Posted on December 10, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Originally posted 18th September 2008
By Vienna Richards
As a child growing up in Samoa, I was told that the graves of my father’s parents, my grandparents, had to be dug up several years after they died because the salt water, the sea we loved, was getting closer to the fales. It happened long before I was born.
Even so, each time my mother told me the story and the circumstances, I didn’t get it as a child. I never told her though. Instead, this child’s mind thought: how could anyone in their right mind dig up their parents graves and disturb their resting place? Reality is, they had no choice. Now, as a fully fledged adult, I understand. I know now what Mother was trying to tell me as a child. She was talking about the effects of rising sea levels encroaching little by little on the village of Matatufu.
Back then, I didn’t quite get it, when Mother was reciting those experiences in the village. Because the ocean and the sea were our playground in Samoa. Those were my fondest childhood memories: swimming in the lagoon, going diving with Grandma, her mother, and the Peace Corp toilets out at sea that I continued to dream about, long after we left Samoa. On bristly days, the sea would throw up itself through the toilet hole we sat on. Very funny.
So Mother’s recollection of the sea getting close, and our family moving away from the sea confused me as a child. Because in my child’s mind, I thought the sea would obey our will and simply stop encroaching further onto crops and living areas. Yeah right. The villagers could no more control the sea patterns than I could control which way the wind would blow.
Fast forward to the present, and at some stage, I found out there was a term called climate change. It roughly meant the same things my Mother spoke to me about. Climate change wasn’t a term coined in my ancestors’ time. But they certainly recognised what was going on with the sea and the seasons. They saw the sea levels rising and rising over the years…and they took action.
Last year, I visited my grandparents’ relocated grave in Matatufu. It was my first time back home to Samoa in 38 years. Their graves, once buried on the beach where the village originally stood before rising sea levels forced Matatufu further inland, are now covered in concrete slab.
I came across this email recently that one of my older siblings sent to young Pacific people in a bid to motivate them take action on climate change. In it, he told them of our family village, my father’s Matatufu, along the South Coast of Upolu, the most beautiful stretch of paradise on earth.
Some fifty years ago the villagers of Matatufu, Upolu, in Samoa began the process of moving their simple thatched roof homes inland away from the seashore. With each incoming tide, the seawaters moved closer and closer to the village area on the beach.
After their homes were moved they exhumed their dead until eventually everyone had left the village site. The only thing that the villagers could not move was a small Church which they built with stones held together by cement.
Today in 2007, there is no trace of a village ever being established in that particular spot. The incoming tide regularly covers that whole area in deep water. There are fragments of black rocks which protrude from the sand and is the only evidence that can be seen as a small reminder that a church building once stood there surrounded by thriving village homes.
The rising sea water level is real for Matatufu village as it is for the entire Pacific region. The sad thing is the Matatufu villagers had very little to do with the cause of rising sea water levels or the phenomenal climate changes we are currently experiencing.
I hope you can pass on the email message below to all your youth, or better still assign a youth representative to lead any effort in becoming involved with the issue of climate change. The environment is an issue that will impact on future generations as much as present generations.
Climate change threatens the existence of homeland, however tiny, in the Pacific Islands…the birthplace of many of us now living in New Zealand…from the Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Fiji, PNG. I hope we care enough to take an interest in what’s happening environmentally to the islands.
If we, in the Pacific, don’t speak up loud about the effects of climate change in the Pacific, and the need to prioritise plans in the Pacific, who will?
You tell me.
Postscript: A year after this was written, on Tuesday 29th September 2009, a 8.3 magnitude earthquake shook the islands of Samoa. It triggered a destructive tsunami along the South Coast of Upolu slamming itself against more than 20 villages including my father’s village of Matatufu. The official death count for Samoa (Niuatoputapu and American Samoa were also hit and lost more than 40 lives) was estimated at over 140 with Samoa Government acknowledging that many families have buried their dead in the outback villages without reporting the deaths to police.
Eyewitness accounts report that the tsunami travelled as far as a kilometre and a half inland so despite the village of Matatufu having moved inland, they were still hit by the tsunami. Crops and fales were damaged or destroyed. But they were fortunate to escape with their lives with the villagers running to the mountains in time, thanks to heeding the tsunami warning in time.
Human Induced or Natural Cycle?
Finally, do I believe that the accelerated global warming we’re experiencing now is part of earth’s natural cycle or human-induced? I don’t know. I’m not an expert on the science of rising sea levels. I haven’t studied in depth, at this point, the data, and other mitigating factors, affecting Planet Earth. But from what I have read, so far, it’s clear that the planet goes through a natural cycle and sequence of events over hundreds of years. Over the past 100 years or more, report state that this apparent natural cycle is accelerating at a faster rate than ever before, bringing us dangerously close to more human suffering. It’s not about saving the planet from where I stand. It’s about saving human lives and reducing the human suffering as a consequence of climate change.
How much of this is human-induced is clearly wide open to debate. But I do know that Pacific island nations are already in the grips of suffering the adverse effects of climate change as the planet gets warmer. I also know environmental pollution, a human-induced factor, has an detrimental impact on land, sea, and all life forms as it travels through the air. Is that influencing climate change? You be the judge.


Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Community, Current, Environment, Honour & Tribute, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region, education | Tagged: blue, change, Climate, climate change, coastline, color image, day, effects of climate change, graves were dug up, horizontal, No People, Non-Urban Scene, outdoors, Pacific islands, palm tree, photography, plant, relocated further inland, rising sea levels, samoa, sand, scenics, sea, single object, South Pacific Ocean, Tropical Climate, Western Samoa | Leave a Comment »
Posted on December 10, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
This story is written by a young Samoan woman who survived Samoa’s tsunami. Because of its length, it will be posted as a three part series. When we first heard of this young woman’s experience, we contacted her to see if she would be willing to share her story with our readers, in her own words. Her name is Steph. Here’s an excerpt from what she wrote to us in which she stresses the need to hear other people’s stories:
{tweetmeme]Other stories are more miraculous than mine but I’m thankful I have somewhere to voice what happened where others cannot, and believe me, there are other stories from that disaster that I hopefully will be told to the world. God bless. Steph
In honour of all the dead, the victims, and survivors of Samoa and Tonga’s Tsunami.
Fa’a fetai tele lava Steph.
By Steph Fa’amatala
This story is dedicated to Kenape the boy who held onto me.
My mother, my son and myself all travelled to Western Samoa on the 19th September 2009. We were heading to a village in Saanapu Tai on Upolu Island, where most of my mother’s family lived.
On the Tuesday 29th September 2009, between 6:30 to 7:30 in the morning, the earthquake struck. As the earth continued to tremble, my mother, my aunties, and all the elderly ladies were trying to get us kids out of bed, and out of the house, using those held samoan- made brooms, known as salu lima.
Photo frames were falling off the walls, flower necklaces, pictures, stereo and TV, all falling off. The computer fell off its table. Our suitcases fell off the tables it was on. Chairs were falling over backwards.
Us elder kids grabbed the little ones and tried to run out of the house. It was difficult as the ground was shaking so bad that you could not even walk straight. Everything was smashing all around us. The little ones were crying. The elders were screaming from outside to get out. The older boys were carrying the elderly up behind the houses and huts towards the hills and mountains. The little kids who were all dressed for school, were running up the hill, laughing, happy thinking, this is a game.
I grabbed my mother’s bag, and our passports, that were in our suitcases. I looked around and everyone was just standing around talking about what just happened. My mother and her sisters, were just telling us to run for the hills and to get away from the houses.
We started moving towards the hills but the majority of the villagers were still standing around wondering what happened … ( as Samoans sometimes do,) when the minister drove past in his car in a hurry and screamed that a tsunami was coming.
Everyone was for their own self after that. We were running but it was hard to run up the hill. I was wearing se’evae kosokoso (sandals), and the grass was high, the bushes were thick, the trees and shrubs were sharp but the loud explosion was what kept us going. It was an explosion like a bomb had been set off. Then there was a noise like a rushing sound only louder. Little did we know, as we were rushing up that hill, that the sound was the waves coming towards us.
Someone pushes me upwards and forwards. I’m pushing a neighbour’s child up the hill and pulling my cousin with me. I look far up ahead and see my mother crying and looking out towards the ocean behind me. I hear children screaming. The older boys are yelling:
Faakope le kamo’e la ua sau le galu! (“Run faster the wave is coming!”), kamomo’e! (“Run”).
I turn quickly only to see the house that we slept in half an hour before look so tiny against the big waves. It was a sight that i’ll never forget for the rest of my life. I look towards the bottom of the hill. There are still people coming…I knew that they might not make it.
I prayed and I cried. I knew what was coming and that some of us might not make it. I was shocked.
I see a man hold a woman to a tree and then throws himself around her and pushes her into the tree. I see men holding onto each other and holding onto fences that were the entrance to the hill. I knew I had to run but I couldn’t stop watching.
Someone slaps me on the head and screams, Aikae Kamoe! (S***t, run!”). It was my older cousin. He had already taken the kids off me and had ran straight pass me. I don’t remember much after that, but I knew that I had just keep going.
Coming up tomorrow: Part 2 Kenape: Suga, aumai lou lima kago e fusi mau a’u ae o lea o le a ou kaupe i le laau...Girl, give me your hand, try and hold me tight, and I will hold onto a tree.
Filed under: NZPacific | Tagged: adult, aleipata., Apia, beach, Bestof, capital, Community, debris, destruction, earthquake, Emergencies And Disasters, following, horizontal, kenape, men, natural, natural disaster, pacific news, People, road, saanapu tai, salu lima, samoa, scale, shore, steph, steph faamalata, strength, time, topics, Topix, Upolu, Village, Walking, weather | Leave a Comment »
Posted on December 9, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
This is the only bulletin from Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre on this. No tsunami. Notice of earthquake. Loyalty Islands is part of French Polynesia.
TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER 001
PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER/NOAA/NWS
ISSUED AT 0956Z 09 DEC 2009
THIS BULLETIN APPLIES TO AREAS WITHIN AND BORDERING THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND ADJACENT SEAS…EXCEPT ALASKA…BRITISH COLUMBIA… WASHINGTON…OREGON AND CALIFORNIA.
… TSUNAMI INFORMATION BULLETIN …
THIS BULLETIN IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY.
AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS
ORIGIN TIME – 0946Z 09 DEC 2009
COORDINATES – 22.2 SOUTH 170.9 EAST
DEPTH – 38 KM
LOCATION – SOUTHEAST OF LOYALTY ISLANDS
MAGNITUDE – 6.5
EVALUATION
NO DESTRUCTIVE WIDESPREAD TSUNAMI THREAT EXISTS BASED ON
HISTORICAL EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI DATA. Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, Current, Earthquake Tsunami Samoa/AmSampa 09, Environment, NZPacific, South Pacific Region | Tagged: earthquake, french, islands, loyalty, pacific, polynesia | 1 Comment »
Posted on December 9, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Dominion Post (NZ newspaper)
Leaky homes add $26m to health costs
By JOHN HARTEVELT Last updated 05:00 09/12/2009
Tens of thousands of families are breathing in the dangerous consequences of their leaky home, a major new study says.
A book launched in Wellington last night has for the first time put a “conservative estimate” of $26 million each year on the health cost of New Zealand’s leaky home debacle.
The book’s co-editor, Professor Philippa Howden-Chapman of Otago University, yesterday put responsibility for stopping the rot squarely at the feet of the National-led Government.
“They were in power when they deregulated [the building industry] and now they’ve got to work out what to do about it,” Professor Howden-Chapman said last night.
Editor’s Note: this is a story that we haven’t covered or followed religiously for a number of reasons. Partly because this affected us ongoingly and it was a rolling maul of stress that we had to learn to live with, while trying to get on with the rest of the details of life. But in a nutshell, it’s been a living nightmare for the past 13 months. So we can personally vouch for the experiences that others share about living in a leaky home. Health challenges galore and neverending stress being a constant. Fingers crossed, the nightmare ends this month. Because the effects on each family member’s health physically, mentally and emotionally has taken a toll that is incalculable and criminal. That doesn’t count the cost of lost livelihood as a result of this nightmare. Because of our personal experiences living through the year long nightmare, we strongly believe builders and council inspectors who knowingly approved homes that did not comply with building best practice should face criminal charges. Their so-called professional conduct was criminal and negligent.
So to read this study, and discover that the very Government we have in power right now (National Govt)were responsible for deregulating the building industry which, the author says set the scene for what we now call the leaky syndrome, that makes one very cynical about Government’s present efforts to be the Saviour on the hill for those living in leaky homes right now.
The three main parties in this nightmare: National Government, District and city councils who approved substandard building work that breached best building practices and codes, and professional builders/companies/bodies who knowingly built leaky homes.
You would think that it would be easy to sort out by now. Rather it seems like a case of business interests and bureaucrats and the Government dragging this process out indefinitely. In the end, people and entire suburban streets, like ours, paid the ultimate price: peace of mind, good health and quality of living at home, completely compromised …actually just obliterated during this period. All for what? The bottom line: the Almighty dollar. Hope those builders, and building inspectors, can sleep at night.
How we managed to get through this past year, and still carry on with life and its details, is more a testament to our strength as a family, our faith, and the kind of friends and the love and “heart” support we have around us, more than anything else.

Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, NZPacific | Tagged: auckland city council, builders, building, council building inspectors, cynical, leaky homes, national government | Leave a Comment »
Posted on December 9, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
U.S. President Barack Obama (3rd R) and First Lady Michelle Obama (4th R) sing the Star Spangled Banner with the 2009 Kennedy Center Honorees in the president’s box at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington prior to the taping of the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors tribute program, on December 6, 2009. With the President are (L-R) Dave Brubeck, Robert DeNiro, Grace Bumbry, Mel Brooks, and Bruce Springsteen. At right are Vice President Joe Biden and granddaughter Ashley Biden. UPI/Martin H. Simon/Pool Photo via Newscom.
President Barack Obama hosts the 2009 Kennedy Center Honorees at an East Room reception in the White House in Washington. On stage are (L to R) honorees Mel Brooks, Dave Brubeck, Grace Bumbry, Robert DeNiro, and Bruce Springsteen. UPI/Martin H. Simon/Pool Photo via Newscom
President Barack Obama (R) meets with Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) in the Oval Office of the White House December 7, 2009 in Washington, DC. The two leaders were expected to discuss policy on the Middle East, the current situation in Iran, and the troop levels in the war in Afghanistan. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Read more »
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Politics, US & Foreign Affairs, US Presidential Elections 2008 | Tagged: (3rd, (4th, (LR), (R, 2009, 6, arts, Ashley, at, attends, banner, barack, barack obama, Biden, box, brooks, Brubeck, Bruce, Bruce Springsteen, Bumbry, capital cities, center, Dave, Dave Brubeck, December, DeNiro, Diplomacy, f, first, grace, granddaughter, h, honorees, honors, horizontal, International Landmark, Joe, John, kennedy, lady, meeting, Mel, Mel Brooks, Michelle, Newscom, obama, Oval Office, performing, photo, Politics, president, president's, Prime Minister, prior, program, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, Robert, Simon/POOL, sing, Spangled, Springsteen, star, taping, tribute, UPI/Martin, us, usa, vice, Waist Up, washington, washington dc, White House, with | Leave a Comment »
Posted on December 9, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK – DECEMBER 07: A participant stands in front of the UN Climate Wall during the first day of United Nations Climate Change Conference on December 7, 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Politicians and environmentalists meet for the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009 that runs until December 18. Photos by Miguel Villagran/Getty Images.
To watch Opening Ceremony, click here
An illuminated globe with the writing ‘Hopenhagen’ stands in the city center next to the parliament on December 6, 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Member of an environmentalist group pretend to be dead during a protest demanding a real climate deal during the first day of United Nations Climate Change Conference at the Belle centre.
Members of the delegation of Bhutan chat with each other prior to the opening ceremony
Ritt Bjerregrad, major of Copenhagen, addresses the audience during the opening ceremony.
A member of the Chinese delegation takes a picture of himself prior to the opening ceremony.
Members of the environmentalist group TckTckTck protest during the first day.
UN Climate Chief Yvo de Boer holds a candle in his hand that he got handed over from the environmentalist group TckTckTck during the first day.
Participants from all over the world attend the opening ceremony.
(L-R) Lars Lokke Rasmussen , Prime Minister of Denmark, Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and UN Climate Chief Yvo de Boer attend the opening ceremony
Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Prime Minister of Denmark, drinks water during the opening ceremony
(L-R) UN Climate Chief Yvo de Boer, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Prime Minister of Denmark, and Ritt Bjerregrad, major of Copenhagen, attend the opening ceremony.

Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Environment, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region, US & Foreign Affairs, education, health | Tagged: agreement, attending, audience, Bestof, bhutan, capital cities, center, Chairperson, chinese, city, climate change, conference, copenhagen, day, dead, demanding, denmark, environmental damage, environmental issues, full length, government, group, Group of People, horizontal, illuminated, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Major, natural resources, Opening Ceremony, Organized Group, Parliament Building, Participant, participants, People, picture, playful, Prime Minister, protest, speech, stand, taking, talking, topics, Topix, UN climate change, united nations, Waist Up, world, writing | Leave a Comment »
Posted on December 8, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
HONIARA, SOLOMAN ISLANDS: Burned out buildings in Chinatown are shown following rioting and looting April 20, 2006 in the Solomon Islands Capital of Honiara. Rioters angered by the election of the unpopular Snyder Rini as prime minister attacked police and plundered parts of Chinatown in response. One hundred and eighty Australian soldiers and police arrived in the capital to quell the protests. (Photo by Ross Land/Getty Images)
Amnesty International Aotearoa NZ
Media Release
Solomon Islands: Time to end safe haven for crimes under international law
Amnesty International has today launched Solomon Islands: End Impunity Through Universal Jurisdiction, the first paper of the No Safe Haven Series covering a country in the Pacific and the first to analyse a common law legal system.
The paper evaluates whether Solomon Islands has met its obligations as a member of the international community to define crimes under international law as crimes under national law and to provide effective universal criminal and civil jurisdiction over those crimes. The paper also examines whether Solomon Islands is able to cooperate – subject to human rights safeguards – with other states in the extradition of those suspected of such crimes and in the exchange of information to assist other states which are investigating or prosecuting them.
