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NEW ZEALAND: AUT seeks Pacific journalism
lecturer for new course
AUT University is seeking a Pasifika journalist
and/or journalism scholar to join its teaching
staff and drive a new graduate programme.
This is a major new diversity initiative for a
New Zealand university.
“We teach journalism in a New Zealand and
Pacific context and we have, over a number of
years, sought to strengthen our Pacific focus,”
says Dr Alan Cocker, head of the School of
Communication Studies.
He cites the long-standing school support for a
Pasifika communications scholarship, a
partnership with the Pacific Islands Media
Association, establishment of the Pacific Media
Centre and research journal Pacific Journalism
Review as examples of this initiative.
“This next step is an exciting one as we are
framing a qualification specifically for the
needs of Pacific journalism and journalists. It
will also be a first for journalism education in
New Zealand at this educational level.
“It also reflects the fact that our school is
located in a city with a large and growing
Pasifika community and the course will meet
these needs as well.”
Welcoming the recruitment drive, Pacific Media
Centre director David Robie, who spearheaded a
drive to get this new programme established,
says this development could usher in a new era
for media diversity.
"What an exciting time for journalism education
and upcoming journalists,” says New Zealand
Herald Pacific affairs reporter Vaimoana
Tapaleao, a graduate of AUT and winner of this
year’s Qantas Junior Reporter of the Year award.
“The course will no doubt attract upcoming gems
in the journalism world but most importantly
help to take multicultural New Zealand into the
newsroom.
“Having someone who is specifically Pacific will
too, I think, help students have a deeper
understanding of the issues in the Pacific and
also be a key asset for those who are
non-Pacific.”
Besides the core journalism skills, the new
diploma will also offer specialist papers in
Māori and Pasifika Media Industry and Reporting
the Pacific Region with both Pasifika media and
mainstream media internships available.
“Applicants need a thorough knowledge of
reporting and production in one or more areas of
the news media,” said the AUT advertisement.
“They are also expected to have outstanding
Pacific and mainstream media experience and
industry connections with strong roots and mana
in the Pasifika community.”
As a minimum requirement, applicants are
expected to have at least five years experience
in an area of Pacific journalism and an
undergraduate degree. A postgraduate
qualification is preferred, but not essential.
Details of the advertisement are on the AUT
new jobs website: careers.aut.ac.nz
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(Photo:
TVNZ ONE News) |
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SAMOA: Tetraplegic denied medical care in New
Zealand
Source:
TVNZ ONE News
A Samoan tetraplegic, who Kiwis have fundraised
for, has had his application for medical care in
New Zealand denied.
Ben Lei'a, who fractured his neck in a rugby
accident in January, was being cared for by his
family and was supported by fundraising and the
New Zealand Spinal Trust.
However, his application for medical care was
rejected on the basis that no operation could
now repair the injury, which needed to be
treated within hours for him to have a chance of
recovery.
The resources to deal with Lei'a's injury were
not available in Samoa, and his request for
treatment in New Zealand only came weeks after
the accident.
Spinal consultant Raj Singhal said there were
vast differences in life expectancy between the
two countries for people as severely injured as
Lei'a.
"We here expect our tetraplegics to live nearly
as long as anybody else who does not have a
spinal cord injury, whereas there it's hardly
three or four years at the most."
But he also said Lei'a's non-existent chance of
regaining mobility meant the trip would not be
worthwhile.
"Getting him here will not solve the problems,
simply because you are going to lift him up from
his home environment. He has siblings, he has
family, and I think we need to manage him in
Samoa."
Singhal and two of his colleagues have flown to
Samoa at their own expense to aid Lei'a's
rehabilitation, and the NZ Spinal Trust had
launched a nationwide appeal. Donations of
equipment and medical supplies were also being
sent.
But Lei'a's mother, Vi Vei'a Isaako, said the
wish to move to New Zealand was more about the
standard of care.
"I want my son to be taken to New Zealand, it's
better than the hospital here," she said.
You can contribute to The Ben Lei'a Appeal by
visiting www.nzspinaltrust.org.nz
Or you can donate $3 by TXTing 'Ben' to 3181.
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(Photo:
Football Federation of American Samoa) |
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AMERICAN SAMOA: Referee course in progress
Source:
Football Federation of American Samoa via
Oceania Football Confederation
A group of budding referees are being put
through their paces this week during a FIFA
follow-up referee course at the Football
Federation of American Samoa (FFAS) headquarters
in Pago Pago.
Thirty participants are taking part in the
six-day course, which covers practical and
theoretical sessions based on the FIFA Laws of
the Game.
"When we came we did not ask what FFAS can do
for us but what we can do for FFAS," explained
Massimo Raveino, OFC referee development
officer, to the eager participants. "And what we
can do for FFAS is to help you become better
referees and assistant referees."
FIFA instructors Neil Poloso and Kader Touati
are helping Raveino conduct the course while
local referee development officer Silasila
Samuela and referee instructors Uinifareti Aliva
and Lemusa Alatasi are also presenting topics.
Also on hand during the first day was Rev. Ioane
Evagelia, who was sitting in on one of his first
official FFAS courses after being recently
installed as a new member of the executive
committee. He provided the opening prayer before
FFAS President Alex Godinet declared the course
open.
