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	Scaled down Micro Games in 2010 10 April 2008 - Source: Saipan Tribune Expect a scaled-down 7th Micronesian Games in 2010 after the Marshall Islands could not put up the same Games like the previous ones held in other member island nations. The Micronesian Games Council has awarded the hosting rights of the 2010 Micronesian Games to the Republic of the Marshall Islands, bringing the seventh edition of the quadrennial event to Majuro. Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association president Michael A. White said that representatives of the Marshall Islands, Palau, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the CNMI, Kiribati, and Nauru held an informal meeting last month during the Oceania National Olympic Committee meeting in Fiji. White said Marshall Islands National Olympic Committee secretary general Terry Sasser told the group that they are committed to put up a Micro Games but could not host the way like Saipan did in 2006. Saipan hosted the 6th Micro Games where athletics, baseball, basketball, fast-pitch softball, golf, Micronesian All-Around, outrigger canoeing, swimming, table tennis, tennis, triathlon, underwater spearfishing, volleyball-beach and indoor-and wrestling were the offered events. Sasser said during their meeting that the Games would be scaled down since they could not offer too many sports because they don't have the facilities to hold the events. “If the Micro Games pushes through at the Marshall Islands it would be a pretty stunted version,” said White. He added Sasser would inform the nine other member nations of the MGC in the next two weeks about the status of the 2010 Micro Games in the Marshall Islands. If the Marshall Islands would back out of hosting the Micro Games Palau, which hosted the 2005 Pacific Mini Games and Guam, which hosted the 1994 edition, are willing to take charge of holding the Games. The Marshall Islands bested the FSM's Yap in earning the hosting rights of the 7th Micro Games. Kosrae also submitted their bid to host the 2010 Micro Games but pulled out early last year due to funding problems. The Marshall Islands earned the most number of votes from representatives from the CNMI, Palau, Kiribati, Yap, the Marshall Islands, Guam, Chuuk, Kosrae, and Pohnpeii. Yap was supposed to host the 6th Micronesian Games in 2006, but had to withdraw after most of its sports facilities were damaged by a strong typhoon that hit the island in early 2004. Saipan sent its intention to take over the hosting of the 6th Micro Games during the VII South Pacific Mini Games in Koror, Palau in 2005. The MGC finally awarded the hosting to the CNMI before the end of 2005 and in June 2006, Saipan welcomed more than 1,000 athletes and officials from eight other Micronesian islands. The Marshall Islands is also the newest member of the International Olympic Committee in the Micronesia region. Palau, Guam, FSM, Nauru, and Kiribati are also IOC members. The Marshall Islands, a former U.S. territory, became the 203rd IOC member on Feb. 12. The IOC accepted the islands' National Olympic Committee in an executive board meeting during the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy.
	Australian Business to Kiribati 06 April 2008 - Source: Pacific Investment Commissioner The Australia Pacific Islands Business Council and Austrade invite you to participate in this trade mission. Joining the mission will entitle you to: • participate in a prearranged business program, including targeted visits depending on your industry sector; • invitations to all Australia Pacific Island Business Council and Austrade arranged networking functions • invitations to Australian High Commission and Austrade market briefings THE MARKET Kiribati is a country of about 100,000 people with a GDP per capita of about US$745 (IMF estimate). The market is largely untapped by international business but expatriate businesses report that the market can be a profitable one. Market opportunities identified during a recent visit by Australia's Pacific Investment Commissioner include tourism and associated services, fishing and seafood processing, coconut related products, wholesale and retail services, building and construction supplies and services, power generation, supply to the public sector, small scale manufacture, and the privatisation of state owned enterprises. THE MISSION Detailed program arrangements are being developed. Members of the mission will undertake group market briefings by senior Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Austrade experts operating in the market, will attend specially arranged networking functions with local business people and ministers and high level officials of the i-Kiribati government, and will spend most time undertaking individual program appointments, which will be made according to each company’s specific business interests. The mission will assemble in Nadi and then travel to and from Kiribati together. The mission provisional program is as follows: TUESDAY 1 APRIL 2008 1210 Depart Nadi on Air Pacific Flight FJ210. 1510 Arrive Tarawa, Kiribati. Following arrival a market briefing will be conducted by the Australian High Commissioner and Austrade and this will include briefing by and mission participants presentations to key i-Kiribati government ministers and high level officials. Evening Possible welcome function hosted by i-Kiribati government. WEDNESDAY 2 APRIL 2008 Morning: Individual business appointments. Afternoon: Individual business appointments. Evening: Group networking function with i-Kiribati business and high level government representatives hosted by Australian High Commissioner. THURSDAY 3 APRIL 2008 Morning: Individual business appointments and/or sector specific site visit. 