Tenakoga and Florence Young Bound for New Caledonia
10 April 2007 - Source: Solomon Times Online

Tenakoga and Florence Young will represent Solomon Islands in New Caledonia, May this year.

The Solomon Islands Football Federation picked the two schools having made the finals of the week long SIFF under 12 Football Festival which ended yesterday at the SIFF Academy ovals.

The Tenakoga team defeated Florence young 1-0 in front of an enthusiastic crowd of supporters from both schools.

The East Guadalcanal school team sent its fans reeling after finding its winner in the second half of what was a highly entertaining match.

Despite the loss, Florence Young School has secured their place in New Caledonia. Tenakoga team manager and deputy Principal [primary] Denson Tanito, was full of praise for his team.

"However I'm disappointed because our key striker did not play in the match for alleged breach of eligibility rule," he said. "But I am very excited with the win because we did not expect to come this far."

Meanwhile, Marist scooped the third place trophy and Kolale School of Excellence got the fourth place after defeating KOSSA School of Excellence in the play off.

Other consolation prizes include the golden boot, awarded to Marist's Kevin Iroga. The best and fairest team went to Chung Wah School.

Rally of New Caledonia to kick off APRC
06 April 2007 - Source: Rally Sport Magazine

At the start of any sporting season its always difficult to sort the rumours from reality, the conjecture from fact. Rallying is no different and in 2008 the Asia-Pacific has attracted enormous interest and while the number of entries is still a concern, the quality of the field means that this year we should have real competition between drivers and teams. With the close of entries for Rally of New Caledonia a week ago its now possible to look at who's in and who's out - at least for the Pacific part of the championship.

Starting at Rally of New Caledonia confirmed entries are in for CUSCO's two cars with Hiroshi Yanagisawa joined by Australian driver Dean Herridge, both drivers opting to continue with the tried and tested old shaped Subaru Imprezas. The team is so convinced that this is the right move they will even have a new 'old-shaped' car built for Yanagisawa at Hokkaido. CUSCO will be giving their young Japanese driver Yuya Sumiyama a taste of international rallying at Rally of Whangarei, although officially Sumiyama is only registered for Asia Cup. Herridge and new co-driver Chris Murphy are only entered in the Pacific Cup but rumours continue to suggest otherwise, yet the team remain tight lipped about whether they have entered the West Australian in the full APRC. Cusco will do all APRC events except Indonesia.

Team New Caledonia have entered the Pacific Cup with Jean-Louis Leyraud and Patrick Christian. Leyraud will enjoy the support of Possum Bourne Motorsport for his Subaru and for New Caledonia only, Bill Hayes will co-drive for the 57 year old driver. Patrick Christian is yet to prove himself on the APRC as he crashed out of both events he started in 2007. Although not part of Team New Caledonia, Patrick Yanai will also compete in the Pacific Cup in a Mitsubishi Evo 9. After his result in 2007 where he finished 3rd, Yanai is again expected to be a major threat to the internationals.

While there is still no official announcement from MRF, three cars have been sent to New Caledonia and entries have been received from Japanese driver Katsu Taguchi, Australian Scott Pedder and Gaurav Gill. However Gill is a doubtful starter for the first two rounds after a motorcycle accident required minor surgery and it will be some time before the young Indian driver is fully fit. Lane Heenan and Race Torque will again run the MRF Mitsubishi Evo 9's for the team. Long-time supporter of the series Brian Green joins the field in New Caledonia in a Mitsubishi Evo 9 run by Reece Jones Motorsport.

Assuming everyone leaves New Caledonia unscathed those nine drivers will be joined by four more at Rally Canberra. The Australian round sees the return of the Motor Image Subaru team and drivers Cody Crocker and Rifat Sungkar. For Canberra, Motor Image have opted to run the old-shaped car even though they plan to test a new model in back to back testing prior to the event. The new Motor Image cars will appear at Whangarei and they will run in all remaining events of the championship.

