Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced support for the memorial and the refurbishment of the nurses' training centre to mark the centenary of the arrival of a ship from New Zealand which was carrying sick passengers.

"One hundred years ago the New Zealand passenger ship Talune arrived in Apia, with flu infected passengers on board. The consequences of that arrival were devastating," Peters said.

"We acknowledge that almost all Samoan families were impacted in some way by the epidemic and we respectfully join with Samoa to mark the centenary today as National Health Day."

On 7 November 1918, the New Zealand passenger and cargo ship Talune arrived at Apia from Auckland.

On board were people suffering from pneumonic influenza, a highly infectious disease already responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths around the world.

Although the Talune had been quarantined in Fiji, the New Zealand administration in Samoa allowed sick passengers to disembark with no quarantine checks.

The disease spread rapidly, killing an estimated 20 percent of the population - at least 8,500 people - in less than two months.

In New Zealand, the number who died was 8573.

According to a 1947 United Nations report, the epidemic in Samoa ranked as one of the most disastrous epidemics recorded anywhere in the world during the 20th century, so far as the proportion of deaths to the population is concerned.

The commemoration was marked with a public holiday, church service and ceremony at the mass grave at Vaimea, one of the dozens of mass graves that dot the country.

The New Zealand High Commissioner to Samoa represented the government at commemoration services in Apia.

Source

• tvnz.co.nz
• radionz.co.nz
• scoop.co.nz
• radionz.co.nz
• nzhistory.govt.nz
• Image:en.wikipedia.org

At a press conference on Thursday New Zealand Prime Minster, John Key, said he and Samoan Prime minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi had discussed the possibility of expanding the existing Recognised Seasonal Employer Strategy, which enables Samoans to access seasonal horticulture and viticulture work, to include trades. "And that's a possibility in Christchurch," according to Key.

Earlier in a speech to mark the 5oth anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship between Samoa and New Zealand Key said Samoans are making a rich and important contribution to the fabric of New Zealand . "The arts and culture of Samoan New Zealanders have enriched New Zealand, and helped form part of our national identity."

Key said "Many of New Zealand's national and international achievements reflect the contributions of highly talented Samoans - whether in arts, literature, sport, film-making, music, business, or a host of other areas. Those success stories are as much Samoan as New Zealand."

"This is reflected in the delegation travelling with me. We have political leaders, church leaders, sports heroes, business people and academics. These are all prominent and proud representatives of Samoan New Zealand communities," he said.

Source

• Voxy.co.nz
• Island Business
• Image: Te News