NEWSPAGE 04 July
2011

(Photo: Government of Tonga)

NEW ZEALAND: PM welcomes visit from King Tupou V

(Photos: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)

SAMOA: FAO hands over to MAF agricultural and fisheries equipment
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Press Release

The official handover of agricultural and fisheries equipment by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) took place on Friday (July 01, 2011) at the Fisheries Compound in Apia. The agricultural and fisheries inputs are part of a Tsunami Emergency Assistance Project initiated by FAO in response to a request from the Government of Samoa after the devastating tsunami that struck Samoa in 2009.

“The damage caused by the 2009 tsunami included the loss of farming and fishing tools and the destruction of livestock, plants and trees. Through the assistance provided today we hope to strengthen and enhance the livelihoods and food security of the affected communities,” said a representative from FAO.

The emergency project was based on official findings from a post tsunami damage assessment survey conducted by MAF and FAO which highlighted the need for planting materials, seeds agricultural tools, small livestock and fishing gear and equipment, traditional fishing canoes, and rehabilitation of giant clam nurseries. The project was also expected to complement recovery efforts by other partners in the agriculture and fisheries sector.

The handover is in addition to planting equipment, materials and seeds that were distributed in 2009 to the affected villages under FAO’s Soaring Food Price Project. The equipment will be distributed by MAF to support the recovery of the agriculture and fisheries based livelihoods of 450 tsunami affected families in 21 villages.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - Mr Masanami Izumi (FAO Officer in Charge) with Honourable Le Mamea Ropati (Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries).

Photo 2 - Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Staff displaying some of the equipment provided by FAO.

(Photo: 05news.com)

AMERICAN SAMOA: Faleomavaega congratulates Troy Polamu and team
Source: Office of Congressman Faleomavaega Press Release

Congressman Faleomavaega recently offered his personal congratulations to Troy Polamalu and his team after completing a successful Samoa Camp in American Samoa. The Samoa Camp included training, strengthening, and coaching workshops for local athletes and coaches.

“I want to take this opportunity to personally congratulate Troy and our other Polynesian NFL players for a job well done for this year’s Samoa Camp. It not only has been a privilege for our youth and our islands but also an honour for our sons to give back to their roots and community,” said Faleomavaega.

“I know that Troy’s visit with his team of friends has brought much national attention to American Samoa and we are grateful for all they have done for our people. This year’s Samoa Camp is another building block to the foundation that has been set by those who have made it possible for our Polynesian sons to play in the National Football League. We must honour their vigilance in representing our Polynesian heritage at one of the most prestigious levels of professional sports.”

“I am also very pleased that while Troy and his team are putting something back to Samoa for being who they are, Samoa also is taking this chance to further strengthen and shape the professional players characters in its own humble and native intimacy that you could only find when you experience the people, their happiness, their sorrows and their simplicities that define them and make them who they are.”

“I want to also commend George Malauulu, Navy Tuiasosopo, and the AIGA Foundation for their efforts in helping our youth prepare for colleges and universities and eventually the National Football League. Their hard work has given many of our sons and daughters the opportunities to play sports for many athletic programs but, more importantly, they gain a college education.”

“Again, I congratulate Troy, his family, and the rest of the visiting delegation on this historic occasion,” concluded Faleomavaega.

Photo Caption: Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu.
 

(Photo: Rumours Luxury Villas and Spa)

COOK ISLANDS: Rumours celebrates Luxury Spa Award
Source: PRWeb

Rumours Luxury Villas and Spa in Rarotonga has gained international recognition for its quality and service. The luxury resort and spa won the award for the Best Resort Spa in the Cook Islands as part of the 2011 World Luxury Spa Awards.

The global awards celebrate the spa industry’s top spas by honouring excellence and the highest standards. Travel industry experts say customers look to the awards for a sense of reassurance when choosing their next spa destination. Organisers of the awards were impressed with the high calibre of entries this year, which makes the award achieved by Rarotonga’s Rumours Luxury Villas and Spa even more of a stunning accolade for the resort.