A new shaped Subaru will run in Canberra for Japanese driver Takuma Kamada, prepared and run by Arai Motorsport and partnered by his regular co-driver Naoki Kase. Kamada is one of the quickest and most experienced Japanese drivers, starting his international career on the 1998 APRC. For the past two years Kamada competed in the P-WRC, with best finish at 2007 Rally of Japan where he finished 3rd. Alex Gamayunov is the APRC's first Russian driver and he will join Kamada and the Arai squad from Canberra onwards.

New entries are not restricted to the teams either as Yokohama Tyres joins the APRC in 2008 with a full tyre service for the CUSCO and Arai Motorsport cars. Yokohama bring a wealth of experience having competed for the past two season in the Production World Rally Championship and produce the official control tyre for the World Touring cars. The APRC will also see a one-off entry from Honda with Italian company JAS Motorsport entering a Civic Type R for current British Rally champion Guy Wilks at Rally Canberra.

Of course entries are not closed for the full APRC. Drivers and entrants have until April 18th to enter the full APRC and start at Canberra, while its possible to enter the final 3 Asian rounds and compete in the Asian Cup as late as the 25th July. One name on the Asia Cup entrylist already is Edith Weiss from Austria. Edith is planning to run in the four Asian events and will register for the final three events in the Asia Cup.

Rumours abound as to other entrants in the Asian Cup with Karamjit Singh the most talked about candidate. The conjecture surrounding Karamjit seems to be more about what car he will drive if he does return, as Proton and Singh's former team MEM are building an S2000 car. There is no official comment on plans for the Proton S2000. Guest apperances are likely from Toshi Arai in Hokkaido and Malaysia and hopefully the current P-WRC champion can find extra backing to compete in one more Asian event to qualify for the Asia Cup.

One name sadly missing from the entry list is Finland's Jussi Valimaki and there are no entries from China. Fan Fan's Wan Yu Rally Team had plans to return with a top European driver but unfortunately a sponsor for the team could not be found. The Asian Cup perhaps?

Its two weeks to the start of Rally of New Caledonia where there should be a good battle between the MRF Mitsubishi's, CUSCO and Team New Caledonia. Its an event where experience counts and the battle for the lead is likely to be between those that have been there before Taguchi, Leyraud, Yanai and Yanagisawa. However though they are new to the event, Herridge and Pedder have plenty of international experience and they will adapt very quickly. As last year, Rally of New Caledonia has a real sting in the tail - the final leg features the infamous Katrikoin, a twisty mountain stage that has been extended to 35 kilometres - and run two times. Its going to be an interesting season.”

New Caledonia Population Hits 245,000
29 March 2007 - Source: Oceania Flash

New Caledonia’s population has been estimated to stand at just under 245,000 inhabitants, according to the latest 2007 statistics released earlier this month by the statistical institute ISEE-NC.

Earlier figures showed, in terms of general trends, that the population of the capital Nouméa has increased by around 20 percent in eight years and now reaches steadily approaches 100,000.

The most populated province of New Caledonia remains, by far, the Southern Province (where Nouméa is located) with an estimated 70 percent of the total population. The Northern and the Loyalty Islands provinces respectively represent about 19.5 percent and 9.5 percent of the total.

A previous study conducted by New Caledonia's Southern province released last year also revealed that over nine thousand inhabitants of New Caledonia's capital Nouméa and its suburbs are classified as squatters.

The squatter population, according to the survey, appears to be especially concentrated in some suburbs of Nouméa, but also in neighbouring booming towns of Dumbéa.

The survey also found that about half of the squatter population originally came from New Caledonia's less-favoured, mostly indigenous Kanak populated Northern province and the other half from the North-eastern Loyalty Island group (which consists of the four islands of Maré, Lifou, Ouvéa and Tiga).

The main reason for this urban drift, which has intensified over the past 15 years, is the search for employment.