Solomon Islands’ courts can exercise universal criminal jurisdiction over grave breaches of the 1949 Geneva Conventions. However, Solomon Islands has failed to define the most heinous crimes, such as crimes against humanity, war crimes (other than grave breaches), torture, extrajudicial executions or enforced disappearances as crimes under national law. Amnesty International is deeply concerned that Solomon Islands is, therefore, currently a safe haven from prosecution in its courts for foreigners who are responsible for these crimes (committed abroad against other foreigners).
A second series of concerns pertains to extradition. Amnesty International regrets that the Solomon Islands is also a safe haven from extradition to any country for foreigners who are responsible for genocide, war crimes, torture, extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances committed abroad, as none of these crimes are listed as extradition crimes. In addition, such persons cannot be arrested and surrendered to the International Criminal Court or any other international criminal court.
Furthermore, no legislation authorises Solomon Islands to exercise universal civil jurisdiction, which means that it is unable to fulfil its obligations to provide full reparation for victims of crimes under international law.
Amnesty International is submitting this report to the Solomon Islands Law Reform Commission, urging it to take into account its detailed recommendations for law reform so that the country can fulfil its obligations under international law and rightly be at the frontline in the fight against impunity for the worst imaginable crimes.
Background
This paper is the sixth in a series on each of the 192 member states of the United Nations, designed to help lawyers, victims, and their families identify countries where people suspected of committing crimes under international law might be effectively prosecuted and required to provide full reparations through universal jurisdiction.
Each paper also provides clear recommendations on how the government concerned can bring its national law into line with international law. The series aims to ensure that no safe haven exists anywhere in the world for those responsible for crimes against the entire international community.
To read the paper, Solomon Islands: End Impunity Through Universal Jurisdiction, please visit www.amnesty.org.nz/news/solomon-islands-time-end-safe-haven-crimes-under-international-law
Celebrate International Human Rights Day (10 Dec) with us!
Visit www.amnesty.org.nz to find out how

Filed under: Analysis, Business, Community, Current, Environment, NZPacific, Opinion & Commentary, Politics, South Pacific Region | Tagged: 57333539, amnesty inernational, built structure, burnt, chinatown, crime, destruction, disaster, following, geneva convention, Honiara, human rights, jurisdiction, lawyers, legal, Looting, no safe haven, nz pacific news, outs, pacific news, People, problems, protest, riot, solomon islands, Solomon Islands Capital, united nations, war | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 18, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Cook Islands designer Ellena Tavioni, who is based in the islands, is showcasing her latest collection for Winter 2009 at this week’s Air New Zealand NZ Fashion Week.
Read more »
Filed under: Business, Current, NZPacific, South Pacific Region | Tagged: air new zealand nz fashion week, Business, cook islands, cook islands designer, ellena tavioni, nz fashion week, pacific, polynesian | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 16, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Filed under: Business, NZ General Election 2008, Politics, US Presidential Elections 2008 | Tagged: barack obama, democrats, financial disaster, fox news, general elections 2008, john mccain, michael cullen, neil cavuto, republicans, tv3, tvnz | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 16, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Posted on September 17, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Samoan secondary students from around the country will gather in Lower Hutt, Thursday 18th September, for the National Samoan Speech Competition, promoting the Samoan language and its continued use in our New Zealand based Pacific communities.
What: National Samoan Speech Competition
Where: Lower Hutt Horticultural Hall, Laings Road, Lower Hutt
Minister of Pacific Island Affairs Luamanuvao Winnie Laban will open the event.
Filed under: Community, NZPacific, South Pacific Region | Tagged: lower hutt, luamanuvao winnie laban, minister of pacific island affairs, national samoan speech competition, new zealand students, new zealand-based pacific communities, samoan language, samoan students | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 17, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
NBC News and news services
updated 3:44 a.m. ET Sept. 17, 2008
SAN’A, Yemen – A series of explosions followed by heavy gunfire went off outside the U.S. embassy in Yemen on Wednesday, and smoke was seen rising from the heavily-fortified compound, witnesses said.
Filed under: Breaking News, US Presidential Elections 2008 | Tagged: bombing, Breaking News, Politics, us embassy, yemen | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 17, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
The New York Times is reporting…the 4 reported dead are Yemeni guards.
The attack began when a car raced up to the heavily fortified U.S. embassy compound. Several attackers got out and began firing rocket-propelled grenades and automatic rifles at the guards who returned the fire, the Yemeni official said.
A second car then drove into the compound’s gate and exploded in what appeared to be a suicide bombing, the official said.
The attack was especially shocking to many Yemenis because it came during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Filed under: Breaking News | Tagged: Breaking News, new york times, Politics, suicide bombing, us embassy, yemen | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 17, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
America’s Fox Network Morning Show has just confirmed the latest death toll…now stands at 10.
Filed under: Breaking News, Current | Tagged: bombing attack, fox news, Politics, us embassy, yemen | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 18, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
The first speech is scheduled to kick off just before 10 this morning. The pressure’s on for students competing in the National Samoan Speakers Competition in Lower Hutt. Wellington fielded the largest number of competitors by a long shot with Auckland trailing in second place. Health is the speech topic. Read more »
Filed under: Community, NZPacific, South Pacific Region | Tagged: lower hutt, minister of pacific islands affairs, pacific languages, samoan language | 2 Comments »
Posted on September 18, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Fifty-ninth session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, 22-26 September, 2008, Manila, Philippines.
MANILA, Philippines, 17 September 2008-Candidates from Malaysia,
the Republic of Korea and Tonga are to compete next week for
the post of Regional Director of the Western Pacific Region of
the World Health Organization.
The contenders for the top WHO regional post are Dr Tee Ah Sian
of Malaysia, Dr Shin Young-Soo of the Republic of Korea and
Dr Viliami Ta’u Tangi of Tonga. Read more »
Filed under: Environment, South Pacific Region | Tagged: communicable diseases, health, Western Pacific, WHO | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 18, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
If those figures don’t concern, they should. People need to enrol no later than Wednesday 8 October if they want voting to be as easy as possible. General Election day is Saturday 8 November 2008.
In the last election over 16,000 people voted who were not enrolled, and that meant their votes were disallowed. Read more »
Filed under: Community, Current, NZ General Election 2008, NZPacific, Politics | Tagged: chief electoral office, General Election 2008, murray wicks, new zealand, Politics, voters | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 18, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Statement just released by State Department on behalf of Secretary of State on the bomb attack outside the Yemen Embassy that left at least 10 confirmed dead. Among the dead are four Yemeni guards. Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, US Presidential Elections 2008 | Tagged: car bomb, condolessa rice, global terrorism, Politics, secretary of state, terrorist attack, us embassy, washington | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 18, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Police have reported a body found in the Avon River near the intersection of Park Terrace and Kilmore Street. The pedestrian walkway along the east side of Hagley Park has been closed. No further details are expected to be released until later this morning.
Filed under: Breaking News, Community | Tagged: body found in avon river, crime | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 18, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Samoa’s Government is protesting the arrest of Hans Joachim Keil, 64…Samoa’s Associate Minister of Commerce, Labour and Industry. Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, Current, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region | Tagged: immigration, keil served in the united states air force, misa telefoni, samoa government, samoa's ambassador to the US, samoa's deputy prime minister, samoa's prime minister, secretary of state, tuipaepa sailele malielegaoi | 1 Comment »
Posted on September 18, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Christchurch Police say the death of a male found in the Avon River this morning is not being treated as suspicious. The matter will be referred to the Coroner.
Filed under: Breaking News | Tagged: body in the avon river christchurch, death not suspicious | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 19, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Police in Kaitaia are reporting two dead, and a third person on life support…after a vehicle travelling west towards Ahipara on Kaitaia-Awaroa Road lost control and went into a ditch and collided with a power pole.
The crash happened in the early hours of this morning.
Four occupants were in the car. Two died at the scene. A third was airlifted to Whangarei Hospital and is listed as critical. The fourth person fled the scene before police and ambulance services arrived. They suspect speed and alcohol were factors in the crash.
Next of kin are still being notified.
Filed under: Breaking News | Tagged: kaitaia, nzpolice, whangarei hospital | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 19, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
It’s expected to be a who’s who of the Pacific community tomorrow night at Labour’s Pacific Sector fundraiser in Auckland. Expect a full turn out with family, friends and supporters of Labour’s Pacific candidates including performances from Auckland’s Cook Islands, Niue and Tongan communities. Read more »
Filed under: Community, Current, NZ General Election 2008, NZPacific, Politics | Tagged: ben makisi, carmel sepuloni, charles chauvel, cook islands, fiafia fundraiser, josephine bartley, karlo mila, labour party, labour party pacific sector, luamanuvao winnie laban, niue, pacific art, pacific books, pacific candidates 2008, su'a william sio, tongan, tongan poet, vui mark gosche | 1 Comment »
Posted on September 22, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
CNN International has just interrupted programming with breaking news that China’s state-owned news service Xinhua News Agency is reporting that as many as 13,000 babies have been hospitalised after drinking tainted milk formula.
Four babies have died according to official statements from China, after drinking milk powder contaminated with melamine, an industrial chemical.
Filed under: Breaking News, South Pacific Region | Tagged: babies, Breaking News, china, milk formula, xinhua news agency | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 22, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Congratulations to this term’s Pacific graduates Kristian Schmidt and Lama Tome and their families on achieving your degrees. Well done on behalf of many in New Zealand’s Pacific Community.
Student mentor and hip hop dancer
Kristian Schmidt who works as a MATES Coordinator is graduating BA/LLB. He won one of the early Chancellor’s Awards for Top Maori and Pacific Island
Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, Community, Current, Fono Notices, NZPacific | Tagged: arts, auckland university, chancellors award, first class honours, kristian schmidt, lama tone, law, mangere, manu samoa, master of architecture, MATES mentor, onehunga high, penrose high, peseta lama tone, te kura o nga tapuwae, top maori and polynesian scholars | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 22, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Mr Taufui Aevalu PAEA, of Glenfield, will be awarded the New Zealand Bravery Star this week at Government House.
Official Citation
On the morning of 6 December 2004 in Glenfield, Auckland, Mr Paea’s neighbour was brutally murdered by her estranged partner, who had been on the run from the Police for a number of weeks.
The offender arrived at the woman’s home while she was getting out of her car and helping her two year old daughter out of a car seat. The man approached, and after talking to the woman for a short time, their conversation turned into a heated argument. The man began to assault the woman who managed to break free, but he caught up with her and began stabbing her in the back and shoulders. The victim managed to struggle free again and this time ran to the front door of Mr Paea’s house. Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, Community, Current, Honour & Tribute, NZPacific | Tagged: citation for bravery award, government house, new zealand bravery star, nz pacific news, pacific bravery, pacific news, taufui aevalu paea | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 24, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
New Zealand alongside Denmark and Sweden are the world’s least corrupt nations, according to Transparency International.
All three countries scored 9.3, with zero indicating high levels of corruption and 10, low levels. Last year New Zealand tied with Denmark and Finland for least corrupt country.
Corruption in poor countries has created a humanitarian disaster which threatens to derail the global fight against poverty, Transparency International said. Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, Community, Current, NZPacific, Politics | Tagged: Breaking News, corruption in poor countries, Corruptions Perceptions Index, huguette labelle, new zealand least corrupt, nz, NZPacific, south korea, tonga, Transparency International Ltd, United Nations Millenium Development Goals | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 24, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, NZPacific, Politics, US Presidential Elections 2008 | Tagged: boys and girls club, children in crisis, cnn news, denzil washington | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 24, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Press conference just finished with John McCain, US Republican Presidential nominee. He called on Americans to rally together in what he says is the greatest financial crisis for America since World War II. It’s his first press conference in six weeks. Reaction to the $700 billion rescue package for financial firms announced earlier this morning(NZTime) by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson.
Filed under: Breaking News, Business, Current, NZPacific, Politics, US Presidential Elections 2008 | Tagged: global credit crisis, republican john mccain, rescue bailout package, subprime mortgages | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 24, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
New Zealand Food Safety Authority issued this release tonight.
Melamine at low level not unexpected
24 September 2008
As a result of the milk contamination scandal in China, there has been a global focus on testing for the presence of melamine in food. Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, NZPacific, South Pacific Region, health | Tagged: babies died, business ethics, China scandal, chinese products, fonterra, melamine in baby milk formula, milk contaminated, nz food safety authority, nz pacific, pacific eye witness, San Lu, social responsiblity | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 25, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
GOVERNMENT OF THE COOK ISLANDS
TE MARAE ORA
(Ministry of Health)
P.O. Box 109, Rarotonga, Cook Islands * Phone: (682) 29-664 * Fax: (682) 23-109 * Email: m.anguna@health.gov.ck
The Ministry of Health Cook Islands – Te Marae Ora is seeking applications for the following positions: Read more »
Filed under: Fono Notices, Jobs In The Pacific, health | Tagged: cook islands, dr roro daniel, Jobs In The Pacific, pacific healthl, pacific island jobs, pacific news, rarotonga | 3 Comments »
Posted on September 25, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Awarded today at Government House Investiture Ceremony.
OFFICIAL CITATION
TO RECEIVE THE QUEEN’S SERVICE MEDAL for services to the Pacific Islands Community
Vaoga Lelefua Mary WATTS, of Waitakere
For services to the Pacific Islands community. Mary Watts has contributed to the Pacific Islands community in Auckland for over 20 years. She has been heavily involved with Pacific women’s development and public safety and has worked in the area of family violence prevention and intervention, contributing to a number of programmes and services, including the Child & Neglect Campaign. She is the deputy chairman of the Waitakere Pacific Board and a member of the Pacific Island Drug and Alcohol Service Board. Mary Watts helped to set-up the Pacific Islands Women’s Project Aotearoa, was a founding member of Pacific Health Care and the Falemalu Women’s Refuge.
[Official Citation]
Filed under: Breaking News, Community, Current, Honour & Tribute, NZPacific, health | Tagged: pacific community worker, pacific islands womens project, queen service awards, waitakere pacific board | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 25, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org

Former NZ First MP Brian Donnelly passed away Thursday 25th September. Fluent in Cooks Islands Maori, he served briefly as NZ High Commissioner To the Cook Islands before resigning the post due to illness.
NZ First Media Release A Tribute To Hon Brian Donnelly QSO
25 September 2008
A Tribute To Hon Brian Donnelly QSO
New Zealand First has paid tribute to former MP, Brian Donnelly, who died this afternoon at the Mercy Hospice in Ponsonby Auckland, after an illness. Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, Community, Current, Honour & Tribute, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region | Tagged: brian donnelly, nz first, nz high commissioner to the cook islands, winston peters | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 25, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
RIP Brian Donnelly: Greens
25 September 2008
RIP Brian Donnelly: Greens
New Zealand has lost a highly principled and respected citizen
with the death of former New Zealand First MP Brian Donnelly
QSO today, the Green Party says. Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, Community, Current, Honour & Tribute, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region | Tagged: brian donnelly, foreign affairs, nz high commissioner to the cook islands | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 26, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Supporting our future Pacific apprentices
Pacific Island Affairs Minister Luamanuvao Winnie Laban yesterday launched The
Pacific Apprentice, an awareness campaign promoting the opportunities
available in Modern Apprenticeships to Pacific communities.
“This initiative supports the Modern Apprenticeship programme introduced by
the government in 2000 to provide a work-based industry training pathway
after a decade of declining participation by young people. Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Fono Notices, Jobs In The Pacific, NZPacific, education | Tagged: apprenticeships, luamanuvao winnie laban, nz minister of pacific islands affairs, NZPacific, pacific apprentices, pacific news, pacific women's economic plan | 1 Comment »
Posted on September 26, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Today’s the final investiture ceremony at New Zealand’s Government House. Among the New Zealanders being honoured today are two very special recipients.
One of them is Mr Va’aiga TUIGAMALA, of Henderson, known to the rest of the world as Inga The Winger. Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Honour & Tribute, NZPacific | Tagged: all blacks from 1989 to 1991, former all black turned funeral director honoured, former all blacks, funeral director for late King of Tonga, government house investiture, heroes, inga the winger, nz bravery star, nz pacific, NZPacific, Pacific Island Chamber of Commerce, pacific island rugby player, pacific news, rugby, rugby league, taufui aevalu paea, tongan grandfather who risked his life, tuigamala | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 26, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
FULL SPEECH EXCERPT DELIVERED BY US PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH
THE PRESIDENT:
Good evening. This is an extraordinary period for America’s economy. Over the past few weeks, many Americans have felt anxiety about their finances and their future. I understand their worry and their frustration. We’ve seen triple-digit swings in the stock market. Major financial institutions have teetered on the edge of collapse, and some have failed. As uncertainty has grown, many banks have restricted lending. Credit markets have frozen. And families and businesses have found it harder to borrow money.
We’re in the midst of a serious financial crisis, and the federal government is responding with decisive action. We’ve boosted confidence in money market mutual funds, and acted to prevent major investors from intentionally driving down stocks for their own personal gain. Read more »
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Current, Politics, US Presidential Elections 2008 | Tagged: american economy, excesses of wall street, fannie mae, federal reserve chairman ben bernanke, financial crisis, financial institutions, freddie mac, global economy, home mortgages, john mccain, mortgage-backed securities, obama, president bush's address to the nation, SEC Chairman Chris Cox, senator john mccain, treasury secretary hank paulson, us president george bush, White House | 3 Comments »
Posted on September 26, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
It reads like a who’s who of New Zealand’s leading music scene and they just happen to be chart topping Pacific musos.

Sarvs Falefitu, 40 years, was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. She is fundraising for herceptin
Dawn Raid’s crop of Pacific talent will be belting out the songs tonight in an effort to help raise treatment funds for Sarvs Falefitu.
Among them, Nesian Mystik, Mareko, L’il Saints, Legacy, Launch Band, Devolo and Sweet and Irie.
The night’s MC will be Yolande Ah Chong, Radio 531pi’s Radio Host for Talanoa, a talkback programme from 10am to 2pm. Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, Community, Current, Fono Notices, Journal of Breast Cancer Survivor, NZPacific, health | Tagged: 531pi radio station, alofa tunoa, breast cancer survivor, bring it on, dawn raid entertainment, devolo, kelston boys high school, launch band, legacy, mareko, nesian mystik, new zealand's pacific musicians, polytentials, sweet and irie, yolande ah chong | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 28, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
The following release sent by the United Nations News Service.