1130 Depart Tarawa on Air Pacific Flight FJ230. 1430 Arrive Nadi. Friday Nadi/Brisbane 1215/1415 QF398/FJ921 Friday Nadi/Sydney 0900/1140 QF392/FJ911 Friday Nadi/Melbourne 2030/2350 QF396/FJ Mission members may, if they prefer, arrange travel independently of the recommended flights. -2- TRAVEL COSTS Airfares Currently the cheapest airfare offered by Air Pacific, the Fiji national airline which is the only airline operating in and out of Tarawa from Nadi, for Nadi/Tarawa return travel is AUD696.00 plus taxes (about $170 at 6 September 2007). As this is an advance purchase fare there are restrictions re any changes of travel dates, refunds, etc.. Accommodation Room costs at Mary’s Hotel in Tarawa are AUD77 per night breakfast not included (breakfast approx additional AUD10). Accommodation bookings will be made by the Australia Pacific Islands Business Council. MISSION FEE The mission fee charged by the Council for arranging the mission and for your personalised business program and networking functions will be $1250 for all companies. There will be a fee of $750 for additional representatives from the same company. This fee covers: • cost of the individual in-market business matching program organised for you. • networking lunches and dinners. • group ground transport for transfers and appointments. The mission fee does not cover individual transport arrangements, meals and entertainment undertaken outside group arrangements, and any specialised services required such as translation services. NEXT STEPS AND HOW TO REGISTER Immediately complete and send the attached reservation form and your payment of the mission fee of $1250 (see payment options on attached registration form) to the Executive Director, Australia Pacific Islands Business Council, PO Box 422, WYNNUM, QLD 4178. You will then be sent confirmation that your place is reserved and a receipt for the payment. Please note places on the mission cannot be guaranteed until payment is received. In the event that all places are booked when your application is received, you will be placed on a waiting list or your deposit will be returned. The mission fee is non-refundable other than in the case of cancellation of the mission, except that 50% of the fee will be refunded for any cancellation of the registration by 15 March. The mission fee is not subject to GST because the service is provided outside Australia. Registrations close COB Friday 29 February 2008. The trade mission will proceed subject to sufficient registrations being received by the due date. For further information please contact: Bob Carmichael Pacific Investment Commissioner Austrade Telephone 0421 539 020 bob.carmichael@austrade.gov.au OR Frank Yourn Executive Director Australia Pacific Islands Business Council Telephone 0412 608 195 yourn@apibc.org.au.
	Every table turned adds to Kiribati Olympic hopes 02 April 2008 - Source: ABC Radio Australia Crowds gather, plywood tables are upended and bets laid; it is just another night in Kiribati as the street table tennis scene swings into gear. "Side road" table tennis, a competitive street scene, is played with homemade tables, balls and bats, and few recognisable rules. But, with table tennis one of the most popular sports throughout the islands of the republic, the sport's national secretary, Birima'aka Tekenene has a plan to snare this raw talent into main stream competition, and eventually elite competition. "What is 'side road'? Just people who put up a box, or turn over a table and start playing," he said. "It's not an association and it's not regulated, but they play regularly sometimes men can go home from work to be in the middle of a major neighbourhood championship. "I am delighted to say we have been approaching the side road players and telling them what table tennis has to offer them, such as the chance to play for Kiribati at the Olympics, and they are very interested." "The secret is that kids play, women and men, there isn't much space here and we can make bats out of anything, and every table is table tennis table." It is the Oceania motto for table tennis, allowing for huge grassroots interest in the sport, which the National Olympic Committee has been tapping in to. "We have had players at the Commonwealth Games and they do very well, we also did well in Samoa and the South Pacific Games, but we want to qualify for the Olympics, so we are trying to form associations and have a national championship and maybe even the Oceania championships, and we are taking equipment to the outer islands," said Tekenene, who is also the NOC president. One of the first Oceania table tennis development officers, a Nepalese man named Surendra Suwal, visited the capital of Tarawa in the late 1990's and was amazed by the talent and skill level. He toured the atolls and discovered junior, senior and women's competitions were already well established, and he urged the NOC to regulate competitions and sign the players. And while in 2008, Tekenene is still luring players to sign the national register with gifts of tables, bats and balls, he is genuinely delighted the talent pool is almost as large as Kiribati's population, just over 100,000 people.
