NEWSPAGE 16 April
2010

(Photo: Pacific Islands Trade & Investment Commission New Zealand)

SAMOA: Samoa to Expo 2010 Shanghai "here we come"
Source: Samoa Tourism Authority Press Release

While the countdown to the Opening of the Expo 2010 Shanghai is 15 days away, Samoa’s first official delegation for this event, led by Samoa’s Project Coordinator, have already departed.

Mrs Tracy Wong Ling-Warren (Samoa Project Coordinator) is accompanied by three Participant/Project Assistants namely: Kristian Scanlan, Gwendolyn Tuaitanu and Clement Tualamaalii.

The team are arriving in China before the Expo’s official 01st May 2010 starting date, to allow time for the preparation of Samoa’s booth and other final details prior to the Soft Launch scheduled for 20th April 2010.

Their joint responsibilities include: manning the Samoa booth inside the Pacific Pavilion; responding to enquiries regarding Tourism and Trade matters pertaining to Samoa; explaining in detail the unique cultural products/activities/practices that will be displayed and performed at the Samoa Booth; networking with travel/trade/media representatives from other destinations; establishing firm contacts/alliances; ensuring the steady flow of information, products and services to the interested public.

All the team members are part of the Samoa Tourism Authority and will be based in China for the full six months duration of the Expo 2010.

Highlighting Samoa fire knife dancing

Samoa’s original Fire Knife Dancing is being highlighted as one of the main events of the Expo2010 Shanghai China.

The ‘Fire Dance of Samoa’ is in the Internet spotlight as it is the main feature of the Events section of the Expo 2010 Shanghai Website Main Page.

Samoa’s Fire Knife Dancing is one of the uniquely Samoan features that will make up part of Samoa’s cultural presentations at the Expo.

The Fire Knife Dancers will be part of the 23member dance troupe that will be carrying out Samoa’s performances at the Expo.

Samoa’s entertainment will be one significant part of the universal performances that will be witnessed in Shanghai. Visitors to the 2010 World Expo will enjoy an entertainment extravaganza with countries from around the world promising to bring their best and rarest cultural acts. Oceania countries such as Samoa, Kiribati and Marshall Island will present their own cultural programs as well.

Samoa’s cultural demonstrations will also include: mats and handicrafts weaving; tapa cloth (siapo) printing; canoe and art carving; uniquely Samoan body tattooing. Samoa will also have on display and for sale authentically Samoan products, including jewellery, fashion designs, and body products to name a few.
 

(Photos: J. Kneubuhl)

AMERICAN SAMOA: ASCC/SSS students learn plantation skills for Grant Aid Project
Source: American Samoa Community College Press Release

Many adults raised in the Territory may not recall the pulling of weeds or clearing of the school plantation as their favorite part of their educational experience, but the ongoing shift towards more westernized lifestyles in American Samoa has resulted in many of today’s younger generation having no firsthand experience with growing their own food. In an attempt to counter this trend, the Student Support Services Division (SSS) at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) has initiated a plantation project behind the faculty housing on upper campus as part of a Grant Aid Project.

“We want to expose our students to the numerous food resources available in American Samoa,” said SSS Director Dr. Repeka Ala’imoana-Nuusa. “The project also teaches them to value their contribution toward community efforts in food preservation, and hopefully will also inspire them to pursue career options in the field of agriculture.” With the clearing phase already underway, Ala’imoana-Nuusa says the project will combine firsthand experience with up to date agricultural theory. “We’ll plant local crops such as taro, taamu, cucumbers, egg plants, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and beans, working in conjunction with the Land Grant Agriculture Extension Program, who provide expert advice on land preparation, farming methods, procedures and crop maintenance.”

Continued the SSS Director, “The plantation project serves as extension of classroom learning, and will involve reading, writing, and mathematics. At the end of the project, students will write essays and complete evaluations about their learning experiences. In keeping with the ASCC mission, we hope the experience will help equip the participants with pertinent communication, job, and life skills.” Parents concerned about their children spending their ASCC schooldays in the plantation rather than the classroom need not worry. Work sessions at the plantation site take place regularly on Saturdays, well before the hottest part of the day. Some students have volunteered to work in the afternoons following their classes, as well as over the Spring Break.
 
Ala’imoana-Nuusa explained that Grant Aid is a financial award made available to SSS participants through the US Department of Education. SSS Grant aid is intended to improve student retention by supplementing financial assistance for low-income students with unmet financial needs; improve academic success by reducing the number of hours students need to work; provide incentives for students to make timely progress in their degree program and to successfully complete their remedial coursework; and demonstrate support for students who are actively using SSS resources to facilitate their academic needs.

To be eligible to participate, each student must attend the English Language Institute at ASCC; must be a Pell Grant recipient; must be in their first or second years of postsecondary education; have an unmet need exceeding $800 as determined by the Financial Aid Office; must be a participant in good academic standing as determined by SSS standards; and must be active in the SSS program. Eligible students can receive a minimum award of $800 and up to a maximum of $3,000 for Grant Aid. According to Ala’imoana-Nuusa, this is the last Grant Aid Award available in the current SSS cycle of funding from the federal government. Future projects may take place depending on available resources.