About 40 percent of this squatter population, the survey found, has a monthly average income of less than 120,000 French Pacific Francs (about US$1,620 US dollars), which is about the equivalent of the official minimum wage in the French Pacific territory. It is currently estimated that the Greater Nouméa's population is over 150,000 (including over 90,000 for Nouméa intra-muros only.

According to 1996 statistics, New Caledonia’s population is made up of 34 percent of European, 45 percent indigenous Melanesian Kanaks, 12 percent Wallisians and Futunians, four percent of Indonesian, Vietnamese and Japanese origins and five percent of “others.”

Severe floods hit New Caledonia
25 March 2007 - Source: ABC Radio Australia

Two people have died after heavy rains and severe flooding in New Caledonia.

Oceania Flash reports a tropical depression caused the heavy rains, closing roads and prompting a caution by local authorities.

A Belgian biologist working for the local branch of environment organisation, Conservation International, died after being swept downstream while trying to cross a river which had burst its banks.

On Saturday, a motorist died in a road accident associated with the adverse weather conditions.

The depression has dissipated and moved away from New Caledonia in a south-south-westerly direction.

New Caledonia a Gourmet Destination
21 March 2007 - Source: e-Travel Blackboard

New Caledonia is being touted as a hot gourmet destination for Australian food lovers after more than half of its repeat visitors this year said the island’s delicacies is what has driven them to returning.

The tourism body has also recruited celebrity TV chef, Gabriel Gaté to be the face of its recently launched, gourmet experience campaign.

Less than three hours from Australia’s east coast, Mr Gaté said it is the ideal destination for those that want to experience European culinary at its best without having to travel long distances.

Last year 16,000 Australians travelled to the south pacific island, of which only 24 per cent were repeat visitors. This year 52 per cent of visitors are repeat customers, with most travelling because of the island’s gourmet experiences, according to Diane Moynihan, General Manager of New Caledonia Tourism.

Ms Moynihan said New Caledonia was unlike any of the other island destinations where visitors are largely trapped in resorts with limited access to food and beverage outlets.

“In New Caledonia, everything is close by. There are close to 200 restaurants in the area, with most not relying on tourism so it is real food and experiences,” she said.

Speaking during a cooking demonstration for media in Sydney yesterday, the tourism board brought chefs from leading restaurants in the island to showcase some of the original culinary experiences visitors can expect.

New Caledonia Tourism has also launched a new tabloid style guide, Bon Appétit to showcase some of the island’s best gourmet secrets and to offer visitors planning to visit some key information on the French-Melanesian blended food.

“Bon Appétit is all about showing them how they can get the best out of their experience from visiting some of the best restaurants you’ll ever eat at, to shopping for amazing ingredients at gourmet shops and markets to picking up your own produce for a gourmet picnic in some spectacular settings,” Ms Moynihan said.

Leading specialist, Superb Food & Wine Tours also announced the launch of its New Caledonia gourmet experiences tours for either FIT travellers or groups. There are scheduled departures throughout the year.

Experts to help address New Caledonia's tick fever situation
17 March 2007 - Source: Oceania Flash

A team of Australian top experts is scheduled to fly to New Caledonia at the weekend to assist local authorities contain and possibly treat a contamination from the tick fever, following the introduction of bulls from Australia in November last year.

Oceania Flash reports the "assessment mission" is to be headed by the veterinary in chief at Australia's health and quarantine services, the Australian government said in a release from its Nouméa Consulate General.

Earlier this week, New Caledonia's local government took a series of drastic steps in response to the situation.

But on the official level, both New Caledonia's government and Australian authorities are stressing the situation is the result of "shared responsibilities" and is to be solved through a cooperative approach.

New Caledonia's agriculture minister Eric Babin on Thursday welcomed the announcement of the Australian team's visit.

But he stressed it would remain to be seen whether the solution envisaged and usually practised regarding the tick fever in Australia could be applied to New Caledonia.

"They have an approach of treating the animals whereas we, in New Caledonia, have a policy of complete eradication of the disease", the minister said.