	Every table turned adds to Kiribati Olympic hopes 29 March 2008 - Source: ABC Radio Australia Crowds gather, plywood tables are upended and bets laid; it is just another night in Kiribati as the street table tennis scene swings into gear. "Side road" table tennis, a competitive street scene, is played with homemade tables, balls and bats, and few recognisable rules. But, with table tennis one of the most popular sports throughout the islands of the republic, the sport's national secretary, Birima'aka Tekenene has a plan to snare this raw talent into main stream competition, and eventually elite competition. "What is 'side road'? Just people who put up a box, or turn over a table and start playing," he said. "It's not an association and it's not regulated, but they play regularly sometimes men can go home from work to be in the middle of a major neighbourhood championship. "I am delighted to say we have been approaching the side road players and telling them what table tennis has to offer them, such as the chance to play for Kiribati at the Olympics, and they are very interested." "The secret is that kids play, women and men, there isn't much space here and we can make bats out of anything, and every table is table tennis table." It is the Oceania motto for table tennis, allowing for huge grassroots interest in the sport, which the National Olympic Committee has been tapping in to. "We have had players at the Commonwealth Games and they do very well, we also did well in Samoa and the South Pacific Games, but we want to qualify for the Olympics, so we are trying to form associations and have a national championship and maybe even the Oceania championships, and we are taking equipment to the outer islands," said Tekenene, who is also the NOC president. One of the first Oceania table tennis development officers, a Nepalese man named Surendra Suwal, visited the capital of Tarawa in the late 1990's and was amazed by the talent and skill level. He toured the atolls and discovered junior, senior and women's competitions were already well established, and he urged the NOC to regulate competitions and sign the players. And while in 2008, Tekenene is still luring players to sign the national register with gifts of tables, bats and balls, he is genuinely delighted the talent pool is almost as large as Kiribati's population, just over 100,000 people.
	Horticulture industry worried about poaching 25 March 2008 - Source: Radio New Zealand The horticulture industry is worried that Australia may poach workers from Pacific Island countries which New Zealand is relying on for its seasonal work programme. A new survey by Australia's National Farmers Federation suggests about 100,000 more workers are needed in the rural sector there to help struggling farmers. The Farmers Federation wants the government to look to neighbouring countries - including those in the Pacific - to fill the gap. But Horticulture New Zealand wants Australia to steer clear of hiring workers from five Pacific Island countries used by the horticulture industry here. Chief executive Peter Silcock says New Zealand has focused on Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, Tuvalu and Kiribati - but many other islands also have very high levels of unemployment that Australia could focus on.
	Rotary and Rapids help Christmas Island 21 March 2008 - Source: Your Hub.com Colorado Rapids Soccer Team provides endurance and hope 5,000 miles away in the Central Pacific. Recently the Commerce City Rotary's International Service Committee sent a C-17 Globemaster load of medical equipment and water supplies to Christmas Island in the Republic of Kiribati. Joining the Rotary spirit, the Colorado Rapids provided Rapids flags, balls, shoes, T-shirts and uniforms to the youth on the island (these items are collected by the team throughout the metro area to send to third world countries). The Rapids donation was timely, since Christmas Island was hosting the first-ever Inter-Island Sports Tournament. The leaders of the tournament, wearing the Rapids Kick 4 Kids T-shirts and waving the flags, lead the marching teams onto the field and paraded before the Country's governmental officials. The team winner of the soccer tournament received a set of uniforms to use when advancing to the next stage of competition in the capital, Tarawa Kiribati this summer.