The travelling trio of instructors head to Samoa
to conduct a similar course after their time in
American Samoa.
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(Photo:
RTV NewsFlash) |
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FIJI: Rush for Fiji Hibiscus Kings, Queens now
on
Source:
RTV NewsFlash
A total of 133 applications were received during
this year’s Vodafone Fiji Hibiscus contestant
drive; 78 Queens and 55 Kings. Only 15 Queen
contestants and 15 King contestants will be
chosen to compete in the pageant.
Dubbed the Mother of All Festivals, the Fiji
Hibiscus Festival, is now the premier festival
in the country and the Pacific region. The
festival, which is normally held in August,
features Pacific arts and craft, traditional and
contemporary dances, sports and many fun and
exciting activities.
Event spokesperson, Aqela Cakobau says the
number of applicants vying for the Kings title
is increasing each year, with 2010 seeing the
largest number of applicants since the category
began in 2007.
Cakobau believes the increase indicated that it
is becoming more acceptable for men to compete
in pageants. “The common thinking amongst most
young men in the Pacific is that pageants are
only for girls,” Cakobau explained.
“But as has been proven in the past three years,
perhaps they see that this pageant is about
sharing their views on issues of concern,
building their self esteem, being involved in
charity work, making friends, establishing
networks and exploiting opportunities that they
never would have known existed prior to
competing.”
“We are excited to see the increase and hope the
calibre is just as high,” Cakobau added.
Six judges sit on the audition panel this year
comprising three committee members and three
professionals from the business and corporate
communities. This mix, according to organizers,
will provide a good balance of pageant knowledge
and outside perspective.
Applicants will be judged on poise, public
speaking ability, intelligence and general
knowledge; and each will be marked out of 30
points.
Auditions for King and Queen Contestants are
currently being held in Suva.
Events at the festival normally include Indian
night, Fijian night, Pacific night, Asian night
and a Youth night. The new categories for
competition, apart from the main Ms Hibiscus
crown, are the Hibiscus Princess, Hibiscus
Teens, Lady Hibiscus, Hibiscus King and Hibiscus
Prince.
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(Photo: Leca
Vunibobo) |
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TAHITI: Crew re-trace Lapita pottery voyage
route
Source:
Fiji Times
The crew of the O Tahiti Nui Freedom outrigger
canoe made their third stop in Fiji on Monday
morning.
The team of six including their captain were
accorded a traditional welcome ceremony at
Albert Park ù hosted by the Fiji Arts Council.
FAC projects officer Semi Laliqavoka said the
ceremony was an expression of their support for
the crew's efforts in trying to relive the
history of their ancestors.
"The crew departed Tahiti on July 27 with the
intention of retracing the routes followed by
their Polynesian ancestors on their Lapita
pottery voyage which began some 6000 years ago,"
said Mr Laliqavoka.
The French-speaking crew later met with their
president at a hotel in Suva before returning to
their canoe to prepare it for their next leg of
voyage to Vanuatu.
"This is a voyage similar to that of the Uto ni
Yalo and because we believe in preserving our
heritage, culture and tradition, we support the
O Tahiti Nui Freedom's cause.
The team is now bound for China. During its
voyage, it stopped over at the Cook Islands and
Tonga.
Similar ceremonies were accorded the crew at its
previous stops.
Led by Captain Punua Tamaehu, crew members are
Hiria Ottino, Koronui Rakeimata, Herve
Maraeta'ata; Sam Napa and Faimou Robati.
The O Tahiti Nui Freedom canoe departs next week
for Vanuatu.
Photo Caption: The crew onboard the O
Tahiti Nui Freedom at Draunibota in Lami
yesterday.
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(Photo:
‘Ailao Manu Press) |
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WORLDWIDE:
"Bobby Alu" wins Pacific section of the Q Song
Music Awards
Source:
‘Ailao
Manu Press
Charles Wall aka Bobby Alu was nominated twice
in the Pacific Section culminating in the
prestigious Q Song Award.
During Charles formative years his mother Foloi
Iulia Fonoti danced with Pacific Island Dance
Groups and he grew up exposed to drumming and
music. He learned to play the ukulele and the
guitar from his mother and island drums from his
Uncle Dominic Fa’agalu Fonoti.
Music, rhythm and humour permeate through
Polynesian people and love and laughter are
constant companions in a Polynesian household.
Charles received a good education and went on to
University beginning with an Engineering Degree.
After a couple of years Charles approached his
father saying, “Dad, I watch you grit your teeth
and go to work sometimes doing work that you
hate, I don’t want to live like that, I want to
do something I love, I’m going to change courses
and do a music degree”.
Charles threw himself at his music degree
graduating at the top of his year. Part of his
Curriculum was to produce a CD which he did
under “Bobby Alu” which was released to popular
acclaim.
Charles was invited to join the band “OKA” and
has had two 3 months festival tours of Canada.
He has played festivals in six out of seven
Australian states, the Woodford Folk Festival
and Byron Bay’s Splendour in the Grass and a
brief tour of New Zealand.
Charles attributes his success to his Samoan
blood and a comprehensive University Course.
This is only the beginning.
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