In brief, it confirms what many have already suspected, that Bainimarama will not go ahead with free and fair elections by March 2009. Despite not holding fair and free elections as agreed, he insists he is “committed to breaking the cycle of bad and unjust governance which Fiji has suffered.” he appears to take no responsibility for the cancelled elections. Instead, he points the finger at Australia, New Zealand and Australia for sanctions and other restrictions which he says has hampered progress. Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region | Tagged: commodore josaia voreqe bainimarama, fiji, fiji coup, fiji coup leader, fiji elections 2009, frank bainimarama, free and fair elections fiji, united nations and fiji | 1 Comment »
Posted on September 29, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
MEDIA RELEASE Electoral Enrolment Centre
Sunday 29 September 2008
DEADLINE LOOMING TO ENROL FOR AN EASY VOTE
Almost 36,000 people have enrolled or updated their details since the election date was announced, but a further 235,000 are running out of time to enrol and make voting easy for themselves.
“The enrolment cut off time to be sent an EasyVote card in the mail and be on the printed electoral roll used on election day is looming large with just ten days to go,” says Murray Wicks, National Manager of the Electoral Enrolment Centre. “And there are still tens of thousands of people not enrolled. Read more »
Filed under: Current, NZ General Election 2008, Politics | Tagged: enrol to vote, nz elections 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 28, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
A key Government figure for decades, and one who played a role in drafting the Constitution of Samoa, Tofa Lauofo Meti Meredith has passed away in the weekend. Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, South Pacific Region | Tagged: constitution of samoa, samoa, samoa independence, tofa lauofo meti meredith | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 30, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Source: pacnews
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) says while Pacific Island economies are largely isolated from the short-term impact of instability in global financial markets, there will be negative impacts over time.
Former U.S. Federal Reserve chief Alan Greenspan is calling it a “once-in-a-century” financial crisis. However, the Regional Director of ADB’s Sydney office, Eugene Zhukov, says credit exposures to US-based financial institutions under scrutiny or threat, are generally low across the Pacific. Read more »
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Current, Politics, South Pacific Region | Tagged: alan greenspan, asian development bank, economy, effects of financial crisis on pacific, eugene zhokov, kiribati, nauru, pacific island economies, pacific island governments, poverty in developing countries, richard dictus, solomon islands, tuvalu, US Financial bail out package, wall street | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 30, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Full text. Speech delivered this morning by Luamanuvao Winnie Laban, Minister of Pacific Islands Affairs (NZ) to the Melanesian Symposium in Wellington.
Organised by the Pacific Co-operation Foundation.
SPEECH
Talofa Lava, Malo e lelei, Ni sa bula vinaka, Bonjour, Gud de tru olgeta, Halo olketa, Gud dei long yufala evriwan, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Namaste, Kia Orana, la Orana, Taloha ni, Talofa, Kia ora tatou and Warm Pacific Greetings to you all this morning. Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, Business, Current, Politics, South Pacific Region | Tagged: albert wendt master storyteller, chairman of the board of trustees of the pacific co-operation foundation, chief justice of solomon islands, Fiji's former foreign minister, former NZ governor-general, isabel evans, kaliopate tavola, luamanuvao winnie laban, melanesia symposium, melanesian spearhead group secretariat, members of parliament, neil plimmer, PACER Plus, pacific cooperation foundation, pacific islands governance, regional seasonal employers scheme, RSE NZ scheme, sir albert palmer, sir paul reeves, sir rabbie namaliu former prime minister of papua new guinea | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 28, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
First, an opinion column released by NZ Prime Minister Helen Clark. She reflects on the way forward in Fiji following the discussions among Pacific Islands Forum Leaders in Niue last month.
Following that, the full text of the statement of the Pacific Leaders Forum Meeting in NIue.
Finally, looking back to December 2006, Fiji Coup in Pictures.
A Way Forward For Fiji
Public commentary on Fiji since the Niue Forum has focused on the warning Leaders gave to the Interim Government about Fiji’s future participation in the regional body in the event the Interim Government continues down its current path. Much less attention has been paid, especially within Fiji, to the framework Forum Leaders provided in their communiqué to help resolve the current situation in Fiji.
Forum Leaders explicitly acknowledged that there are long-term issues that need to be addressed in Fiji. They recognised that an independent and inclusive political dialogue process could assist in developing understandings among Fiji’s key stakeholders. Leaders considered that the framework for this political dialogue already exists in the Commonwealth-led process of consultations with stakeholders. In the view of Forum Leaders, this could create a more conducive environment for an election to be held under Fiji’s current Constitution by March 2009, and provide a basis for all stakeholders to commit to work with the newly-elected government to advance a framework for reform and broader national reconciliation. Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region | Tagged: democracy in the pacific, fiji, fiji coup, frank bainimarama, laisenia qarase, niue 2008 forum, nz prime minister, pacific islands forum leaders, pacific islands forum leaders niue, pacific islands government leaders, Papua New Guinea | Leave a Comment »
Posted on October 8, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Governor General issues formal direction to the Chief Electoral Officer to hold the election.
Electoral Rolls close for printing
Voters enrolled after this date cast special declaration votes.
Candidate and party television and radio advertising may start.
Filed under: Breaking News, Community, Current, NZ General Election 2008, NZPacific, Politics | Tagged: NZ General Elections 2008, television and radio advertising | Leave a Comment »
Posted on October 9, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Posted on October 13, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Monday 13 October
Noon
Bulk Nominations
Deadline for registered political parties to bulk nominate their electorate candidates to the Chief Electoral Officer.
Filed under: NZPacific | Leave a Comment »
Posted on November 8, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Election Day
Polling places open from 9.00am to 7.00pm.
Election Night
Preliminary results released progressively from 7.00pm on www.electionresults.govt.nz
Targets for release:
by 8.30pm all advance vote results
by 10.00pm results from 50% of polling places
by 11.30pm results from 100% of polling places.
Filed under: NZPacific | Leave a Comment »
Posted on October 1, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
MEDIA STATEMENT 1 OCT 2008
Making A Difference For Pacific People on 1st October
Labour-led government initiatives coming into effect today will make a real difference to Pacific peoples, Pacific Island Affairs Minister Luamanuvao Winnie Laban said.
“Our Pacific workers, families and superannuitants will have more money in their pockets thanks to personal tax cuts and boosts to Working for Families kicking in today.
“This will ease the pressure off household budgets, and help Pacific families meet some of the increased costs associated with the current global economic uncertainty. Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, NZ General Election 2008, NZPacific, Politics | Tagged: luamanuvao winnie laban, minister of pacific islands affairs nz, NZ tax cuts, NZPacific, pacific parents, pacific people in nz, Pacific workers | 1 Comment »
Posted on October 1, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Please note: Deadline for submission of abstracts is Friday 31 October, 2008
Critiquing Pasifika Education @ the University 2009 Biannual Conference
Ngā Horotiu marae, Auckland University of Technology, 1-3 July 2009
Theme: “What can WE do?”
Exploring how researchers, students, and language community organisations can work together to address the challenges of language and cultural loss by the Cook Islands Māori, Niue, and Tokelau; Tahiti, Tongan, Samoan, Fijian, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands people in Aotearoa-New Zealand. Read more »
Filed under: Community, Current, Fono Notices, NZPacific, education | Tagged: cultural loss, education research, fijian, kiribati, new zealand research for research in education, niuean, nz pacific communities, nz pasifika education, pacific educators, pacific languages, Papua New Guinea, pasifika education, samoan, solomon islands, tongan, tuvalu, vanuatu | Leave a Comment »
Posted on October 1, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Auckland University’s Pacific Postgraduates Seminar. Open to the public.
The Samoan culture defers to the old people; the old people are not to be made useless or incompetent or superfluous, because they always provide the links, in history and traditions of the Aiga and Nu’u – just as the linking cord or afa flow from their aged and sometimes trembling fingers
(Aiono Fanaafi Le Tagaloa 1996)
Presenter: Maiava Carmel Peteru
When: Wednesday, 8th October, 4.00 to 5.30pm Read more »
Filed under: Community, Current, Fono Notices, NZPacific, education | Tagged: Aiono Fanaafi Le Tagaloa, auckland university, fale pasefika, maiava carmel peteru, pacific news, pacific postgraduates, pacific research, samoan elderly people in nz | Leave a Comment »
Posted on October 2, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Posted on October 2, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Press conference at Capitol Hill being held right now. Senate has today passed $700 Financial Bailout package Bill 74-25. Five weeks out from presidential elections.
Filed under: Breaking News, Business, Current, Politics, US Presidential Elections 2008 | Tagged: senate passes bailout | 1 Comment »
Posted on October 3, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
MEDIA RELEASE LABOUR DELIVERING FOR THE GOOD PEOPLE OF MANA
Mana MP Luamanuvao Winnie Laban said she is extremely surprised by comments made by National Party candidate Hekia Parata today about Labour not delivering for the good people of Mana.
“Perhaps she is out of touch with the good people of Mana and the enormous achievements that our local community has made under the Labour-led government. Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, Community, Current, NZ General Election 2008, NZPacific, Politics | Tagged: labour government, labour mp, luamanuvao winnie laban, mana electorate, mp for mana, national party candidate hekia parata, pacific affairs minister, wellington | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 23, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Media Release. US Department of the Interior.
Interior Secretary Kempthorne Convenes Insular Areas Health Summit
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne announced today that he is bringing together senior-level federal health officials and the leaders of the U.S. territories and freely associated states to find ways to improve health care for those communities.
Joining Kempthorne at the Sept. 29-30, 2008 Insular Areas Health Summit will be Secretary of Veterans Affairs James B. Peake; Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness David S.C. Chu; Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Health Joxel Garcia, M.D.; Gov. Togiola Tulafono of American Samoa; Gov. Felix Camacho of Guam; Gov. Ben Fitial of the Northern Mariana Islands; U.S. Virgin Islands Health Commissioner Vivian Ebbesen Fludd; Lt. Gov. James Aiona of Hawaii; President Manny Mori of the Federated States of Micronesia; President Litokwa Tomeing of the Marshall Islands; and Vice President Elias Chin of Palau. Also participating are USVI Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen, M.D., and American Samoa’s Delegate to Congress Eni F.H. Faleomavaega.
“The federal government has a responsibility to help our territories and freely associated states meet the challenges they face in providing quality health care for their people,” Kempthorne said. “Whether the challenge is education, funding, equipment, personnel, training or facilities, we must work to build partnerships and expand programs, leverage resources and develop strategies to help island leaders improve and expand their public health services.”
“The Future of Health Care in the Insular Areas: A Leaders’ Summit” will be held at the Marriott Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii. Summit participants will also include federal, state and island officials responsible for health care in the Insular Areas as well as private health care professionals and private organizations.
On Sept. 29, the opening session begins at 9:00 a.m. in the Kona Moku Ballroom; a news conference will be held in the Oahu Room at 12:15 p.m. and a working lunch will be held in the Waikiki Ballroom.
Discussion topics and presentations will include the challenges and opportunities in
▪ Serving Island Communities: Island Health Officials;
▪ Telehealth in Insular Areas: Remote Communication with Health Care Professionals for Services and Information;
▪ Addressing Critical Shortages (Personnel, Equipment and Infrastructure): Capacity Building and Quality Assurance Programs, Partnerships, Engaging Volunteers;
▪ Caring for America’s Military Heroes and Public Services: The Role of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veteran’s Affairs in Addressing Military and Veterans Health Care in the U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States; Partnerships for Services to Civilians.
Filed under: Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Politics, South Pacific Region, education, health | Tagged: american military, american samoa's delegate to congress, american veterans health care in U.S territories, david chu, delegate to congress donna m. christensern, eni f.h faleomvaega, governor american samoa togiola tulafono, governor of guam felix camacho, governor of northern mariana islands ben fitial, hawaii, joxel garcia, marshall islands president litokwa tomeing, pacific islands health summit, secretary of veterans affairs james b. peake, u.s territories, u.s virgin islands federated states of micronesia, usa secretary of the interior dirk kempthorne, vice president of palau elias chin | Leave a Comment »
Posted on October 5, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Okay, don’t be alarmed, I’ve temporarily changed the web front to experiment with a different design to see how it works. The content remains the same. Just that I was finding the other design too cramped at times for what I wanted to do. Let me know what you think.
I’d like to turn the picture header into a revolving platform ideally. The photo which I’ve cropped is a non-identifying shot of: guess who? Email or write a comment. I doubt anyone will correctly identity all the individuals in it, if at all. It’s a toughie.
Prize for guessing? Online publicity.
But if you want to remain anonymous, email editor@pacificeyewitness.org and write NOT FOR PUBLICATION in subject line.
Your wish will be my command.
Filed under: NZPacific | Leave a Comment »
Posted on October 5, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
The jury reached the verdict 13 years to the day after O.J. Simpson was acquitted of two murders. He faces the possibility of a life sentence.
[CNN]
For more, scroll down to the the news feed on the right sidebar of this website.
Filed under: Breaking News, Current | Tagged: crime, ex-wife nicole brown simpson, former actor and NFL player, o.j simpson found guilty, ron goldman | 1 Comment »
Posted on October 6, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
You thought I’d say NiuFM or 531pi. Nope. They aren’t there yet in terms of panel interviewing the candidates of one electorate in one go.
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Instead, Radio Samoa, a Samoan language station on 1593AM broadcast the first radio debates for this election campaign on Sunday evening.
Panel interview with Mangere’s Pacific candidates.
I note Mua Strickson-Pua, wasn’t part of the panel…he represents Greens. There may well be other Pacific candidates standing as Independent as well.
Radio Samoa is a Samoan language station, so English is not usually spoken on the station, from my listening experience.
But since two of the Mangere candidates can’t speak Samoan fluently – one from Family First and the other from United Future – the questions were asked in both Samoan and English.
Candidates on the panel debate who were all in the studio:
- Taito Philip Field, NZ Pacific Party, Independent MP for Mangere. Former Labour MP for Mangere.
- Su’a William Sio, Labour. Currently Labour List MP. Former Deputy Mayor for Manukau. Former Otara Councillor.
- Galumalemana Jerry Filipaina, Family First. Newcomer. Has never served in local or central government. Community work? unknown.
- Poluto Selio Solomon, United Future. Former Chair of Mangere Community Board. His father is reportedly Taito’s former campaign manager but it doesn’t look like there’s much love lost there now.
Radio Samoa… I was in South Auckland during the debate…and we had an impossible task trying to tune into the debate.
The radio, all three of them, didn’t like that particular AM frequency. In the end, the car radio was the most reliable.
HOST
Seuili, the announcer, did a superb job controlling the interview and setting clear parameters with his guests. He stuck to the durations and controlled the panel interview from the start. His professionalism was refreshing to hear. He could teach those much needed skill to some of the other radio stations catering to Pacific audiences, particularly on political debates like this.
Seuli, who is related to Taito, knows that listeners want to hear what our candidates are standing for, what their track record is, and what their solutions are to some of our challenges. Seuili was fair in dealing with all of the candidates. He was blunt with all of them.
There were some tense moments among his guests…but that’s what makes it interesting for listeners.
Although two of them are experienced speakers, the newcomers…well, you could hear the nerves and the inexperience in the voices of Filipaina and Solomon. Good on them for giving it a go. Some one said it sounded like Filipaina and Solomon were reading from a script or notes.
For many of us who enjoy political debates, it was great to hear them…all in the same room. Election campaigning is in full swing with more debates planned from now until election.
If you are interested in knowing where the next debate will be, I would suggest subscribing to pacificeyewitness.org via email.
If you listened to the debate, what did you think?
Disclosure
Filed under: Breaking News, Community, Current, NZ General Election 2008, NZPacific, Politics | Tagged: mangere candidates, nz election 2008 | 2 Comments »
Posted on October 10, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Report from Pacnews:
Air Vanuatu Manager Australia, Malcolm Pryor, confirmed that a second weekly flight direct from Melbourne to Port Vila, will begin in December.
Mr Pryor said the new flights will operate every Sunday, commencing 07 December 2008.
The Sunday flight from Melbourne will operate to Vanuatu via Sydney without change of aircraft, offering a non-stop return Port Vila to Melbourne.Thursday’s non-stop flight Melbourne to Port Vila, which commenced in June this year returns via Sydney without the need to change aircraft.
Mr Pryor said that the introduction of direct Melbourne services earlier this year has delivered encouraging results.
“Customers from Victoria and other southern states have enjoyed being able to visit the Pacific paradise of Vanuatu without the need to change planes in another Australian city. The additional flight offers short break options or stays longer than a week. Vanuatu has always been excellent value, with plenty to see and do and our ‘Super Special’ fares and some great offers from Hotels and Resorts make Vanuatu holidays more affordable than ever”.
Flying new Boeing 737-800 aircraft, Air Vanuatu is a full service airline offering complimentary meals and beverages.
[Pacnews]
Filed under: Breaking News, Business, Current | Tagged: air vanuatu, nonstop flight melbourne to port vila, vanuatu | 1 Comment »
Posted on October 20, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Pasifika Medical Association Conference, Auckland 2008
Pacific Obesity Prevention in Communities (OPIC) Project
One day free symposium on interventions, research findings and lessons learnt
RENDEZVOUS HOTEL, AUCKLAND, WEDNESDAY 22 OCTOBER 2008
Pasifika Medical Association Conference, Auckland 2008 Read more »
Filed under: NZPacific | Leave a Comment »
Posted on October 9, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Media Release
City Vision-Labour Councillors – Auckland City Council
For Immediate Release
Thursday 9 October 2008
C&R Confirm Additional $34m Rugby World Cup Spend-Up
A Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R) decision at the Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee has recommended that Auckland City Council fund a ‘world class’ programme of activities around Rugby World Cup 2011. The additional $34 million of ‘discretionary spending’ is being described by City Vision Eden-Albert Ward Councillors Cathy Casey and Glenda Fryer as a total misuse of ratepayer’s money. Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, NZPacific, Politics | Tagged: auckland city council, citizens and ratepayers, city vision, rugby world cup 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Posted on October 9, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Quick Analysis Report -CTU Economist: Peter Conway
New Zealand Council of Trade Union
Te Kauae Kaimahi
National Party KiwiSaver and Tax Cut Policy
Introduction
The National Party have announced their long-awaited tax proposals. They propose to take money out of research and development, slash the popular KiwiSaver scheme, and exclude hundreds of thousands of families from their plan in order to deliver another $10 a week next year for some workers.
What is in the Policy? Read more »
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Current, NZ General Election 2008, NZPacific, Politics | Tagged: national's tax cuts, nz council of trade unions, peter conway | Leave a Comment »
Posted on October 11, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
An initial incident report from NZPolice today, Saturday 11th October, 2008.
At about 3:15am there was a fatal crash on Terry Street, Blockhouse Bay.
