| |
|
|
| |
NEW ZEALAND: Scholars with fresh perspectives
garner research awards
Source:
University
of Waikato Press Release
Waikato Management School research which
examines CEO strategic decision-making and the
role of the accountant in institutional change
has garnered two early-career academics
Outstanding Emerging Scholar awards.
Dr Paresha Sinha of the Department of Human
Resource and Strategic Management and Dr Umesh
Sharma of the Department of Accounting are the
joint recipients of the 2010 Dean’s Award for
Outstanding Emerging Scholar.
Dr Sinha’s research focuses on organisational
leadership and international management, and she
is particularly interested in exploring
alternatives to the concept of heroic
leadership.
“Heroic leadership is based on the erroneous
belief that organisational effectiveness and
performance depends on the positional leader’s
personal qualities or heroic actions,” she says.
“My research perspective is rather different. It
assumes leaders do not have 'solutions' to the
problems, rather their role is to create
conditions in which creative learning and
continuous improvement occur.”
Dr Sharma also approaches his research with a
fresh perspective, using interpretive approaches
to generate new insights for management
accounting in less developed countries.
For his doctoral thesis, Dr Sharma - who’s
originally from Fiji -- looked at the
transformation of Telecom Fiji from a government
entity to a commercial company listed on the
stock exchange, and the implications that had
for company culture.
“Most theoretical models come from a Western
perspective which doesn’t take into account
issues of tribal rivalries and loyalties,
communal society and chiefly hierarchy which are
all represented in the corporate context in a
developing country like Fiji,” he says. “So I’ve
had to adapt and develop the theory.
“My interest is in exploring organisational
change from the people’s perspective, so
currently I’m looking at ideas around new
classical economics, including Buddhist
economics, that can help make people better
corporate citizens.”
Both researchers have published extensively in
international peer-reviewed journals, and have
won best paper awards for their work.
Presenting the awards, Dean Professor Frank
Scrimgeour said both Dr Sinha and Dr Sharma
exemplified new thinking in their respective
fields. “Paresha and Umesh combine dedication to
quality research with fresh perspectives on some
of the important questions of our time.
“They exemplify Waikato Management School’s
commitment to increasing knowledge and shaping
management theory, influencing business
practice, and informing public policy in New
Zealand and around the globe.”
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(Photo:
Samoa Government) |
|
| |
|
|
| |
SAMOA: Samoa donates NZ$100,000 to Christchurch
earthquake recovery
Source:
Government Press Secretariat Press Release
Prime Minister Hon. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi
presented a cheque of NZ$100,000 to New Zealand
High Commissioner, H.E. Nick Hurley last
Thursday (February 24, 2011), towards initial
earthquake recovery work in Christchurch.
“It’s a small assistance on behalf of the
Government and the people of Samoa to help out
in initial recovery efforts underway in
Christchurch,” said Prime Minister Tuilaepa.
Of continuing search and rescue work following
the earthquake Monday afternoon, the Prime
Minister said, “Hopefully, some of those still
missing can still be found alive. Our prayers
are with our New Zealand friends at these
challenging of times.”
“We are monitoring developments in Christchurch
very closely.” H.E Nick Hurley thanked Prime
Minister Tuilaepa on behalf of the New Zealand
Government.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(Photo:
American Samoa Department of Agriculture) |
|
| |
|
|
| |
AMERICAN SAMOA: CNR aids in keeping eight-legged
encroachers out of territory
Source:
American
Samoa Community College Press Release
Thanks to the sharp eyes of Department of
Agriculture quarantine inspectors, a Customs
inspector, and the Community and Natural
Resources (CNR) entomologist at the American
Samoa Community College, the Territory has been
spared some unwelcome guests that arrived
recently as stowaways in a shipment of PVC
pipes. Customs inspector Michael Godinet first
noticed a large black spider in a container full
of pipes, and became concerned when he noticed
the red hourglass-shaped mark on the spider’s
underside. Godinet corralled the spider into a
plastic container, then sought assistance from
Department of Agriculture quarantine inspectors
Mathew Tuia and Conan Kalifa and CNR
entomologist Mark Schmaedick, who confirmed that
the intruder was a black widow spider that had
apparently made a home in the PVC pipes while
they were stored outdoors in a reshipper’s yard
in Southern California before being shipped to
American Samoa.
