NEWSROOM 12 June
2009

(Photos: New Zealand Defence Force)

NEW ZEALAND: HMNZS Canterbury hosts Pukapuka Island leaders for a special visit

(Photos: SMOGA Qld)

SAMOA: Samoans in Brisbane celebrate 47th anniversary
Source: SMOGA Qld Press Release

Close to 7000 Samoans gathered at the home grounds of the Queensland Lions Soccer Club; June 8th Queen’s birthday public holiday to celebrate their island nation’s 47th independence.
This is the 7th anniversary of the amalgamated celebration which came about after community leaders across Brisbane met in 2002 at Yungaba. Prior to that each group held their own celebration.

The three major associations Mafutaga a Ekalesia So’ofa’atasi; Aiga Samoa North Brisbane and Samoa Mo A Taeao alternate each year to host the celebration.

The official service was held Sunday 7th at the AOG Church Inala.

Samoa Mo A Taeao Inc hosted this year’s celebration. Judging by the layout a lot of effort and hard work had gone into the set up. The location was ideal. The premises outstanding. The spectators were impressed. SMAT Inc had indeed executed a fantastic job.

The field was surrounded by gazebo after gazebo of delectable faleaigas with variety goods stalls thrown in. People sauntered from stall to stall. Long lost friends and acquaintances met again after years.

The program included devotion; blessings by Aboriginal elder; flag raising; ava ceremony; march past; a song competition and group entertainment.

Speakers included the Multicultural Affairs Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk; Mayor of Ipswich Paul Pisasale; Councillor Angela Owen-Taylor; Tonya Carew Police Sup. Oxley; Manager of the Lions’ Soccer Club and the president of Samoa Mo A Taeao Patea Pesamino Taefu.

The courteous sat dutifully in the sun for several hours while the rest sauntered off to wait in the shade until it was time for the march past.

Entertainers young and old queued up for their spots. The Tongan & Maori community came to share their support and exhibit their art. Elated spectators indulged their senses. Whistles and laughter were the days order egged on by Emcee Terry Fauea.

Albeit enjoyable it was indeed a very long day. Flags were lowered after sundown. The president Patea Taefu thence presented the flags to the president of Aiga Samoa Taulapapa Lemalu Slade the hosts of 2010’s independence celebration.

Rev. Tapenaga Reupena closed the ceremony in prayer.

Many ask why Samoan communities overseas continue with the flag raising ceremony. Others claim the Samoan government does not support it. We ask ourselves why we continue.

The independence celebration holds a cherished place in our hearts and our memories.

Is there another more ‘nationalistic’ purpose for Samoans outside of Samoa to come together and celebrate?

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - Brisbane Samoa Clergy after Sunday Loku AOG Inala.

Photo 2 - Maraea Slade doing taualuga for Aiga Samoa Inc.
 

(Photo: Entertainment Sports Programming Network)

AMERICAN SAMOA: From Samoa to Cincinnati: Peko's long, strange journey
Source: Bleacher Report

Domata Peko was born and raised in American Samoa, a sun-soaked island in the rugby-crazed South Pacific.

As the son of a preacher, Peko—a devout Christian—always envisioned joining the ministry.

In fact, the 6'3", 325-pound linebacker didn't step onto a football field until his senior year of high school.

So the only thing longer than the 7,300-mile journey from Samoa to Cincinnati were the odds of Peko making it to the NFL.

Yet here he is, entering his fourth year in the league, a starter and leader on an ever-improving Bengals defense.

The humble Samoan attributes his success to his family and faith.

"My dad is the pastor, so that's how I was brought up," Peko said. "I have to be thankful to God because that's how I got everything."

It's been a strange journey for Peko, who started his collegiate career at the College of the Canyons, a community college in Southern California.

After two dominating years there—where he was named a Junior College All-American—Michigan State recruited him.

While there Peko, who grew up on an island of 64,000 people, routinely played conference games in front of 100,000 screaming fans.

He admits to initially feeling flustered.

