NEWSPAGE 17 August
2009

(Photo: Manukau Rovers Rugby Football Club)

NEW ZEALAND: Auckland Storm set to defend 2009 NZ Women's Rugby Competition

(Photos: New Zealand Defence Force)

SAMOA: NZ Army assist Samoan national park tree regeneration programme
Source: New Zealand Defence Force Press Release

Members of New Zealand Army planted over 300 native trees yesterday (August 13, 2009) after spending the past ten gruelling days training in tropical conditions in the Samoan forests. The tree plantings are part of the tree regeneration programme undertaken by the Samoa’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE).

The NZ Army soldiers and Officer Cadets have been training in the O Le Pupu Pu'e National Park area and this was their first real opportunity to engage with the local community and give something back to the people of Samoa.

"We heard that the NZ Army was training in our forest and offered them the opportunity to take part in the overall programme which they accepted. We are also trying to get the local communities, villages and schools involved in the programme. The NZ Army have been very supportive of our programme" said Senior Forester for the South Upolu forest, Mr Tuuau Letaulalua.

Approximately 96 NZ Army staff and Officer Cadets arrived in Samoa aboard an Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Boeing 757 on the 31st of July 09 and will be returning to NZ over the weekend.

The Officer Commanding the NZ Army Officer Cadet School (OCS), Major Dale Parker said "We are more than happy to assist the forest regeneration programme in the O Le Pupu Pu'e National Park. We have work in collaboration with local government agencies in order to find a suitable training area for our purposes and they have been more than accommodating to us. It has been a win-win situation for both organisations and we very much appreciate their assistance"

O Le Pupu Pu'e National Park is over 7000 acres of natural forest. Unfortunately there are tree-gaps in the certain areas of the park which need to be planted to stop overgrowth of some of the vegetation.

The Principal Research & Development Officer-Forestry, MNRE, Mr Tolusina Pouli said "The planting of trees in the open areas of the park is very important in terms of stopping the growth of invasive vegetation. Its part of our overall management plan for the National Park and we hope to see it flourish so locals and tourists can enjoy it. We very much appreciate the help of the NZ Army and thank them for their efforts.”

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - NZ Army members with Mr Tuuau Letaulalua (centre) and Mr Tolusina Pouli (right).

Photo 2 - NZ Army soldiers Private Poot & Private Ahuriri planting native trees.
 

(Photo: J. Kneubuhl)

AMERICAN SAMOA: Pacific plants expert assists ASCC with vegetation mapping project
Source: American Samoa Community College Press Release

One of the world’s foremost experts on plants of the South Pacific region, Dr. W. Arthur Whistler, visited the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) Division of Community and Natural Resources (CNR)/Land Grant division recently to help with a project to map the territory’s forest vegetation. Botanist and author Dr. Arthur Whistler, who literally “wrote the book” on classification of vegetation in Samoa, spent two weeks working with CNR to help facilitate its vegetation mapping project by training the staff in identification of trees and other plants, as well as techniques for classification and mapping of forest vegetation types.

Whistler’s association with the islands began years ago when he served as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in independent Samoa teaching at Samoa College. Since then, he has spent over 35 years studying the plants of Samoa and the rest of the South Pacific. His numerous books include Flowers of the Pacific Island Seashore (1992), Polynesian Herbal Medicine (1992), Tongan Herbal Medicine (1992), Wayside Plants of the Islands (1995), Samoan Herbal Medicine (1996), Tropical Ornamentals (2000), Plants in Samoan Culture (2001), The Samoan Rainforest (2002), Rainforest Trees of Samoa (2004), and Plants of the Canoe People (2009).

Dr. Whistler currently serves as an adjunct associate professor at the Lyon Arboretum in Oahu’s Manoa Valley and the Botany Department at the University of Hawaii, and also as a research affiliate of the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. Whistler runs his own publishing and consulting company Isle Botanica. He has come to Samoa and American Samoa many times to help CNR and other governmental and nongovernmental organizations build their botanical expertise.

Dr. Whistler accompanied the Land Grant staff to field sites representing all the different types of forest vegetation. The staff increased their knowledge of plant identification and learned how to distinguish vegetation classes based on the plant species present. On the final day, he gave several presentations providing an overview of Samoan vegetation, threats from invasive plant species, and the plight of rare and endangered plants. With the training by Whistler now complete, the forestry staff will continue their work by using satellite imagery in combination with visual assessments at field sites to create the new forest vegetation map. They expect to complete this project by September, in time to serve as a basis for discussions with community stakeholders to assess the status of the territory’s forests and to develop a strategic plan to ensure that those resources can be conserved and enhanced for the benefit of current and future generations.