New Caledonia's animal health and quarantine authorities have on Tuesday swiftly moved to damage control mode after it was discovered that Australian-imported cattle had introduced the rare tick fever, thus jeopardizing the whole livestock in the French Pacific territory.

After it was established that an infected, Australia-imported bull had contaminated at least one local animal, emergency animal health measures have been put into place to contain a potential outbreak.

Local authorities already estimated that up to 10 percent of the whole livestock could be affected.

The 43 Australian bulls arrived in New Caledonia on November 23, 2007.

But apparently contrary to the procedure, they had been injected, in a manner of vaccine, with germs of the tick fever.

New Caledonian authorities said at the time, the accompanying certificates and declarations upon entry into New Caledonia falsely stipulated that the animals had never been vaccinated and had never come in contact with ticks.

Earlier this week, back in Australia's federal capital Canberra, agriculture minister Tony Burke told parliament one of the possibilities would be to treat affected cattle in New Caledonia with a chemical called Imazol, which would kill the tick fever organisms in the cattle and prevent further transmission of the disease to ticks.

Burke admitted in Parliament during question time that the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) had allowed Australian cattle to be exported to New Caledonia in November after being vaccinated against the disease, even though they should have been submitted to a chemical drenching treatment.

“While information on this issue is still coming to hand, it seems clear, first of all, that there was a certification error by AQIS, and that as a result of that error there may be a significant impact on the beef industry in New Caledonia.”

Burke said he had had a meeting late Tuesday with French ambassador François Descoueyte to discuss Australian efforts to repair the damage caused by the bungle.
He assured Australia would meet all of its obligations towards the government of the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia.

New Caledonia's animal health and quarantine authorities have on Tuesday swiftly moved to damage control mode after it was discovered that Australian-imported cattle had introduced the rare tick fever, thus jeopardising the whole livestock in the French Pacific territory.

After it was established that an infected, Australia-imported bull had contaminated at least one local animal, emergency animal health measures have been put into place to contain a potential outbreak.

On Tuesday, New Caledonia's government had passed emergency regulations that de facto set up exclusion zones for New Caledonia's 17 cattle farms that have been in contact with one or several of the 43 Australia-imported animals.

All bovine cattle are to be isolated and all suspect animals will be culled, Babin said.
All pastures are also closed to grazing for a duration of up to ten months, so that any tick that could be there cannot contaminate more animals.

Buffer "protection" and "surveillance" zones also surround the exclusion zones so as to prevent any spread to neighbouring farms.

No animal can leave or enter these zones, except if it is to be transported to a slaughterhouse.

It is forbidden to transport, sell and give away cattle feed or equipment and even soil under any form, the local government also resolved.

Meanwhile, samples have been sent to two laboratories, one in Australia, another one in Montpellier (France) for further analysis.

If it is then established that the virus is the same as the one that killed the animal on Friday last week, then up to six thousand animals (including the 43 Australian imported animals) could be culled as a precautionary measure.

Animal health authorities have however reassured that the resulting beef meat would present no danger for human consumption.

New Caledonia stakeholders have already labelled the situation a "catastrophe".
Local authorities already estimated that up to ten percent of the whole livestock could be affected.

The 43 Australian bulls arrived in New Caledonia on November 23, 2007.
But apparently contrary to the procedure, they had been injected, in a manner of vaccine, with germs of the tick fever.

New Caledonian authorities said at the time, the accompanying certificates and declarations upon entry into New Caledonia falsely stipulated that the animals had never been vaccinated and had never come in contact with ticks.

"The Australians should never have let these animals be exported, because they did not fit the protocol, even though they had certified it", an angry New Caledonian agriculture and fisheries minister Eric Babin told local television on Tuesday.

"And we, on our side, we certainly should have been more vigilant and not trust a stamp on the first page. We should have checked more closely", he admitted.

Tick fever, also known as babesiosis, can devastate cattle herds.