	Kiribati Frigates outbox Solomons again 17 March 2008 - Source: Solomon Times The touring Kiribati Frigates boxing club completed their tour of the country with another impressive show on Wednesday winning 5 of their 7 bouts. The fights attracted a huge crowd who witnessed a number of spectacular performances. The Kiribati frigates finish their tour with a 10-4 demolition against our local fighters. Although the night went out to the touring fighters Augustine Aru and South Pacific Games Silver medalist Sapolo Turukolo were on hand to prevent a 7 to nothing whitewash for the local boys. Aru, in the first bout of the light welter weight division, won over his opponent Ieakana on points. Turukolo proved too good for his opposite Kabiriera, stopping him in the 3rd round much to the delight of local fans. The other local fighters James Teuba, John Misiga, Ronton Qurusu, Tom Simon and Hudson Mae lost all their bouts. Teube, Qurusu and Mae lost on points to Mikaobu, Kaotinrerei and Ataniraoi respectively while Misiga and Simon lost after retiring. Turukolo's win on Wednesday makes him the only local boxer to have won both his bouts in both the tournaments on Monday and Wednesday. Epalle coach, Franklin Riqa, said that despite the loss his boys did well, particularly from the previous fights on Monday night.He said he was disappointed with point decision against Teube and Mae which he said should have been theirs. "Apart from that I am still pleased with my boy's performance, their only weakness is that they did not have any proper training equipment prior to these fights," said Mr. Riqa.
	Fulbright programme re-instated in Pacific 13 March 2008 - Source: NiuFM The Fulbright Programme has been re-instated in the Pacific Islands to attract the finest minds to US university campuses. The US Embassies in Fiji and Papua New Guinea are now calling for applications for Fulbright Scholarships and Humphrey Fellowships from interested citizens of the following Pacific island nations: Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. The application deadline is the 1st of July.
	Pacific Forum And Commonwealth To Cooperate On Local Government 05 March 2008 - Source: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) are combining their efforts to meet the challenges that face local governments in the Pacific region. In acknowledgment of the important role of local government in achieving shared goals, the two regional organisations have decided to enter into a formal cooperation agreement. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to give effect to this agreement was signed last December. The two organisations recognise that Pacific Island States are undergoing a systematic process of growth and development which has been accompanied by an accelerated pace of urbanisation. Increasingly, cities and towns are recognised as de facto engines of economic growth and opportunity with expanding business, trade and tourism links internationally with growing linkages to their rural hinterlands. Against this background, many governments in the region have sought to improve governance and quality of life indicators through the adoption of decentralisation policies which seek to empower local governments, locally elected leaders and their stakeholders. PIFS and CLGF believe that there is need to raise the stakes in respect to local government in the Pacific; to improve quality of life in the towns and cities; to exemplify good governance and to develop local governments that exhibit creativity and integrity, have the confidence of the communities they serve and deliver best possible services. They say that local government in the Pacific region operates in a changing and uncertain environment. Challenges such as rapid urbanisation with its inherent increased management responsibilities, decentralisation, high expectations from the citizens, resource constraints, service delivery and implementation gaps, good governance, citizen participation and community mobilisation, remoteness, political volatility and effective working relationship with traditional structures all add to the strategic management and decision making responsibilities of local leaders. “To meet these challenges the Commonwealth Local Government Forum has developed a local government capacity building programme targeting the Pacific Islands to strengthen good governance within councils across the region,” said CLGF Secretary-General Carl Wright. “CLGF looks forward to enhancing the already well established working environment with PIFS following signing of the MoU.” “The respective visions of CLGF and PIFS are closely linked. Both recognise the value of partnership and regional cooperation,” stated PIFS Acting Secretary-General Peter Forau. The MoU acknowledges that the Pacific Plan forms the basis of ongoing strengthening of regional cooperation and integration for the benefit of the people of the Pacific and that local and sub-national government can contribute to achieving the goals of the Plan. “The Pacific Plan enhances and stimulates economic growth, sustainable development, good governance and security for Pacific countries through regionalism,” said Mr Forau. “CLGF fully supports the Pacific Plan and the coordination role of PIFS and looks forward to working with the Secretariat in a spirit of friendly cooperation based on mutual respect and professional interaction, in particular on the work dealing with urbanisation and urban management through the implementation of the Pacific Urban Agenda,” Mr Wright added.
