NEWSROOM: 25 June - 01 July 2006

Art traditions of Polynesia deserve wider audience
01 July 2006 - Source: New Zealand Government

More new migrants will be welcomed under the New Zealand Residence Programme during the next 12 months in response to continued skill shortages, Immigration Minister David Cunliffe announced yesterday.

"Up to 52,000 places offered to migrants means more vacancies will be filled," Mr Cunliffe said.

"This will help employers who continue to say skill shortages are a constraint to the growth of their businesses, and will contribute to economic growth."

There will be a minimum of 47,000 and maximum of 52,000 places available for the 2006-07 year. This is the highest number since the 2001-02 year.

"More fundamental changes to the residence programme are being looked at by the government for the 2007-08 financial year," the minister said.

"One option being considered is setting the residence programme in place for several years at a time."

Mr Cunliffe also announced a policy change that means more skilled migrants with work experience in areas of "absolute skill shortage" will gain points towards residence in New Zealand.

Effective from 24 July, work experience in countries considered non-comparable labour markets, such as India and China, will be recognised in areas of absolute skill shortages.

Absolute skill shortages are defined as world-wide shortages that show little sign of easing.

"This includes occupations such as IT professionals, plumbers and engineers, and will mean we don't miss out on these types of highly talented people, no matter where they're from."

Applicants will be required to have recognised qualifications in their area of skill, and meet any registration requirements of their occupation. They will also need to meet standard immigration criteria.

Backgrounder

What is the New Zealand Residence Programme?

The New Zealand Residence Programme (NZRP) was previously known as the New Zealand
Immigration Programme (NZIP). The name has been changed to more accurately reflect the nature of the programme.

People who wish to migrate permanently to New Zealand must apply under one of the programme's three residence streams: Skilled/Business, Family Sponsored, or International/Humanitarian.

Each stream is allocated a percentage of the total number of residence places each year. The Skilled/Business Stream approvals account for 60 per cent, Family Sponsored 30 per cent and International/ Humanitarian 10 per cent.

Within those streams are a number of avenues to residence. The main path to residence in the Skilled/Business stream is the Skilled Migrant Category - designed to ensure a match between the skills migrants bring and the skills New Zealand needs.

The Family Sponsored stream allows migrants in a variety of close relationships with New Zealand citizens or residents to qualify for residence. This includes sponsorship of partners and children, and in some cases, siblings and parents.

The International/Humanitarian stream includes the Refugee Quota, the Samoan Quota, the Pacific Access Category, the Refugee Family Quota, successful refugee status claimants, and a number of small discretionary categories.

Cabinet sets the desired level of residence approvals under the New Zealand Residence Programme each year.

For 2006/07 Cabinet has agreed to the following places:

Stream Minimum number of people to be approved Maximum number of people to be approved
Skilled/Business 28,200 (60%) 31,000
Family/Sponsored 14,100 (30%) 15,000
International/Humanitarian 4,700 (10%) 6,000
Total 47,000 52,000

How many migrants were approved under the 2005/06 programme?

The number of migrants approved under last year's residence programme will be announced by the Minister once end of year figures are available.

Last year the government set the residence programme at 45,000, with 5,000 additional places available if needed. In December, the government increased this target to 51,500 - in response to high demand for places from migrants and continued skills shortage pressure on employers.

What is a comparable labour market?

A comparable labour market is one considered closely matched to New Zealand's labour market.

Several factors are taken into account when the Department of Labour defines a comparable market. These include:

· the employment laws, working conditions and remuneration arrangements of the market concerned.
· the structure of the economy in the market.
· the experiences of migrants from the same market in New Zealand - how successful they have been finding jobs and settling in the country

A number of nation's labour markets are considered to comparable to New Zealand's (see list below).

Applicants from these nations are able to claim points for work experience in their application for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category.
What has changed?

The comparable labour market policy remains in place. However, the policy change will mean more applicants from non-comparable countries will have their work experience recognised.

Before yesterday's policy change, applicants with work experience in non-comparable markets could only claim points if they gained this experience in a multinational company or if they had a job offer from a New Zealand employer.

