NEWSROOM: 04 March - 10 March 2007

Tonga, Samoa clash in Auckland rugby derby
10 March 2007 - Source: eventpolynesia/ASRFU

Auckland Tonga and Auckland Samoa are playing for more than just pride in tonight’s curtain raiser rugby match.

One of the teams will be the inaugural winner of the Laauli Michael Jones Challenge Cup, donated by All Blacks legend Michael Jones.

President of Auckland Samoa, John Roache, is hoping the Pacific Island community will arrive early and get behind the game.

“It is important to get a good crowd to watch this match, which should offer plenty of entertainment for everyone, and hopefully we can get more opportunities like this in the future,” he said.

Members of the Auckland and North Harbour development squads feature prominently in both teams.

TEAM LINEUPS:

AUCKLAND SAMOA RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION TEAM
1. Fale PULE
2. Pena Tanoai
3. Charlie FAUMUINA/Simon LEMALU
4. Laupepa LAU’ESE
5. Mike SALA
6. Mike Lepou
7. I’u TOALUA
8. Gary SAIFOLOI
9. Tito MALO
10. Joe AIONO
11. Wilson Silipa
12. Gafa SI’ITIA
13. Manu SOFAI
14. Reynold LEELO
15. Mark SUA

RESERVES
16. Lance POCHING
17. Sione SIONE
18. Sika POCHING
19. Amos MATAIA
20. Simon TUIVAITI
21. Sam TUIA
22. Dave USU

HEAD COACH: Peter LAU’ESE
ASST COACH: Lopez ROACHE
MANAGER: Euini LALE
PHYSIO: Nathen FOULAGI


AUCKLAND TONGA RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION TEAM
1)Siua Halanukonuka
2)Hala Malimali
3)Maki Pooi
4)Kali Nofoakifolau
5) Toni Uhi
6 Tevita Finau (CAPT)
7) Vaea Tangitau
8) Tanginoa Nimo
9) Tevita Tuifua
10) Maka Potaufa
11) Maamaloa Tevi
12) Nau Tapui
13) Fineasi Tamale
14) Pepa Koloamatangi
15) Pio Palanite

RESERVES
16) Loni Kivalu
17) Owen Paletua
19) Manitisa Fakauho
20) Pauliasi Tamale
21) Vikilani Afeaki
22) Rocky Havili

HEAD COACH: Isope Wolfgramm
ASST COACH: Lelea Potaufa, Saipent Takapautolo
MANAGER: Lafi Pouanga
Physio: Sione Kelo
 

Shane Cameron brutalises 'Aussie Bob'
09 March 2007 - Source: The Australian

Undefeated world-ranked New Zealand heavyweight Shane Cameron underlined his potential by overcoming three injuries to knock out veteran Australian Bob Mirovic in the eighth round at Sydney Entertainment Centre on Wednesday evening.

Cameron told his corner after the first round that he had broken his right hand; he was cut over his right eye in the fifth round, and over his left eye in the seventh.

But the New Zealander, 29, overcame the setbacks to retain his World Boxing Association Pan African title and improve his professional win-loss record to 18-0, 16 by knockout, in the main support bout on the Anthony Mundine-Sam Soliman undercard.

The 2002 Commonwealth Games bronze medal winner put Mirovic down for the full ten count, and the Australia was on the canvas for some time after taking a left-hand punch to the temple 20 seconds from the end of the eighth round of a thrilling and bloody contest.

"When you hit someone good, you can normally feel it," Cameron said.

"I just seen him hit the canvas and the eyes roll back in his head, and he was out.

"You always feel for someone that gets knocked out.

"It always looks worse than what it is."

Cameron landed some big power shots in the final 30 seconds of the opening round before telling his corner about his hand injury.

"I think one of the first overhands I caught Bob, it pushed the knuckle back into my hand, but it was all right, I managed to keep going," Cameron said.

"It just restricted me a bit."

The Kiwi threw his right hand sparingly for the remainder of the fight, but he bombarded Mirovic with plenty of punishing left-hand bombs.