	Drug Trafficking A Big Issue For Kiribati Seamen 05 March 2008 - Source: Pacific Magazine The German recruiting company responsible for hiring many i-Kiribati seamen is concerned about the number of them who have been convicted for drug trafficking. “It’s sad to learn, that the number of cases is increasing,” South Pacific Marine Service (SPMS) Kiribati Manager Captain Peter Lange told reporters in Tarawa late last week. “The benefits they will obtain for themselves and their families will be lost forever. And most importantly, this could affect the future recruitment of seamen from Kiribati by SPMS.” Lange indicated there are now 19 seamen jailed overseas for drug trafficking while working abroad. “The first case was reported in 1995,” he said. “Some of them have been imprisoned from six months to five years. And all of them involved cocaine. Eleven have been released and arrived home, but cannot be re-employed by SPMS. Six still remain imprisoned.” One of those arrested was released after he was found not guilty. But he has been banned from going to America. And one died while trying to sell out his product. SPMS adds that a German company, Leonhardt and Blumberg had stopped recruiting I-Kiribati seamen because most of them were caught on two of its ships. “(They) were replaced by Filipinos,” Captain Lang says. Meanwhile, SPMS, the Kiribati government and relatives of seaman Tabai Namai, who was caught in December 2007 in Ningbo, Peoples Republic of China are still waiting anxiously to know his fate, as drug smuggling in China carries the death penalty.
	Kiwis show they have a heart 01 March 2008 - Source: TVNZ A man who would need to pick fruit 24 hours a day for a year to pay for lifesaving heart surgery has received a huge morale boost. On Monday night ONE News reported the story of Peter Mootee, a 26-year-old from Kiribati. Peter, a fruit picker living near Auckland, needs a $42,000 heart operation within the next year. Because he is on a work permit he is not covered by the New Zealand health system. After a holding a work permit for two years, workers are eligible for free healthcare. But Peter falls short of this by a few months and he will have to have his life-saving heart operation privately. The deterioration of Peter's heart broke his mother's. Based in Kiribati earning just over $100 a week, she was distraught knowing she could never get the money needed to save her son in Auckland. "I feel sad but I love my mum," Peter said. So he works picking fruit for up to 14 hours a day, trying to save $42,000 for open heart surgery. On Tuesday, New Zealanders responded, dozens of ONE News viewers calling in offering support and cash. And all that support means a happy ending for Peter. He greeted news of the financial support with "really stunned silence. I thank God for this." Desperate to raise money, his Auckland family were planning to sell hundreds of thousands of raffle tickets. But the news donations are flooding in has eased the burden. "It shows the country does have a heart," says one family member. Overcome with emotion the message is simple. "Thanks. I thank them with all my heart," says another. Despite the support Peter is back at work, pulling his own weight as always. His boss, Hamish Alexander of Southern Paprika, is thrilled he won't be doing it alone. "There will be an operation I understand...within a few weeks to get your heart sorted out and then you can lead the normal life you should," Alexander tells Peter. Peter's smile says it all. Donations Anyone wishing to donate money to Peter's operation can deposit the money into either of the following accounts: Account name: Peter Mootee Heart Trust (set up by Mootee's family) Account number: 01-0121-0131605-50 Name of account: Operation Peter Mootee (set up by Mootee's employer Southern Paprika) Account number: 06-0483-0104137-000 (National Bank, Warkworth): (Note: if there is eight digits on your deposit form after the 06-0483, then put 00104137-000) Money from both accounts will go to Peter Mootee.
	Kiribati man picking for his life 26 February 2008 - Source: TVNZ A man from the tiny Pacific Island of Kiribati is picking fruit in New Zealand to save money for lifesaving surgery. Peter Mootee lives in Auckland and has been told he needs a $40,000 heart operation within a year or he will die. Peter's tears are not for himself. He finds it unbearable that his family are burdened with finding the money to save his life. "I don't want my mother to be sad. I want her to be happy every day," says Peter. He got his work permit in 2006 and since then he has discovered he has got a serious heart condition. "Without surgery he will die - not this year but certainly sometime in the next five years," says Dr Jonathan Christiansen, cardiologist. Because he's on a work permit, he has to go private, at a cost of $40,000. "It's like we couldn't like sleep. We had to think about where we got the money," says Teue Reeu, Peter's cousin. So Peter is picking fruit to save his life, leaving home at daybreak and not returning till 10pm. "I come here to make a lot of hours and earn money for my operation," he says at his workplace. Peter would fill at least two or three containers every day but even if he works every hour of the day for the rest of the year he won't earn enough money for his operation. But time is against him. His heart is enlarging every day and he's unlikely to get his work permit renewed in April. "He has very little time left to get an operation to fix his heart valve. He needs open heart surgery," says Christiansen. Peter's story raises issues about how a much needed labour force isn't protected for serious health problems. His employer, Hamish Alexander of Southern Paprika, says the company has about 70 Kiribati people working for it. "They're good people, good community and so it starts to become more of a social responsiblity of the company to try and help them out," says Alexander. After a holding a work permit for two years, workers are eligible for free healthcare. But Peter falls short of this by a few months and Alexander is is trying to find ways to help him. "It's not an option to let a young kid die. You just can't do it," Alexander says. His mother in Kiribati earns just $120 a week and she is distraught over her son's situation. Peter says if he can't get his operation there's only one option. "I have to go back to Kiribati and spend the days with my mum." He says at the very least he can take back his earnings for her.