The policy change announced today means that applicants from non-comparable labour markets may also claim points for their work experience if their skills are critically needed in New Zealand.

Their skills must be in an occupation listed in the 'Long Term Skills Shortages List'. This list is complied by the Department of Labour in consultation with other government agencies and employment and union groups.

The list includes occupations considered to have a sustained and absolute shortage of labour.

In order to claims points, these applicants must also meet the qualification requirements of their occupation - in addition to standard immigration criteria.

Why is the comparable labour market policy required?

In 2003 the Labour-led government made some changes to the way skilled people could qualify for residence in New Zealand. These changes were made to ensure migrants coming to New Zealand were able to settle as successfully as possible -in the country's workforce and communities.

As part of these changes, the comparable labour market policy was introduced. The policy is designed to make sure that a migrant's skills and experience closely match New Zealand's labour needs.

A person who has experience in a market similar to New Zealand's will find it easier to find a job and settle successfully.

What countries are considered comparable?

Australia Malaysia
Austria New Zealand
Belgium-Luxembourg Netherlands
Canada Norway
Cyprus Philippines
Denmark Portugal
Finland Republic of South Korea
France Singapore
Germany South Africa
Greece Spain
Iceland Sweden
Ireland Switzerland
Israel United Kingdom
Italy United States
Japa
 

Art traditions of Polynesia deserve wider audience
30 June 2006 - Source: Te Papa Museum

Polynesian art is one of the great but little known art traditions of the world and deserves a wider audience, according to Dr Steven Hooper, author of a book published by Te Papa Press this week.

Dr Hooper has spent the past three decades researching Polynesian art and anthropology to produce the most comprehensive study of Pacific art ever published. Pacific Encounters: Art and divinity in Polynesia 1760-1860 brings together for the first time many stunning Polynesian objects gathered in the early period of contact with European voyagers, missionaries and settlers. The book is illustrated with around 250 different items.

The art works featured in Pacific Encounters were collected on the voyages of many of the most important European explorers of the Pacific, including Captain Cook and Captain Bligh, and by missionaries from the London Missionary Society. The objects in the book come from the most comprehensive collections of 18th and 19th century of Polynesian art and artefacts in the world, many have never been seen by the general public before.

Pacific Encounters was originally published by the British Museum Press to tie in with a major exhibition of the art works at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts. As well as the objects for worship and adornment, Dr Hooper believes the images of stools and fish hooks, and other practical items, will appeal to those interested in design and sculpture. He has been passionate about Polynesian art since he catalogued his grandfather's extensive collection in 1976, and is a firm believer that the art traditions of Polynesia deserve to be more widely known.

'The material is stunning, and Polynesian art is one of the great, but little known, art traditions of the world,' says Dr Hooper.
 

'The New Oceania' documentary on Albert Wendt
29 June 2006 - Source: Ministry of Economic Development

A new documentary series screening for the first time in New Zealand will profile renowned Samoan writer and playwright Albert Wendt in the opening programme screening on TV One this Saturday, 1st July at 9.50pm.

This is a rich in-depth profile of a writer known internationally for his fiction, poetry, drama, and essays about the Pacific.

The documentary explores the rich upsurge in Pacific arts in New Zealand, in painting, drama, music, dance and film as well as literature.

The New Oceania was filmed in New Zealand, Samoa and Fiji. It includes dramatizations of Wendt's fiction, and some striking archival footage.

The New Oceania is produced and directed by Shirley Horrocks, an award-winning film-maker who has specialized in profiles of New Zealand writers and artists, including poet Allen Curnow (Early Days Yet) and photographer Marti Friedlander (Marti). Her documentary about Albert Wendt has already been screened at several overseas festivals, including the Hawaiian International Film Festival and the Pasifika Festival in New York.

BACKGROUND:

Albert Wendt has lived in New Zealand for almost 30 years, but he remains a true Samoan, introducing the traditions and culture of the South Pacific islands to readers worldwide through his plain yet lyrical novels and poems.

