NEWSPAGE 21 September
2011

(Photos: eventpolynesia.com)

(Photo: Phil Hillyard / News Limited)

SAMOA: New head coach for Toa Samoa named
Source: Rugby League Samoa Press Release
 
Daniel Anderson has been named as the new head coach of Toa Samoa. The former NZ Warriors, St Helens and Parramatta head coach, Anderson is in a rare group of coaches who has coached at the NRL, Super League and at the international test level. His credentials are with the best in the world.

Former coach Steve Price has stepped down from his position to focus on his debut season as head coach of the St George Dragons in 2012. Rugby League Samoa wish Price and his team all the best for the upcoming season. He will be continuing his support behind the scenes as Coaching Director.

Anderson's first task is to head the 2011 Toa Samoa international tour of the UK in October. Toa Samoa will play a total of three games with the first against the Cumbria Selection on 16 October followed by the England Knights on 22 October and Ireland on 28 October.

His appointment will see him through to the 2013 Rugby League World Cup in the UK hosted by England and Wales.

Photo Caption: New head coach of Toa Samoa, Daniel Anderson.

(Photo: Diana Pulu / Samoa News)

AMERICAN SAMOA: Aquatics Agency begins free open water swimming lessons

The head of the American Samoa Aquatics Agency (ASAA), Zero Iaulualo, would like to invite the public out this coming Saturday, September 24 to Utulei Beach Park, not only for free open water swimming lessons and open water survival skills, but to get those who are interested in the Bruckner Chase Toa o le Tai (Ocean Heroes) program ready.

Iaulualo noted that a lot of our young people who join the military limit their options in what they can do in the military, because they don't know how to swim or know about open water survival. So he encourages everyone to "Come down to Utulei Beach Park next Saturday and I will teach you both of these skills - then you are bound to have more options to chose from while in the military,".

He added, "I also wish to get those who want to become part of the Bruckner Chase Toa o le Tai (Oceans Heroes), ready for the program, so when the time comes for registration, we will have people who are ready."

If you want to learn more about the Toa o le Tai program, you can contact Bruckner at [email protected], or you can come and talk to Iaulualo on Saturday during the clinic.

"Whatever reason you want to come down on Saturday, whether it's to be part of the program, or to learn these skills for the military, just come on down and remember, it's free," said Iaulualo.

"The clinic will be from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. and I suggest everyone take advantage of it, especially those who are planning on going into the military right after high school, or those who wish to become part of the Toa o le Tai (Ocean Heroes). It's really for anyone who just loves the ocean, too," Iaulualo said.

Photo Caption: World renowned marathon swimmer Bruckner Chase (L) and head of the American Samoa Aquatics Agency (ASAA) Zero Iaulualo, during Bruckner’s visit to the territory last month. Bruckner made headlines during his visit in May of this year, when he made a historic swim from Aunu’u to Pago Pago to raise awareness of the impact we all have on the oceans, and it is his belief that we can commit ourselves to changing how we feel about the waters around us. He is now working with Iaulualo as they begin to implement the Toa o le Tai (Oceans Heroes) program into the local high schools, while the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) is already on board, according to Iaulualo.

(Photo: Associated Press)

FIJI: Coach voices concern over team's recent RWC performance
Source: Fiji Times

National coach Samu Domoni said the Flying Fijians had reviewed the loss to the Springboks at the weekend and were looking forward to the battle against Manu Samoa on Sunday.

Domoni was concerned Fiji did not make good use of possession they had against South Africa, but said it was something they had discussed during their match review.

Domoni believes the team didn't capitalise on their strong areas and emotions got the better of them. It effectively nullified the effect of our fast wingers.

The sold-out match at Eden Park this weekend is not expected to be an easy one for the Flying Fijians as most of them will, for the first time in their career, play in front of 60,000 fans. It will also be the first time the two Pacific teams will be playing each other in their World Cup history.