Photo Captions: ASCC students participating in the Student Support Services program take part in this semester's Grant Aid Project, which is a plantation on the upper campus. The students will get firsthand experience growing food under the guidance of the Land Grant Extension Program.

(Photo: Fiji Times)

FIJI: Fiji A hopes for a winning start
Source: Fiji Times

Fiji A coach Inoke Male says his boys will ready to take the powerful Tonga forwards head-on when they clash in the opening Punjas Rugby Series at the tfl National Stadium toni-ght.

Male said he anticipated Tonga to base their performance around its heavy and powerful forwards.

Speaking after the cap-tain's run yesterday, Male said they expected Tonga to come out firing with their forwards but they would be ready.

"We know Tonga will always try to use their forwards to dominate the game.

"This will be another traditional clash between the two Pacific Island neighbors and it will be tough and bruising out there," Male said.

"During training this week we've continued to place emphasis on trying to improve our forward play because we know this will be their key area.

"But we will not allow them to dominate this area."

Male said he was happy with how his boys performed during training this week.

"Even though we only had a short time together, I'm still confident the boys will do the country proud.

"All players in the team gave their best during training and competition for the team was very tough."

Male said he believed the team named to face the Friendly Islanders would not back down from the challenge.

"I know the boys who will be playing tomorrow (today) are ready for the job and they will be going out there to do it in style.

"I've told the boys that the people of Fiji will be coming to support them and they should give their best performance."

Male has selected a very strong line-up in his run on side for tonight.

The team to be captained by halfback Waisale Vatuvoka, will include five players who were members of the Flying Fijians side that toured Europe late last year.

Male has selected a very strong front row of Setefano Samoca, Isireli Ledua and New Zealand based Jo Nabou.

The match kicks off at 7pm.

Photo Caption: Dale Tonwai (left) joins Aminisitai Nuikula in the backline during the Fiji A captain's run at the tfl National Stadium, in Suva yesterday.
 

NIUE: New ambulance could cut down Niue's medivacs
Source: Radio New Zealand International

Niue is hoping a donated ambulance complete with new life-saving defibrillator will reduce medical evacuations to New Zealand.

The New Zealand-based charity St John has donated the second-hand vehicle which will carry the island’s first automatic mobile defibrillator to help in cardiac arrest cases

Niue’s Health Minister O’Love Jacobsen says an ambulance attending to people on the spot in outlying villages could help reduce the number of medi-vacs to New Zealand.

“The ambulance will minimise us having to organise medivacs in terms of accidents and probably heart disease because we are able to get quickly to the person and give them the attention that they need. It’s the fact we are able to make a quick intervention because we have a good facility.”

Mrs Jacobsen says Niue has not come under pressure from New Zealand to reduce the number of evacuations.

Up to five patients are medivaced out every year under an agreement between the two countries.

Defibrillator and first aid training will be offered to Niue along with the ambulance.
 

(Photo: University of Auckland)

WOLDWIDE: Student music and dance performance showcases in Chinese festival
Source: University of Auckland Press Release

Music and Dance students from The University of Auckland will be showcasing New Zealand arts and culture this May at the Beijing Modern Music Festival. Representing New Zealand for the first time on the large international stage, the group will perform amongst an international line up from North America, Europe and China.

The group are from the University’s National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries and consist of a troupe of 11 young dancers, one music student and their lecturers. They are the first delegation from New Zealand to appear at the annual music festival, and have been dedicated an entire evening for the purpose of showcasing their talents and the music and dance of New Zealand.

The dominating performance feature from the company, ‘Woven’, has been choreographed by postgraduate student Juanita Jelleyman and is one of seven pieces in the 90 minute ensemble. Reflecting New Zealand’s cultural diversity, the piece weaves together threads of Māori, Pacific and contemporary New Zealand movement. Music by composer and fellow University of Auckland student, James Bryant, accompanies ‘Woven’ with a New Zealand infused soundscape of haunting vocals and electronic Māori and percussive sounds to create an exciting backdrop. In addition there will be a number of pieces of electroacoustic music by School of Music students and staff which will be presented as part of the concert.

The New Zealand delegation includes students from Māori, Samoan, Fijian, South African, Chinese and New Zealand European backgrounds supporting and reflecting the ‘Woven’ motif as they bring together an engaging collection of eclectic pieces of electronic music and contemporary dance, influenced by the cultural heritage of New Zealand and the Pacific.

Head of the School of Music, Professor Robert Constable, says that the Chinese tour is a great opportunity for the students involved. “It is also an opportunity to showcase the high level of creative talent in New Zealand to an international audience”.

Head of the Dance Studies Programme, Associate Professor Ralph Buck, adds that it will also build the confidence and identity of the emerging artists on tour. “The experience will place their learning, knowledge and skill in an international context from which they can view the peculiarities and distinctive cultural elements of New Zealand and Pacific culture. The students return wiser and more confident with a greater appreciation of their own strengths.”

Following the performance at the Beijing Modern Music Festival the Auckland-based group will perform at the Nanjing Arts Institute where they will also run cultural dance workshops including a Māori Kapa Haka workshop, for staff and students.

Photo Caption: Music and Dance students from The University of Auckland performing.