NEWSPAGE 09 November
2009

(Photos: PITIC (NZ) / Air New Zealand / MPIA / NCC)

NEW ZEALAND: Niue Return to Roots Business Exploratory Mission set to go

(Photo: U.S. Navy)

SAMOA: Australian Navy ship brings new fire truck and more relief supplies
Source: Australian High Commission Press Release

The Royal Australian Navy’s heavy landing ship HMAS Tobruk arrives in Samoa today loaded with a new fire truck, equipment, donated goods and relief aid for those affected by the tsunami.

Australian High Commissioner to Samoa, Matt Anderson said the Tobruk is delivering equipment and donated goods from the Australian Government, community, non-government organisations and several businesses.

“The Australian Government’s assistance to Samoa’s tsunami relief and recovery effort now stands at more than $24 million (A$12 million) and the visit by Tobruk to deliver essential supplies is just another part of Australia’s ongoing assistance to Samoa following the tsunami,” Mr Anderson said.

“The Tobruk is bringing seven large shipping containers with donated goods, food and medical supplies for Samoa Red Cross, 37 pallets of non-perishable food supplies for Caritas, sporting equipment from Basketball Australia and five generators for the EPC.”

“The Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade has also donated a fire truck to Samoa Fire and Emergency Services to replace the one destroyed during the tsunami, along with two pallets of spare tyres.”

Mr Anderson said that in addition to the delivery of supplies and equipment, more than 60 crew members from the Tobruk will spend a day at Lalomanu helping with a clean-up of the beaches and reefs using special heavy lifting equipment from the Tobruk. The reef and beach clean-up is in partnership with local environment groups.

Australia’s assistance to Samoa following the tsunami has topped $24 million (A$12 million). This includes A$2 million for emergency relief and recovery activities immediately following the tsunami, A$5 million for reconstruction announced on 11 October 2009 and the further A$5 million announced last week for additional recovery and reconstruction activities, including:

• A$2.5 million to help re-establish infrastructure and ensure affected communities have access to essential services such as power, water, health and education. Australia will also provide support to help businesses re-establish quickly and improve disaster monitoring and warning systems

• A$1.5 million for recovery and relief operations, including $500,000 to Australian non government organisations

• A$1 million to assist the Government of Samoa’s own reconstruction planning and coordination.

Photo Caption:  HMAS Tobruk.
 

(Photos: J. Kneubuhl)

AMERICAN SAMOA: SSI & TED divisions at ASCC launch educational colouring book
Source: American Samoan Community College Press Release

A collaboration between two divisions at the American Samoan Community College (ASCC) has resulted in a new educational resource that adds a dimension of fun to the learning process. The ASCC Samoan Studies Institute (SSI) and Teacher Education Department (TED) have pooled their resources to create “Samoa Anamua, Volume 1”, a colouring book for youngsters which also tells the story of how the Samoans of olden days once thrived through their mastery of natural resources.

The 19 page book, intended as the first in a series, features illustrations by SSI cultural artist Patrick Mafoe, along with English text by archaeology instructor Dr. David Addison and Samoan text by SSI Director Okenaisa Fauolo-Manila. The images show how Samoans got their food, clothing, shelter and much more from nature’s raw materials. “Our ancestors knew how to live in harmony with their environment,” said Fauolo-Manila, “and they also developed highly advanced skills as farmers, builders, warriors, craftsmen and artists using nothing more than what grew around them. Younger generations may not be able to even imagine the kind of knowledge and abilities traditional Samoans possessed, and we feel that this publication celebrates these characteristics.”

Fauolo-Manila, Addison and Mafoe developed the colouring book as a community outreach and education component of a highly competitive National Preservation Council Technology Training grant awarded to the SSI in March 2009. The TED provided funding for the printing of this first volume, and plans to use “Samoa Anamua” as a resource for its Social Studies practicum. TED instructor Sonny Leomiti has begun developing lesson plans so that the coloring book can fit into a broader curriculum.

“It touches several content areas such as Samoan language, English, geography, history, Samoan culture, and social studies, so our Teacher Education students can use the colouring book when they work with youngsters,” said TED chairperson Dr. Lina Galea’i Scanlan. TED currently has a program in place with Pava'ia'i Elementary School to test the book and lesson plans in the 3rd grade classes next month. Fauolo-Manila added that, depending on the response to this first volume, the SSI hopes to produce further colouring books in the series. “The subjects will change as we go along,” she said, “and we would like to focus on other disciplines like fine arts, language, and science”.

Besides funding the publication of “Samoa Anamua”, the NPCTT project at ASCC takes students to farms for training on archaeological site recording and mapping. Anyone interested in obtaining a copy of “Samoa Anamua” can inquire with the SSI, who have a limited number of copies available for purchase. To reach them, call the ASCC switchboard at 699-9155 and ask for the Samoan Studies Institute.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - ASCC Samoan Studies Institute (SSI) cultural artist Patrick Mafoe contributed illustrations to "Samoa Anamua (Ancient Samoa)" an educational colouring book recently released as a collaboration between the SSI and the Teacher Education Department.

Photo 2 - The colouring book features contributions from SSI cultural artist Patrick Mafoe (front, left) and SSI Director Okenaisa Fauolo-Manila (front, center).

COOK ISLANDS: Resident applicants must now speak Maori
Source: Cook Islands Government Press Release via Pacific Scoop

A condition that to be eligible for permanent residency, applicants must be able to speak conversational Maori has been approved by Cabinet. Submitted by DPM and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Sir Terepai Maoate, the condition states …

A condition that to be eligible for permanent residency, applicants must be able to speak conversational Maori has been approved by Cabinet.