As is the usual procedure in such cases, the
infested containers were sealed and fumigated by
a local pest control company at the expense of
the importer. Ordinarily that would be the end
of the story, but when the agriculture
quarantine and customs officers opened the
containers for inspection the following day,
they found another live spider. The containers
were treated again with a stronger insecticide,
sealed overnight, and inspected again the
following day. Unfortunately, four more live
spiders were discovered the next day: one more
black widow, two brown widows, and a harmless
“crevice weaver” spider. By the time it was all
over, the containers had been treated four times
with insecticide, and every part of every item
was inspected thoroughly before being unloaded.
Every long length of narrow diameter PVC pipe
was washed out using a high pressure nozzle with
a fine net and a large plastic bin at the other
end to catch anything lurking inside. All of
this hard work was essential to ensure that none
of the spiders escaped to make their new homes
in the Territory.
Entomologist Schmaedick explained that black
widow spiders are not known to occur in American
Samoa, but five species are found on the US
mainland. Brown widows are not native to the US,
but were accidentally introduced and established
in some states, including California. Both black
and brown widows were accidentally introduced to
Hawaii and have long been established there.
Although black widows are poisonous to humans,
the spiders are generally shy and not
aggressive, so serious bites are not common and
deaths from black widow bites are rare. Brown
widows are also poisonous, but are less likely
to bite, and tend to inject less venom than
black widows. “Despite their good behavior most
of the time,” said Schmaedick, “these spider
species are not wanted and not welcome in
American Samoa.”
Although the Agriculture Quarantine and Customs
agents thwarted this latest incursion, it is
possible that black or brown widows could arrive
again on shipments of materials from the
mainland US or Hawaii. Department of Agriculture
Director Lefiti Atiulagi Falelauli’i Pese urges
the public and commercial importers of building
supplies to be especially vigilant and keep an
eye out for any unusual creatures that may be
hitchhiking on these imported goods. He notes
that the risk may be especially high now with
lots of building supplies coming in for the many
construction projects underway. In the future,
any containers found infested with such pests
will be closed, sealed, and sent back to where
they came from. Those seeking information about
agriculture quarantine requirements and
procedures may contact the Department of
Agriculture Quarantine Division at 699-2168 or
699-9272.
Photo Caption: American Samoa Department
of Agriculture Quarantine Inspector Conan Kalifa
(Left) and Customs Inspector Michael Godinet
inspect shipment of PVC pipes in which they
found several poisonous spiders, including this
brown widow.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(Photo: Atu
Rasea / Fiji Times) |
|
| |
|
|
| |
FIJI: Watch out at Marist 7s, says Tietjens
Source:
Fiji Times
New Zealand sevens coach Gordon Tietjens has
warned the New Zealand Marist players that they
will find it hard playing in this week's Fiji
Bitter Marist Sevens.
Tietjens worked with the NZ Marist team on
Sunday before they left Auckland for Nadi.
NZ Marist manager Liam Halpin said the NZ sevens
mentor drilled the team for 90 minutes on
Sunday.
Halpin said the training session with Tietjens
was also the first time the team assembled
together in New Zealand before coming to Fiji.
"We were fortunate that we had Tietjens with us
that day and he gave the boys a fair idea of
what to expect in Fiji," Halpin said.
"He (Tietjens) did warn us that every game would
be very difficult.
"He also emphasised to the team that we must not
take any Fijian team lightly."
Halpin said Tietjens advised the team to always
try to play inside because it would be difficult
to take on the Fijians outwide.
"Tietjens is a Marist old boy so he was there to
support the team but it was unfortunate that he
was not able to accompany us on this trip," he
said.
Tietjens is helping prepare the New Zealand team
for the next leg of the HSBC World Sevens Series
in Hong Kong.
Halpin said the NZ Marist team had new faces but
he was confident they would compete well against
the opposition during the two-day tournament
which kicks off on Friday.
"We will take each game at a time and just
concentrate on our first game."
Most of the overseas teams have arrived and will
be going through their last phases of training
today and tomorrow before the 35th Fiji Bitter
Marist Sevens starts.
Tournament official Teddy Fong said they had
finalised the 64 teams that will be playing.
"Everything is on target and we believe this is
going to be one of the best organised
tournaments so far," he said.
Photo Caption: Isaia Fa'avae Patelo prepares to
deliver the ball as members of the New Zealand
Marist squad trained in Suva yesterday.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(Photos:
Internet Niue / Rocket Systems Ltd.) |
|
| |
|
|
| |
NIUE: Niue showcased on two new websites
Source:
Internet Niue
Customers of Internet Niue now have access to
two smart new websites which encourage them to
ask questions, post comments and upload photos
and videos.