It occurs in eastern and northern Australia and despite being under control, costs the Australian beef industry up to US$26 million a year, The Australian newspaper reported on Wednesday.

An earlier outbreak of babesiosis occurred in New Caledonia some 20 years ago, but since then, the French territory was free from the parasite-transmitted disease.

New Caledonia’s Koniambo project gets US$ 230m tax exemption
22 February 2008 - Source: Radio New Zealand International

The French government says it will grant a key nickel project in New Caledonia’s north tax exemptions worth 230 million US dollars.

The concession has been made to Xstrata of Switzerland which is to build the Koniambo nickel plant at an estimated cost of 3.8 billion US dollars.

The project is expected to create 2,000 jobs during its construction phase and is to be completed by 2011.

The mine and plant have as main stakeholder the SMSP company owned by the northern province.

France has backed the Koniambo project as a way of developing the economy of the mainly Kanak north of the territory.
 

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.”
 

New Caledonia union to lay charges against Government
14 February 2008 - Source: Radio New Zealand International

The New Caledonian Union for Exploited and Kanak Workers says it’ll lodge a complaint against the French Government for using force against strikers.

Several unionists were arrested and many more were questioned after violent clashes between striking unionists and police in mid January.

Claudine Wery reports from Noumea.

“The union decided to lay charges against the French government for violence the unions say they committed against the strikers on 17 January when there were clashes between police and militants from the USTKE. They say many of their militants had been injured, they’re talking about broken noses, broken ribs and several of them had been beaten. They say that police had committed unjustified violence against people of the union, but of course, strikers threw stones against police and they burned several vehicles during this event.”
 

New stand-off in New Caledonia over union leader
10 February 2008 - Source: Radio New Zealand International

Police in New Caledonia have surrounded the headquarters of the USTKE union in Noumea after its leader, Gerard Jodar, failed to appear for questioning over last month’s clashes.

All vehicles entering and leaving the site are being checked as union supporters have set up barricades with tarpaulins and tyres.

The prosecutor says two summons were sent to Mr Jodar but he says he hasn’t received any of them and has no intention of being questioned.

Mr Jodar says he is awaiting the arrival of his lawyers.

Several USTKE members are in jail as investigations continue into the violence which erupted amid a strike at a bus depot.
 

SA company wins New Caledonia contract
06 February 2008 - Source: ABC Online

A South Australian company has been awarded a multi-million-dollar contract to supply soda ash to a mining project on the South Pacific island of New Caledonia.

Managing director of Penrice Soda Holdings, Guy Roberts, says the soda ash will be used in the treatment process at the nickel mine.

"It demonstrates I think that Australian manufacturers can be competitive with the best in the world and certainly, as far as we're concerned, our longstanding reputation as a reliable supplier has been further enhanced by this project," he said.
 

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.
 

New Caledonian town moves to curb kava bars development
29 January 2008 - Source: Mariana's Variety
 
New Caledonia’s municipality of Mont-Dore, in the suburbs of the capital Nouméa, has moved to bar the establishment of any new Vanuatu-style kava bar, also known as “nakamals.”

The municipal council, for that purpose, has endorsed an order which mainly targets the latest establishment, earlier in January, in a residential area.

Although the owners of the proposed kava bar, a Frenchman and his wife, told local media he had thoroughly followed the procedures and obtained all necessary permits and licenses from the municipality, they were slapped earlier last week with the notification from the Mont Dore town hall.

Since the latest kava bar started business on January 10, local residents from the posh neighborhood have been active on gathering signatures for a petition against the nakamal project in their area.

“This is a good neighborhood here, very calm, no noise,” disgruntled resident Yvonne Debrisay told the local newspaper Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes.

She, however, admitted that since the nakamal started operating, there has been no incident.

Jean-François Welchinger, another leading petitioner, was more specific when he spoke about the prejudice that associates kava with cannabis and alcohol consumption.

