NEWSROOM 22 June
2009

(Photos: Tamaki Makaurau Marae Directory / Department of Labour)

NEW ZEALAND: Hoani Waititi Marae project wins IPANZ award

(Photo: Samoa Rugby Union)

SAMOA: Samoans brace for feisty Tongans
Source: Fiji Times

Samoa expects a very tough game when they face the Ikale Tahi from Tonga in their second outing in the Pacific Nations Cup.

Manu Samoa manager Mathew Vaea said they knew Tonga would be coming out strong, especially as they "will want to start their PNC campaign in Fiji on a winning note".

Vaea said they were looking forward to the game against Tonga on Tuesday.

He said they wanted to continue from where they left off in the game against Japan.

"We haven't seen the video of the match between Fiji and Tonga last week but from what we've heard the Tongans were strong in the scrums and set pieces," Vaea said.

"As fellow Pacific Islanders we know what to expect when we play each other." Vaea said after the win over Japan they had continued to work on their game-plan for the match against Tonga.

"The boys have been enjoying their training, especially as they know the game against Tonga will not be easy," Vaea said.

"Today (June 20, 2009) we had one training session in the morning and we will have our Vaea said head coach Faimaono Tafua and his assistant Selefuti Patu would name their line-up to play Tonga after the last training run yesterday.

"We want to select a very strong team to play Tonga because we know they will be coming out looking for a win," Vaea said.

"But we have our goal already set that is to win all our remaining games in the PNC and finish the tournament on a high note."

Manu Samoa is second on the PNC points table with six points from one win and one loss.

Samoa lost their first game to the Junior All Blacks 17-16 in Apia last weekend but bounced back to score a bonus point 34-15 win over Japan in their game at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka.

Photo Caption: Manu Samoa 2009 team and management.
 

(Photo: J. Kneubuhl)

AMERICAN SAMOA: New Vice Presidents for American Samoa Community College
Source: American Samoa Community College Press Release

As a move towards improved efficiency while maintaining the proper focus on its priorities, the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) has reorganized the administrative post of Vice President into two new positions. Veteran ASCC administrator and instructor Dr. Kathleen Kolhoff-Belle now serves as Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs, while Mikaele Etuale, another long serving member of the administration and faculty member, has been appointed Vice President of Administration and Finance.

“The academic and administrative divisions work in very different ways, even though they work towards the same mission and vision at the College” said President Dr. Seth Galea’i. “The Board of Higher Education and I agreed that the time has come to divide these responsibilities between two individuals, rather than having one Vice President attending to both.” Dr. Galea’i explained that many of today’s institutions of higher learning have followed a similar approach to dividing the responsibilities of Vice President. “In fact,” he said, “I know of many colleges that have several Vice Presidents who focus on various aspects of the institution. ASCC has yet to reach that level of need, but for now we feel that having two Vice Presidents will improve our administrative organization by having separate leadership in the respective areas of academics and administration.”

Having served ASCC for the past 22 years, Vice President of Student and Academic Affairs Dr. Kolhoff-Belle earned her PhD from Union Graduate School in Ohio. Looking back on her long career in academics, she recalls, “I've worked in higher education for 35 years as a teacher and administrator. I was Academic Vice President of a small college in Oklahoma before coming to American Samoa in 1987. At ASCC, I've worked in a number of different roles, usually involving grants and accreditation, and this has helped me develop a broad view of college activities, operations and priorities. Along with my administrative duties, I've continued to teach at least one class a semester.”

During his 26 years in the field of education, Vice President of Administration and Finance Mikaele Etuale’s experience has involved instruction and curriculum development ranging from the elementary to the high school and college levels. He earned his M.A. Ed from University of San Francisco, and got his first teaching experience working at Lupelele Elementary School from 1983 to 1985, followed by a stint at Leone High School from 1985 to 1992. For the rest of the ‘90s, Etuale worked with the American Samoa Diocese of Catholic Education, a job which saw him serve as Principal of Marist/Faasao as well as Assistant Superintendent. He joined the ASCC faculty in 2000, initially bringing his teaching expertise to the Social Science Department before taking the position of Assistant to the Dean of Academic Affairs in 2003.

Having worked as colleagues for many years, both Kolhoff-Belle and Etuale expressed optimism that their new positions as dual Vice Presidents will enable them to help the College maintain its steady rate of positive growth. “Mikaele and I have a close professional relationship,” said Kolhoff-Belle. “We will meet regularly, have adjacent offices, and look forward to many areas of collaboration. I think this is a logical division of responsibilities that allows each of us to focus on priorities while keeping lines of responsibility and lines of communication open and transparent.”

Photo Caption: ASCC President Dr. Seth Galea'i (center) congratulates Dr. Kathleen Kolhoff-Belle (left), now the Colleges's Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs, and Mikaele Etuale, recently appointed as Vice President of Administration and Finance.
 