The award winning Waterfall Spa facility at Rumours was purpose built to make sure guests are pampered with the most modern and exclusive range of luxurious services and products. It’s the perfect place to rest and relax at the beginning of a holiday when the stresses and pressures of everyday life can seem hard to shake. Instead of taking a week to unwind and relax before really starting to enjoy their holiday, guests at Rumours can make use of the services at the Waterfall Spa to get straight into holiday mode and make the most of their time away.

Two full time spa and beauty therapists ensure that Rumours guests are always able to get the personal attention they deserve - all in a luxurious air conditioned environment with the latest and best equipment. Services on offer include the Vichy Shower which caresses your body with seven shower jets under an invigorating waterfall. This whole body massage of this amazing technique produces the sensation of floating on water. This increases blood circulation, hydrates the skin and soothes the nervous system.

Guests at the award winning spa can also enjoy body scrubs, body masks, facials and body massages. Body scrubs use pure scents that produce soft and supple skin at the same time as soothing the mind. It is well known that massage therapy is great for health and wellbeing because of the deep relaxation it allows. Massages available at the Waterfall Spa include a warm stone body massage, relaxation massage, aromatherapy massage and neuromuscular therapy.

As well as winning the coveted World Luxury Spa Award for the Cook Islands, Rumours Luxury Villas and Spa has featured on Australasian and American television travel programmes. It’s seen as an ideal tropical getaway destination for couples wanting to celebrate romance and enjoy a holiday full of privacy and pampering, and is well known for its wedding and honeymoon packages. Rumours has also been chosen by Small Elegant Hotels as their only choice of elegant accommodation in the Cook Islands. Small Elegant Hotels handpicks its featured accommodation and selects on the basis of quality, atmosphere, amenities and personal service. The World Luxury Spa Award is the icing on the cake for this intimate destination.
 

(Photo: Jai Prasad / Fiji Times)

FIJI: Special moment for queen and mum
Source: Fiji Times

Aspiring doctor Maureen Lata was crowned Miss Vodafone Farmers Carnival 2011 at Lautoka on Saturday night.

While her University of Fiji school mates celebrated the win by partying the night away, Ms Lata spent the evening with her mother, Manjula Singh.

"I'm happy and excited, I knew I had a fifty-fifty chance and couldn't believe it when they called out my name," the 20-year old told The Fiji Times yesterday.

The Miss Saweni Sector contestant will travel to Sydney at the end of the year as part of her prize for winning the pageant.

First runner-up at the carnival was Miss Wilderness Amusements and Rides Vika Baumuri while Miss Lautoka City Rangita Chand took the second runner-up title.

Crowd favourite Miss Lautoka Sector Tatyana Saffron won the Miss Personality crown and the Miss Charity title was won by Vasiti Drodro representing Lovu Sector.

Funds raised during the week-long carnival will be used to assist students from underprivileged and low-income earning families education needs.

Photo Caption: Miss Farmers Maureen Lata with Miss Charity Vasiti Drodro after the crowning in lautoka.

WORLDWIDE: Tokelau to consider impact of Samoa’s possible dateline move
Source: Radio New Zealand International

Tokelau’s General Fono is likely to discuss Samoa’s plans to move to the other side of the international dateline at its next meeting in August, and make a decision whether to follow suit.

Samoa currently sits east of the dateline, but the government is working on plans to move to the west of the line at the end of this year.

The move will place Samoa on similar time lines as its major trading partners, Australia and New Zealand.

Tokelau’s three atolls are also to the east of the dateline, but with its administrative offices sited in Apia, a change could pose problems.

The general manager of the territory’s National Public Service, Jovilisi Suveinakama, says Tokelau would seriously consider the impact of the change.

“We are collating information with a view to submit this to [the Samoa] Cabinet, and then to the Parliament session, when it sits. But at the moment there’s been no official feedback from the [Samoa] Government, because the issue hasn’t actually been tabled formally.”