A vehicle driving along that road lost control and collided with a tree. The driver of the vehicle was killed on impact, the passenger suffered serious injuries. The deceased was Natasha Ann EVANS aged 20 years from Blockhouse Bay.
Filed under: Breaking News, Community, Current | Tagged: blockhouse bay auckland nz, fatal crash, natasha evans | Leave a Comment »
Posted on October 11, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Media Release
Shigeyuki Kihara photography on show at New York Museum
In an outstanding career move, Auckland-based artist Shigeyuki Kihara will encounter one of the world’s foremost art institutions, The Metropolitan Museum of Art when her solo exhibition opens in October.
The exhibition ‘Shigeyuki Kihara: Living Photographs‘ is an early survey of her dynamic career and will feature selections from four of her photographic series: ‘Black Sunday’, ‘Fa’a Fafine: In a Manner of a Woman’, ‘Fale Aitu: House of Spirits’ and ‘Vavau: Tales from Ancient Samoa’. Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, Community, Current, NZPacific, South Pacific Region | Tagged: arts council of nz, creative new zealand, emerging pacific artist award winner, fa'afafine in a manner of a woman, new york museum, samoan japanese artist, shigeyuki kihara | Leave a Comment »
Posted on October 11, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Alaska’s Anchorage News newspaper reports:
A legislative investigation has concluded that Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power in pushing for the firing of an Alaska state trooper who was once married to her sister, or by failing to prevent her husband Todd from doing so.
The report by investigator Steve Branchflower was made public late this afternoon by a bipartisan 12-0 vote of the Legislative Council, which authorized the investigation.
Branchflower’s report contains four findings…
By all media accounts, the former brother-in-law is far from a redeeming character…one you never want in the family…let alone around children.
Access the original documents here and what the report says or doesn’t say.
Governor Sarah Palin’s spokesperson responds to report. Her statement below give a detailed explanation along with links for the public to see. Read more »
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Politics, US Presidential Elections 2008 | Tagged: alaska, alaskan l, Alaskan State Government, governor of alaska, mccain palin, Politics, republicans, saran palin, todd palin, troopergate original reports and docs, usa elections 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Posted on October 13, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
“MY JOURNEY” on being awarded QSO: Implications for Pacific Postgraduates and a career at the University of Auckland”
Presenter: Dr. Melani Anae
Date: Wednesday 15th October, 2008
Time: 4.00 pm
Place: Centre for Pacific Studies, Fale Pasifika
View PDF Notice
Filed under: Community, Current, Fono Notices, Pacific Scholarships Awards, education | Tagged: Auckland University Centre for Pacific Studies, melani anae, pacific postgraduates | Leave a Comment »
Posted on October 9, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Media Release: Southland District Health Board
‘Health and Wellness of Pasifika People’ Expo
Thursday 9 October 2008
‘Health and Wellness of Pasifika People’ Expo
An expo for the Pasifika Community on how to access health services and
to promote good health and well being will be held at the Invercargill
Workingmen’s Club this Saturday.
The ‘Health and Wellness of Pasifika People’ expo has been organised by
the Pacific Island Advisory and Cultural Trust and SDHB Pacific Island
Nurses. Read more »
Filed under: Community, Current, Fono Notices, education, health | Tagged: ALAC, alcohol advisory council of nz, cook island tamariki ora group, health and wellness of pasifika people, leona notoa, mental health services, ngakete matauranga pounamu charitable trust, pacific island community, pacific peoples in nz, polynesian, public health, southland district health board, te ara a kewa primary health organisation | Leave a Comment »
Posted on October 12, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
There’s an email circulating among Keil family members around the world with the following petition and asking people to sign it.
This petition is sponsored by the Family and Friends of Associate Cabinet Minister Hans Joachim “Joe” Keil. They are asking Samoans around the world, including NFL players, Hollywood actors and public servants, to sign the petition and protest against United States treatment of its Samoan diplomat. Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Fono Notices, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region | Tagged: hans joachim keil, joe keil, samoan associate minister of trade and commerce, samoan govt | 6 Comments »
Posted on October 12, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
President Bush Meets with G7 Finance Ministers to Discuss World Economy
White House, Rose Garden

7:54 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much. Good morning. Secretary Paulson, Secretary Rice and I just had a productive discussion with finance ministers of America’s partners in the G7 — Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, and Japan. I’m pleased to be with Prime Minister Junker of Luxembourg, who is the President of the Eurogroup of countries, Managing Director Strauss-Kahn of the International Monetary Fund, President Zoellick of the World Bank, Chairman Draghi of the Financial Stability Forum. Thank you all for coming.
Read more »
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Current, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region, US Presidential Elections 2008 | Tagged: British Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling, Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, Chairman Draghi of the Financial Stability Forum, French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde, G7 Finance Ministers meeting in Washington, German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck, Italian Economy and Finance Minister Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa, Japanese Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga, Luxembourg Prime Minister and chairman of the Eurogroup Jean-Claude Juncke, Managing Director Strauss-Kahn of the International Monetary Fund, president bush, President Zoellick of the World Bank, Secretary of State Rice, U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson | 1 Comment »
Posted on October 13, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Reprinted in PacificEyeWitness with permission from LA Times writer My-Than Tran.
COLUMN ONE
Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times
Randy Tran, an Amerasian whose father was a U.S. soldier and who was abandoned by his Vietnamese mother, lives in Hayward, Calif., and travels the country singing at restaurants and concert halls. “I feel like I belong nowhere,” he says. Recently Tran led a group to Washington to lobby for the Ameriasian Paternity Act, which would give automatic citizenship to Ameriasians born during the Vietnam and Korean wars.
In one homeland they were treated as outcasts, in the other as refugees. Now thousands of these Amerasians are uniting and lobbying Congress for what they feel is a birthright: ‘We are Americans.’
Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, Current, Politics | Tagged: children of vietnam vets, u.s citizenship | Leave a Comment »
Posted on October 17, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Media Release
Pacific Island Affairs Minister Luamanuvao Winnie Laban said National’s one page Pacific Affairs policy seems like an afterthought, offering nothing new for our Pacific communities.
“I know National is not known for their substantive policy, but it would have been good to see some detail about the specific policies they have developed for our Pacific New Zealanders. It seems they don’t have any.
“National recognises the real and positive difference Labour policies like Working for Families, Paid Parental Leave, 20 hours free early childhood education, and investment in Pacific early childhood education programmes have made to our Pacific families – as they are keeping them all – and they would retain the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs.
“Although I’m not sure how they would work with potential coalition party ACT, as Rodney Hide has said if he were part of the government he would get rid of the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs.
“Labour is committed to maintaining the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs and its whole of government approach, as we know that a strong Ministry has a positive effect not just on their initiatives but across government and throughout our communities.
“Pacific peoples have made great advances under Labour. We’ve seen a dramatic reduction in unemployment (from 12,300 in 1999 to 1,401 in June 2008) and education and income levels are improving.
“Unlike National, Labour looks forward to building on these gains to develop a fairer, more prosperous, sustainable New Zealand where our Pacific families and communities can continue to thrive.”
Laban also noted that according to the National Party website today’s release is one of only three releases that the opposition spokeswoman has released in 2008.
“Even during an election year it seems that Pacific peoples are low on National’s agenda.
“Labour has always been, and will continue to be, committed to our Pacific communities and their future wellbeing. Labour is the party of choice for our Pacific people, with five Pacific candidates, and a Pacific Island Minister of Pacific Island Affairs.”
[Minister of Pacific Island Affairs Luamanuvao Winnie Laban]
Below is the National Party’s Pacific policy in a media release on its website. National’s Pacific Affairs Spokesperson is Judith Collins.
- National’s policy contains plenty of general statements such as “ongoing personal tax cuts” but no description or plan of how that will be possible, given Labour’s already provided that for voters.
- Collins says National will keep Working for Families and Paid Parental Leave Entitlements, all policies from a Labour Government. But will they? If the verbal slip ups by National’s John Key, Finance spokesperson Bill English, Lockwood Smith are anything to go by, can we believe anything in this media release? Does Collins and National think Pacific people only need a one page policy because we are….?
- “We will work with Pacific Island churches and NGOs to promote the growth, ingenuity, and vitality of voluntary groups in the Pacific community”. If they are waiting to get into power before they do this, why? If there was a genuine desire to connect with Pacific people, then surely you wouldn’t wait for an election to talk about being involved with our churches, NGOs and voluntary groups. If you haven’t done this already, then commitment must be at the lower end of the scale.
- How many Pacific church meetings has Collins and National attended this year? Let alone at election time? My point exactly. How many volunteer hours have they put into Pacific communities and projects? Attending business awards dinners or seminars does not count.
- It talks about strengthening relationships with Pacific communities. Refer to track record…ask people in the Pacific communities what they last did, of their own accord, within Pacific community. Exactly my point.
- There are some obvious omissions in the policy but I’ll leave that to you to work out.
National: Pacific Affairs policy reflects Pacific needs
15 October 2008
National’s Pacific Affairs policy will ensure Pacific New Zealanders will continue to receive world-class education and health services, says National’s Pacific Island Affairs spokeswoman, Judith Collins.
Collins announced the policy ahead of a speech tonight to the New Zealand Pacific Business Council in Manukau.
She says National will strengthen the relationship the government has with Pacific Island nations and Pacific communities.
National will:
• Have ongoing personal tax cuts.
• Keep all Working for Families and Paid Parental leave entitlements.
• Increase flexibility and choice in 20 hours early childhood education.
“We will set National Standards in literacy and numeracy for all primary school pupils, require schools to test pupils against these standards, require teachers to tell parents the results, and assist children who are consistently failing to meet the standards.
“National will maintain universal subsidises for GP visits, and establish Integrated Family Health Clinics, one-stop-shops combining services like minor surgery, pharmacists and doctors.
“We will work with Pacific Island churches and NGOs to promote the growth, ingenuity, and vitality of voluntary groups in the Pacific community.
“National will maintain the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs as part of its plan to promote Pacific culture. We understand the importance of boosting political diplomacy in the South Pacific and ensuring the Pacific has a sound aid package.
“We will focus our development assistance on our immediate neighbours in the Pacific, and will retain the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Scheme for Pacific nations.
“Our Pacific Affairs policy reflects what the people of the Pacific want and need.”
To view National’s Pacific Affairs policy go to:
http://national.org.nz/files/2008/pacific_affairs.pdf
Filed under: Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, NZ General Election 2008, NZPacific, Politics | Tagged: luamanuvao winnie laban, minister of pacific islands affairs, national's one page pacific policy | 1 Comment »
Posted on October 16, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
PRESS STATEMENT (107/08)
PACIFIC ACP TRADE MINISTERS TO CONSIDER RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN EPA NEGOTIATIONS WITH EU AS WELL AS OTHER TRADE-RELATED ISSUES Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Environment, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region, Tourism | Tagged: china pacific islands investment, economic partnership agreements, European Union, pacific agreement on closer economic relations, pacific islands forum secretariat, pacific single market economy, shanghai world expo 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Posted on October 15, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
PRESS STATEMENT 108/08
It will be far from business as usual in Apia, Samoa next week. Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Environment, NZPacific, South Pacific Region, Tourism | Tagged: business toolkits, pacific islands forum secretariat, pacific regional enterprise forum | Leave a Comment »
Posted on October 15, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
CNN with this report:
OTTAWA, Canada (AP) — Canada’s national media are projecting that Prime Minister Stephen Harper has led his Conservative Party to victory in Tuesday’s election.
Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper rallies supporters in Quebec City, Canada, on Sunday.
Canadian Broadcasting Corp. and the Canadian Press both forecast that the Conservatives will win enough Parliament seats to at least form another minority government.
Harper called the election early in hopes his party could win enough seats to take a majority and govern without the need for opposition support to adopt legislation.
Filed under: Breaking News, Business, Current, Politics | Tagged: Breaking News, canada, canadian broadcasting corp, canadian media, Politics, prime minister stephen harper | Leave a Comment »
Posted on October 15, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
3:33pm 15 October 2008
Seventy-six new police officers will be the first wing to graduate under the new Policing Act which passed into law on 1 October 2008. Their Wing patron is Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy. (see below for more information) Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, NZPacific, South Pacific Region | Tagged: Constable Amaninder Singh Sandhu, first police officer to wear turban, police, police graduates | Leave a Comment »
Posted on October 17, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
16 October 2008
Joint statement from:
- Dr. Dean Hirsch, Chief Executive Officer, World Vision International
- Irene Khan, Secretary General, Amnesty International
- Jeremy Hobbs, Executive Director, Oxfam International
- Tom Miller, Chief Executive Officer, Plan International
- Gerd Leipold, International Executive Director, Greenpeace
Billions in bailouts for the wealthy
Last week the US government provided another bailout of $37.8 billion to the giant insurance company, AIG, bringing the total of rescue loans to that one company in the last two weeks to nearly $123 billion.
Read more »
Filed under: NZPacific | Tagged: amnesty international, big business, finance, greenpeace, oxfam international, plan international, Politics, poverty in developing countries, UK banking bailout, US bailout, world vision | Leave a Comment »
Posted on October 16, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
16 October 2008
A Hamilton man, missing since Tuesday morning, was found by Police divers in the Waikato River today.
Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Page of Hamilton CIB, said the body of Paul John FRASER, 53, was found by members of the Police Dive Squad shortly after midday. A tetraplegic, Mr FRASER was found with his wheelchair. Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News | Tagged: body found in river, detective senior sergeant chris page, hamilton cib, paul john fraser, police | Leave a Comment »
Posted on October 22, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Filed under: Breaking News, Community, Current, NZ General Election 2008, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region | Tagged: Lockwood Smith interview on RSE Pacific workers, Morning Report's Interview with Galumalemana Alfred Hunkin, National MP Lockwood Smith, national party, nz pacific community, pacific RSE workers, racism in New Zealand | Leave a Comment »
Posted on October 23, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org

This post was first published here last year, 23rd October, 2008. We thought it is worth bringing to your attention again this year.
The People’s Vote, co-sponsored by the National Archives and Records Administration, National History Day, and U.S. News & World Report, invited Americans of all ages and educational backgrounds to vote for 10 of 100 milestone documents drawn mainly from the holdings of the National Archives. Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Politics | Tagged: America, Land of the Free, most influential American document, National archives, national history day, US declaration of independence, US National History Day, usa | 1 Comment »
Posted on October 25, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Media Note
Office of the Spokesman
US State Department
Washington, DC
October 22, 2008
Read more »
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Current, Politics | Tagged: US Elections 2008, US State Dept | 3 Comments »
Posted on October 25, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Press Statement
Robert Wood, Deputy Spokesman
US State Dept
Washington, DC
October 23, 2008 Read more »
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Community, Current, Politics | Tagged: nicaragua, nicaragua elections scheduled for november 9th, Politics, united states calls on nicaragua to hold elections free of intimidation, violence and harrassment | 1 Comment »
Posted on October 27, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Media Release
Internal Affairs
A review of New Zealand’s electoral administration is underway and is now seeking the views of the public. Read more »
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Community, Current, NZPacific, Politics | Tagged: chief electoral office, dr jean drage, electoral commission, electoral enrolment centre, electoral system, professor andrew geddis, public submissions asked for, representation commission, stephen levine, www.electoralreview.govt.nz | Leave a Comment »
Posted on October 27, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Labour’s Pacific Policy Summary
Labour’s Pacific Policy
Labour will support a highly educated and skilled Pacific population, and will continue to invest in the enormous potential of Pacific people in New Zealand, Pacific Island Affairs Minister Luamanuvao Winnie Laban said today.
Releasing Labour’s Pacific Island Affairs policy, Laban said New Zealand is a proud Pacific nation, with our Pacific identity part of what makes our nation so special. Read more »
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Community, Current, NZ General Election 2008, NZPacific, Politics | Tagged: labour pacific policy, luamanuvao winnie laban, minister of pacific island affairs, nz elections 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Posted on October 28, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
A developed nation, otherwise known as the Land of the Long White Cloud, asks a developing island nation or two to pay a few millions, reportedly $4.8 million tala. Read Samoa’s official letter to Air New Zealand below.
Note Misa quotes Air New Zealand as having a net profit of $218 million.
Samoa received Air New Zealand’s request on the 14 October 2008. Meanwhile, five days earlier, back in Auckland, Air New Zealand signed a “partnership agreement” with Pacific Media Network, the umbrella for the country’s national Pacific radio station NiuFM Network and NiuFM Auckland, as well as 531pi radio stations.
In a nutshell:
…Pacific Media Network (PMN) offers Air New Zealand (Air NZ) a national communication medium to talk directly to Pacific Peoples everyday. From 13 October the airwaves of NiuFM and Radio 531pi will feature the “Air NZ Pacific Connections” segment…
Media Release issued by Pacific Media Network
Back in the islands:
Government of Samoa
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour; Tourism (Samoa Tourism Authority); Audit Office; Telecom Samoa; African Caribbean Pacific-European(ACP-EU); World Trade Organisation (WTO); PICTA and PACER
23 October 2008
Peter Walsh
Pacific Manager
Air New Zealand
Mr Glen Sowry
General Manager
Air New Zealand
Vui Ricky McFall
Manager, Samoas Air New Zealand
cc:Hon Minister of Tourism, Government of Tonga
cc:New Zealand High Commissioner Excellency Caroline Bilkey
AIR NEW ZEALAND
We attach our consultant’s letter of 23 October 2008 which I understand you have received. There are important issues which require further clarification before we can respond to your request for funding from Samoa(Tonga) on the Los Angeles route.
The two months requested is eminently fair and equitable in the circumstances, especially as your proposal was only first put to me on 14 October 2008.
We have made preliminary inquiries of the Tongan authorities, and they support this request.
Given the long and mutually beneficial relationship between Air New Zealand and our respective governments, and your excellent profits on the Akl-Tbu-Apw-Akl route(contributing to your reported net profit after tax of $218 million, it is Samoa’s considered view Air New Zealand should defer any decision until early 2009 and all parties have sat down with their respective advisers and considered this whole matter in detail.
I am copying this letter to Pacific Corporate Services and to my Tongan counterpart for his information, and any necessary action. We thank in anticipation to you cooperation in this important matter.
