownership!
•
Pacificare Trust Meeting elderly and mental
health needs of all people!
•
Palmz Consultants Ltd Offering home loans,
finance & investment advice!
•
Reef Shipping The most progressive shipping
group in the South Pacific!
•
Supavalue Supermarket Shopping at the best
price!
•
TelstraClear Pacific Bringing together art,
culture, leisure & business!
•
Western Union
A fast, reliable & convenient way to transfer
money!
•
Wizard Home Loans Advice on your home loan;
call Mele Jackson!
SAMOA – DIRECTORY:
•
Apia Bottling Co. Ltd.
Supplier of the best ice cream, juice, water and
ice!
•
Apia Jet Ski & Scooter Hire Have fun and
enjoy Samoa scenery!
•
DAT Car Rentals Samoa's premiere car rental
at competitive rates!
•
Faofao Beach Resort
Experience the real Samoa in the village!
•
Inalani’s Catering
Quality caterers for any occasion, with extensive
menus!
•
Leififi Travel & Tours Best tours, rentals &
accommodation packages!
•
P K Rentals
Full range of vehicles on the big island of
Savaii!
•
Polynesian Xplorer Making your Samoa visit an
enjoyable experience!
•
Western Union
A fast, reliable & convenient way to transfer
money!
HOW TO ADVERTISE:
The internet has added a whole new dimension to
marketing; opening new doors and reaching new
markets. Event Polynesia is leading the way by
offering a multimedia service at super deal prices.
Ask us about our WEBSITE PORTAL, currently the most
popular Pacific website with an average traffic of 2
million hits per month. Reaching global audiences
including Pacific people overseas and Pacific
interest from around the world.
Our EMAIL DIRECT service currently has over 10,000
subscribers and growing in the Pacific and around
the world. Let us introduce your business and super
deal directly to our subscribers by email; in turn
will be spreading the word to families, colleagues
and friends. That’s a lot of people!
With our MEDIA NETWORK service, we can include
Pacific radio and print media in our advertisement
packages. It’s about getting more for your money.
To find out
more, contact
Jana Siaosi or
Salamina Fa’aifo (Samoa),
Jenkins Tesese or
Rosa Tomasi-Puni (New Zealand & Pacific).
PHOTO DIRECT:
Click on link REGISTER ONLINE to find out how to
receive your favorite photos with out leaving home.
Click below to view the latest PHOTO DIRECT images:
•
WAITANGI DAY – SAMOA 2007
•
ANZAC PARADE – SAMOA 2007
•
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SAMOA GRADUATION 2007
•
TUIGAMALA VA’AIGA (INGA) SAOFAI
•
TUAMAN & INGA CLINIC
•
MANU SAMOA 7’S PARADE
FREE TO SUBSCRIBE:
To SUBSCRIBE to Pacific Navigator,
email:
info@eventpolynesia.com
with the word SUBSCRIBE, YOUR FULL NAME and
name of COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE in the subject box. An
electronic copy of the ‘The Pacific Navigator’ is
emailed to all subscribers on a regular basis, plus
information on any special deals offered by Event
Polynesia.
The ‘The Pacific Navigator’ release is also printed
on our WEBSITE.
HAPPY READING:
We would also like to thank you for your support and
invite you to accompany us as we plot our way
through 2007.
You no longer need to cross vast expanses of ocean
to do business when you have an online service that
links you with a thriving Pacific marketplace. In
your own time you can purchase from this global
marketplace from the convenience of your home.
We welcome your feedback and invite you to send in
your stories and your photos to share with our many
readers.
Feel free to forward this circulation to families
and friends and invite them to subscribe, or visit
our website to keep in touch with what’s happening
in the Pacific region.
In the meantime, we hope you have found something of
interest and look forward to talking to you again
soon.
|
|
|