The ASCC Land Grant Forestry Program is charged with assisting the community to improve conservation and management of its forest resources. This requires knowledge of the current status of the forest resources and threats to those resources. Accurate information about American Samoa’s forests and the threats to those forests will help the Forestry Program and its community partners to implement programs more efficiently—ensuring that federal funds supporting the territory’s forestry efforts provide maximum benefit to the community. Also, by establishing a baseline of data on forest conditions, this information will provide a way to evaluate the effectiveness of these programs in conserving and enhancing the community’s forest resources.

One of the most important tools for this forest assessment is an accurate and up-to-date vegetation map. Although American Samoa is small, its forests are relatively diverse. Many different types of forest occur within its 77 square miles. These forest types range from the mangroves (togo) on the coast to the montane scrub on the tops of Matafao and Rainmaker. Then there is the “urban forest” or the trees that provide beauty and shade in villages, parks, and other public areas. Each forest type has its own characteristics and faces different threats, and each forest type provides different resources that are valued by the community. For example, mangroves help protect the coastline and serve as a nursery for immature fish and crustaceans, and upland rainforests help protect the soil and underground water supplies.

The different tree and plant species that occur in each forest type provide different products of cultural importance, such as native woods and herbal medicines. The threats that endanger the different forest types also differ: mangroves are threatened by filling for construction and by accumulations of trash; the upland rainforests are threatened by alien invasive species, such as the tamaligi tree, that can out-compete the native trees. Having an accurate map of the different forest types will allow the Forestry Program to assist the community in managing the forest in ways appropriate to the resources, and to mitigate threats that characterize each forest type. Although vegetation maps have been made in the past, the Forestry Program feels it is now important to create a new map in order to take advantage of new technologies in satellite imagery analysis and to incorporate changes in the vegetation.

Anyone wishing further information about the ASCC Land Grant vegetation mapping project or the forest assessment and strategic planning process can contact Aufa’i Apulu Ropeti Areta or Neil Gurr at ASCC Land Grant, 699-1575.

Photo Caption: Pacific plant expert Dr. Arthur Whistler (front, centre), is seen here with CNR/Land Grant Director Tapaau Dr. Daniel Aga (front, left) and staff members of CNR and the National Park Service. Dr. Whistler spent two weeks working with CNR on an important project to map the vegetation of Tutuila.
 

COOK ISLANDS: Outlook on Cooks revised to negative amid projected rise in debt
Source: Standard & Poor’s Press Release

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has announced that is has revised its outlook on the Cook Islands to negative, from stable, but affirmed its 'BB/B' foreign currency and local currency credit ratings on the sovereign. At the same time, the Transfer & Convertibility assessment on the Cook Islands was raised to ‘AAA’, from ‘AA+’.

Sustained fiscal surpluses, debt restructurings and repayments, and the build-up of cash debt-repayment reserves have resulted in a lowering of general government net debt to 3% of GDP at June 30, 2008. The Cook Islands’ net general government debt levels are projected to rise sharply in the next three years to about 28% of GDP - a level not seen since 2004, at which time the Cook Islands was rated lower, at ‘BB-’. Nevertheless, the new debt is mostly concessionary and earmarked to address infrastructure shortcomings that impair investment in tourism and allied sectors, which are needed to diversify the economy and provide employment opportunities for the population.

We believe that the projected increase in debt will be temporary, and this supports the ratings. In part, it reflects the bringing forward of some port, water, and road infrastructure projects to benefit from concessionary terms available from donor agencies. Although the long-term benefit to the economy of the new stadium for the South Pacific Mini Games - funded by the China Development Bank - is not likely to be as strong as for other infrastructure projects, the quantum of the debt is relatively small, at NZ$13.5 million (or 4.2% of GDP).

“The negative outlook reflects higher projected government debt and the possibility of a further relaxation in fiscal discipline at a time when the government’s fiscal profile is vulnerable to further weakening in the tourism sector,” said Standard & Poor’s credit analyst Kyran Curry. “Apart from the loans to fund infrastructure development, we believe the borrowings and use of debt repayment reserves to fund the hosting of the South Pacific Mini Games may illustrate a weakening commitment to fiscal consolidation and in upholding past reforms. While we consider that the currently projected debt levels can be accommodated at the ‘BB’ ratings level, there is a heightened risk that further borrowings or the use of reserves for recurrent expenditure or more “nation-building” projects such as the sports stadium could rapidly lead to a higher debt profile.”

The ratings might be downgraded if the increase in debt proves to be more permanent. Further, the ratings could be reviewed if the current cyclical downturn in the operating position proves to be deeper and/or more permanent than currently expected. For the outlook to return to stable, we will need to be confident that the increase in debt is only temporary. The Cook Islands' small and narrowly-based economy makes any rating increase unlikely in the medium term.