God Bless
Misa Telefoni
Deputy Prime Minister
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Community, Current, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region | Tagged: air new zealand, caroline bilkey, general manager air nz, glen sowry, manager samoa's air nz, nz high commissioner to samoa, pacific manager air nz, peter walsh, samoa, tonga, tonga minister of tourism, vui ricky mcfall | 2 Comments »
Posted on October 31, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
BRIEFING
James K. Glassman, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs
Washington, DC
October 28, 2008
View Video
(1:00 p.m. EDT)
MR. WOOD: Good afternoon. We have here today Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs James Glassman. He’s going to talk to you about U.S. efforts – public diplomacy efforts in the war of ideas. So without further ado, I’ll turn it over to the Under Secretary.
Please.
UNDER SECRETARY GLASSMAN: Thanks. Thank you, Robert. Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of giving a briefing to the President and the Vice President and several others from the White House on the state of the war of ideas. So there seemed to be some interest in my discussing this with you, so let me just talk about it for a while, and then I’ll just take your questions.
First some background, and then I want to talk a little bit about structure and strategy and programs. In public diplomacy, we have the same objectives as the rest of the U.S. Government’s foreign policy and national security actors. The top goals are to reduce the threat to America and to promote freedom. In public diplomacy, we do that by understanding, informing, engaging and influencing foreign publics. And our tools are images, words, and deeds. Read more » |
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Community, Current, NZPacific, Politics, US Presidential Elections 2008 | Tagged: al hurra, al qaida, Berlin Wall, Cold War, facebook, farc, global strategic engagement center, Google, guantanamo bay, ideology, israelis, james k.glassman, latin america, middle east, muslim nations, osama bin laden, pakistan, palestinians, pew global attitudes survey, Politics, prisoner of war, public diplomacy, radio sawa, south asia, under secretary for public diplomacy and public affairs, US Congress, White House | 1 Comment »
Posted on November 3, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Paula J. Dobriansky, Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs
Remarks at the 2nd EU-US Business Roundtable on “Energy and Technology: Powering the Green Revolution, Our Options for the Future, Hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Spain
Madrid, Spain
September 29, 2008
Thank you, Jaime, for that kind introduction. It is an honor to speak at this important conference. I want to thank the American Chamber of Commerce for organizing this timely gathering, and I hope all of you have found today’s sessions as valuable as I have.
I also want to recognize and thank Governor Pawlenty for his leadership and groundbreaking work on renewables, Ambassador Aguirre for his fantastic work here in Spain and for bringing a top-notch renewables delegation to the United States earlier this year, and Under Secretary of Agriculture Tom Dorr, who was a great partner in putting on the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference earlier this year.
Context
Almost exactly one year ago today, President Bush said at the State Department that energy security and climate change are two of the great challenges of our time. Read more »
Filed under: Politics | Tagged: american chamber of commerce, Australia, canada, china, climate change, Environment, governor pawlenty, greenhouse gas emissions, Guangzhou, Iberdrola CEO Xabier Viteri, India, Japan, Korea, kyoto protocol, Paula J. Dobriansky, Politics, tuvalu, UN framework convention on climate change, Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs, united states, US investments, Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC) | 2 Comments »
Posted on November 3, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Fact Sheet
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
Washington, DC
October 31, 2008
Child Soldiers: U.S. Policy and Action
The forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict is defined as one of the “Worst Forms of Child Labor” under International Labor Organization Convention 182. An estimated 200,000 to 300,000 children under the age of 18 are serving as soldiers for both rebel groups and government forces in current armed conflicts worldwide.
U.S. Law and Policy Regarding Child Soldiers Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, Current, Politics | Tagged: and Labor (DRL), and Migration, and the U.S. Mission to the UN, Bureau for International Organization Affairs, Bureau of African Affairs, Bureau of Population, Child Soldier Accountability Act, child soldiers, human rights, International Labor Organization Convention 182, Office of Trafficking in Persons, Refugees, The Bureau of Democracy, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) | Leave a Comment »
Posted on November 4, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Fact Sheet
Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
Washington, DC
October 15, 2008
The President’s $50 Million Initiative to Combat Trafficking in Persons: Initiative Highlights
In 2003, President George W. Bush announced a $50 Million Initiative to Combat Trafficking in Persons. Overall, projects support rescue, victim assistance services, vocational programs, campaigns against child sex tourism, and law enforcement task forces with greater emphasis on direct training for criminal justice professionals. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international organizations, and government entities have used these funds to protect victims, prosecute traffickers, and increase public awareness of this crime-which threatens freedom, health, and national security. The examples below highlight the impact of certain projects under the President’s Initiative.
Brazil
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has worked to significantly reduce the recruitment of over 20,000 vulnerable workers into slave labor through its Trails to Liberty (Trilhas) project implemented in municipalities with the greatest incidence of forced labor or forced labor recruitment. CRS conducted extensive public awareness campaigns and assisted approximately 1,400 victims of forced labor by providing psychological, social, and legal support, in addition to employment and small business development training.
Cambodia
The Asia Foundation (TAF) provided direct services to 1,039 individuals in order to prevent them from being trafficked. After receiving scholarship awards, participants took part in an apprenticeship program and received job placement assistance. Out of the 80 percent placed in jobs, 20 percent received start-up capital to start their own businesses. Through advocacy, TAF and the NGO Hagar International helped strengthen Cambodia’s legal definition of trafficking. With funds from the President’s Initiative, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) provided return and reintegration assistance to victims of cross-border trafficking between Cambodia and Vietnam.
India
The International Labor Organization’s International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor is implementing a project focused on preventing hazardous child labor among migrant children. The project has provided residential schooling and vocational training programs to over 250 children in areas with high rates of migration. Also under the President’s Initiative, the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) set up 37 cross-border vigilance groups along the Indo-Nepal border to monitor and prevent trafficking; one transit shelter home was also started at the border. To address sex-tourism in Goa, the Goa project for combating sex tourism focused on prevention training and raising awareness in the tourism industry, including hotels, airlines, and travel and tour operators.
Indonesia
Many victims of trafficking suffering from life threatening medical problems have been helped by IOM in Indonesia, funded by the President’s Initiative. Doctors, psychologists, and Police Hospital medical staff actively support the victims-such as a trafficked woman suffering from a forced hysterectomy, a victim with advanced-stage cancer who arrived bleeding profusely, and a victim’s baby born premature at 3.3 lbs. who is now in good health. By providing return, recovery, and reintegration assistance, IOM has coordinated with many levels of government and civil society to achieve results. Many of these entities are now mandated under Indonesia’s Anti-Trafficking Law to provide protection and support to victims of trafficking. IOM has been able to hand over activities to government and civil society while providing assistance to over 3,000 victims of human trafficking.
Mexico
The Bilateral Safety Corridor Commission (BSCC) has addressed the public health implications of human trafficking in Mexico, providing information and assistance to over 3,000 at-risk individuals, especially regarding the intersection of human trafficking with HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and other illnesses. Another program called “Proteja,” or “Protect” in Spanish, provides technical assistance to organizations to coordinate services and shelter victims, and has trained over 10,000 representatives. At the Chihuahua-Texas-New Mexico border, this program supported a task force to promote better anti-TIP strategies on both sides of the border. Under the President’s Initiative, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement continues to work with Mexican federal law enforcement to increase the number of trafficking investigations. Through a return and reintegration program by IOM, networks are being developed throughout the country, including in Tapachula, Mexico City, and Cancun, to identify and assist victims of trafficking. IOM estimates that 90 percent of all victims identified, rescued, and assisted in Mexico since project implementation were assisted through the President’s Initiative.
Moldova
Catholic Relief Services has implemented the Moldova Employment and Training Alliance (META), which has reduced trafficking by giving young Moldovan women opportunities for legitimate employment within their own country and by helping them learn how to build sustainable livelihoods. Each participant, aged 16-25, benefits from an integrated program of technical skills training, personal empowerment, and a guaranteed job. It has helped over 725 young, at-risk women. The program has also provided over 5,000 high school girls from more than 100 rural villages with training in sustainable livelihoods. By tackling trafficking on two-fronts-viable economic alternatives to going abroad and personal preparedness through life skills-META has contributed to the reduction of trafficking in concrete ways. Additionally, IOM carried out training and awareness raising activities with religious leaders of the Orthodox Churches.
Sierra Leone
With help from the President’s Initiative, over 560 women and 200 youth, including staff of collaborating NGOs, government ministries, and officers from the Army and Police, participated in training on trafficking in persons and sexual violence. Over 225 hours of radio broadcast material on trafficking was aired. Some 90 percent of women, after hearing the radio programs, refused to send their children away to urban relatives. Four local NGOs developed innovative education projects to reduce child labor and trafficking. The IOM program provided return and reintegration assistance to over 100 victims, including several children trafficked for ritual killings.
Tanzania
President’s Initiative activities have stressed attention to victims, involving a growing number of NGOs and reinforcing their expertise in victims’ care, while creating a much-needed link with government institutions and media. As a result of rescue and protection efforts, the lives of many children have changed, and several were able to reunify with their families. Seven trafficking in persons training programs had been conducted for over 200 participants. Scores of criminal justice professionals have been trained. The Tanzania Police Force (TPF) has expanded public awareness campaigns, utilizing trained instructors who speak on radio and television programs regarding the negative impact of human trafficking. The TPF was also able to begin strengthening ties with NGOs in order to assist victims of trafficking obtain temporary shelter and medical treatment. Increased awareness on the part of law enforcement has resulted in enhanced screening and victim assistance on the borders. |
Filed under: Current, Politics | Tagged: Catholic Relief Services, International Labor Organization's International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor, United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) | Leave a Comment »
Posted on November 5, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
CNN Reports:
U.S. presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama have campaigned into the early morning in their last efforts to sway voters. Americans are now heading for the polls in one of the most eagerly anticipated U.S. elections of recent times.
full story
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Current, Politics, US Presidential Elections 2008 | Tagged: barack obama, democrats, john mccain, Politics, republican party, US Elections 2008, voting booths open in US | 1 Comment »
Posted on November 6, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
CNN Reports:
McCain:
Thank you. Thank you, my friends. Thank you for coming here on this beautiful Arizona evening.
My friends, we have — we have come to the end of a long journey. The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clearly.
A little while ago, I had the honor of calling Sen. Barack Obama to congratulate him.
Watch McCain’s speech »
To congratulate him on being elected the next president of the country that we both love.
In a contest as long and difficult as this campaign has been, his success alone commands my respect for his ability and perseverance. But that he managed to do so by inspiring the hopes of so many millions of Americans who had once wrongly believed that they had little at stake or little influence in the election of an American president is something I deeply admire and commend him for achieving.
This is an historic election, and I recognize the special significance it has for African-Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight.
I’ve always believed that America offers opportunities to all who have the industry and will to seize it. Sen. Obama believes that, too.
But we both recognize that, though we have come a long way from the old injustices that once stained our nation’s reputation and denied some Americans the full blessings of American citizenship, the memory of them still had the power to wound.
A century ago, President Theodore Roosevelt’s invitation of Booker T. Washington to dine at the White House was taken as an outrage in many quarters.
America today is a world away from the cruel and frightful bigotry of that time. There is no better evidence of this than the election of an African-American to the presidency of the United States.
Let there be no reason now for any American to fail to cherish their citizenship in this, the greatest nation on Earth.
Sen. Obama has achieved a great thing for himself and for his country. I applaud him for it, and offer him my sincere sympathy that his beloved grandmother did not live to see this day. Though our faith assures us she is at rest in the presence of her creator and so very proud of the good man she helped raise.
Sen. Obama and I have had and argued our differences, and he has prevailed. No doubt many of those differences remain.
These are difficult times for our country. And I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face.
I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited.
Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans. And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that.
It is natural. It’s natural, tonight, to feel some disappointment. But tomorrow, we must move beyond it and work together to get our country moving again.
We fought — we fought as hard as we could. And though we fell short, the failure is mine, not yours.
I am so deeply grateful to all of you for the great honor of your support and for all you have done for me. I wish the outcome had been different, my friends.
The road was a difficult one from the outset, but your support and friendship never wavered. I cannot adequately express how deeply indebted I am to you.
I’m especially grateful to my wife, Cindy, my children, my dear mother and all my family, and to the many old and dear friends who have stood by my side through the many ups and downs of this long campaign.
I have always been a fortunate man, and never more so for the love and encouragement you have given me.
You know, campaigns are often harder on a candidate’s family than on the candidate, and that’s been true in this campaign.
All I can offer in compensation is my love and gratitude and the promise of more peaceful years ahead.
I am also — I am also, of course, very thankful to Gov. Sarah Palin, one of the best campaigners I’ve ever seen, and an impressive new voice in our party for reform and the principles that have always been our greatest strength, her husband Todd and their five beautiful children for their tireless dedication to our cause, and the courage and grace they showed in the rough and tumble of a presidential campaign.
We can all look forward with great interest to her future service to Alaska, the Republican Party and our country.
To all my campaign comrades, from Rick Davis and Steve Schmidt and Mark Salter, to every last volunteer who fought so hard and valiantly, month after month, in what at times seemed to be the most challenged campaign in modern times, thank you so much. A lost election will never mean more to me than the privilege of your faith and friendship.
I don’t know — I don’t know what more we could have done to try to win this election. I’ll leave that to others to determine. Every candidate makes mistakes, and I’m sure I made my share of them. But I won’t spend a moment of the future regretting what might have been.
This campaign was and will remain the great honor of my life, and my heart is filled with nothing but gratitude for the experience and to the American people for giving me a fair hearing before deciding that Sen. Obama and my old friend Sen. Joe Biden should have the honor of leading us for the next four years.
I would not — I would not be an American worthy of the name should I regret a fate that has allowed me the extraordinary privilege of serving this country for a half a century.
Today, I was a candidate for the highest office in the country I love so much. And tonight, I remain her servant. That is blessing enough for anyone, and I thank the people of Arizona for it.
Tonight — tonight, more than any night, I hold in my heart nothing but love for this country and for all its citizens, whether they supported me or Sen. Obama — whether they supported me or Sen. Obama.
I wish Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president. And I call on all Americans, as I have often in this campaign, to not despair of our present difficulties, but to believe, always, in the promise and greatness of America, because nothing is inevitable here.
Americans never quit. We never surrender.
We never hide from history. We make history.
Thank you, and God bless you, and God bless America. Thank you all very much.
Filed under: Breaking News, Business, Current, Politics, US Presidential Elections 2008 | Tagged: john mccain's concession speech, us election speech | Leave a Comment »
Posted on November 6, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
From US State Dept
Secretary Condoleezza Rice
Washington, DC
November 5, 2008
View Video
SECRETARY RICE: Good morning. I asked Sean if I could open this briefing, and he said yes, that I could do that. I’m getting ready to leave for the Middle East, but I did not want this morning to pass without taking note of the extraordinary election last night. This was an exercise in American democracy, of which Americans across the political spectrum are justifiably proud.
I want to note that Senator McCain was gracious. He’s a great patriot. I want to note that President-elect Obama was inspirational, and I’m certain he will continue to be. The Department of State will do everything that we can, and I personally will do everything that we can – that I can, to make sure that this is a smooth transition. We are preparing for that transition. Sean will tell you more about that. Read more »
Filed under: Politics | Tagged: American democracy, barack obama, President-elect Obama, Secretary Condoleezza Rice, US Elections 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Posted on November 6, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
US Government Bush Administration
Rose Garden
10:20 A.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT:
Good morning. Last night, I had a warm conversation with President-elect Barack Obama. I congratulated him and Senator Biden on their impressive victory. I told the President-elect he can count on complete cooperation from my administration as he makes the transition to the White House. Read more »
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Current, Honour & Tribute, Politics, US Presidential Elections 2008 | Tagged: barack obama, Governor Palin, president george w bush, President-elect Barack Obama, senator john mccain, usa government, White House | Leave a Comment »
Posted on November 10, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Remarks With Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad
Secretary Condoleezza Rice
Jenin
November 8, 2008
PRIME MINISTER FAYYAD: (Via interpreter). Good evening. I would like, at the beginning, to express my utmost pleasure to receive Madame Secretary of the United States of America, Secretary Rice, in Jenin.
This is for us, as Palestinians, a historic visit for numerous reasons. This is the first visit conducted by a Secretary of State of the United States to Jenin. When I say it is historic for more than one reason, it is because I believe that this visit has enabled Secretary Rice to see, firsthand, the consistent and persistent efforts of the Palestinian Authority, supported by awareness and ambitions and aspirations of the Palestinian people, in terms of building the Palestinian state, the upcoming Palestinian state. Read more » |
Filed under: Politics | Tagged: Jenin, palestinians, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice | Leave a Comment »
Posted on November 10, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Media Note
Office of the Spokesman
Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt
November 9, 2008
Quartet Press Statement
The following statement was issued today by the Middle East Quartet (United Nations, European Union, Russian Federation, and the United States):
Begin Text:
Representatives of the Quartet-U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union Javier Solana, European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner-met today, and heard from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni at their request. They were joined by Quartet Representative Tony Blair. Read more »
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Current, Politics | Tagged: and the United States, European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Union, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union Javier Solana, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, middle east quartet, middle east talks, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, palestinian israeli peace negotiations, Russian Federation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, tony blair, united nations, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice | Leave a Comment »
Posted on November 11, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Paid Content Reports
Obama Factor: Campaign Dominated Online Political Ad Spending
By David Kaplan of Paid Content
The fundraising juggernaut that was President-elect Barack Obama’s campaign also shook up the online political ad business, as the candidate accounted for roughly half of all the internet ad dollars spent on politics this year, ClickZ reports. While John McCain’s campaign hasn’t broken out its ad spending yet, it’s safe to say that the other half was comprised of the dozens of other candidates and issue ads that were zeroing in on this week’s election.
While the Obama campaign spent about $4 million to run the 30-minute infomercial last week on CBS (NYSE: CBS), NBC, Fox and Univision, it’s worth noting that Obama spent nearly $8 million through October for ads within Google (NSDQ: GOOG), Yahoo (NSDQ: YHOO) and Facebook, as well as for in-game ads and on general news sites. In terms of how the money was divided, Google won that race, with Obama for America devoting $3.5 million to the search giant. That’s a significant amount, especially if Borrell Associates’ forecast is correct that online political ad spending will hit $17.7 million this year. Maybe that’s another reason why Google CEO Eric Schmidt is an Obama supporter.
Filed under: Politics | Leave a Comment »
Posted on November 11, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
CNN RELIABLE SOURCES Reports
Did Media Hype Obama?; McCain v. Palin
Aired November 9, 2008 – 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HOWARD KURTZ, HOST (voice-over): The history and the hype. Did some journalists get carried away during Barack Obama’s election victory? Are they looking like cheerleaders, and will excitement over America’s first black president change the way he’s covered in the White House? Read more »
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Current, Politics, US Presidential Elections 2008 | Tagged: barack obama, media, political campaign, Politics, US Elections 2008, US President-elect Obama | 3 Comments »
Posted on November 11, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
By Howard Kurtz Washington Post Staff Writer
Barack Obama figured out early on that he had better limit his media consumption before it consumed him.