Photo Caption: In the spotlight... National captain Deacon Manu (L) and national coach Samu Domoni front the media in New Zealand.

TAHITI: Tahiti Tourisme hosts over 85 trade participants for UK roadshow
Source: eTurboNews
 

The Tahiti Tourisme Roadshow enjoyed a successful week of trade events across Manchester and London last week. The tourist board celebrated a great turnout of agents and tour operators with 11 in Manchester and 75 at the Park Plaza in London where an evening of traditional Tahitian entertainment was enjoyed.

The following seven Tahiti Tourisme partners each gave a presentation offering their knowledge and expertise on Tahiti and her islands:

Air Tahiti Nui
South Pacific Management
Aranui Cruises
Sofitel French Polynesia
Hilton French Polynesia
Tahiti Yacht Charter
InterContinental French Polynesia

Following the roadshow, an online competition was sent out to all attendees. Giving two lucky people a chance to win a place on a Fam trip to Tahiti and her islands. The trip takes place from 6th to 15th October 2011 and will include stays on Tahiti and Bora Bora. Five other lucky runners-up will also win a £100 M&S voucher and the winners will be announced this week.

Tahiti Tourisme UK Sales and Marketing manager, Sam Hancock, said ‘The Tahiti and her islands roadshow was a great success. Over 70 one on one meetings between our roadshow partners and tour operators took place in both Manchester and London and we hosted over 85 agents across both events.’

‘After a difficult two years for arrivals into Tahiti and her islands, visitor numbers to the destination are on the rise and have increased by 27% month on month so far in 2011. Educating the trade is key as it can be a complex sell so it is vital that we continue to organise roadshows such as this one to ensure that the UK market discovers what a fantastic destination Tahiti and her islands is.’
 

(Photos: Pacific Islands Applied GeoScience Commission)

WORLDWIDE: Guam looks to stronger ties with SPC/SOPAC
Source: Pacific Islands Applied GeoScience Commission Press Release

Special Assistant External Affairs, Ms Telo Taitague, said that she looked forward to stronger links between Guam and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community/Applied Geoscience and Technology (SPC/SOPAC) Division.

Ms Taitague, who represented Guam at the 3rd Session of the Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Management, said that communication, education and the need to gather data are the key lessons she would take home from the high-level conference held in Auckland New Zealand in early August.

“It is enlightening that a group like the SPC/SOPAC Division organises Platform meetings with experts from around the world and representatives from 22 Pacific Island nations and territories to discuss the ways to mitigate the impact of natural disasters and climate change adaptation. I have learnt that we need to measure if we wish to mitigate impacts.”

Ms Taitague’s role as advisor to the Governor of Guam includes the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), and the current Administration was newly installed when, “We were alerted to the tsunami that hit Japan in March, so we had our first taste of an emergency situation. Warnings went out, every public safety officer, every police officer was alerted, and people were evacuated from the shoreline, said Ms Taitague.

“Guam has been very blessed, unlike the Solomon Islands, or Samoa, Japan, New Zealand. The stories I have heard of people in the Solomon Islands running out to collect fish when the seawater receded, like kids in the candy store, they got buckets and filled them with fish. And then the tsunami came back and washed many of them away and they died. The message here is about educating the community,” said Ms Taitague.

Ms Taitague is concerned that a lack of reliable and consistent internet connection throughout the region makes it difficult for Governments and Ministries to access data, “and to share resources and information in times of danger.”

She believes that Guam can make a contribution to data gathering and formats to follow when it comes to a tsunami or a typhoon, and looks forward to further developing the relationship between Guam’s EOC and the SPC/SOPAC Division in the future.

“We are brothers and sisters of the Pacific, from Guam, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, everywhere in the region, we are all part of the Pacific Islands,” said Ms Taitague.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - Special Assistant External Affairs, Ms Telo Taitague, at the Platform meeting in Auckland.

Photo 2 - Vulnerable coastal housing in the Solomon Islands.