The Internet Niue and Rocket sites are closely
linked, but quite different. Internet Niue is a
service funded by The IUSN Foundation, a
US-based charitable corporation, from world
sales of .nu domain names - especially in
Sweden. Rocket is the Alofi-based business which
operates the Internet Niue service and provides
Niue with IT services.
Rocket owners Emani and TaniRose
Fakaotimanava-Lui are enthusiastic sportspeople
who are very active in the Niue community.
“We want to be more responsive to our customers
in Niue and to showcase and support our unique
culture in any way we can,” Emani says.
Per Darnell, chief executive of the Foundation,
says the main role of the Internet Niue website
is to provide up-to-date information about local
internet services, such as alerting customers to
scheduled outages. It also provides a way for
users to report faults at any time of the day or
night.
“There are tips on safe use of the internet.
These are designed for parents who may be
concerned about what their children could be
exposed to on the net.
“In addition, there is background information
and news about Internet Niue, our terms of
service, how to get a connection and the like.”
The Internet Niue site has a hiapo theme and
Internet Niue itself has a modern hiapo-style
logo drawn by local artist Charles Jessop. Mr
Darnell says the communication of stories and
images keeps a culture alive and that is what
the internet is all about.
“In a gallery on the site we showcase hiapo and
we would love to see this expanded. Anyone with
hiapo they would like to have featured, is
welcome to email us an image and we’ll put it on
the web for them,” he says.
“There’s also information about Niue which we
hope will be of particular interest to the
children and grandchildren of Niuean families
who have settled overseas, and who want to get
in touch with their cultural roots.”
The Rocket Systems website has a modern Pacific
theme. It showcases what Rocket has to offer its
customers and has a library of local images and
videos to which anyone with an interest in Niue
or Niuean culture can contribute.
“We also have a ‘Just Ask’ feature which allows
anyone to ask us a question or to express an
opinion. This is an exciting development, which
we hope customers, friends and visitors will
make use of,” says Emani.
“Just don’t ask us about how to split the atom,
or how to find my secret fishing holes! Stick to
internet- or computer-related topics and you can
expect to get a sensible answer.”
Rocket Systems: www.rocketsystems.nu Internet
Niue: www.internetniue.nu
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
(Photo:
Secretariat of the Pacific Community) |
|
| |
|
|
| |
WORLDWIDE: SPC and PASO enter into regional
aviation transport partnership
Source:
Secretariat of
the Pacific Community Press
Release
On Monday (February 28, 2011), the Secretariat
of the Pacific Community and the Pacific
Aviation Safety Organisation (PASO) signed a
memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enhance
collaborative efforts between the two bodies
charged with advancing regional aviation safety
and security and developing regional air
services.
The MOU serves to strengthen the existing
partnership and to foster further cooperation to
address the varied issues relating to air
services in the Pacific.
The MOU is also based on a shared commitment to
seek innovative solutions and to maximise
opportunities to derive benefits for PASO and
SPC members. In doing so, the MOU is founded on
11 principles of collaboration, which provide
the operational framework.
This operational framework underpins the
delivery mechanism to address seven themes -
compliance, tariff setting, search and rescue,
mass rescue, regional standards, training, and
policy and legislative advice - that SPC and
PASO have identified as core partnership
thematic areas. In addition, both SPC and PASO
duly recognise that there are also cross-cutting
areas for programme collaboration, such as
provision of policy analysis and advice, joint
resource mobilisation efforts, joint
initiatives, long-term capacity development and
programme support, technical partnerships,
development of risk reduction strategies, and
development of strong monitoring and evaluation
frameworks to support evidence-based
decision-making.
SPC Director-General Dr Jimmie Rodgers said,
‘SPC welcomes this formalised partnership with
PASO because SPC believes in the “many partners,
one team” approach whereby we pool resources and
work together for more efficient means to
implement activities for and within the region.’
He added, ‘SPC, now as the lead coordinating
agency in regional transport, knows how
important safe and secure air services are to
economic development and on this understanding
is very keen to move this partnership forward.’
PASO General Manager Seiuli Alvin Tuala also
welcomed the signing and added, ‘for PASO, this
MOU will enable us to work closer with SPC to
undertake activities that will support our
members, particularly in the area of aviation
safety and security, but at the same time
recognising that we can support SPC in
progressing other air services issues under the
regional transport agenda.’
The MOU took effect on Monday and will have a
duration of four years.
Photo Caption: SPC Director-General Dr
Jimmie Rodgers (left) and PASO General Manager
Seiuli Alvin Tuala shake hands after signing the
MOU.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
