The celebration of Samoa Independence day began with a thanksgiving service, last Thursday evening. The service was held at the traditional seat of Parliament, the Malae Tiafau, Mulinu’u. Chairman of the National Council of Churches, Catholic Deacon Kasiano Le’aupepe, who led the service, called on the leaders of Samoa to take out a new leaf Read more
When the Harlequins beat Leicester in the Aviva Premiership Rugby Final at Twickenham Stadium their flanker Maurie Fa’asavalu found himself opposing with his compatriot Leicester wing Alesana Tuilagi. The pair first locked horns as teenagers in Apia Speaking earlier in the week Fa’asavalu said: ‘We are from the same club in Samoa -the Marist club Read more
A workshop for Pacific Island nations opened in Fiji this week, aimed at getting children involved in adapting to climate change. Pacific in Community Development Fiji and People’s of the South Pacific International have joined PLAN Australia to run the workshop. PLAN Australia’s disaster risk manager, Suresh Pokharel, says children were affected by climate change Read more
Chanel College in Samoa was established in 1962. That was the year that Samoa became independent. This weekend it is celebrating its jubilee while the country is celebrating fifty years of independence. The celebrations will be attended by many former teachers and students from all over the world, including one of the founders, Father Conrad Read more
A Supreme Court decision has once again put Papua New Guinea in crisis. The court has again declared that the current government, led by Peter O’Neill, is illegal – this time on the eve of scheduled elections. Parliament has voted to declare a State of Emergency, and the Chief Justice has been arrested. The decision Read more
There are signs that Russia is buying support from Pacific nations according to Australia’s parliamentary secretary for Pacific Islands Affairs, Richard Marles. He says there are signs that Russia’s recent aid projects in the Pacific were designed to buy support for its territorial claims in Europe. Russia has made development aid commitments to tiny Tuvalu Read more
Planning permission is being sought to build a $100,000-plus Pacific Island village in Porirua, a city near Wellington in New Zealand. The man making the proposal, Ueli Sasagi, says that with 26 per cent of Porirua’s community made up of Pacific people, it was the ideal place for the proposed village. Ueli, a resource management planner, Read more
The Pacific Conceptual Framework to Address Family Violence in New Zealand was launched in Auckland on Wednesday. Speaking at the launching, the Associate Minister of Social Development, Tariana Turia, said that Aotearoa can learn from Pacific nations. “Today is a very significant day – a day in which Pacific nations have established a platform for Read more
A law and Religion conference was held in Samoa at the beginning of May. The main purpose of the conference was to look for ways to ensure the establishment of robust relationships that would promote religious freedom and tolerance and mutual respect for different churches and faiths, including, a sensitivity to and respect for, local practices. In his Read more
The Methodist church in Fiji says in will not be swayed on the matter of same sex unions, but it respects the individual rights of sexual minority groups. The Church will offer spiritual guidance to members of the group who seek their advice. The acting general secretary of the Methodist Church in Fij, Reverend Tevita Read more