After three months of campaigning, he stopped reading blogs. After six months, he stopped watching cable news shows. After nine months, he stopped reading the press clips, relying instead on his staff to flag important stories.
Obama said during a brief conversation last month that it was “just weird” to be constantly reading and watching reports on his candidacy, creating a “hall of mirrors” effect that he regarded as unhealthy. He said that cable news yakkers, just like those on ESPN, make provocative comments because they have so much time to fill, even though politics, in his view, is far more important than sports.
Now the president-elect must decide how to handle the media as he shifts from campaign mode to commander in chief. If he is overly influenced by editorial criticism, he could be thrown off course in ways that were rarely evident during his highly disciplined campaign. But if Obama tunes out the press, he could find himself isolated in a White House bubble.
[Washington Post]
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Current, Politics, US Presidential Elections 2008 | Tagged: barack obama, media, Politics, President-elect Barack Obama, White House | Leave a Comment »
Posted on November 11, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Greens and New Zealand First gained the most popular votes for their parties on election night. Greens lead the way with New Zealand First following after.
One of the weaknesses, however, of the MMP model New Zealand adopted is evident in the 2008 general election results. Although Winston Peter’s party won more party votes than Rodney Hide’s and Roger Douglas’ ACT Party, Maori Party and United Future, he fails to gain a seat in Parliament. Read more »
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Community, Current, NZ General Election 2008, NZPacific, Politics | Tagged: ACT Party, john key, maori party, MMP, national party, New Zealand First, nz election results 2008, United Future, winston peters | 2 Comments »
Posted on November 11, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Press Statement
Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC
Death of Miriam Makeba
The United States extends its condolences to the family of Miriam Makeba and the people of South Africa on the sudden passing of this musical legend.
Makeba, who passed away in Italy at age 76 after performing on November 9, was a musical icon who inspired South Africans during and after the fight to end apartheid in her native country. After being banned from apartheid-era South Africa for her outspoken political views for more than 30 years, Makeba was able to serve as a source of inspiration and hope for South Africa’s oppressed by reaching them through her music. After the fall of apartheid, she returned to play a positive role through her music in the newly democratic South Africa.
Makeba was the first African woman to win the prestigious Grammy Award and also earned the affectionate title of the “Queen of African Song.” A world renown singer, she shared the stage with musical legends and sang for world leaders, including U.S. President John F. Kennedy. She will be missed by many the world over.
2008/943 |
Filed under: Breaking News, Current, Honour & Tribute, Politics | Tagged: grammy award winner, miriam makeba, queen of african son, south africa, US State Dept | 1 Comment »
Posted on November 18, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Media Note
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
In recognition of National Adoption Month, the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs has launched Adoption.state.gov, a new Web site devoted exclusively to intercountry adoption.
Last year alone, Americans adopted more than 17,000 children from abroad. Adoption.state.gov will provide adopting parents with the answers and information they need. The site includes step-by-step instructions for adopting a child from another country, and a new publication for adoptive parents, “Intercountry Adoption from A to Z.”
Adoption.state.gov provides a central resource for adopting parents, adoption agencies, and others involved in the intercountry adoption process. Prospective parents will find country specific information and background about the Hague Adoption Convention on the Web site.
Adoption.state.gov also includes information such as who is eligible to adopt, from which countries Americans adopt children, what protections the Hague Adoption Convention provides families, when an organization needs to renew its accreditation, and advice to prospective parents about selecting an accredited adoption agency. The site also provides information for foreign citizens who are interested in adopting American children.
For more information, please contact us at (202) 647-1488 or at capressrequests@state.gov
Filed under: Breaking News, Current | Tagged: adoption.state.gov, intercountry adoption, US national adoption month | Leave a Comment »
Posted on November 19, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Press Release
New Zealand School of Export
The New Zealand School of Export is making available a number of scholarships, including one specifically for Pacific Island exporters enrolling in the School’s internationally accredited professional development programme – the Diploma of International Trade – which is delivered through distance education.
The School has reinvested some of the proceeds from its income-generating activities into scholarships, as befits its status as a Charitable Trust. “We are delighted to be able to lend our support to New Zealand exporters in such a practical way and hope that in providing these scholarships, those who might otherwise be unable to participate in the Diploma will be given the opportunity to do so” said the School’s Director Dr Romuald Rudzki.
Scholarships, each to the value of $1200 are available to those enrolling in the Diploma of International Trade for the fifth cohort which starts on 1st February 2009. Exporters within the following categories are also encouraged to apply: sole trader exporter; start-up exporter; SME exporter; rural exporter; Maori export business; members of several participating regional Chambers of Commerce.
Details of the scholarships and an application form are available from info@export.ac.nz or click on http://www.export.ac.nz
The closing date for applications is Wednesday 31st December 2008.
Filed under: Business, Current, NZPacific | Tagged: nz school of export, Pacific Island Exporters, scholarships for pacific island exporters | Leave a Comment »
Posted on November 22, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Press Statement
Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC
Robert Levinson Case
The United States continues to call on Iran to cooperate with U.S. authorities on the case of Robert Levinson, an American citizen who has been missing since disappearing from Iran’s Kish Island over nineteen months ago. The U.S. Department of State remains committed to determining Mr. Levinson’s whereabouts, and returning him safely to his family that includes seven children, one grandchild and a second grandchild on the way.
We once again urge Tehran to share any and all information uncovered about the Levinson case, and we ask anyone else who may have information about the case to contact us or the Levinson family via their website: www.helpboblevinson.com.
2008/983 |
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Current, Politics, US Presidential Elections 2008 | Tagged: American citizen missing in Iran, Iran, robert levinson missing in iran, usa government, www.helpboblevinson.com | Leave a Comment »
Posted on November 24, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
The New Zealand Police is hosting the 12th Annual National Chemical Diversion Congress (NCDC) in Wellington from 25-27th of November.
The NCDC is the annual Australian congress on precursor and illicit drug manufacture and is usually held in Australia. This year the New Zealand police are hosting the congress at the invitation of the Australian Attorney General’s Department.
The New Zealand Minister of Police the Hon Judith Collins will open the conference.
Keynote speakers include Peter Vallely, the senior technical advisor with the International Narcotics Control Board in Vienna.
Jeremy Douglas, manager of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODOC)
Michael Millar, Director of the Anderson/Oconee Regional Forensics Laboratory in South Carolina, who will speak about the South Carolina experience.
Delegates include representatives of law enforcement, border control and health agencies and the chemical and pharmaceutical industries from the Asia Pacific region.
Detective Inspector Stuart Mills, head of the National Drug Intelligence Bureau said the opportunity to host the event provides New Zealand with a significant opportunity to enhance partnerships both domestically and internationally with the aim of reducing the harm caused by illicit drugs.
Media are invited to attend the opening of the Congress on Tuesday, 25th November and keynote addresses throughout the opening morning.
Details
Intercontinental Hotel, Wellington
9.00am Welcome Address and Formal Opening – Hon Judith Collins, Minister of Police
9.45am Opening keynote address Peter Vallely, United Nations International Narcotics Control Board.
11.30am Regional Developments – Gemma Smythe, Australian Government Attorney -General’s Department.
Regional challenges and solutions from an Australian perspective.
12.00pm Global SMART and the UNODC
Jeremy Douglas, United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime
Role of UNODC, regional engagement, Global SMART and other initiatives.
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Community, Current, NZPacific, Politics | Tagged: Australian Government Attorney -General's Department, Global SMART, illicit drugs conference, nz police, United Nations International Narcotics Control Board, United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, UNODC | Leave a Comment »
Posted on November 24, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
The Department of Internal Affairs is holding elections for three new members to the Pacific Island Consultation and Advisory Group (PICAG).
Members of PICAG are elected from Auckland Central, Manukau, Waitakere, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Porirua, Hutt Valley, Christchurch and Dunedin. There are currently three vacancies on PICAG from the Auckland Central, Manukau and Waitakere areas.
PICAG provides strategic advice to the Local Government and Community Branch of the Department of Internal Affairs on how to improve responsiveness to Pacific Island communities and groups in Aotearoa.
Members of PICAG meet regularly with their local Pacific Island communities to discuss issues that relate to the Local Government and Community Branch and seek feedback on current local issues.
Anne Carter, Deputy Secretary of the Local Government and Community Branch, said that the ability to effectively share timely and accurate information is crucial to understanding and meeting the needs of Pacific Island communities.
“This partnership and exchange of information provides a vital tool for the Local Government and Community Branch in reaching its goal of building strong, sustainable communities/hapu/iwi,” said Anne Carter.
Those standing for election have been nominated by a community group that has registered to vote in the PICAG elections and are in one of the areas with a vacant position. Voting will be conducted at public meetings.
Pacific Island community groups wishing to vote can register in advance or at the public meeting.
Public meetings to elect one representative will be held at:
Manukau area
Mangere Central Hall, 241 Kirkbride Road, Mangere
26 November 2008 from 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Auckland Central area
Fickling Centre, 546 Mt Albert Road, Three Kings
27 November 2008 from 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Waitakere area
New Lynn Community Centre, 55 Totara Avenue, New Lynn
28 November 2008 from 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Filed under: Breaking News, Community, Current, Fono Notices, NZPacific, Politics, education | Tagged: Anne Carter, Department of Internal Affairs, Deputy Secretary of the Local Government and Community Branch, meeting the needs of Pacific Island communities., Pacific Island Consultation and Advisory Group (PICAG), PICAG | Leave a Comment »
Posted on November 29, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Media Release
SafeWork SA: Exchange visit to New Zealand November -December 2008
Three inspectors from SafeWork SA – South Australia’s workplace health and safety agency – are spending two weeks in New Zealand as part of a Trans-Tasman exchange programme to share experience and knowledge. Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, Community, Current, NZPacific, Politics | Tagged: BEN TUGWELL: Senior OHS Inspector, SafeWork SA: Exchange visit to New Zealand November -December 2008, SANDRA VOUMARD: Senior OHS Inspector, South Australia's workplace health and safety agency, WAYNE DODD: Senior Inspector | Leave a Comment »
Posted on November 29, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
A team of Massey University adult literacy researchers has signed two substantial new research contracts, totalling more than NZ $320,000, to investigate important aspects of New Zealand’s literacy rates. Read more »
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, NZPacific, Politics | Tagged: Department of Labour (DoL), Frank Sligo, head of Massey's Department of Communication, Health Research Council of New Zealand, Journalism and Marketing, Massey University adult literacy researchers, Ministry of Health through the HRC's Partnership Programme, New Zealand's literacy rates | Leave a Comment »
Posted on November 28, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
MEDIA RELEASE
Chief Electoral Office
Ministry of Justice
2008 GENERAL ELECTION WRIT RETURNED
AND SUCCESSFUL LIST MEMBERS ELECTED
The Chief Electoral Officer, Robert Peden, has returned the writ for the 2008 General Election showing the names of the successful electorate candidates. He has also declared the successful list members to be elected.
There have been no applications for judicial recounts of the election results. The deadline for applications was Wednesday 26 November.
A full list of successful electorate and list candidates, together with detailed election results is available from www.electionresults.govt.nz.
From www.electionresults.govt.nz
Official Count Results — Successful Candidates
|
| This is not the formal declaration of results. The Chief Electoral Officer declares the results of the official count by publishing a notice in the NZ Gazette. |
|
|
|
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| ACT New Zealand |
|
| BOSCAWEN, John |
List Seat
|
| DOUGLAS, Roger Owen |
List Seat
|
| GARRETT, David |
List Seat
|
| HIDE, Rodney |
Epsom Electorate
|
| ROY, Heather |
List Seat
|
|
| Green Party |
|
| BRADFORD, Sue |
List Seat
|
| DELAHUNTY, Catherine |
List Seat
|
| FITZSIMONS, Jeanette |
List Seat
|
| GRAHAM, Kennedy |
List Seat
|
| HAGUE, Kevin |
List Seat
|
| KEDGLEY, Sue |
List Seat
|
| LOCKE, Keith |
List Seat
|
| NORMAN, Russel |
List Seat
|
| TUREI, Metiria |
List Seat
|
|
| Jim Anderton’s Progressive |
|
| ANDERTON, Jim |
Wigram Electorate
|
|
| Labour Party |
|
| ARDERN, Jacinda |
List Seat
|
| BARKER, Rick |
List Seat
|
| BEAUMONT, Carol |
List Seat
|
| BURNS, Brendon |
Christchurch Central Electorate
|
| CARTER, Chris |
Te Atatü Electorate
|
| CHADWICK, Steve (Stephanie) |
List Seat
|
| CHAUVEL, Charles |
List Seat
|
| CHOUDHARY, Ashraf |
List Seat
|
| CLARK, Helen Elizabeth |
Mt Albert Electorate
|
| COSGROVE, Clayton |
Waimakariri Electorate
|
| CULLEN, Michael |
List Seat
|
| CUNLIFFE, David |
New Lynn Electorate
|
| CURRAN, Clare |
Dunedin South Electorate
|
| DALZIEL, Lianne |
Christchurch East Electorate
|
| DAVIS, Kelvin Glen |
List Seat
|
| DYSON, Ruth |
Port Hills Electorate
|
| FENTON, Darien |
List Seat
|
| GOFF, Phil |
Mt Roskill Electorate
|
| HAWKINS, George |
Manurewa Electorate
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| HIPKINS, Christopher John |
Rimutaka Electorate
|
| HODGSON, Pete |
Dunedin North Electorate
|
| HOROMIA, Parekura |
Ikaroa-Räwhiti Electorate
|
| HUGHES, Darren |
List Seat
|
| HUO, Raymond |
List Seat
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| JONES, Shane |
List Seat
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| KING, Annette |
Rongotai Electorate
|
| LABAN, Winnie |
Mana Electorate
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| LEES-GALLOWAY, Iain |
Palmerston North Electorate
|
| MACKEY, Moana |
List Seat
|
| MAHUTA, Nanaia |
Hauraki-Waikato Electorate
|
| MALLARD, Trevor |
Hutt South Electorate
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| MORONEY, Sue |
List Seat
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| NASH, Stuart |
List Seat
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| PARKER, David |
List Seat
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| PILLAY, Lynne |
List Seat
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| PRASAD, Rajen |
List Seat
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| RIRINUI, Mita |
List Seat
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| ROBERTSON, Grant |
Wellington Central Electorate
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| ROBERTSON, Ross |
Manukau East Electorate
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| SEPULONI, Carmel |
List Seat
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| SIO, Su’a William |
Mängere Electorate
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| STREET, Maryan |
List Seat
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| TWYFORD, Phil |
List Seat
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| Mäori Party |
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| FLAVELL, Te Ururoa |
Waiariki Electorate
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| HARAWIRA, Hone Pani Tamati Waka Nene |
Te Tai Tokerau Electorate
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| KATENE, Rahui |
Te Tai Tonga Electorate
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| SHARPLES, Pita |
Tämaki Makaurau Electorate
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| TURIA, Tariana |
Te Tai Hauäuru Electorate
|
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| National Party |
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| ADAMS, Amy |
Selwyn Electorate
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| ARDERN, Shane |
Taranaki-King Country Electorate
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| AUCHINVOLE, Chris |
West Coast-Tasman Electorate
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| BAKSHI, Kanwaljit Singh |
List Seat
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| BENNETT, David |
Hamilton East Electorate
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| BENNETT, Paula |
Waitakere Electorate
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| BLUE, Jackie |
List Seat
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| BORROWS, Chester |
Whanganui Electorate
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| BRIDGES, Simon |
Tauranga Electorate
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| BROWNLEE, Gerry |
Ilam Electorate
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| CARTER, David |
List Seat
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| CARTER, John |
Northland Electorate
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| COLEMAN, Jonathan |
Northcote Electorate
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| COLLINS, Judith |
Papakura Electorate
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| DEAN, Jacqui |
Waitaki Electorate
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| ENGLISH, Bill |
Clutha-Southland Electorate
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| FINLAYSON, Christopher |
List Seat
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| FOSS, Craig |
Tukituki Electorate
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| GILMORE, Aaron |
List Seat
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| GOODHEW, Jo |
Rangitata Electorate
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| GOUDIE, Sandra |
Coromandel Electorate
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| GROSER, Tim |
List Seat
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| GUY, Nathan |
Ötaki Electorate
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| HAYES, John |
Wairarapa Electorate
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| HEATLEY, Phil |
Whangarei Electorate
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| HENARE, Tau |
List Seat
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| HUTCHISON, Paul |
Hunua Electorate
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| JOYCE, Steven |
List Seat
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| KAYE, Nikki |
Auckland Central Electorate
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| KEY, John |
Helensville Electorate
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| KING, Colin |
Kaiköura Electorate
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| LEE, Melissa |
List Seat
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| LOTU-IIGA, Peseta Sam |
Maungakiekie Electorate
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| MCCLAY, Todd |
Rotorua Electorate
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| MCCULLY, Murray |
East Coast Bays Electorate
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| MACINDOE, Tim |
Hamilton West Electorate
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| MAPP, Wayne |
North Shore Electorate
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| PARATA, Hekia |
List Seat
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| PEACHEY, Allan |
Tämaki Electorate
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| POWER, Simon |
Rangitïkei Electorate
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| QUINN, Paul |
List Seat
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| ROY, Eric |
Invercargill Electorate
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| RYALL, Tony |
Bay of Plenty Electorate
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| SHANKS, Katrina |
List Seat
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| SMITH, Lockwood |
Rodney Electorate
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| SMITH, Nick |
Nelson Electorate
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| TE HEUHEU, Georgina |
List Seat
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| TISCH, Lindsay |
Waikato Electorate
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| TOLLEY, Anne |
East Coast Electorate
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| TREMAIN, Chris |
Napier Electorate
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| UPSTON, Louise |
Taupö Electorate
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| WAGNER, Nicky |
List Seat
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| WILKINSON, Kate |
List Seat
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| WILLIAMSON, Maurice |
Pakuranga Electorate
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| WONG, Pansy |
Botany Electorate
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| WOODHOUSE, Michael |
List Seat
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| WORTH, Richard |
List Seat
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| YOUNG, Jonathan |
New Plymouth Electorate
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| United Future |
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| DUNNE, Peter Francis |
Öhariu Electorate
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Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, NZ General Election 2008, NZPacific, Politics | Tagged: 2008 General Election result writ, electorate and list MPs 2008 3 year term, Greens, labour, maori party, national, United Future | Leave a Comment »
Posted on December 11, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Media Release
City Vision-Labour Councillors – Auckland City Council
For Immediate Release
Wednesday 10 December 2008
Council Proceeding with Punitive Homeless Bylaw
Auckland City Council’s Finance & Strategy Committee today moved to initiate work on a punitive bylaw to move homeless people from the city’s central business district.