Mirovic, 41, absorbed the punishment, and he connected with some punches as he grew in confidence.

But he didn't possess the power to hurt Cameron, whose face turned into a bloody mask as Mirovic, whose record dropped to 28-18-2, had blood spurt from his nose from the fifth round.

In the main event, Anthony Mundine clinched the WBA Super Middleweight crown by knocking out compatriot Sam Soliman in the ninth round.
 

Arrests over Samoa adoption scam
08 March 2007 - Source: TVNZ

The owners of an American adoption agency have been charged with running a baby-smuggling operation out of Samoa.

An investigation by ONE News Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver first highlighted the alleged scam which US officials have called "shocking and appalling".

Seven people involved with the Utah-based agency are accused of deceiving parents in Samoa into signing away their children.

US investigators allege that as well as being mistreated in a nanny or halfway house, Samoan birth parents were deceived into thinking they would get their children back when they were older.

US officials allege the agency targeted Samoan children for adoption by observing the market or other places where women gathered.

Local agent Dan Wakefield is one of those charged. He told ONE News it wasn't his fault if Samoan parents misunderstood.

Behind the tale of alleged fraud, selling children and money laundering are the families.The parents only intention was to give their children a good future that they could not afford to give themselves.

Avea Sioka was struggling to bring up six children, so she placed her youngest daughter Heta and three of her siblings with the agency Focus on Children.

Along with other children destined for America, Heta stayed at the nanny house but the Siokas removed their children after allegations they had been mistreated.

"When we got Heta back she was vomiting and she had diarrhoea and she was very skinny and weak and almost couldn't walk," says Avea.

After a week when Heta did not get any better she was taken to hospital, where she died.

Other families also withdrew their children from the nanny house after finding them ill and hungry.

The Samoan families were not the only ones affected. Investigators say the American parents thought they were adopting orphans. It is alleged they paid $US13,000 for one child - $20,000 for two.

Officials believe many American adoptive parents were told to pick up their children in New Zealand. That was done so there was no risk of coming face to face with the birth parents.

They were given to understand that events such as an outbreak of measles in Samoa or a hurricane had made travel impossible.
 

Raising status of Pacific women debated in New York
07 March 2007 - Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Community

The role of men and boys in championing gender equality, the need for Pacific governments to take concrete action to improve the status of women and girls, and the lives of Pacific women living in New Zealand were among the topics discussed at a special event held during the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations in New York.

The discussion, which took place last Thursday, aimed to raise awareness of the reality of life for Pacific girls and women. It was one of hundreds of “side events” which are being held during CSW, which started on February 26 and runs to March 9.

The one-hour session attracted an engaged and high-calibre crowd of about 30 people, who included representatives of United Nations permanent missions of Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and India, staff of civil society and faith-based groups, and representatives from agencies like the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).

The chairman of the event was Ambassador Robert Aisi, PNG’s representative to the United Nations, who outlined the realities of life for Pacific girls as being far from the paradise picture.

He passed the baton to five other speakers: the Hon Willy Telavi, Tuvalu’s Minister for Home Affairs; Julia Burns, the director of Australia’s Office for Women; Diane Mara, the president of Pacifica, a non-governmental organisation working for Pacific women living in New Zealand; Cherie Engelbrecht, senior policy analyst for New Zealand’s Ministry of Women’s Affairs, representing chief executive Shenagh Gleisner; and Linda Petersen, manager of the Human Development Programme of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

In open discussion, the issue of men and boys as champions for equality centred on the need to identify those who would assume the role and take effective, high-profile action in their communities.

“It is important to reiterate that sometimes the message can be delivered by those of us from the male population,” said Mr Aisi.

There was consensus that Pacific governments needed to take responsibility for advancing gender equality. Governments had to be engaged, supportive and willing to take action.

“We need the regional organisations, non-governmental organisations and national governments to work together,” said Aliioaiga F Elisaia, of the Samoan UN mission. “Too often we work in piecemeal fashion.”

Diane Mara of Pacifica said that Pacific people had historically migrated to New Zealand in search of education and employment. The population was largely young and urban, and about half of the Pacific people now in New Zealand had been born there.

