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(Photos:
Department of Labour) |
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NEW ZEALAND: Innovative community project is
recognised at Safeguard Awards
Source:
Department
of Labour Press Release
A community project that aims to reduce
accident rates among Pacific Island workers
received the judges’ commendation award at
the country’s premier health and safety
awards.
The Puataunofo project in Manukau City was
recognised in the category ‘Best Initiative
to Encourage Engagement in Health and
Safety’ in the Safeguard Awards at
Auckland’s Sky City Convention Centre this
week.
Puataunofo produced a DVD Come Home Safely
which was launched in September 2008 to
raise awareness of health and safety issues
for Pasefika workers, particularly in
high-risk workplaces.
Members of the Puataunofo project team also
visited workplaces and were present at
community events and festivals passing on
the message that health and safety is
everyone’s business.
Puataunofo project partners include the
Department of Labour, the Ministry of
Pacific Island Affairs, Manukau City
Council/Injury Free Counties Manukau,
Pasefika Injury Prevention Aukilana/Pasefika
Community, ACC, the Engineering Printing and
Manufacturing Union, the New Zealand CTU’s
Komiti Pasefika and the Injury Prevention
Network of Aotearoa.
EPMU spokesperson Jerome Mika is delighted
Puataunofo’s success has been recognised.
“The Puataunofo project represents the most
exciting development for health and safety
in a very long time. It speaks to the whole
community, even though it has Pacific Island
workers and their community as its focus.
“The material and activities provided are
engaging and imaginative. The Pacific Island
community has shown real leadership to all
of us. The EPMU - through its Komiti
Pasefika - is privileged to be part of this
project.”
Department of Labour head of Workplace
Health and Safety Craig Armitage says
Puataunofo is a chance for Pacific people to
spread the health and safety message by
telling their own stories.
“Come Home Safely tells the stories of two
men behind the injury statistics. We wanted
people to hear first-hand how devastating
workplace accidents can be —not just for the
people directly involved but for their
families, workmates, friends and
communities.
He says Puataunofo’s success is further
evidence that everyone has a role to play in
making our workplaces safer.
“Everyone has to work together to keep a
workplace safe, because everyone is affected
if one person is hurt.”
Photo Captions:
Photo 1 -
Puataunofo Project Team with Fritz Drissner
from EPMU who put forward the nomination.
Photo 2 -
Naomi Saluni, Christopher Blake, Gillianne
Ray, Hans Key, Hon Kate Wilkinson.
Photo 3 -
Hon Kate Wilkinson and Tanu Toso (PIPA &
Pacific Community Representative).
Photo 4 -
Olivia Muliaumasealii (Come Home Safely DVD
Director), Naomi Saluni (DoL), Sopo Sua-Elia
(IPNANZ).
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(Photo:
Samoa Government) |
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SAMOA: Parliamentary Updates
Source:
Government Press Secretariat Press Release
70th Meeting for the Forum Fisheries Agency
Cabinet has approved the participation by
Samoa’s delegation of the 70th Annual Forum
Fisheries Agency meeting to be held on the 11 -
19 May, 2009.
The meeting aims to discuss:
* The Report on Forum Leaders meeting,
* Aids for the Agency from different Governments
and partnership with Japan,
* Review of Annual Work Program & Budget
2009/2010 and
* Review of Support Staff Remuneration and
Conditions of Employment.
Samoa is a founding member of the Agency.
The Samoa Delegation includes; Tagaloa Sharon
Potoi-Aiafi (ACEO Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and Trade), Mulipola Atonio Mulipola (ACEO
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry)
and Matilda Bartley (Principal Officer, Ministry
of Foreign Affairs and Trade).
Officers and Teachers travels to New Zealand
for a Sports Program
Government Officials from the Ministry of
Education Sports and Culture are currently in
New Zealand for the Samoa Sports Support Project
(SSSP) assisted by the Sports and Recreation New
Zealand (SPARC).
The Project which aims at strengthening Samoa’s
Sports Sector is currently in its 3rd year. The
short term training will provide opportunities
for the Samoan participants to observe
curricular and extra curricular sports and
recreation activities that are available in
schools in New Zealand. The Government officials
will be attending the Inter-School Sports this
coming Saturday.
Five (5) teachers selected from Colleges around
Upolu and Savaii and two (2) officers of the
Ministry from the Sports Division are attending
this Project.
Trade Ministers and Senior Officials of the
Forum to discuss PACER Plus
Cabinet has approved the participation by the
Hon. Deputy Prime Minister, Misa Telefoni and
ACEO of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Trade, Auelua Samuelu Enari of the Trade
Ministers and Senior Officials Meeting to
discuss PACER Plus on the 8 - 15 May to be held
in New Zealand and Vanuatu.