He has written six full-length novels, three books of short stories and four poetry anthologies since 1973, and has won acclaim not only in the region but also worldwide.

His works bring to life the anguish of people whose lands have been colonized by the West, as well as the frustration stemming from the gap between local traditions and modern civilization.

His books also often show Westerners behaving as rulers, although he says people should hate colonialism rather than the colonizers themselves.

English is the language through which he expresses himself most naturally, as he studied at high school and university in New Zealand for more than a decade starting in 1953. He then took teaching jobs at a Samoan high school and at a university in Fiji. He said English is the common language of the South Pacific islands.

His creative work has been greatly influenced by his grandmother. He effortlessly assimilated the Samoan culture from his infancy, through folk tales told by his grandmother both in English and in her native language.

Having inherited a tradition of oral storytelling, Wendt strives to produce a good harmony of sounds in his novels. He always reads aloud what he has written while working on a novel, and if it doesn't sound right he changes it as many times as necessary. It is a time-consuming way of writing - one story took him 15 years to complete.

Wendt is inspired to write by his distress over the reality of the Pacific region, where islands that became independent after World War II are still unable to survive on their own without foreign economic support.

Despite the harsh reality he faces, Wendt has made tremendous contributions to the region's art and culture by accepting students from every corner of the region to his university and educating them, in addition to his writing activities. He also focuses on the development of Asia-Pacific studies, centering on local languages.

He has also published an anthology of orally inherited folk stories he collected during trips to Fiji, the Solomon Islands and elsewhere in the region, with the hope of reviving the traditional cultures whose values were once rejected and destroyed by missionaries from the West.

Wendt, who turns 67 this year, is continuing to challenge himself. He recently completed his first play for a theatrical company of Samoans based in New Zealand, and has recently taugh at the University of Hawaii, which leads in Asia-Pacific studies.
 

Immigration Quotas for Pacific countries Drawn
28 June 2006 - Source: Department of Labour

The ballots providing opportunity for Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati and Tuvalu nationals to apply for New Zealand residency under the Samoa Quota (SQ) and Pacific Access Category (PAC) Immigration Policies were drawn yesterday.

The PAC and SQ are government immigration policies that give Pacific people who have a genuine job offer and who meet health and character requirements the opportunity to obtain permanent residence in New Zealand.

The SQ began in 1970, is based on the spirit of close friendship embodied in the 1962 Treaty of Friendship between New Zealand and Samoa. It provides an opportunity for 1,100 Samoan citizens to gain permanent residence in New Zealand each year.

The PAC began in 2002 and provides a similar avenue for a total of 650 citizens from four Pacific countries - all of which have close cultural and historic ties with New Zealand - to be granted New Zealand residence. Under the PAC there are 250 places each for Fiji and Tonga, and 75 places each for Kiribati and Tuvalu.

Last year, Immigration New Zealand received an unprecedented 17,800 ballot registrations - doubling the 2004 figure of 7000 ballot registrations and quadrupling the 2003 figure of 4000 ballot registrations.

As of Thursday last week, a total of 16,183 registrations (44,523 people) had been processed.

"The high number of registration trends once again demonstrate the keen interest of Pacific nationals in acquiring residency to live and work in New Zealand," says Department of Labour, Service International Group Manager Tofilau Kerupi Tavita.

"For those that were successful in today's ballot, I urge you to start working through your application immediately to allow yourself enough time to remedy any setback during processing, for example - having to find another job offer because the first one did not meet the requirements."

"To qualify for residence under the Pacific Access Category and the Samoa quota, applicants must meet a number of requirements including minimum income requirement; minimum level of English language ability and; having an acceptable offer of employment in New Zealand, and/or have a partner included in your residence application who has an acceptable offer of employment in New Zealand."

Those who were successful in yesterday's ballot must lodge their residence application by the 11th January, 2007

(Please note: if you will turn 46 within this 6 month period, your residence application must be lodged with INZ before you turn 46.)

So how does it all happen?:

Tuesday 27th June (NZ Time), 2006 - Computer generated ballot draw is activated.