New Zealand-resident Pacific women faced particular challenges as they juggled the social norms from their homelands with a very different sense of cultural identity to their island-domiciled relatives.

Ms Petersen said that the forum offered a valuable opportunity to share information on the Pacific on an international stage, while identifying new partners for progress.

It also helped to raise Pacific issues as unique in themselves on the world stage. “No-one is raising them in a way that gets noticed,” she said. “At this level the Pacific tends to be lumped together with Asia and that means Pacific issues are overshadowed by the size and seriousness of the problems in Asia.”

Ms Petersen said she was surprised to learn to what extent participants from outside the Pacific still viewed the region as a happy haven of sun, sand and smiling, easy-going people.

“People still think of the Pacific as a paradise,” she says. “They are unaware of the very real social problems that are there - and are continuing to emerge and evolve as we deal with changing economic and social situations.” 
 

Beatrice Faumuina Caps Successful Championships
06 March 2007 - Source: Newswire.co.nz

Beatrice Faumuina capped a successful New Zealand track and field championships in Inglewood, Taranaki, winning the final event on the programme on Sunday in convincing fashion with a throw of 60.71m in the discus.

With all other competition on the track concluded the spectators congregated around the track near the discus circle and gave Faumuina plenty of encouragement each time she entered the circle.

Faumuina was delighted with her performance in taking her 14th national title.

This came on top of winning in Melbourne with 60.40m, just 32 hours earlier.

"It was missed opportunities today, I should have gone further today, the conditions were perfect, but I had set myself a tough assignment," said Faumuina.

"It was nice to get one in Melbourne, to return after finishing fourth in Melbourne and throw over 60 metres," she added.

"I'm feeling good, injury free and I am looking forward to the world championships."

Valerie Vili was consistent again in the shot put, with all her legal attempts over 18 metres in winning her seventh straight title.

Vili's best performance came in round three extending her best this season out to 18.84m.

"It's all coming together," said Vili.

Vili now looks forward to competing at the John Walker night of miles meeting at Mt Smart Stadium on 24 March.

Defending champion James Dolphin and former champion Chris Donaldson went neck and neck over the line in the 100m in 10.56s, with the photofinish unable to separate them.

For the first time at the championships the result was declared a dead heat.

Dolphin aged 23 first won the national 100m title while still at school in 2002 and has won it for the last two years.

Donaldson (31) said it was a good race and it is seven years since he won the title.

"I've had a lot of injuries, but it is good to be back and I am starting to get quicker," said Donaldson.

The Otago sprinter will join Dolphin in the Australian championships in Brisbane next weekend.

David Falealili who has not been out of the first four in the last six years was third in 10.69s.

Dolphin also won the 200m in 21.31s, to collect the sprint double for three years, the first athlete to do it over the metric distances.

Malcolm Leadbetter completed the treble/treble in the 1920's and Maurie Rae in the 1950's over 100 and 220 yards.

Monique Williams in her second year in the senior ranks won the 400m and 100m to add to the 200m won on the first day.

"I can't believe it," said a surprised Williams at the finish of the 100m.

Williams recorded a personal best 11.78s in the 100m coming on top of her time of 56.19s over 400m.

Williams won a further two gold medals in the relays for Auckland, taking part in the 4 x 100m event and anchoring them to victory in the 4 x 400m relay.

Andrea Miller retained her 100m hurdles title in 13.70s while James Mortimer made it five in a row in the 110m hurdles in 14.07s.

Stuart Farquhar won his seventh javelin title with a throw of 76.85m.

Eleven years since he last won a national shot put title, Patrick Hellier took gold with a shot put of 15.97m, and he also retained his discus title. Vili's husband Bertrand competing for New Caledonia won the discus event with a throw of 57.51m.

Cory Innes retained his 400m title in 46.97s.

Scott Winton the national senior men's road champion won the 10,000m in 29m 38.90s.

Phil Costley who was aiming to take his first 10,000m title, the only long distance running title he hasn't won, withdrew during the race with a troublesome niggle in his hamstring.