Submitted by DPM and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Sir Terepai Maoate, the condition states for any foreigner to be eligible for permanent residency he/she must be able to speak and understand basic (conversational) Maori.

Sir Terepai said advancing this has been long overdue and the condition falls in line with the recommendations of the 2003 Immigration Advisory Committee (IAC) and the draft National Immigration Policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration.

Included in the Policy is that “exceptional circumstances” can be applied to some PR applications as approved by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration.

“This initiative also supports our aspiration as a nation to preserve Te Reo Kuki Airani and people can demonstrate their commitment to our country and people by learning our language,” said Sir Terepai.

“I am sure our people will support this initiative.”

IAC further recommended that all applicants for permanent residency pass a language test of proficiency in Cook Islands Maori.

IAC stated that “there is merit in making provision for a language test and this is consistent with preserving Cook Islands culture and norms. This is also consistent with the requirement in both New Zealand and Australia for applicants to meet a standard of English language before they can acquire permanent residency or citizenship.”
 

(Photo: Chinese Government)

FIJI: China hands over grant to assist Pacific Island Forum members
Source: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Press Release

The government of the People’s Republic of China today handed over US$850,000 to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat towards several projects for Forum member countries

The Chinese Ambassador to Fiji, H.E. Dr Han Zhiqiang handed over the funds to the Secretary General of the Forum Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade during a brief ceremony at the Secretariat in Suva, Fiji.

“I wish to extend our sincere appreciation to the Peoples Republic of China for their continued support of development initiatives agreed in the Post Forum Dialogue process. The US$850,000 we are receiving today is a realization of commitments made by China in the 2005 and 2009 Post Forum Dialogue consultations,” said Mr Slade.

“The funding will greatly assist the implementation of the Forum Leaders’ decisions to address the issues of air and sea transportation between the island nations of the region, and to develop ICT access. The funding will also strengthen trade relations between China and pacific island countries through financial support to the Pacific Islands Forum Trade Office in Beijing”

Mr Slade added: “The Secretariat will also use some of the funds to support Pacific islands countries to counter the effects of the global economic crisis by implementing a number of decisions taken at the recent Forum Economic Ministers Meeting in the Cook Islands, which had a strong focus on strategies to counter the effects of the global economic crisis.”

Ambassador Han said he was honoured on behalf of Chinese Government to hand over the funding to Pacific Islands Forum, one of the most important regional organizations in the Pacific and one that China attaches great importance to.

“I am also glad to learn nine Pacific Islands’ students were awarded scholarships under the China-Pacific Islands Scholarship Scheme last month. The Scheme together with today’s donation demonstrates the continuation of China’s support to Pacific Islands Forum,” said Ambassador Han.

“What we have done, what we are doing and what we are going to achieve, are to promote the friendly relationship and mutual-beneficial cooperation between China and Pacific Islands Countries, contribute to regional stability and prosperity. It is my belief that Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat will play an increasing important role in regional integration and development, and I look forward to furthering the close working relation with Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat,” Ambassador Han added.

The People’s Republic of China also supports other economic development initiatives including:

• The China-Pacific Islands Forum Regional Scholarships Programme;

• Strengthening Trade and Economic Cooperation between FICs and North Asia; and

• World Expo, 2010 in Shanghai.

Photo Caption: Chinese Ambassador to Fiji, H.E. Dr Han Zhiqiang.
 

WORLDWIDE: Preparations underway for Pacific conference on global economic crisis
Source: United Nations Development Programme Press Release

Preparations are underway in the Pacific for a major meeting to map ways to protect the region’s vulnerable from the impacts of the Global Economic and Financial Crisis.

Announcing the conference at the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting in Cook Islands last week, Hon. Sela Molisa, Vanuatu’s Minister for Finance and Economic Management said the conference was timely as it allowed Pacific Island Countries to fully prepare to face the current crisis and build resilience for future crises.

The Pacific has not yet experienced the full brunt of the crisis but indications are that women, children, youth, and families would be among the most affected.

“As part of its response to the Global Economic Crisis, the Government of Vanuatu will host a high level Pacific Conference on The Human Face of the Global Economic Crisis in the Pacific to be held in Port Vila, from February 10-12th next year. The ADB, PIFS, SPC and USP have joined our Government and the United Nations in organizing this important meeting,” said Hon. Molisa.

Over 200 people, from 16 countries, including government ministers, parliamentarians, civil society organizations, youth, women, United Nations (UN) agencies and development partners are expected to attend.

“The Conference will consider how the current crisis affects the people of our countries, not only economically, but more importantly, socially, at community, national and regional levels. In addition, it will bring challenges faced by similar developing countries to our attention, to inform how we might frame and contextualize a wide range of policy choices in labour, education, health, social protection and legislature.”

“The Conference will then consider how these policy choices can be incorporated into our existing national development strategies, to mitigate the crisis through sustainable recovery action plans. Such discussion could lead to strengthening of our national capacities to respond to crises, including through social protection as well as other measures.”

Promoting sustainable development and “green growth” and working together to meet the Millennium Development Goals despite the challenges posed by the Global Economic Crisis will also feature prominently at this conference. While mapping ways to counter the current Global Economic Crisis, the conference will also examine ways to build the resilience of the region to future crises.