Friday 30th June, 2006 - Following the verification of the ballot list, Immigration branches in Apia, Suva and Nuku'alofa and Pacific Division Auckland will display a list of successful registration numbers in the office.

In Kiribati - a list will be posted in the New Zealand High Commission office.

In Tuvalu - a list will be supplied to the Tuvalu High Commission in Suva who will then organise via the Tuvalu Department of Labour to distribute to locals.

In Samoa ONLY, a list of those successfully balloted people living in Samoa will also be posted in all major banks, and the post office.

Monday 3rd July, 2006 - The official list of successful numbers balloted will be distributed to media.

Monday 10th July, 2006 - Letters and packs will be distributed as per instructions in the table below:

Thursday 11th January, 2007 - Those balloted will have until 11th January next year to lodge their residence applications.

Backgrounder: Pacific Access Category and Samoa Quota Immigration Policies:

The Pacific Access Category (PAC) and Samoan Quota (SQ) are government immigration policies that give Pacific people with a genuine job offer at or above a specified minimum pay level the opportunity to obtain permanent residence in New Zealand.

They are primarily an expression of New Zealand's close relationship with Samoa and the PAC island nations.

Employment is an important consideration in terms of settlement so a job offer has been made a requirement of obtaining residence.

The SQ, which began in 1970, is based on the spirit of close friendship embodied in the 1962 Treaty of Friendship between New Zealand and Samoa. It provides an opportunity for 1,100 Samoan citizens to gain permanent residence in New Zealand each year.

The PAC began in 2002 and provides a similar avenue for a total of 650 citizens from four Pacific countries - all of which have close cultural and historic ties with New Zealand - to be granted New Zealand residence. Under the PAC there are 250 places each for Fiji and Tonga, and 75 places each for Kiribati and Tuvalu.

Recap on Last Year's SQ and PAC results:

The Department reached its target for the 2004/05 year by giving nearly 3,000 Pacific people New Zealand residence under the Pacific Access Category (PAC) and the Samoan Quota (SQ).

1,482 people were granted residence under the SQ policy - 1,091 from the 2004/05 ballot plus people selected in previous years' ballots but whose applications were approved for residence in 2004/05, and 391 from previously unfilled places, which includes the residual places policy. The target was for at least 1,450 people to be granted residence under the SQ policy.

1,491 people were granted residence under the PAC - 854 from the 2004/05 ballot plus people selected in previous years' ballots but whose applications were approved for residence in 2004/05, and 637 from previously unfilled places, which includes the residual places policy. The target was for at least 1,075 people to be granted residence under the PAC policy.

High uptake of places under both the SQ and PAC quotas in the year ended June 2005 was made possible largely by the immigration policy changes implemented in 2004/05, and promoted by the Department in the SQ and PAC nations and in New Zealand's Pacific communities.

The changes were:

· the minimum income requirement for people with dependent children had been lowered, and the incomes of both parents could now be counted towards meeting the minimum income level where both had secured acceptable job offers;

· the period of time successful quota applicants were given to obtain a job offer had been doubled, from three to six months;

· citizens of Samoa and PAC countries already lawfully in New Zealand on temporary permits were permitted to apply for residence in New Zealand if selected in the quota ballots. Previously, they had to return to their home country to make an application for residence if selected in the quota ballot;

· citizens of Samoa and PAC countries lawfully in New Zealand on temporary permits were invited to apply, on a first come, first served basis for "residual places" unfilled in the current or previous years.
 

Pasifika stars dropped from All Blacks Tri Nations squad
27 June 2006 - Source: eventpolynesia.com

The All Blacks rugby squad for the Tri-Nations was announced today. While Reuben Thorne's recall was the biggest surprise, the omissions of several Pasifika stars was also a talking point.

Those to miss out were Casey Laulala, Mose Tuialii, Sam Tuitupou and Jerome Kaino.

Laulala had one start against Ireland in the second test and had a disappointing game by his stanfards. He loses out to his Samoan team-mate Ma'a Nonu. Tuialii played last weekend against Argentina but was largely anonymous for much of the game. Kaino was also disappointing in the Irish series. Tuitupou had a good game against Argentina, but the Tongan torpedo was left out in favour of Samoan sensation Isaia Toeava, with only room for one centre to back up Nonu and Aaron Mauger.