The Trade Ministerial meeting will be held in
New Zealand followed by the Senior officials
meeting in Vanuatu. The first meeting will look
at the establishment of the Office of the Chief
Trade Advisor and PACER Plus Roadmap for Forum
Island Countries (FIC), to assist the FICs
during negotiations with Australia and New
Zealand.
The issues that will be discussed in the Senior
Officials Meeting in Vanuatu on the 13 - 15 May
2009, will be based on the outcome of the
Ministerial Meeting in New Zealand.
Education Policy and Planning Workshop
Cabinet has approved the attendance by Senior
Officer, Victor Tamapua of the Ministry of
Education, Sports and Culture of the Education
Policy and Planning Workshop, to be held in Fiji
from the 11 - 22 May 2009, after attending a
four days Meeting in Thailand.
This capacity development training Workshop on
Policies and Planning, aims to enhance the
knowledge of the participants to improve on the
status of education policy and planning in their
countries. The workshop will also reflect on
current and emerging issues on this same area.
Mr Victor Tamapua is a Senior Official of the
Division responsible for Policies and Planning
in the Ministry.
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(Photo:
Australian Broadcasting Corporation) |
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AUSTRALIA:
Australian government says progress made in
Pacific free trade talks
Source:
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australia's Trade Minister, Simon Crean says
significant progress has been made in
recognising the importance of free trade talks
between Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific
nations.
It comes after informal meetings between trade
ministers took place in New Zealand over the
weekend to discuss the Pacific Agreement on
Closer Economic Relations (PACER).
Mr Crean has told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat
he was happy with the outcome of the meetings.
"I think we made some important progress because
we cleared a lot of misunderstandings. We got
agreement in principle," he said.
"This meeting was important because we needed to
talk to people in a group and we needed to do it
in an informal basis so that there wasn't the
pressure to try and finalise something on the
spot."
Free trade talks between Australia, New Zealand
and Pacific nations are not due to begin until
2013.
Concerns over PACER
Some Pacific Island countries and non-government
organisations have been pushing for a delay to
the start of negotiations to allow Pacific
countries time to consult their people and
prepare their negotiating positions.
Australia and New Zealand are keen to see formal
negotiations begin at the end of this year.
Oxfam New Zealand has also voiced its concerns
about Fiji being left out of the free trade
talks.
Fiji has been left out of the talks following
their suspension from the Pacific Islands Forum.
Mr Crean has acknowledged the country's role in
the Pacific economy.
"Fiji have chosen to effectively exclude
themselves at an official level from these
discussions. What we have to do is to find means
by which Fiji is kept informed."
Photo Caption: Australian Trade Minister
Simon Crean.
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(Photos:
Tauapai Laupola) |
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HAWAII: ASDOE teachers showcase TeenACE research
project at Pac Rim Conference
Source:
Tauapai Laupola
Merwyden Sulua’i of Matafao Elementary School
and Eua Sonoma-Siuloa of Peter Tali Coleman
Elementary School show-case their mini research
project on using TeenACE (Actual Community
Empowerment) to help English Language Learner
(ELL) during the Pacific Rim International
Conference on Disabilities held in Honolulu,
Hawaii May 4-5, 2009. TeenACE is a multimedia
program designed to help ELL students improve
their writing skills.
TeenACE is an outgrowth of the ACE Reading
literacy improvement program, which provides
students supplementary literacy tutoring with
cultural support, emphasizing a feed forward
philosophy that ensures high levels of success
and boosts self-efficacy and enjoyment of
reading. ACE Reading has been developed and
implemented for students with reading
difficulties in high-need communities since
1996.
The ELL-ACE Project is funded by a 5-year U.S.
DOE grant to provide professional development
training to teachers of ELL students in Hawaii,
American Samoa, the Marshall Islands, and
elsewhere. Now in its second year, the Project
offers a 15-week, online, foundational course on
ACE Reading methods via the Hawaii DOE and the
UH-Manoa in fall and spring semesters. Mrs.
Sulua’i’s and Mrs. Sonoma-Siuloa’s research
projects were case studies conducted as part of
their participation in this course.
According to Mrs. Sulua’i and Mrs. Sonoma-Siuloa,
the conference was an eye opener where they
found greater resources and learning experiences
that will help them grow professionally in
identifying alternative programs to improve
their students’ learning in the classroom.
According to these educators, attending Pac Rim
and visiting various ACE centers on Oahu
provided them with a greater understanding of
the program and an appreciation of networking as
they share success stories and contact
information with their counterparts in Hawaii.