“‘Now that the order has been passed, this is a matter for the lax enforcement authorities,” he said.

According to the municipal order, the establishment of any new nakamal is now forbidden, since January 21, in Mont Dore residential areas.

It is, however, permitted in commercial or industrial-labeled zones.

“We went ahead in this business, we didn’t think there was so much prejudice about kava. Now this is our only source of revenue, our breadwinner, it’s a legitimate commercial activity like any other one. But it looks it’s not well-liked around her,” Frenchman Yvan Philizot told local television RFO.

Philizot went as far as putting a sign at the entrance of his kava bar, saying “no alcohol and cannabis tolerated.”

Mont Dore municipality said they were not insensitive to the plight of the French couple, who claim they are now out of business, have spent a considerable amount of money in initial investments and have no other current means of revenue.

The municipality said they were contemplating granting some form of compensation.

Mont Dore municipal council is also saying that in the case of already established nakamals — an estimated 18, including 6 already in residential areas — there is no ban, but that they will from now on be closely monitored and could face sanctions if any incident arises.

Municipal elections for all French municipalities, including the overseas territory of New Caledonia, are scheduled to be held in March this year.

The kava bar concept, imported from neighboring Vanuatu, started to flourish in New Caledonia in the early 1990s.

The number of nakamals has since risen to several hundred, mainly in the capital Nouméa and its suburbs.
 

Special accommodation and rental car deals announced for boxing fans
25 January 2008 - Source: eventpolynesia.com
 
Overseas interest in the upcoming Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing event in Apia on Saturday 2nd February 2008 will see up to 200 boxing fans and supporters arriving in Samoa next week.

Many more are expected to book a ticket to Samoa with the announcement over the week end of special accommodation and rental car deals for boxing fans and supporters.

Hotel Kitano Samoa is offering an accommodation special $200 SAT per room per day for up to three people with ELAVA at Vaitele is offering $120 SAT per room per day up to two people with continental breakfast included.

Apia Rental is offering a 15% discount to all their vehicles with DAT Car Rentals is offering a special $165 per day for their Hyundai Tucson fleet.

This was confirmed by Mr. Teleiai Su’atapulolo’o Edwin Puni, Managing Director of Event Polynesia, “For the next two weeks, Hotel Kitano Samoa and ELAVA Resort will be the home of international boxing with Apia Rental and DAT Car Rentals as the preferred rental car service.”

The inaugural Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing is an initiative of Event Polynesia Boxing in association with SPBI and SABA to provide our Samoan boxers both amateur and professional a pathway to boxing world titles by setting up the needed top international competitions right here in Samoa.

Mr. Puni credits the support from media partners Samoa Observer, Le Samoa Post, SBC, TV3, Vaiala Beach TV and Radio Polynesia in promoting the upcoming fight.

Mr. Puni goes on to say, “Staging international title fights in Samoa is very good for tourism and local businesses and also allows for our people to see the action LIVE and up close.”

WBO Oriental Cruiserweight title contender and current IBF Australasian Cruiserweight champion Mr. Lawrence Tauasa arrived in Samoa on Sunday with his manager Mr. Lincoln Hudson to prepare for the upcoming fight.

For more information contact Mr. Tuilagi Maiava Saipele Esera on (+685) 751-9458 or email: saipele@eventpolynesia.com.
 

New Caledonian unionists battle police
21 January 2008 - Source: Radio New Zealand International

At least 10 people were hurt when police in New Caledonia used tear gas and rubber bullets to break up a strike by transport workers.

Union sources say police intervened to break up a protest near the headquarters of the territory’s public transport company Carsud by about 400 workers belonging to a union representing New Caledonia’s indigenous Kanak population.

Witnesses say several police cars were torched.

Hundreds of workers were still facing off with police in the streets blocking the toll road into the capital Noumea,.

Public transport in New Caledonia has been disrupted since November due to the strike by the USTKE union which is fighting for one of its members who was fired to be reinstated.