Troy Flavell was the other major surprise in the 30-man group named to contest the first three tests of the Tri Nations, starting against Australia at Christchurch on July 8. Flavell is expected to see a surgeon to re-examine a shoulder tear injury that the lock/flanker has carried through the first part of the international season.

With Flavell's omission, the selectors have boosted the locking stocks by retaining Greg Rawlinson from the 39-strong squad used for tests against Ireland and Argentina. The mix of the loose forwards has been reduced.

The selectors have named three halfbacks and three hookers to provide extra cover in those specialist positions.

Players not considered for selection due to injury were backs Nick Evans, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Conrad Smith, and forwards Sione Lauaki, Angus Macdonald and James Ryan.

The All Black squad is:

Backs: Leon MacDonald, Mils Muliaina, Rico Gear, Doug Howlett, Joe Rokocoko, Scott Hamilton, Ma'a Nonu, Isaia Toeava, Aaron Mauger, Daniel Carter, Luke McAlister, Piri Weepu, Byron Kelleher, Jimmy Cowan.
Forwards: Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (captain), Chris Masoe, Jerry Collins, Reuben Thorne, Chris Jack, Ali Williams, Jason Eaton, Greg Rawlinson, Carl Hayman, Greg Somerville, Neemia Tialata, Tony Woodcock, Anton Oliver, Keven Mealamu, Andrew Hore.

Despite losing at the final hurdle, Beatrice Faumuina surprised many with
her dance moves.
Auckland, New Zealand (Photo: Scoop - 26 June 2006)

Faumuina, Jones to dance on despite losing final
26 June 2006 - Source: Manawatu Standard/TVNZ

Palmerston North's Brian Jones and West Auckland based dance partner Beatrice Faumuina may have finished second at last night's final fling of Dancing with the Stars, but the duo will keep on dancing.

Former NZ beauty Queen and 1983 Miss Universe winner Lorraine Downes and her partner Aaron Gilmore were crowned champions on the popular television show, but Jones was delighted with how he and Faumuina performed.

"We came out there last night to entertain and have some fun and I think that's what we did.

"We've come a lot further than a lot of people may have expected."

And the partnership isn't over.

"We'll keep up the association. Beatrice actually wants to make dance part of her programme, so we'll keep dancing together."

Mr Jones says it would have been nice to bring the trophy to Palmerston North, but wasn't disappointed at coming runner-up.

"The most important thing with the show was the charities, so it wasn't all about winning. I'm really pleased with how things went."

It was Queen Bea versus the beauty Queen as 1997 World Women's Discus champion Beatrice Faumuina took on former Miss Universe Lorraine Downes in the grand finale on Sunday night.

While Faumuina and Downes both impressed the judges with their prowess on the dance floor it was Downes and partner Aaron Gilmore who came out on top once the viewing audience cast their vote.

Faumuina and partner Brian Jones danced the tango, the jive and freestyle (32 points, 36 points and 37 points respectively), bringing their total points awarded by judges to 105.

Downes and Gilmore danced the waltz, the paso doble and freestyle (37 points, 38 points and 40 points respectively), bringing their total points awarded by judges to 115.

Downes will donate the proceeds of Dancing With The Stars to her chosen charity, the Child Cancer Foundation.

The first season of the reality dancing show was highly successful and there were no doubt some nervous people hoping for a repeat performance the second time around.

The celebrities and their partners didn't disappoint, providing the viewing public with an action packed and controversial second series.

Politician Rodney Hide was at the centre of most of the drama.

In the fourth episode former Shortland Street star David Wikaira Paul became the third person voted off to the surprise of many, who had expected Hide to go.

The Act leader then had to stave off rumours he was quitting the show.

Hide also managed to hold on to see the back of another former Shortland Street actor - Angela Bloomfield.

But the plucky politician couldn't hold on to his partner the following week, and bowed out of the show.