	Kiribati creates world's largest marine reserve 22 February 2008 - Source: Reuters, UK The Pacific island nation of Kiribati has created the world's largest protected marine reserve, a California-sized wilderness brimming with reefs, fish and birds, conservation groups said on Thursday. The Phoenix Islands Protected Area, covering 410,500 square kilometers, is one of the planet's last intact coral archipelagos and is threatened by over-fishing and climate change, the groups say. It lies near the equator about half way between Fiji and Hawaii. "The creation of this amazing marine protected area by a small island nation represents a commitment of historic proportions," said Russell Mittermeier, president of Conservation International. The U.S.-based group, along with the New England Aquarium, is helping the Kiribati government develop a management and funding plan for the largely uninhabited area. Studies led by the U.S. aquarium have found more than 120 species of coral and 520 species of fish, some new to science. The area also has some of the most important sea bird nesting sites in the Pacific, large fish populations and sea turtles, the aquarium and Conservation International say. The protected zone is more than double the area Kiribati originally pledged to protect at a U.N. biodiversity conference in Brazil in 2006.\| "The new boundary includes extensive seamount and deep-sea habitat, tuna spawning grounds and as yet unsurveyed submerged reef systems," said Greg Stone, the aquarium's vice-president of global marine programs. SURVEILLANCE Kiribati says it needs more money to pay for surveillance against illegal fishing as well as develop a trust fund, possibly as large as $100 million, to pay for running costs and compensate the government for lost income from commercial fishing licenses. "A major part of the operational cost is the surveillance and we have a patrol boat donated by Australia," Tebwe Ietaake, secretary of Kiribati's environment ministry, told Reuters. "We are also looking at the cooperation of Australia and New Zealand in aerial surveillance flights over the region," he said. He said the government would still allow subsistence fishing by local fishing communities. Conservation International said it was crucial to protect the area from over fishing because healthy reefs and fishing grounds helped the area better withstand the impacts of climate change. The reefs were already facing the threat of warming seas, which has caused repeated coral bleaching around Kiribati and elsewhere in the Pacific, such as the Great Barrier Reef. Parts of Kiribati, too, are already suffering from the effects of rising seas, including coastal erosion in the vast archipelago and salt water intrusion into fresh water supplies. The expanded Phoenix islands reserve is closely matched in size to the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in Hawaii, the single largest conservation area under the U.S. flag, covering 137,797 square miles of the Pacific Ocean. Australia's Great Barrier Reef Marine Park covers about 345,000 sq km, and extends more than 2,300 km along the Queensland coast.
