The Holy Father, with the agreement of the respective governments, has announced that Archbishop Martin Krebs is the new Apostolic Nuncio to New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Palau, and Federated States of Micronesia in the Pacific. Archbishop Krebs (56) was born in Essen, Germany. He was ordained priest in 1983, and after obtaining a doctorate in Read more
A Pacific researcher has joined growing calls in Australia to lift bans on drinking the traditional drink, Kava.
Pacific Islanders in Canberra have been working with Australia’s Greens Party and the Government in the Australian Capital Territory to allow consumption of the alcoholic drink.
The ban was imposed in 2009, after several deaths in Europe were linked to Kava tablets.
Read the article...
The Lowy institute has expressed concern about the Pacific nations’ growing indebtedness. The report surveys Pacific states for a breakdown of the aid and loans they have received from China. It states that China’s aid to Pacific nations over five years totals just over $NZ800 million. The bulk of China’s aid is through soft loans Read more
Churches are responding to the threat of AIDS/HIV by ensuring those training ministers, deaconesses, pastors and working in the spiritual education of lay members, especially young people have the capacity to discuss and engage with HIV and AIDS from a Christian perspective. Representatives from a number of Christian churches recently attended a course in Suva entitled Read more