NEWSROOM: 07 October - 13 October 2007

Samoan interpretations of 'Fa'a Fafine'
13 October 2007 - Source: Auckland City Council Press Release
 
Artstation's new group art exhibition, 'Measina Fa'a Fafine; treasures from a liminal space', explores Samoan Fa'a Fafine or 'third gender identity'.

Fa'a Fafine literally translates as "in a manner of a woman". The term is broadly used among Samoans to describe individuals who are gifted with the dual qualities between men and women, not fitting into the western binary oppositions of gender and sexuality.

Curated by Shigeyuki Kihara, and held from 19 to 29 October, the exhibition features a variety of interpretations and opens a dialogue between Fa'a Fafine (insiders) and non Fa'a Fafine (outsiders) Samoan artists. It explores how each relates to the ancient ideas of Samoan Fa'a Fafine identity and experience in the 21st century.

Artists who reflect a direct engagement with the Samoan Fa'a Fafine community through family connections, social, professional or political involvement include Dan Taulapapa McMullin, Reverend Mua Strickson Pua, John Ioane, Nicholas Netzler, Lisa Taouma, Nanette Lelaulu, Lindah Lepou and Shigeyuki Kihara.

The artists present work in a range of media from costume, sound installation and photography, to painting, sculpture and video works.

The exhibition receives funding from Auckland City Council's Creative Communities.
This exhibition runs in conjunction with Love Life 2; Sexual Minority Groups of Pacific Island Origins Fono 2007 – a conference organised by the New Zealand Aids Foundation at the Manukau Marae in Mangere from 18 to 21 October.

Curator: Shigeyuki Kihara
Artists: Lindah Lepou, Dan Taulapapa McMullin, John Ioane, Lisa Taouma, Nick Netzler, Nanette Lelaulu, Reverend Mua Strickson Pua, Shigeyuki Kihara
Exhibition: 19 to 29 October 2007
Official Opening: Friday, 19 October, 6.30pm to 8.30pm , Official address by Member of Parliament The Honourable Luamanuvao Winnie Laben. Opening performances include DJ Leilani, Cindy of Samoa , Hamo Kane, Dan Taulapapa McMullin and Pacific Expressions Dance Troupe.

Artstation, Auckland City Council's community visual arts facility, is located at the old police barracks, 1 Ponsonby Road, Newton. It is easy to get to by public transport with the Link's Artstation bus stop right outside.

For more information about upcoming exhibitions, visit www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/artstation or phone (09) 376 3221.
 

Niue Private Sector Development Strategic Plan launching
12 October 2007 - Source: Niue Chamber of Commerce Press Release
 
Niue Island business representatives are hoping a new Niue Private Sector Development Strategic Plan will gain wide spread support from the New Zealand Niue Community.

The Niue Private Sector Development Strategic Plan 2007-2010 will be launched in Auckland by Premier Young Vivian and the Minister of the Private Sector Hon. Bill Vakaafi along with a team of Niue’s private sector reps at the Auckland Niue Constitution Day Celebrations being held in Mangere at David Lange Park on Saturday 13th October 2007 from 830am-2pm.

The Niue Private Sector representatives, Niue Chamber of Commerce President Catherine Etuata and Vice President/Treasurer Esther Pavihi, Co-ordinator Business Advisor Ben Tanaki will also attend the Mangere launch. They will also make a presentation on the plan at a community meeting held at the Pacific Business Trust in Otahuhu on Wednesday 17th October 2007 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Members of the initial Auckland Niue consultation group will be facilitating the meeting and members of the community are being encouraged to attend.

The plan was officially launched earlier in Niue in September and the Auckland launch is an effort to engage the support of the New Zealand Niue community for the planned initiatives. Earlier this year, the Niue Private Sector supported by the Niue Government held community consultations in Niue. In New Zealand, a working group of Auckland based Niue people led by Dr Colin Tukuitoga, CEO of the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs made a submission towards the Niue Private Sector Development Strategic Plan 2007-2010. The Auckland group’s contribution was acknowledged in the document and the Auckland launch is part of relationship building and reporting back to the New Zealand Niue community from Niue.