Rees Buck, three times national 3000m champion won his first 5000m title, after racing away from Luke Hurring over the final 300m. Buck recorded 14m 26.02s. It is his first full track season in two and a half years.

Buck said it would have been good to have had Costley in the race.

"I scratched from the 1500m in order to concentrate on the 5000m and to have good race against Phil," said Buck.

Buck's next race will be the Mayoral mile in Wanganui.

"I'll then have a bit of break," he added.

Belinda Wimmer of Tasman won her first national title taking out the women's 5000m in 17m 10.30s.

There was drama after two laps when Wimmer was tripped.

"I took a tumble and had to get up and into the race again from the back of the pack. I tried not to swear," said a delighted Wimmer after coming through for victory.

Talented Auckland pole vaulter 15 year old Jaedena Ward won both the woman 16 and 19 titles. In the W16 competition on Friday Ward went close to breaking the New Zealand W16 record of 3.50m, but came back the next day to take the W19 title with a national W16 record of 3.51m.

Sarah McSweeney further reduced her national women's 17 2000m steeplechase record to 6m 53.02s.

Esther Keown went close to qualifying for the world youth championships in winning the women 16 1500m in 4m 32.23s.

Nneka Okpala was just 2 cm short of breaking the record in the women's 19 triple jump clearing 12.72m.

Tony Sargisson won the 20km road walk in 1m 32m 3s.
 

New learning centre strengthens Pasifika links
05 March 2007 - Source: Massey University

Links between Pasifika students and the University were strengthened with the opening of a new Pasifika Learning Centre at the Wellington campus this week.

Pastor Jacob Semeri welcomed the initiative. "Today we are sowing a seed to reap a future of wisdom and knowledge."

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrea McIlroy says the University's Pasifika strategy aims to increase gains for Pacific peoples through teaching, research and consultancy services.

"Opening the Pasifika Learning Centre is a significant step. It provides a place for study and companionship, and where Pasifika students can connect with the University."

In 2006 Professor Sitaleki Finau was appointed as Director Pasifika, a first for any New Zealand university. The University has about 1000 Pasifika students enrolled, half extramural, and half internal at its three campuses.

With the Pacific population of New Zealand growing significantly, Massey aims to position itself as a key university in the Pacific region, committed to the achievement of Pacific peoples whether in New Zealand or in island states.
 

Polynesian Blue heralds in 'very good result'
04 March 2007 - Source: e-travel Blackboard

Polynesian Blue has just announced a pre-tax profit of WST6.8 million for the six month period from the 1st of July 2006 to the 31st of December 2006, in what the CEO of Virgin Blue has dubbed a 'very good result'.

The result comes as an increase of more than 300% in comparison to the result for the eight month period from October 2005 to the 30th of June 2006.

Since launching in October 2005 as a joint venture for the Samoan government and Virgin Blue Airlines, this is the second strong performance the airline has enjoyed.

Hon Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister of Samoa, said "We are very pleased with this continued success and we look forward to steady development of the airline over time."

During the period between January and November 2006, there was a 52.6% increase in the number of Australians visiting as well as a 28.5% increase in New Zealanders visiting Samoa, when compared to the same period in 2005.

Mr Malielegaoi went on to say, "Polynesian Blue is already generating positive benefits for the country and the airline is continuing to be profitable. We have moved from subsidising the national airline service to receiving income from it which is very important for the economy and provides opportunity to steer funds into other priorities."

Commenting on the result, Geoff Godfrey, Virgin Blue Chief Executive said, "Considering that the airline operation is less than two years old, this is a very good result and demonstrates what can be achieved through a good partnership."

The airline said that it was expecting a strong second half result as well in months to come, but recognized that the first half results will still outstrip second half results due to the travel patterns in relation to the Christmas holiday season.

"Polynesian Blue is already well established and much of its success is now due to the hard work and great attitude of our dedicated Polynesian Blue team. It is through their efforts that we run the airline efficiently, look after our Guests and are attracting a loyal following in Samoa, Australia and New Zealand and supporters around the world," said Mr Godfrey.
 

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