The ratings on the Cook Islands reflect the government’s fiscal profile, with regular operating surpluses; the favourable economic potential of tourism and allied industries; and a supportive relationship and monetary union with the highly rated sovereign of New Zealand. These factors are offset, in part, by a rising debt burden and potential for the past strong advances in government fiscal flexibility to be quickly reversed through undisciplined spending, and the vulnerabilities inherent in a geographically isolated economy. Infrastructure shortcomings also raise the costs and impair investment in the tourism sector, and in other sectors where prospects are already weak.

About Standard & Poor’s

Standard & Poor’s, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:MHP), is the world’s foremost provider of independent credit ratings, indices, risk evaluation, investment research and data. With approximately 10,000 employees, including wholly owned affiliates, located in 23 countries and markets, Standard & Poor’s is an essential part of the world’s financial infrastructure and has played a leading role for nearly 150 years in providing investors with the independent benchmarks they need to feel more confident about their investment and financial decisions. For more information, visit http://www.standardandpoors.com.au
 

FIJI: Overwhelming response to blood appeal
Source: Fiji Times

The high response to an appeal for blood in the North resulted in about 40 donors being turned away because of the lack of bags to store blood.

Blood drive organiser and Bank of Baroda manager Vinod Prasad said the weekend's event was a success considering it was the first for Labasa Town.

Mr Prasad said they didn't expect a big turnout at their first blood drive.

"But after collecting a total of 165 pints of blood, and continued to see the community members walk into the bank throughout Saturday, I knew the event would turn out a success," he said. He said they would organise another drive and ensure no one was turned away.

Blood Bank manager Northern Nitendra Kumar was delighted with the success.

"The response from other business houses has also been overwhelming as workers from Fiji Sugar Corporation, Fiji Forest Industries and sawmills all turned up to donate blood.

"We have also started working with other business houses in organising more blood drives as such and the community in Labasa has been supportive," Mr Kumar said.
 

(Photos: Riamoana Pasifika)

WORLDWIDE: Pan Pacific Oceania makes history
Source: Riamoana Pasifika Press Release

Riamoana witnessed Friday (August 14, 2009) what could go down in Pacific Island Australian history as a start to community harmony. Brisbane's Pacific Island community came together in 2005, created, mandated and incorporated the Pan Pacific Oceania. This organisation umbrellas all other PI organisations and entities. It advocates, lobbies and seeks opportunities for all it's members. "PPO will always strive to open educational pathways and provide a range of services that improve lifestyle, well-being for Pacific people in the Brisbane region, according to the President of Pan Pacific, Samatau'a Sitagata Hanamenn Hunt."

PPO has 5 Regional Offices; North (Deception Bay); South (Logan Central); Goodna (Ipswhich); Brisbane City and Gold Coast. This organisation can boast some great achievements already in the 4 years since it's inception. The successful launch of 'Pasifika Spectacular' 2 years ago in Deception Bay, which has become an annual event, the Publishing of a Free Pasifika Magazine 'Panui Pasifika', to the opening today of the first ever Pan Pacific Oceania Radio Station 16.29AM in Redcliffeon the North-side of Brisbane.

The opening of the Radio Station coincided with the graduation of 7 Pasifika members in the broadcasting / marketing and advertising / administration 17 week course initiated by Pan Pacific Oceania and funded by the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation. The graduates were Rovina Pasese (Samoa), Karen Kavana (Cook Islands), Maranata Nanae (Samoa), Joey Vakanofiti and Joshua Puhotau (Niue), Josephine Stowers (Samoa) and Luka Panapa (Tokelau).These graduates are prepared now to pave the way and contribute to the Pacific Community by broadcasting specific programs in their mother tongue. The station vision will run for 24 hours, 7 days a week from station headquarters in Redcliffe on the North-side of Brisbane.

Joshua Puhotua a graduate said 'the course was very good, I learnt about the technical and marketing of radio." "We will be playing up to date Island music and featuring new up and coming artists from the Pasifika in the near future." Luka Panapa, another graduate from the Tokelau community commented that the Radio station is run by Pacific Island People for Pacific Island People."

The celebration was opened with a short prayer by Pacific Migration Advisor, Semi Meo who also shared that 'life and death is in the power of the tongue, 16.29AM is more than just a radio station, it is a living thing that can move mountains." Uncle Peter Bird an Aborigine Elder welcomed the group to the land of his ancestors, the Undumbi people. " I hope that it is kind to you, we now walk together through all our trials and triumphs." he said.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - Samatau'a Hunt, Semi and Va Meo.

Photo 2 - Graduates of the Pan Pacific Radio Station 16.29AM.

Photo 3 - Fa'asavali Tavita Timaloa.