An amendment by City Vision-Labour councillors to spend the $50,000 needed for the bylaw process on a range of positive actions identified in the council’s homeless action plan instead was defeated by three votes to two.
FOR: Councillors Armstrong, Bhatnagar, Goldsmith
AGAINST: Councillors Northey and Casey
ABSENT: Councillors Donnelly and Lotu-Iiga, Deputy Mayor Hay, Mayor Banks
A further motion to abandon putting any more work or resources into such a bylaw was also defeated by the same three votes to two.
Councillor Cathy Casey said she was disgusted that Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R) councillors should opt to waste ratepayers’ money on a bylaw that no-one is actually calling for.
“Over the last three years this council has made great progress in dealing with the issue of homelessness. We have worked closely with social service agencies such as the Salvation Army, Lifewise and the City Mission to ensure a compassionate and appropriate response to rough sleepers. An outreach service has been established and is working well.
“Research commissioned by this council has rejected punitive actions and encourages instead a collaborative and positive approach to this complex social issue. Criminalising the homeless does not work.”
Councillor Richard Northey said he was profoundly disappointed that C&R councillors had rejected the opportunity he had given them to abandon pouring more ratepayer resources into a punitive bylaw.
“No voluntary agency or Government Department working on homeless issues has ever sought such a bylaw but their constructive, caring, cooperative and comprehensive measures backed by council’s homeless action plan are generating real benefits and results.
“Existing laws and bylaws are more than adequate to deal with the issue.”
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Community, Current, education, health | Tagged: auckland city council, caring for the poor, cathy casey, citizens and ratepayers, compassion, david hay, homelessness, how auckland city councillors voted on homeless bill, john banks, moving homeless from city central business, poverty, richard northey, sam lotu-iiga | 1 Comment »
Posted on December 14, 2008 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Hon Winnie Laban Spokesperson for Pacific Island Affairs
NZ Labour Party
12 December 2008
MEDIA STATEMENT
PACIFIC ISLAND FAMILIES SUFFER AT NATIONAL’S HANDS
National has broken faith with the electorate by pushing through legislation that removes the right of employees to take personal grievance claims if they are dismissed within 90 days and will undermine the interests of Pacific workers and Pacific families around the country” says PI spokeswoman Hon. Luamanuvao Winnie Laban.
Pacific Island workers rights and job security will markedly decrease if the 90 day bill is rushed through without being considered by a Select Committee says Hon. Luamanuvao Winnie Laban. The Employment Relations Act already allows for probationary periods, and does so without stripping away basic employment rights.
“There is no reason this legislation should not have gone to a select committee. The legislation takes away a fundamental right for workers, and no government should be able to do that without its legislation being subject to proper and detailed consideration.”
It’s of particular concern that such legislation will affect those who are low skilled and vulnerable to unscrupulous employers who may take advantage of these changes. We already know that Pacific people are more likely to be at risk. In addition Small to medium businesses will find it far more difficult to attract skilled staff when they most need them especially considering the economic situation. It will also be more difficult for small to medium businesses to attract skilled migrants. This legislation works against the creation of a flexible and dynamic economy.”
Pacific families will also suffer from National’s tax changes which see those at the bottom of the tax scale receiving the least. “Anyone earning between $14,000 and $20,000 will pay 8.5 percent more tax than under Labour’s Plan. All families earning $40,000 or below and some earning up to $80,000, will also pay more tax than under Labour’s plan. But those individuals earning over $70,000 will benefit.
“It robs low income earners of the opportunity to save for a decent retirement by gutting Kiwisaver to the tune of $3.5 billion.
“Finally I would be interested to know to what extent did the new Minister of Pacific Island Affairs advocate for consultation with our communities over these changes. She is their voice in Cabinet and must ensure that the needs of our Pacific people are met.”
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Community, Current, Politics | Tagged: 90-day bill, KiwiSaver, luamanuvao winnie laban, minister of pacific island affairs, national government broken faith with electorate, pacific people more likely to be at risk | Leave a Comment »
Posted on January 24, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton
Washington, DC
View Video
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you. Thank you all so much. Well, I am absolutely honored and thrilled beyond words to be here with you as our nation’s 67th Secretary of State. And I believe, with all of my heart, that this is a new era for America. (Applause.)
President Obama set the tone with his inaugural address. And the work of the Obama-Biden Administration is committed to advancing America’s national security, furthering America’s interests, and respecting and exemplifying America’s values around the world. (Applause.)
There are three legs to the stool of American foreign policy: defense, diplomacy, and development. And we are responsible for two of the three legs. And we will make clear, as we go forward, that diplomacy and development are essential tools in achieving the long-term objectives of the United States. And I will do all that I can, working with you, to make it abundantly clear that robust diplomacy and effective development are the best long-term tools for securing America’s future. (Applause.)
In my testimony before the Foreign Relations Committee, I spoke a lot about smart power. Well, at the heart of smart power are smart people, and you are those people. And you are the ones that we will count on and turn to for the advice and counsel, the expertise and experience to make good on the promises of this new Administration.
I want to thank Steve for his comments that really summarized the full range of experience and expertise of both the Foreign Service and the Civil Service, and also to send my appreciation to all of the nationals around the world who work in our embassies and work with government officials.
This is going to be a challenging time and it will require 21st century tools and solutions to meet our problems and seize our opportunities. I’m going to be asking a lot of you. I want you to think outside the proverbial box. I want you to give me the best advice you can. I want you to understand there is nothing that I welcome more than a good debate and the kind of dialogue — (applause) — that will make us better. (Applause.)
We cannot be our best if we don’t demand that from ourselves and each other. I will give you my very best efforts. I will do all that I can, working with our President, to make sure that we deliver on the promises that are at the very core of what this new Administration and this new era represent. So we need to collaborate, and we need to have a sense of openness and candor in this building. And I invite that.
Now, not everybody’s ideas — (applause) — will make it into policy, but we will be better because we have heard from you.
I also want to address a word to the USAID family. I will be there tomorrow to greet them and thank them for the work they’ve done on behalf of development through some very difficult years, because they will be our partners. (Applause.)
Now, as Steve candidly said, so far, we’re thrilled. (Laughter.) This is not going to be easy. (Laughter.) I don’t want anybody to leave this extraordinarily warm reception thinking, oh, good — (laughter) — you know, this is going to be great. It’s going to be hard. But if it weren’t hard, somebody else could do it, besides the professionals of the Foreign Service and the Civil Service and our Diplomatic and Development Corps. (Applause.)
Now, as you may have heard percolating through the building, you know, when I was first nominated, I realized that there was this living, organic creature known as the building. (Laughter.) And as you probably already know, we are expecting the President and the Vice President to be here in the State Department this afternoon. (Applause.)
Among the many conversations that I’ve had with the President and with the Vice President, over years, but certainly much more astutely and in a concentrated way in the last weeks, we want to send a clear and unequivocal message: This is a team, and you are the members of that team. There isn’t anything that I can get done from the seventh floor or the President can get done from the Oval Office, unless we make clear we are all on the American team. We are not any longer going to tolerate the kind of divisiveness that has paralyzed and undermined our ability to get things done for America.
So the President will be here — (applause) — on his second day in office to let all of you know, and all who are serving on our behalf around the world, how seriously committed he is to working with us. So this is going to be a great adventure. We’ll have some ups and some downs. We’ll face some obstacles along the way. But be of good cheer — (laughter) — and be of strong heart, and do not grow weary, as we attempt to do good on behalf of our country and the world.
I think this is a time of such potential and possibility. I don’t get up in the morning just thinking about the threats and the dangers, as real as they are. I also think about what we can do and who we are and what we represent. So I take this office with a real sense of joy and responsibility, commitment and collaboration. And now, ladies and gentlemen, let’s get to work. (Applause.)
Thank you and God bless you.
2009/068
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, NZPacific, Politics, US Presidential Elections 2008 | Tagged: barack obama, Breaking News, hillary rodham clinton, secretary of state, US Elections 2008, us embassy, US State Dept | Leave a Comment »
Posted on February 12, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
City Vision-Labour Councillors – Auckland City Council
Deputy Mayor and Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R) Councillor David Hay stunned members of the Auckland City Council’s Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee today when he spoke and voted against a funding package to rescue the Pasifika Festival.

Auckland City Deputy Mayor David Hay
The Auckland City Council, through this Committee, had to make an urgent decision as to whether to cancel or bail out the Pasifika festival after a pullout by major sponsors, principally government departments and crown agencies, had led to a $355,000 shortfall in funding. David Hay also recorded his vote against the majority decision not to cancel the Pasifika festival!
In his speech, Councillor Hay said that he was against funding an event which was costing almost $2 a head per participant.
City Vision-Labour Leader Councillor Richard Northey who attended the meeting but had no vote says, “Deputy Mayor Hay tried hard to persuade the committee that our iconic Pasifika Festival was not worth further council investment. This is the same man who, with his C&R colleagues, has consistently moved and voted for a $66 million spend-up on the Rugby World Cup. The Rugby World Cup is another exciting iconic event for Auckland but it is one which will cost Auckland City more than $200 per spectator and visitor, compared to just $2 each for keeping Pasifika!” Read more »
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region | Tagged: auckland city council, Auckland City Deputy Mayor David Hay, nz pacific community, Pasifika Festival, Polynesian community NZ | 2 Comments »
Posted on February 14, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:19:24 -0600
Anniversary of Former Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri’s Assassination
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC|
February 12, 2009
On February 14, 2005, killers assassinated former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and 22 others with a car bomb in downtown Beirut. This attack represented an attempt to silence not only Hariri, but all those voices in Lebanon calling out for independence and sovereignty.
However, this tragic day had the opposite effect. The Cedar Revolution that followed amplified the voices of those seeking justice and democracy, culminating in Syria’s withdrawal from Lebanon. Undeterred by continuing political violence, these forces have bravely continued their fight for a free and independent Lebanese state.

The United States is confident that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon will bring to justice those responsible for financing, planning, and carrying out the assassination of former Prime Minister Hariri. The formal launching of the Tribunal on March 1 will be an important sign of the international community’s determination to see this case solved. As evidence of our continued commitment to promoting justice in Lebanon, the United States pledges $6 million for the second year of the Tribunal’s operations, subject to Congressional approval of the FY09 budget, in addition to the $14 million already contributed.
The United States also continues its unwavering support for full implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 1701 and 1559, including their calls for all arms in Lebanon to be brought under state control and the delineation of Lebanon’s borders. As Lebanon prepares for important parliamentary elections this June, the United States will support Lebanese authorities’ efforts to ensure that they are free, fair, transparent, and unmarred by political violence.
On February 14, the United States and the international community stand with the people of Lebanon in marking this day of sorrow. We remain firmly committed to working together for a peaceful, prosperous, and sovereign Lebanon.
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Current, US & Foreign Affairs | Tagged: anniversary of assasination, former lebanon prime minister rafiq hariri, hillary clinton, us secretary of state | Leave a Comment »
Posted on February 14, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
The 50th Anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Trip to India and Black History Month Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Remarks With Mr. Martin Luther King III, Congressman John Lewis, Congressman Spencer Bachus and Mr. Herbie Hancock
Treaty Room
Washington, DC
View Video
February 12, 2009
SECRETARY CLINTON: Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Well, we are so delighted to have you – please be seated – here in the Treaty Room at the State Department for what is an historic occasion, something that means a great deal to this Department and to our country. I am pleased that His Excellency, Ambassador Sen of India is with us today, and I’m also very honored to be joined by a remarkable group of Americans. Read more »
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Honour & Tribute, Politics, US & Foreign Affairs | Tagged: 1959 Martin Luther King's trip to India, Chaka Khan, Civil Rights Movement, Congressman John Lewis, Congressman Spencer Bachus, Herbie Hancock, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, nonviolence, Prime Minister Nehru | Leave a Comment »
Posted on February 17, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Manukau City Council
Manukau City Council’s Pacific Island Advisory Committee (PIAC) is inviting communities to participate in its triennial election to select new members to represent the voices of the Pacific Peoples of Manukau.
Fourteen members are required from the following communities: Read more »
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, NZPacific, education | Tagged: manukau city council, nz pacific leaders, pacific island advisory committee | Leave a Comment »
Posted on February 18, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Drug control in the form of prohibition or a ‘War on Drugs’ has been a spectacular failure, a visiting American expert told a symposium in Wellington today. However, he says the alternative is not to abandon the effort altogether, but to figure out a better way.
Scott Burris, a professor at Temple Law School in Philadelphia, and Associate Director of the Centers for Law and the Public’s Health was speaking at the Healthy Drug Law Symposium being held in Wellington. Read more »
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, NZPacific, Politics, US & Foreign Affairs, education, health | Tagged: Healthy Drug Law Symposium, International Drug Policy Symposium - Through the Maze: Healthy Drug Law, new zealand crime, NZ Drug Foundation Director, war on drugs | Leave a Comment »
Posted on February 18, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Not my family, and never my child. Tony Trimingham says that, like most people, he knew little about drug-taking and thought it wasn’t something that would ever affect him. Then he discovered his son, Damien, was using heroin. He says if he hadn’t been so ignorant and unprepared, and if social attitudes toward drug use had been different, Damien’s tragic and fatal overdose in 1997 might have been avoided. Read more »
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Fono Notices, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region, education, health | Tagged: drug abuse, healthy drug law, NZ drug foundation, NZ society on alcohol and drug dependence, tony trimingham, war against drugs | Leave a Comment »
Posted on February 19, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Hon Paula Bennett
Minister for Social Development and Employment
Disability Issues
Youth Affairs
|

|
| 18 February 2009 |
Media Release
|
|
Proposed law changes will give community and iwi-based groups the chance to make a real difference in the lives of our most serious young offenders, says Social Development and Employment Minister Paula Bennett.
The Children, Young Persons and Their Families (Youth Courts Jurisdictions and Orders) Amendment Bill, will have its first reading tonight. Read more » |
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, NZPacific, Politics, education, health | Tagged: NZ Government, NZ Youth Court, Social Development and Employment Minister Paula Bennett, The Children, young offenders, Young Persons and Their Families (Youth Courts Jurisdictions and Orders) Amendment Bill, youth crime | Leave a Comment »
Posted on February 19, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Hon Georgina
te Heuheu
Minister of Pacific Island Affairs
|

|
| 18 February 2009 |
Media Release
|
| Fono looks for Pacific solution to jobs dilemma |
|
| Minimising the impact of the global economic recession on Pacific people is the goal of tomorrow’s fono(Thursday 19th February) called by Minister of Pacific Island Affairs, Hon Georgina te Heuheu.
The fono will canvass a Pacific perspective for the Government’s jobs summit later in the month.
Mrs te Heuheu said the current global economic climate presents challenges for all New Zealanders including Pacific communities. Read more » |
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Fono Notices, NZPacific, Politics, education, health | Tagged: Hon Minister of Pacific Island Affairs Georgina Te Heuheu, New Zealand's Pacific communities, NZ Government | Leave a Comment »
Posted on February 19, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Media release: 19 February 2009
Treatment for drug offenders a smarter option than criminalisation
The New Zealand government could save millions of dollars by diverting New Zealanders with drug problems out of the court system and into the Read more »
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region, education, health | Tagged: crime and drug use New Zealand, drug addictions, drug rehabilitation services, Executive Director of the Australian National Council on Drugs, Gino Vumbaca, New Zealand for the Healthy Drug Law Symposium | Leave a Comment »
Posted on February 20, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
HON GEORGINA TE HEUHEU
MINISTER OF PACIFIC ISLAND AFFAIRS
Pacific Jobs Fono
Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs
103-104 The Terrace
Wellington
9.30am, Thursday 19 February, 2009
E nga rangatira o te motu, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena tatou katoa
It is my pleasure to be here today, although I wish that the events prompting this fono were more positive ones. However we are here to consider how best to minimise the effects of the global economic turmoil for Pacific people. I know you will make the most of your time together. Read more »
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Fono Notices, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region, education, health | Tagged: HON GEORGINA TE HEUHEU, minister of pacific island affairs, Pacific Jobs Fono | Leave a Comment »
Posted on February 21, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Human Rights Commission
Media release
A national survey shows New Zealanders regard Asian people as most likely to be discriminated against. In the UMR Survey conducted on behalf of the Human Rights Commission, 74 per cent of survey respondents said Asians experience ‘a great deal’ or ’some’ discrimination. Men and children were the groups with the lowest level of perceived discrimination (27 per cent). Read more »
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Fono Notices, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region, education, health | Tagged: Human Rights Commission, race relations in New Zealand, Race Relations Report | Leave a Comment »
Posted on February 20, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
NEW ZEALAND SAMOA RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION INC.
REPRESENTATIVE TEAM 2009
SAMOA TRI-NATIONS SERIES, APIA, SAMOA.