Overall, this was a very positive and exciting
project for the students as they increased
literacy skills in all areas, including reading,
writing, speaking, and listening. Mrs. Sulua’i
and Mrs. Sonoma-Siuloa noted that their
students’ writing abilities improved as they
developed positive learning skills, increased
awareness of technology, and a sense of pride
and accomplishment.
Special thanks to the University of Hawaii (UH),
Center on Disability Studies, Creating Futures’
Dr. Peter Dowrick, Director, for his leadership
in the development and implementation of various
ACE programs, and especially to Dr. Weol Soon
Kim-Rupnow, Principal Investigator for the
ELL-ACE Project, who supported and empowered
Mrs. Sulua’i and Mrs. Sonoma-Siuloa to share
their success stories during this year’s
conference.
For more information on Ms. Sulua’i’s and Ms.
Sonoma-Siuloa’s research projects, please
contact them directly at their local schools.
For information on how to sign up for the
ELL-ACE Program, contact Ms. Loryn Gum at [email protected];
and to learn more about the ACE programs, log in
at http://www.creating-futures.org/.
Photo Captions:
Photo 1 -
Eua Sonoma-Siuloa of Coleman elementary
school & Merwyden Suluai of Matafao elementary
school during their presentation on “TeenACE to
help ELL students boost their writing skills in
the classroom” at the Pacific Rim Conference in
Honolulu, Hawaii May 4-5,2009. Special thanks to
UH Center on Disability Studies, Creating
Futures Dr. Peter Dowrick and especially Dr.
Weol Soon Kim-Rupnow, Principal Investigator for
the program who supported these ASDOE teachers
attended the conference. From left to right: Mrs
Eua Sonoma-Siuloa, Mrs Merwyden Suluai & Dr Weol
Kim-Soon Rupnow.
Photo 2 -
Eua Sonoma-Siuloa and Merwyden Suluai during
their site visit at Kalakaua Middle School,
Honolulu, Hawaii. Mrs Sonoma-Siuloa and Mrs
Merwyden Suluai are teachers from ASDOE who were
selected to present their research project on
TeenACE at the Pacific Rim Conference in
Honolulu, Hawaii May 4-5, 2009.
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(Photo: US Navy) |
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TONGA: Tonga's Prime Minister to visit New
Zealand
Source:
Voxy News
Prime Minister John Key says New Zealand's
support for the democratic reform process
underway in Tonga will be underlined during the
visit to this country of Tongan Prime Minister,
Dr Feleti (Fred) Sevele, from 13-19 May.
"Dr Sevele attended school and university in New
Zealand and it is with particular pleasure that
I welcome his visit.
"We are committed to supporting Tonga's reform
process, and I commend the leadership shown by
both Dr Sevele and King George Tupou V."
New Zealand has contributed $1.5 million through
NZAID for the work of the Constitutional and
Electoral Commission and the move towards
democracy.
The Commission will issue an interim report on
possible changes to Tonga's executive and
electoral laws next month, with a final report
due in November.
Prime Minister Sevele will be officially
welcomed at Parliament and will meet with Prime
Minister John Key and Foreign Minister Murray
McCully.
Discussions will also be held on the impact of
the global economic crisis on the Pacific, and
on Fiji's suspension from the Pacific Islands
Forum.
Mr Key says he is also delighted to announce
that well-respected Tongan paediatrician Dr
Toakase Fakakovikaetau has been named New
Zealand's first Prime Minister's Fellow for
Tonga.
The Fellowship, to promote leadership and ties
between the two countries, was established at
the King's Coronation last year.
Photo Caption: Tongan Prime Minister
Feleti Sevele, who is paying an official visit
to New Zealand, May 13-19.
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WORLDWIDE: Small Island States want shipping
services strengthened
Source:
Secretariat
of the Pacific Community Press Release
Small island states (SIS) in the Pacific islands
region want shipping services strengthened to
secure much needed regular services to countries
in the group.
A meeting of Ministers for maritime transport in
SIS will be held tomorrow in Tonga mainly to
deliberate on the progress made by SPC and the
Pacific Islands Forum secretariat (PIFS) in
improving shipping services to SIS aimed at
improving regularity of services and reducing
freight costs.
The SIS group at the meeting will include
Kiribati, Tuvalu, and Nauru, Niue, Marshall
Islands, Cook Islands, Palau and Wallis & Futuna
and French Polynesia.
The meeting will consider the need for various
solutions to improve SIS shipping.
Previous SPC Regional Maritime Programme (RMP)
reports have recommended a purpose-built vessel
donor supplied ship, hub ports and regional
shipping commissions to regulate shipping
services in different sub-regions of the
Pacific.
Shipping services are critically important to
SIS given the high dependency on imports.
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