"In Samoa, you never have that many people watching you play," said Peko. "I (got) nervous at first, but after your first hit on the field you feel right back at home."

Even a bigger adjustment than the crowd was the weather. In his hometown of Pago Pago—the capital of American Samoa—three straight days of 75-degree weather is considered a cold front.

That's quite a difference from the snowbelt weather of East Lansing.

Peko called his first winter "freezing" and "unbearable."

"It was the first time I had ever seen snow," he recalled. "I even made a snow angel and a snow man."

His senior season at Michigan State, Peko earned a starting spot on the Spartans' talented defense. After garnering an All-Big Ten Conference Honorable Mention, the Bengals drafted Peko in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft.

Every year since, the hard-working defensive tackle has improved his individual numbers, racking up a career-high 67 tackles in 2008. The Bengals' defense also vastly improved last year, jumping from 27th to 12th overall under first-year coordinator Mike Zimmer.

Peko said with the addition of rookie linebacker Rey Maualuga to the roster—a fellow Samoan—he thinks the Bengals' defense can now match the vaunted defense of Cincinnati's division rivals.

"You look at Baltimore's linebackers, and they've got Ray Lewis. Everyone knows Pittsburgh's linebackers. Cleveland's got their linebackers," Peko said. "Now we've got a big-name 'backer in the middle [Maualuga] to go with Keith Rivers. He's the next Junior Seau. Our defense took a huge step [on draft day]."

Peko even believes the Bengals can compete for a Super Bowl in 2009.

He said he's willing to nurture the team's young defenders like Maualuga to make that happen.

"A lot of young guys come up to me and tell me, 'Man, what year is this for you? Is this like year six? Year five?' And I say, 'No, it's my third year,''' he said. "They're just looking up to me now. It's time to step up as a leader on this defense.

"I'm ready to be a premier defensive tackle in this league...I'm ready to play for our fans. I want to get a ring."

Photo Caption: Cincinnati Bengals linebacker, Domata Peko.
 

FIJI: Youths prepare for Pacific Youth Festival
Source: Fiji Daily Post

Over 240 youths attended a workshop organized to mobilize volunteers for the Pacific Youth Festival [PYF] to be held in Suva in July.

The Department of Youth and Sports organized workshop that was held at the Marist Brothers High School’s Lambert Hall on Saturday.

PYF National Organising Committee member and secretariat coordinator, William Naisara said the turnout was high and the workshop was successful.

An objective of the workshop was to mobilize volunteers. This was achieved based on the high turnout.

An overview of the preparatory works so far and a code of conduct were discussed sat the workshop.

The majority of the volunteers were enlisted from the National Youth Service Scheme database and the Central Eastern Divisional Youth Networks.

Breakout sessions were organized later in the workshop to allow volunteers to be grouped into various sub committees for specific tasks.

The sessions included sports and field visits, public relations and marketing, support services and symposium - the latter having the most volunteers because of the huge logistics involved.

The workshop sessions also allowed volunteers and officials to get to know each other and plan for future training meetings.

The opening ceremony for the festival is scheduled for Saturday 11 July at Suva’s Albert Park.
 

(Photo: Niue Government)

NIUE: Niue premier threatens to seek aid elsewhere if NZ talks fail
Source: ABC Radio Australia

Niue's premier, Toke Talagi is reportedly threatening to turn to countries like China and Japan for help if talks with New Zealand over boosting tourism go nowhere.

Mr Talagi made the comments as discussions with New Zealand foreign affairs officials over an aid package, aimed an increasing the number of hotel rooms, continue.

New Zealand has long been a source of funds to help develop tourism on Niue having helped build the nation's major resort and lengthen the airport's runway so it take large passenger jets.

Chairman of the Niue Tourism Authority Board, Hima Douglas told Pacific Beat Premier Toke Talagi has run out patience with the latest round of negotiations over an aid package worth $US1.2 dollars.