24th February 2009 – 4th March 2009
| NAME |
POSITION |
UNION |
| Jeremiah Fatialofa |
Prop |
Auckland Samoa |
| Kini Aii |
Prop |
Auckland Samoa |
| Dennis Tommy |
Prop / Flanker |
Auckland Samoa |
| Ioane Ioane |
Hooker / Prop |
Auckland Samoa |
| Pena Tanoa’i |
Hooker |
Auckland Samoa |
| Laupepa Lau’ese |
Lock |
Auckland Samoa |
| Finauga Segi |
Lock |
Canterbury Samoa |
| Lionel Afaese Tauli |
Flanker / No. 8 |
Manawatu Samoa |
| Masefau Leuluniu |
Flanker |
Wellington Samoa |
| Taliilagi Leasuasu |
No. 8 / Flanker |
Auckland Samoa |
| Joe Mamea |
No. 8 |
Otago Samoa |
| Bethel Fauolo |
No. 8 |
Manawatu Samoa |
| Kyle Nuualiitia |
Halfback |
Auckland Samoa |
| Tasi Cordtz |
Halfback |
Otago Samoa |
| Sam Rasch |
1st 5/8 |
Wellington Samoa |
| Fa’atonu Fili |
1st 5/8 |
Wellington Samoa |
| Robinson Avei |
2nd 5/8 / Centre |
Auckland Samoa |
| Saul Luamanuvae |
2nd 5/8 / Centre |
Auckland Samoa |
| Lemi Masoe |
2nd 5/8 / Centre |
Otago Samoa |
| Jack Umaga |
2nd 5/8 / Centre |
Canterbury Samoa |
| John Vui |
2nd 5/8 / Centre |
Auckland Samoa |
| To’o Ai’i |
Wing |
Auckland Samoa |
| Lupe Ai’i |
Wing |
Auckland Samoa |
| Ray Alo |
Fullback / 1st 5/8 |
Auckland Samoa |
| Alaric Oka Muaimalae |
Fullback |
Canterbury Samoa |
COACHING & MANAGEMENT TEAM
Head Coach: Papali’itele Peter Fatialofa
Backs Coach: Ofisa Junior Tonu’u
Forwards Coach: Mark Birtwistle
Technical Adviser: Frank Bunce
Manager: Euini Lale-Faumuina
Physiotherapist: Ulima Tofi
Video Analyst/Statistician: Winston
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Fono Notices, NZPacific, South Pacific Region | Tagged: Frank Bunce, Mark Birtwistle, NEW ZEALAND SAMOA RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION, Ofisa Junior Tonu'u, Papali'itele Peter Fatialofa, SAMOA TRI-NATIONS SERIES | Leave a Comment »
Posted on February 23, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Cr Taima Fagaloa
Porirua City Council
Sun 22 Feb 2009
Pacific people have high levels of resilience and perserverance, but I think that this recession is going to be crunchier.
The up and coming Job Summit led by the Government needs to take heed of some of the forecasts outlined in the report by Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, says Porirua City Councillor Taima Fagaloa and Interim Chairperson of the Ministerial Advisory Council to the Minister of Pacific Island Affairs Honourable Georgina Te Heu Heu.
We need to consider a number of levels. One important part of finding the right solution is ensuring Pacific representatives are providing effective, frank and sound advice to the Ministers.
Over the past 10 years there have been signs that Pacific people have achieved to good positions in policy making and education.
It is important that those providing advice on behalf of Pacific communities have a high level of knowledge about what is actually happening at the grassroots levels so that any prudent investment the Government makes is well-targeted and effective.
We can’t afford to mismatch the investment, the impact will be devastating for generations to come.
The report released by MPIA last Friday identifies that high numbers of Pacific people are employed in ‘at risk’ industry categories such as manufacturing.
There is no doubt in my mind that Pacific people have achieved significant levels, however, no one could forecast the recession and the impact it has had.
So its important all communities in New Zealand are working towards finding collaborative solutions that work for everybody. We need immediate solutions, so families can continue to put immediate food on their tables.
I meet people regularly on the street in my community who have just been made redundant and although there are worrying signs of concern, there is still hope and determination to find a way.
It is these people that the Government should be talking to. They may not be Ministers and Councillors, Policy makers and have PhDs degrees but they know what they have the capacity to do and are probably in a better position of surviving the recession and, in turn, advising the Government on where the investment can be best targeted.
If I were sitting on the summit, I would be encouraging Government leaders to come out to communities like Porirua City where we have the 2nd largest Pacific population to talk with us, our community groups and our churches. We want to be part of the solution not the problem.
Government can’t do it on their own and we might surprise the Government and actually have something worth considering – don’t take too long, time is of the essence.
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Fono Notices, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region, education, health | Tagged: Georgina Te Heuheu, ministry of pacific islands affairs, Pacific Jobs Summit, Pacific Leader's Message to Pacific Affairs Minister, Porirua City Councillor, Taima Fagaloa | Leave a Comment »
Posted on February 26, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
February 26, 2009
Media Release
EPMU announces recession criteria
The EPMU is demanding openness and dialogue from employers as it deals with a growing number of proposals from businesses facing the recession this year.
The call comes as union releases its criteria for engaging with New Zealand companies hit by the economic crisis. Read more »
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Jobs In The Pacific, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region | Tagged: Engineers Printers and Manufacturing Union, EPMU Announces Recession Criteria, EPMU national secretary Andrew Little | Leave a Comment »
Posted on February 11, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
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Hon Luamanuvao Winnie Laban
Labour Party Spokesperson on Pacific Island Affairs
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| 11 February 2009 |
Media Statement
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Pacific community needs concrete commitments
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The Pacific community will expect more than a “meet and greet” with its new Pacific Island Affairs Minister Georgina te Heuheu tomorrow – it will want firm commitments on a range of fronts, says Labour’s Pacific Island Affairs spokesperson Luamanuvao Winnie Laban.
“Georgina te Heuheu has had very little to say about her portfolio since her appointment and her first formal welcoming ceremony in Mangere tomorrow will provide a perfect opportunity to outline her Government’s Pasifika agenda.
“The Pacific community will be reeling from the recent figures which show Pacific peoples have already been disproportionately affected by the recession – with the community’s unemployment rates jumping from 5.2 per cent to 7.8 per cent.
“With predictions the recession will result in growing unemployment, Pacific people will be particularly concerned by the steps already taken by National which will do little to bolster the ability of our families to weather the storm.
“The 90 day hire and fire law, tax changes which will see families earning less than $44,000 paying more tax and subsidising the more affluent and the pitiful minimum wage increases were bad news for Pacific workers and they will be fearful about what’s coming next,” said Luamanuvao Winnie Laban.
“Georgina te Heuheu needs to outline what specific responses the Government is developing to protect lower income communities who are more vulnerable in a recession and she needs to commit to keeping and building on the many initiatives developed by Labour for the Pacific communities.
“Is she committed to the Pacific Economic Action Plan and the Pacific Women’s Economic Development Plan launched by Labour? Will there be continued investment in early childhood, modern apprenticeship, health and other initiatives which benefit the Pacific community?” asked Luamanuvao Winnie Laban.
“I look forward to some firm direction from the minister – it’s about time.”
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Fono Notices, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region, health | Tagged: Hon Luamanuvao Winnie Laban, Labour Party Spokesperson on Pacific Island Affairs, Pacific community needs concrete commitments, Pacific Economic Action Plan, Pacific Island Affairs Minister Georgina te Heuheu, Pacific Women's Economic Development Plan | Leave a Comment »
Posted on February 28, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Media Statement 28 February 2009
Hon Luamanuvao Winnie Laban
Spokesperson on Pacific Island Affairs
Fire at will law bad news for Pacific workers
Pacific workers now more vulnerable than ever thanks to ‘fire at will’ legislation which comes into force tomorrow, Pacific Affairs spokesperson Luamanuvao Winnie Laban says.
“Pacific Island people are already amongst the hardest hit by this recession and will once again be left vulnerable by this ‘fire at will’ legislation that effectively strips rights from workers.
New Zealanders are smart enough to know that National’s claim that this will benefit employers and employees is ridiculous,” Winne Laban said.
“The reality is this law provides workers with no job security and no workers rights.
“People desperate for employment in these harsh economic times will be left vulnerable and open to abuse.
“Question must now be asked about how seriously the Minister of Pacific Affairs Georgina te Heuheu is taking her portfolio. Read more »
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region, education | Tagged: Job Summit, labour party, Labour Party Pacific Affairs spokesperson Luamanuvao Winnie Laban, March 1 2009, Minister of Pacific Affairs Georgina te Heuheu, national party, Pacific communities in New Zealand, Pacific issues | Leave a Comment »
Posted on March 2, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Assassinations in Guinea-Bissau
Robert Wood
Acting Department Spokesman, Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
March 2, 2009
The U.S. strongly condemns the violence that occurred in Guinea-Bissau over the weekend that resulted in the assassination of President Joao Bernardo “Nino” Vieira and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces General Batista Tagmé Na Waï.
We call for calm and for all parties in Guinea-Bissau to respect the rule of law and follow the established constitutional order regarding succession.
We will continue to monitor events as they unfold.
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Politics, US & Foreign Affairs | Tagged: assassination of President Joao Bernardo "Nino" Vieira and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces General Batista Tagmé Na Waï, Guinea-Bissau | Leave a Comment »
Posted on February 27, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
U.S. Opposes Iceland’s Decision To Establish Large Commercial Whaling Quota
Bureau of Public Affairs
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
February 27, 2009
The United States strongly opposes the Government of Iceland’s announcement on February 18, 2009, of its decision to uphold the former Government’s issuance of a quota for 150 fin and 100 minke whales to be harvested in Icelandic waters. We are deeply concerned that stocks of fin and minke whales are not adequate to support this harvest. We also believe this action will undermine the ongoing “future of the International Whaling Commission” efforts, of which Iceland is a participant. We call upon the Government of Iceland to rescind this decision and to focus on the long-term conservation of whale stocks, rather than on the short-term interests of its whaling industry.
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Politics, US & Foreign Affairs, education | Tagged: iceland, whaling | Leave a Comment »
Posted on March 12, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Department of Internal Affairs
MEDIA RELEASE
12 March 2009
Dunedin / Southland Elects Pacific Leader
Pacific people in Dunedin / Southland have a new voice in government.
Vaoga Mauala Eti Fata has been elected to the Department of Internal Affairs’ Pacific Island Consultation and Advisory Group (PICAG).
PICAG members work with Pacific Island communities to identify local issues. They provide strategic advice to the Local Government and Community Branch on how to improve responsiveness to Pacific Island communities and groups in New Zealand.
Those who stood for election were nominated by a community group in their area. Voting was conducted at a public meeting.
Anne Carter, Deputy Secretary of the Local Government and Community Branch, said the elections to PICAG were an excellent example of communities taking part in the democratic process.
“By working with members of PICAG, we are better able to effectively communicate in a timely and accurate way. This exchange of strategic information is vital if we are to understand and meet the needs of Pacific Island communities.”
“This partnership is important for the Local Government and Community Branch in reaching its goal of building strong, sustainable communities / hapu / iwi.”
PICAG elects representatives from Auckland Central, Manukau, Waitakere, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Porirua, Hutt Valley, Christchurch and Dunedin.
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region, education | Tagged: Anne Carter, Department of Internal Affairs' Pacific Island Consultation and Advisory Group (PICAG), dunedin, Pacific Island, pacific representative, PICAG, southland | Leave a Comment »
Posted on March 12, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Christchurch City Council
MEDIA RELEASE 12 March 2009
CHRISTCHURCH RUGBY WORLD CUP MATCHES
Christchurch is very pleased at the announcement the city will host five pool games at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
This is in addition to the two quarterfinal games the city will host – which will feature both the winner and the runner-up of the All Blacks’ pool.
“Naturally, we’re very confident this means we will see the All Blacks playing in Christchurch,” said Mayor Bob Parker.
Other teams that will play in Christchurch during the tournament are Argentina, England, Australia, Italy, Scotland, and two other European teams.
“The quality of the Christchurch facilities and the city’s overall approach to the tournament are major factors behind these games being awarded to the city,” said Bob Parker. “It is a vindication of our bold step to upgrade the AMI Stadium.
“And this expression of confidence by Rugby World Cup New Zealand in our efforts so far only serves to reinforce our commitment to helping make this the best Rugby World Cup tournament ever. We are just thrilled that Christchurch will achieve its goal of playing a leading role in this tournament.”
The city is still waiting to hear which teams will be based in the city for the duration of the tournament – an announcement that RWC New Zealand will make later this year. The Christchurch Steering Group (consisting of the Christchurch City Council, Canterbury Rugby Football Union, the Police, Vbase, Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism and Canterbury Development Corporation) suggested in its bid that England, France and Australia would all be a good fit for the city.
Filed under: Community, NZPacific, South Pacific Region | Tagged: 2011 Rugby World Cup, All Blacks, Canterbury Rugby Football Union, Christchurch, Rugby World Cup New Zealand | Leave a Comment »
Posted on March 13, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Media Statement
Carmel Sepuloni
Labour MP
Labour MPs Strong Supporters of Pasifika Festival Concerned At Uncertainty of Funding
Labour MPs will support both Pasifika Festival on March 14 and the community organised Opening Night. Su’a William Sio and Carmel Sepuloni will be accompanied by the Hon. Phil Goff and other Labour MPs.
“Funding is uncertain for all of our Pasifika initiatives during this time of recession, but the community initiated and organised opening night is a testament to the determination of Pacific communities to retain the things they value and a reflection of true collaboration,” said Carmel Sepuloni
“Of course we as Labour MPs want to support Pacific communities during these uncertain times and yes the recession requires an emphasis on retaining jobs, but in the midst of this we must not forget that retaining identity and strengthening communities will be of equal importance. We don’t want to see the Pasifika Festival and other like festivals be casualties of fiscal constraints”.
“We must also keep in mind that holding the Pasifika Festival is not done as a ‘favour’ to Pasifika communities. Money is made across the region and at the festival on the day, but unfortunately Auckland City Council doesn’t seem to have done their homework with regards to working out how much money is generated from the festival”. Read more »
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Fono Notices, NZPacific, Politics, South Pacific Region | Tagged: auckland city council, Auckland City Council Economic Impact Assessment Report, Labour MPs, Pasifika Festival | Leave a Comment »
Posted on March 13, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Su’a William Sio
MP for Mangere
Spokesperson on Customs
Associate Local Government
Associate Pacific Island Affairs
NZ Labour Party
13 March 2009 Media Statement
Education Minister sends mixed messages to pre-schoolers
The Education Minister is sending mixed messages to parents of pre-schoolers in Manukau who are seeking to send their under 5 year olds to early childhood centres that may or may not be built says MP for Mangere, Su’a William Sio.
“The Minister has said one thing publicly and something else in the House today and that is going to annoy a lot of parents in Manukau,” says the MP. Read more »
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Fono Notices, NZPacific, Politics, education, health | Tagged: Anne Tolley, Education Minister, Greenmeadows Intermediate, Homai Primary, James Cook High, Mangere Bridge, mangere east, Mansell Senior, manukau schools, national government, pre-schoolers in Manukau, Sir Douglas Bader Intermediate, Weymouth and Manurewa West schools | Leave a Comment »
Posted on March 13, 2009 by pacificEyeWitness.org
Media Release
For Immediate Release
10 March 2009
Call for applications to Fulbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writers’ Residency at the University of Hawaii
New Zealand-based writers of Pacific heritage wishing to work on a project exploring Pacific identity, culture or history are invited to apply to the Fulbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writers’ Residency. The residency will run for three months from mid August 2009 at the Centre for Pacific Islands Studies at the University of Hawaii.
Applications to the 2009 Fulbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writers’ Residency at the University of Hawaii close at 5pm on Monday 6 April, 2009. Read more »
Filed under: Analysis, Breaking News, Business, Community, Current, Fono Notices, NZPacific, Pacific Scholarships Awards, South Pacific Region, education | Tagged: 2009 Fulbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writers' Residency, fiction, non-fiction writers, playwrights, poets, screenwriters, University of Hawaii, writers professional development | Leave a Comment »
Solomon Islands: Time to End Safe Haven for Crimes Under International Law
HONIARA, SOLOMAN ISLANDS: Burned out buildings in Chinatown are shown following rioting and looting April 20, 2006 in the Solomon Islands Capital of Honiara. Rioters angered by the election of the unpopular Snyder Rini as prime minister attacked police and plundered parts of Chinatown in response. One hundred and eighty Australian soldiers and police arrived in the capital to quell the protests. (Photo by Ross Land/Getty Images)
Amnesty International Aotearoa NZ
Media Release
Solomon Islands: Time to end safe haven for crimes under international law
Amnesty International has today launched Solomon Islands: End Impunity Through Universal Jurisdiction, the first paper of the No Safe Haven Series covering a country in the Pacific and the first to analyse a common law legal system.
The paper evaluates whether Solomon Islands has met its obligations as a member of the international community to define crimes under international law as crimes under national law and to provide effective universal criminal and civil jurisdiction over those crimes. The paper also examines whether Solomon Islands is able to cooperate – subject to human rights safeguards – with other states in the extradition of those suspected of such crimes and in the exchange of information to assist other states which are investigating or prosecuting them.
Solomon Islands’ courts can exercise universal criminal jurisdiction over grave breaches of the 1949 Geneva Conventions. However, Solomon Islands has failed to define the most heinous crimes, such as crimes against humanity, war crimes (other than grave breaches), torture, extrajudicial executions or enforced disappearances as crimes under national law. Amnesty International is deeply concerned that Solomon Islands is, therefore, currently a safe haven from prosecution in its courts for foreigners who are responsible for these crimes (committed abroad against other foreigners).
A second series of concerns pertains to extradition. Amnesty International regrets that the Solomon Islands is also a safe haven from extradition to any country for foreigners who are responsible for genocide, war crimes, torture, extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances committed abroad, as none of these crimes are listed as extradition crimes. In addition, such persons cannot be arrested and surrendered to the International Criminal Court or any other international criminal court.
Furthermore, no legislation authorises Solomon Islands to exercise universal civil jurisdiction, which means that it is unable to fulfil its obligations to provide full reparation for victims of crimes under international law.
Amnesty International is submitting this report to the Solomon Islands Law Reform Commission, urging it to take into account its detailed recommendations for law reform so that the country can fulfil its obligations under international law and rightly be at the frontline in the fight against impunity for the worst imaginable crimes.
Background
This paper is the sixth in a series on each of the 192 member states of the United Nations, designed to help lawyers, victims, and their families identify countries where people suspected of committing crimes under international law might be effectively prosecuted and required to provide full reparations through universal jurisdiction.
Each paper also provides clear recommendations on how the government concerned can bring its national law into line with international law. The series aims to ensure that no safe haven exists anywhere in the world for those responsible for crimes against the entire international community.
To read the paper, Solomon Islands: End Impunity Through Universal Jurisdiction, please visit www.amnesty.org.nz/news/solomon-islands-time-end-safe-haven-crimes-under-international-law
Celebrate International Human Rights Day (10 Dec) with us!
Visit www.amnesty.org.nz to find out how
Filed under: Analysis, Business, Community, Current, Environment, NZPacific, Opinion & Commentary, Politics, South Pacific Region | Tagged: 57333539, amnesty inernational, built structure, burnt, chinatown, crime, destruction, disaster, following, geneva convention, Honiara, human rights, jurisdiction, lawyers, legal, Looting, no safe haven, nz pacific news, outs, pacific news, People, problems, protest, riot, solomon islands, Solomon Islands Capital, united nations, war | Leave a Comment »