The initiative is the result of ongoing assistance from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the Pacific Islands Trade & Investment Commission (NZ) beginning with workshop consultations in Niue early 2006. In July, this year a small team led by Alise Stunnenberg from the Private Sector Development Unit of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the Pacific Islands Trade & Investment Commission (NZ) assisted the Niue Private Sector to complete the Niue Private Sector Development Strategic Plan 2007-2010. The plan was then officially handed over to the Niue Government, Premier Young Vivian and the Minister of Private Sector Development Hon. Bill Vakaafi Motufoou at the Niue Fale Fono.

The Niue Private Sector Development Strategic Plan 2007-2010 has wide spread implications for the future of the Niue private sector and the Niue economy. The plan addresses access to business information, investment opportunities and infrastructure.

The plan also highlights ways for Government to assist the private sector towards becoming more effective and productive. Other areas of impact include the Niue school curriculum in terms of boosting areas of entrepreneurship for students and land accessibility for private sector development. Acknowledgement is also made in the plan to the need for greater relationship building and working co-operatively between Niue and NZ Niue business community.

DATES TO NOTE:
• Launch of the Niue Private Sector Development Strategic Plan will be held at the
Niue Constitution Day Celebrations in Mangere 13th October 2007. Mangere Organising Committee contact: Sione Kumitau – PH 09 276 4594
• Niue Private Sector Development Strategic Plan 2007-2010 – Niue Private Sector Community Presentation at the Pacific Business Trust, Otahuhu, Wednesday 17th October 2007

For more information on the Niue Private Sector Development Strategic Plan launch and Community meeting please contact:

Niue Chamber of Commerce: President Catherine Etuata - Mob 021 2167 382
Niue Trade Office: Ernest Nemaia – Tel 09 917 4826
Pacific Islands Trade & Investment Commission: Eleanor Ikinofo – Tel 09 529 5165
On behalf of the Team in Auckland: Mary Aue – Mob 027 282 6775 
 

District Health Board elections closing this Saturday
11 October 2007 - Source: Ministry of Health Press Release
 
Voting for the 2007 local and District Health Board elections closes at midday this Saturday (13 October) and Pacific people are being encouraged to fill in their voting forms and post them back right away.

Initial voting returns appear to be low, with the majority of New Zealanders leaving their voting to the last minute.

"We encourage everyone to take the time to vote, as this opportunity only comes along once every three years,' says Ministry of Health spokesperson Dr. Debbie Ryan.

'These elections offer an important opportunity for our people to participate in DHB decisions and, in the process, the delivery of funding and health services for their community at a regional level," she says.

'DHBs make important decisions that affect the way health and disability services are delivered to all communities, including Pacific people, in New Zealand,' says Dr. Ryan.

DHB elections are held using the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, where voters rank their desired candidates in order of preference (1,2,3,4, etc). Instead of putting a tick beside a candidate's name, voters put a number.

For example, if a voter likes 'person D' the best, they put a '1' beside person D's name. If a voter likes 'person B' next, they would put a '2' beside person B's name, and so on. Voters can rank as many or as few candidates as they like; a vote will still be valid as long as at least one candidate (the person the voter likes best), has a '1' beside their name.

This year eight local authorities and all 21 District Health Boards are using the STV system to conduct their elections. This means all voters, except for those in the Marlborough District, are using two different systems to vote for candidates (First Past the Post and Single Transferable Vote).
 

‘Lena’, a new play from Jason Greenwood
10 October 2007 - Source: Creative New Zealand Press Release
 
Jason Greenwood's memories of his early life in Samoa are of the sea, the plantation, the open spaces, and the ghost stories that he and his siblings were told by their nannies.

It was a rich childhood, he says - and one that he's mined to write Lena, a play set in a Samoan village in 1947 and the story of an afakasi Samoan woman constantly at odds with her mother and struggling to understand her unconditional love of Viliamu, Lena's scheming half-brother.