"[Mr Talagi] has been quite frustrated with what he perceives to be the unnecessary impediments to getting this money," he said.

"He would like to see the tourism industry develop a lot more, to its full potential. He was very keen on adding more accommodation units to what we've got currently on the island."

Niue, which has fewer than 2000 inhabitants, has only one major hotel, the Matavi resort, and there is only one Air New Zealand flight to the nation each week.

Mr Douglas says he thinks Mr Talagi would be quite serious about seeking aid from other countries than New Zealand.

"If push comes to shove I think the Premier is quite serious about approaching other people for assistance. Maybe not necessarily the Chinese, maybe other people,"

But he's expressed some concern about the possibility of seeking aid elsewhere.

"The concern is not so much we should be making new friends. The concern is we are making new friends at the expense of old friends, old traditional friends," he said.

Those concerns over the Niue government building a closer relationship with China appear to be shared by 22,000 Niuean living in New Zealand.

New Zealand Niuean Community leader, Granby Siakimotu, says because Niuean are automatically New Zealand citizens, there are concerns such a move would affect their status.

"It will have some implications that will have a long effect as far as even Niuean losing New Zealand citizenship as a right."

New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded in a statement that the issue of tourism allocation is still being worked through, and It is not appropriate to comment while options are being considered.

Photo Caption: Niue premier Toke Talagi is reportedly threatening to turn to countries like China for aid if talks with New Zealand go nowhere.
 

(Photos: 'Sina Tilo)

WORLDWIDE: One year later: Sene Polu story

Source: 'Sina Tilo

Nearly a year after his critical injuries in the war in Iraq, April 2, 2008, Samoan hero, Sergeant First Class Senetenari “Sene” Polu, along with his 75-year old, mother Avalele Asoau-Polu and his family attended Sunday service at the Samoan Community DC Church in Fort Meyer, Virginia, March 30, 2009. The family travelled from Seattle, Washington to present a “fa’aaloaloga fa’afetai” for the Church’s prayers and kindness shown to Sene, his wife Rosie and their children Charley and Chazity throughout his treatment and recovery at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

As the church service came to an end at the Old Post Chapel near the National Arlington Cemetery where Samoans have worshipped since 1983, Associate Pastor Murphy Luatua who led worship gave a special invitation to Sene for brief remarks. In his usual commanding voice and ebullient disposition, he declared loudly, “God is good!” to which the whole congregation replied, “All the time!” He echoed back, “And all the time…” the people responded, “God is good!”
In his native language, the Samoan soldier reminded everyone that it was that week (last week,) that marked the anniversary of his near fatal encounter with enemy fire in the Diyala Province of Iraq. But he quoted the befitting words of the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, that God’s ways and thoughts are higher than our own that a special purpose must remain for him on earth to have been spared his life from certain death.

He then went on to thank Senior Pastor To’alepai Meki and faletua JoAnn, Rev. Dr. Erika Puni and his wife Maxine; associate pastors, officials of the Samoan congregation, deacons and the entire church for their prayers and continued support throughout the entire year that he and Rosie have actually lived in Washington, DC at the military hospital. He believed that not only has the DC church prayed but everyone in the beloved homeland and Samoans all over the world have remembered him in their thoughts and prayers and all the sons and daughters of Samoa, still in harm’s way.