	Event Polynesia to market and promote Toa Samoa RLWC campaign 18 February 2008 - Source: eventpolynesia.com Samoa Rugby League has announced the appointment of Event Polynesia to market and promote Toa Samoa for the upcoming Rugby League World Cup, to be held in Australia starting in October. The arrangement includes marketing, promotion and fundraising, starting as soon as possible and includes all commercial arrangements from now up to and after the Rugby League World Cup. Details of the partnership are yet to be finalised, but the two parties are keen to work together for the betterment of Toa Samoa’s World Cup Campaign and commercial arrangements going forward. “We are so delighted to be working with Event Polynesia for the World Cup and going forward" said SRL President Mr Peter Paul. Toa Samoa RLWC Fundraising will kick-off in mid April with corporate fights pitching rugby league legends against those from other sports. It will also include fights between corporate professionals pitching CEO’s of the public and private sector against one another. This will be the first time for corporate Samoa to enjoy corporate fights, including wining and dining and cheering on a professional partner, while at the same time, contributing to and fundraising for Toa Samoa’s Rugby League World Cup campaign. “It is such a relief for us to bring in a professional event company to take care of marketing and commercial matters whilst we concentrate on the administration side of things for the World Cup” said SRL Secretary General Fritz Tuiavii. The local Samoa Rugby League competition kicks-off in early April, with trials set for July and the World Cup squad to be finalised in August. With the high interest and participation of our premier Samoan professional rugby league stars from all over the world, Toa Samoa stands a very positive chance to make the Semi Finals of the World Cup.” Severe water shortage in Kiribati 14 February 2008 - Source: Radio New Zealand International Kiribati’s water company says there is only a limited supply of water in its two reservoirs in the capital Tarawa. Water restrictions are now in place in Kiribati as the country suffers a severe drought. The met office says Kiribati has not received a decent down pour of rain for a few months now. The acting news editor of Radio Kiribati, Teari Teapo, says last month it rained only for about 5 minutes. “The public utilities board has a limited amount of water in their resorvoir and people are now worried about this.” Kiribati government stifling private sector 10 February 2008 - Source: NiuFM An expert on Pacific economies is calling on the Kiribati government to promote business in the private sector. Most of the country's business is run by the government and there are very little opportunities given for private businesses. Professor Ronald Duncan from the Australian National University who visited Kiribati last week, says the government is controlling everything. Australian govt delegation off to Kiribati 06 February 2008 - Source: ABC Radio Australia Kiribati is the next step in an Australian government visit to the Pacific. Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, Bob McMullan and Parliamentary secretary for Pacific Island Affairs Duncan Kerr are now in Tonga after visiting Samoa. Bob McMullan says this tour is an important first step in Australia's relationship with the Pacific. He's told Pacific Beat, the focus in Kiribati will primarily be on climate change. "But also the issues that just effect every government everywhere: about good governance, about making the provision of services, particularly health and education services to people more efficient." Ten Samoan boxing pioneers receive honorary awards 02 February 2008 - Source: eventpolynesia.com Ten recipients of the Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing Honorary Awards were presented their awards at the Pre-fight Cocktail on Friday 1st February 2008. According to Mr. Puni, “It is fitting that the pioneers of Samoa boxing are honoured at the inaugural Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing event for their service in boxing. This weekend Samoa will not only host representatives from the four main world boxing bodies, but will make boxing history with local referee and judges officiating the WBO Oriental Cruiserweight title.” “Contrary to what most think, it is very hard to raise funds in Samoa to promote boxing and especially to stage international fights here. This is the first and very likely to be the last time Event Polynesia Boxing will bring such an international boxing gathering here to Samoa.” “Event Polynesia Boxing is committed to promoting Samoan boxers. However, the international title fights will have to be in Auckland where we stage our New Zealand fights because of the huge expenses that we incur to bring such events to Samoa.” Mr. Puni and boxing officials made a courtesy call to personally thank the Prime Minister, Hon. Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi and to thank the Samoa Government for the financial assistance towards the amateur expenses of this event. Mr. Reginald Leca, President of Oceania Boxing Association and representative for PABA and WBA at a media conference yesterday, compared Samoa to Cuba as a force in world boxing. But unlike Cuba, Samoa needs to move its amateur boxers to professional boxing earlier rather than very late as is the case with Maselino Masoe. “This requires amateur boxing to work together with professional boxing in Samoa in association with promoters such as Event Polynesia Boxing, who are helping Samoan professional boxers to get ranking for title fights.” The 10 recipients of the Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing Honorary Awards are: Hon Peter Paul – Promoter, Hon Sala Ulugia Suivai – Promoter / Coach, Savaiinaea Malo Slade – Boxer / Trainer / Coach, Oscar Meredith – Trainer / Coach, Hon Fa’asootauloa Sam Saili – Promoter, Galumalemana Afeleti Betham – Trainer / Coach / Promoter, Hon Polataivao Fosi Schmidt – Boxer / Promoter / Coach, Lesa Eric Fatupaito – Trainer / Coach, Maposua Rudolf Keil – Promoter, and Ulugia Elijah Stanley – Promoter.

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