Hide and partner Krystal Stuart went out in spectacular fashion after the politician dropped Stuart at the conclusion of their second dance of the evening, a western inspired cha cha. Each of the judges gave the pair a one for their efforts resulting in a dismal score of four out of 40 - the lowest score in Dancing With The Stars history.

New Zealand All Blacks hang on against Pumas
25 June 2006 - Source: One Sport

The New Zealand All Blacks rugby team have just managed to maintain their unbeaten record against Argentina after battling to a 25-19 win at Velez Sarfield Stadium, Buenos Aires on Sunday.

Argentina scored a try in the first half and four penalties to Federico Todeschini kept them in the match with the All Blacks having tries to Leon MacDonald, Dan Carter and Scott Hamilton.

Rain during the day and some drizzle during the game made conditions difficult and both sides tried to kick themselves into good field position and test the opposition with high kicks.

Flowing rugby was also a struggle with the regular sound of referee Nigel Whitehouse's whistle as most breakdowns brought a penalty to one of the sides.

Both teams were reduced to 14-men late in the match with Pumas winger Jose Nunez Piossek and All Blacks fullback Leon MacDonald given yellow cards for ruck infringements.

It was a tough battle up front where neither side was able to gain a decisive upper hand but the All Blacks showed they had more quality with ball in hand as the home side stuck to 10 man rugby.

The All Blacks lost a couple of early lineouts with the second leading to an Argentinian break which brought a penalty that Federico Todeschini slotted from 35 metres.

New Zealand's first points also came through a penalty with Dan Carter landing his first attempt from over 40 metres to level the scores after 10 minutes.

The first real backline move produced a try to Leon MacDonald. The move started on the left hand wing on halfway with some good passes putting Rico Gear in some space on the right wing. From the breakdown five metres from the line MacDonald was quick to spot a gap down a short blindside.

Todeschini just missed a penalty attempt from his own half before having success with his next effort to close the gap to two points.

The Pumas then went back in front with a try to Martin Durand after halfback Agustin Pichot spotted the All Blacks defence short on the blindside. A couple of draw and passes gave the blindside flanker a 20 metre run to the try line untouched.

An impressive rolling maul from a lineout led to another penalty for Todeschini as the All Blacks were unable to legally repel a powerful and controlled drive from the Argentine forwards.

A piece of individual Carter brilliance closed the gap with a dummy and a left foot step putting the world's best first five-eighth under the posts off an attacking five metre scrum.

Todeschini missed his two more penalty attempts from near halfway to leave the halftime score 16-15 to the home side.

There were nine penalties against the All Blacks in the first half as they struggled with the interpretation of referee Nigel Whitehouse, particularly at the breakdown.

New Zealand started the second half strongly but Carter missed a drop goal attempt from 30 metres and two penalties from halfway.

The All Blacks were finally rewarded after 50 minutes with Scott Hamilton scoring a try on debut after a good break from Jason Eaton. Chris Masoe was in support and his attempted offload was kicked over the try line by an Argentine foot with Hamilton first to pounce.

The lead was shaved to three after another penalty to Todeschini. Carter returned the favour. Todeschini was unsuccessful with his next attempt as the match entered the final quarter.

The high penalty count at the rucks finally led to winger Jose Nunez Piossek being sinbinned. Carter missed the penalty.

A great break created by Carter with support from Masoe and Tuitupou was just snuffed out by an intercept.

The sides were made level with MacDonald sent to the bin for hands in the ruck.

Argentina continued to drive at the All Blacks as the crowd reached fever pitch but the visitors just managed to repel the final moments on their line to maintain their unbeaten record against the Pumas.

The All Blacks name their 30-man squad for the Tri-Nations on Tuesday with their first match in that competition against Australia in Christchurch on July 8.

FINAL SCORE:
Argentina 19: Tries: Martin Durand. Cons: Federico Todeschini. Pens: Todeschini (4).
All Blacks 25: Tries: Leon MacDonald, Dan Carter, Scott Hamilton. Cons: Carter (2).
Pens: Carter (2).
 

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