While several members of the congregation openly shed tears of joy, Sene remarked, “Fa’afetai ile Atua ua se’i mai a’u mai le gutu ole tu’ugamau sa manatu a’u ole a oti, ae silisili ‘ese auala ole Alii, ua Ia faia mea tetele ma le ofoofogia.” (I thank God for keeping me from the mouth of the grave, I thought I would die but God’s ways are higher, He has done great things.) Then he called on his mother if she would say a few words, the Church became immediately silent and listened intently as Avalele Asoau-Polu, originally of Faleasao, Manu’a, gave her heartfelt thanks that only a grateful mother would, for the prayers of the Church and all Samoans for her son, Sene. “E muamua lava ona si’i le mua ma le fa’afetai ile Atua ona o Lona alofa ia Sene, ua fa’asaoina mai ai o ia mai puapuaga ma le oti. Ua matou o mai ma si a’u fanau, e aumai le matou fa’afetai ile Ekalesia, Susuga i Faifeau ma le ‘au mautofi ole lotu Samoa, i lou tou agalelei ma le alolofa ia Sene. E vava-mamao le mea tatou te nonofo ai, a’o le alofa fa’aali o Samoa mo o latou tagata ma a latou talosaga aemaise alo ma fanau ile taua, ua outou fa’aaliai i si a’u ta-ma. Fa’afetai tele atu le agalelei, malo le alolofa ia Sene, ia fa’amanuia le Atua ile Ekalesia uma.” (First and foremost are our thanksgiving to God for His loving kindness to Sene, sparking him from suffering and death. My children and I have travelled to bring our thanks and show how grateful we are to the Samoan congregation, the Pastors and leaders, for your kindness and love for Sene. Though we live miles apart from each other, but a Samoan’s regard for their own and their prayers especially for the sons and daughters at war, you have shown to my son. Thank you for your kindness, bless you for your love of Sene, may God bless the Samoan congregation.)

The family spokesperson was Sili Finauga, husband of Sene’s sister Aotuimalae “Ao” who brought with them their teen-age daughters Azalea and Ashley who were on spring break from school. The Samoan failauga spoke eloquently of the generosity of strangers, the true love of Christ that is shown through His people, as Samoans in this part of the world have visited, called and prayed for Sene’s complete recovery. He became a bit emotional and said that the power of prayer has ensured Sene’s remarkable healing and the Polu family have come to show their gratefulness and thanksgiving to the Samoan church. Traditional suata’i’s were presented to Pastor To’alepai; Dr. Puni, the entire Church and Church leadership. A separate monetary gift and “tofa” was presented to Associate Pastor Luatua. A to’ana’i complete with taro and palusami was enjoyed by the Church membership along with a plethora of many other food delicacies reminiscent of island cooked meals.

Church President of the Leadership Team, Dr. Fatilua Fatilua, reciprocated the oratorical remarks of the Polu family failauga. A true Samoan scholar in his own right, Dr. Fatilua’s tali fuaitau atu, exhibited the richness of the Samoan language and the customary expressions of a humbled community, thankful that an entire family would recognize the work that is expected of every Church, every Christian, that is to pray for everyone. E masani lava le tupu i ana teu fa’atupu; e masani foi le tamalii, i aga fa’atamalii. A king is used to his kingly gestures, and royalty always reflects his sovereign ways.

The Polu family and their elderly mother/grandmother were then able to enjoy an entire week of sightseeing the nation’s capital, visiting the Office of Congressman Faleomavaega Eni who treated them to the Congressional Capitol cafeteria, an experience they thoroughly savoured and spent a couple of days in New York City before returning to Seattle on Palm Sunday.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - Photo with Senate President Gaoteote Palaie & House Speaker Talavou, and House Chief of Staff Rev. Dr. Si'ulagi Solomona, Jr. during a most profound and emotional meeting of Samoan leaders with Samoan Hero, Sene Polu. Polu & family were also invited to Governor Togiola's January inauguration as well as US President Obama's in DC. He publicly gave his heartfelt thanks and personal testimony of God's grace, to his people at several media outlets and gatherings of people of faith namely the Voice of Christ Full Gospel Church, first in Pava'ia'i/Malaeloa's New Year's Eve service and then the joint worship on the first Sunday of the new year at the VOC Revival Center in Nu'uuli.

Photo 2 - Sene's farewell at Tafuna International Airport after several weeks of visiting families and loved ones, thanking his beloved people for their prayers and good wishes for his recovery. Sene with Rachel Le'iato, Eugene Kalepo Tilo, Pastor Elder Solomona VOC Victory Chapel & Pastor Elaine Niko of VOC Miracle Temple, Malaeloa.