The Auckland actor and playwright has written several drafts of the play, received encouragement and mentoring through Playmarket, and funding from the Pacific Arts Committee. He also presented an excerpt at the Pasifika Playwrights' Forum earlier this year.

"The play deals with fairly hard-hitting issues like racism, hypocrisy and class distinction," Jason says. "But I've tried to use humour to tell the story."

Now, he's keen to work with a dramaturg, workshop the play and premiere it in Auckland with Justine Simei-Barton as producer and Sefa Enari as the choreographer.

"It's really my family's story and I've written it as a tribute to my mother," Jason says. "For as long as I can remember, she's looked back on her life in Samoa. She had a stroke several years ago, and loves to rekindle the past and tell us stories of those times."

It's been a long and personal journey for Jason, who graduated with a Master of Creative and Performing Arts from the University of Auckland in 2003. Included in his study were papers in creative writing and it was during this time - and while he was caring for his mother - that the idea for the play came to him.

"I'm fascinated by the stories of our old people and feel strongly that they need to be recorded for future generations," he says. "This play is my way of representing my generation and echoing a voice from the past."

Jason was eight-years-old when he came from Samoa with his parents and siblings to live in Wanganui in 1955. "We brought our songs and our dance with us but our Pacific voice wasn't heard until Albert Wendt wrote Sons for the Return Home and Leaves of the Banyan Tree in the 1970s.

"Now, we have a voice, and the arts and writing are a profession. But a lot of young people don't know the stories of the people who migrated to this country in the 1950s. I hope my play will help fill that void."

The play opens on November 3rd, Saturday through to November 10th, 2007 and will be held at the Aotea Centre’s Herald Theatre in Auckland city.

Tickets are at $15 for adults, $10 for students - groups of more than 6 get a discount price for $10 each.

Tickets can be purchased at: www.ticketek.co.nz or by phoning (09) 307-5000.
 

Manukau 6-year-old puts his stamp on Christmas
09 October 2007 - Source: Howick and Pakuranga Times
 
NZ Post’s Christmas stamps this year feature art works of children from around the country, including one designed by a six-year-old Manukau boy.

The works are the winning results of the NZ Post Design a Stamp competition.

Children were asked to design a stamp based on the symbols of Christmas.

Year 2 Flat Bush School pupil Sione Vao beat stiff competition from 17,000 entries to take out the supreme award.

Commenting on Sione’s design, which blended a Pasifika aesthetic with more traditional elements of a Kiwi Christmas, judges say his image combines strong and simple elements to produce a striking, eye-catching design.

“These will be used and seen around New Zealand and the world,” says NZ Post stamps general manager Ivor Masters.

“These children are now artistic ambassadors for our country,” he says.

“While some images are very relevant to the Kiwi Christmas experience, such as scenes of cricket on the beach, fantails and pohutukawa flowers (the New Zealand Christmas tree), others are more traditional. Baby Jesus and a red-hatted robin are also included in the stamps.”

Five winners were chosen with each of them receiving a $1000 Kiwibank account and $3000 for their school.

Meanwhile, NZ Post has announced the Christmas mail deadlines.

The mailing date for Australia and South Pacific using the international economy service is November 17.

November 10 is the date for international economy for mail to the rest of the world.
 

France snubs All Blacks RWC dream again
08 October 2007 - Source: International Herald Tribune
 
Two Rugby World Cups ruined by France. Retiring New Zealand hooker Anton Oliver said he felt like he was in a no man's land.

Oliver was one of two All Blacks starters (scrumhalf Byron Kelleher was the other) who were involved in both sensational upsets by France in the 1999 semi-finals and Saturday's quarterfinal.
Oliver was a former New Zealand captain who came back from being overlooked for the 2003 cup to become one of the team's elder statesmen, and deepest thinkers.

He played for the first 59 minutes of the 20-18 loss to France, and came off in his 59th and last test at Millennium Stadium with the score at 13-13.