(Photos: New Zealand Defence Force)

COOK ISLANDS: NZ Defence Force complete humanitarian mission on Pukapuka
Source: New Zealand Defence Force Press Release

Amphibious Support Ship HMNZS CANTERBURY has now departed the island of Pukapuka, 1150 nm north of Rarotonga, after successfully completing a humanitarian mission called Exercise TROPIC TWILIGHT. The joint mission involving personnel from the Royal New Zealand Navy, New Zealand Army and Royal New Zealand Air Force, Exercise TROPIC TWILIGHT is supporting the NZAID led humanitarian mission delivering health and engineering services to the islands residents.

Commanding Officer of HMNZS CANTERBURY, Commander Jim Gilmour, says, “All the exercise objectives have been met including; reconstruction of roofs, repair of water tanks, installation of large water tanks, construction of utility shed and toilets at the airfield, dental check ups for all the children and all health and environmental surveys”.

A farewell ceremony was conducted on the island of Pukapuka on Sunday afternoon (local time) with speeches, gifts, dances and songs with the New Zealand Defence Force contingent treated to an amazing feast called a kaikai.

“It was an emotional farewell with some of the islanders and New Zealand Defence Force personnel brought to tears as an amazing experience was coming to an end.

We have completed a demanding and very satisfying 12 day mission where lifelong friendships were formed within the amazing community of Pukapuka Island”, said Commander Gilmour.

The contingent was successfully withdrawn from Pukapuka Island on Monday (local time) using both embarked Seasprite Helicopters. The helicopters have been working for the last three days extracting many under slung loads of equipment and ferrying personnel back to HMNZS CANTERBURY.

HMNZS CANTERBURY has made her way to Apia to land the Embarked Force who will be transported back to New Zealand via RNZAF 40 Squadron Boeing 757.

HMNZS CANTERBURY is due back home in the Devonport Naval Base tomorrow (June 23, 2009).

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - NZDF personnel at the farewell kaikai (feast).

Photo 2 - The entire contingent reunited once again onboard HMNZS CANTERBURY.

(Photo: Office of the Attorney General of Fiji)

FIJI: Fijian official says Pacific trade talks "meaningless without Fiji"
Source: China View

Any trade negotiations between Pacific Forum Island countries and Australia and New Zealand would be meaningless without Fiji, said a Fiji official.

Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum made the comment following Fiji's exclusion from recent regional trade talks in Samoa, the Fijilive website reported on Sunday.

Fiji's exclusion came following its suspension as a member of the Pacific Islands Forum in April.

"Any regional arrangement under PACER (Pacific Closer Economic Relations) Plus without the participation of Fiji would lack creditability due to economic and regional realties and would run counter to the 'Pacific Way' and an 'inclusive approach' championed by the Pacific Islands Forum," he said.

Such arrangements, he said, would also lack legal validity under PACER obligations.

"If Australia and New Zealand are sincere about their commitments to the shared prosperity of the region, a 'new approach ' based on mutual respect and genuine cooperation is required, to replace the current self-interest driven policies, starting with PACER-Plus," he added.

He added that in the absence of Fiji in the regional trade talks, "the governments of Australia and New Zealand will continue to use their dominant economic and political position and influence in the region to fast-track the commencement and the conclusion of PACER-Plus negotiations, while overlooking the long term development interests of the small island economies.

Photo Caption: Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
 

(Photos: Spirit of Play Productions / Malam Pop)

TOKELAU: Te Vaka to perform in Netherlands at Malam Pop Festival

Source: Te Vaka Press Release

Dear Friends,

It is cold here in Australia but we are getting ready for a European summer with a trip to the Netherlands for a concert at the 013 Popcentre in Tilburg. Due to unforeseen circumstances this will be the ONLY Te Vaka concert in Europe this year and we are hoping that all our friends and fans in this part of the world will find some way to make it to the show. The good thing about the tour being shorter than expected is that the 6th Album will be released sooner. We are literally dragging Opetaia out of the studio for this trip and as soon as he recovers from the jetlag he will be straight back in to it. We are all very excited about the new album and want to get him back into the studio as soon as possible.

The performance in the Netherlands is a special one for Te Vaka. As most of you probably know we like to support, encourage and share indigenous music and culture. Malam Pop, the promoter for this concert, has a goal to promote Indonesian/Mollucan artists by giving them the opportunity to perform live. During this festival there will be music and dance groups from the North- and South Molluccas and others. A very exciting afternoon of entertainment ending in a 90mins plus evening concert by Te Vaka. 013 is a great venue with plenty of room to dance and good sound and lighting - it will be an awesome night.

Make sure you get your tickets for the concert in Tilburg before they sell out!
http://www.ticketmaster.nl/html/artist.htmI?l=NL&artist=MALAM+POP+FESTIVAL