Asked to describe how he felt, he found an apt comparison from recently reading about Passchendaele and the horrors of World War One in "All Quiet on the Western Front."

"They describe how no man's land is quiet. That's what it feels like — quiet — in the changing room and in the players' hearts and minds," Oliver said. "In no man's land, there's a putrid smell, death, that's a bit dramatic but you know what I mean. No man's land is a place where nothing exists."

Oliver would argue with anyone who believed France beat the All Blacks by playing with more heart.

"We were hanging in there to the end, and we wanted to win," he said. "I don't think we were outpassioned, that's an easy way to look at it."

During the match, Oliver said defeat was the last thing on their minds, even with time ticking down. They had done well for the first half-hour playing the way they wanted to, even though he felt they fell into a trap of "aerial ping pong" with France.

Oliver also believed they had momentum soon after halftime but they couldn't convert their chances.

"The French would put minimal people into the rucks and spread the defense and push up their lines, forcing our backs into making rush passes," he said. "It was a classic pressure defense, what we do to other teams."

Losing Luke McAlister for 10 minutes in the third quarter put some pressure on the All Blacks, and that's when the momentum began to change, but Oliver said playing a man down was something theyd handled before, and they had France backed up to its tryline until No. 8 Rodney So'oialo knocked on a pass that suddenly popped out of a ruck.

"We played down their half looking for a penalty they didn't give away and the ref didn't give us, and then we made a mistake we'd been making the whole tournament, a forced pass and knockon. We'd talked the whole tournament to cut those out."

Oliver will now take up a contract with French club Toulon, joining another former All Blacks skipper, Tana Umaga, and Australia great George Gregan.
 

Locals get chance at Netball World Championships
07 October 2007 - Source: Netball NZ Press Release
 
Aucklanders Ritua Petero and Angela Tangimetua will lead a new-look Cook Islands team at the 2007 New World Netball World Championships in Waitakere next month.

Petero, a dynamic midcourter for the Northern Force, finalists in this year’s National Bank Cup, and Tangimetua, once crowned the most accurate shooter in the world, will co-captain the side.

Cook Islands coach, former Silver Ferns captain Ana Noovao, has selected a fresh 12 after a final trial in New Zealand last weekend.

It is a totally new team from the Cook Islands side which finished a disappointing 11th at the 2003 world championships in Jamaica. Most of the 2007 team live in New Zealand.

Petero, from Manurewa, made her international debut for the Cooks at the 1999 world championships in Christchurch, and has since played national league netball for the Cometz and the Force.

Tangimetua, better known in netball circles as Angela Maoate, is a world championship veteran – the goal shoot was the top shooter at the 1995 world champs in Birmingham. Now living in Auckland, she also played three seasons in New Zealand’s national league – 1998 and 2002 with the Auckland Diamonds, and 2003 with the Cometz.

Also in the Cook Islands team are Wellington netballers Paula Te Huna, Anna Andrews, Celeste Brunton and Darcel Daniels. Te Huna’s sister Patti, a member of the North Harbour performance programme, has also made the squad.

Versatile young shooter-midcourter Jacqueline Tate plays for North, finalists in the recent Scottwood Trust national netball championships.

Cook Island-based player Sheena Tavioni has moved to New Zealand for the final build-up to the November 10-17 championships at the Trusts Stadium.

Petero says the team will have another training camp before coming together for the championships.
“There’s a really nice feeling in this team; it’s a really good team,” she says. “One of our main goals is to go through to the quarterfinals - at least.”

The Cook Islands’ best placing at a world championship was fifth at the 1991 tournament in Sydney.

The Cook Islands team is: Ritua Petero (co-captain), Angela Tangimetua (co-captain), Claresta Andrew, Anna Andrews, Celeste Brunton, Darcel Daniels, Kiri Kaumoana, Margarette Nena, Jacqueline Tate, Sheena Tavioni, Patti Te Huna, Paula Te Huna.

Tickets for the New World Netball World Championships at The Trusts Stadium, Waitakere from 10-17 November available from www.worldnetballchamps.com
 

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