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Kia Ora (NZ Maori)
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Kam na mauri (Kiribati)
Alii (Palau)Ekamwir-omo (Nauru)
The team at SPASIFIK have made it easy by sourcing Pacific and Maori news from around the Pacific and abroad. Only a click away from all the latest news, we will have a selection of daily links for you to enjoy.
Heat is on mine owners in Papua after collapse claims 28 victims
Melbourne police play down media report on Maori/Pacific gang
Pacific Islands parliamentarians visit China
NRL star distances himself from assault
Georgian President says Pacific Island no longer recognises Abkhazia
Study flags infant obesity concerns in American Samoa
Solomon Islands made history in UN
SOUND BITES:
Pacific News for 23 May 2013
Te Manu Korihi News for 23 May 2013
May 22nd 2013
PACIFIC REGION
Tonga celebrates arrival of Broadband
Tonga’s National ICT Day showcased the advent of high-speed internet in July, under the first phase of the Pacific Regional Connectivity Project supported by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
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May 21st 2013
New Pacific Health magazine launches
Pacific Peoples Health is a free health publication launched by Oceania Media Ltd, publishers of SPASIFIK and SPASIFIKmag.com. Educating and informing Pacific Health service users, it is New Zealand’s only publication dedicated solely to Pacific people’s health and will specifically target Auckland, where more than two-thirds of the nation’s Pacific population lives.
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May 17th 2013
ISSUE 56 EXCLUSIVE
Political Leaders meet for first ever Pacific Parliament
Health, climate change, gender equality, and problems isolated Pacific communities face were just a handful of the many topics discussed and debated when more than 70 Pacific leaders from around 20 countries descended on Wellington’s Beehive for the first ever Pacific Parliament on April 18-22.
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May 16th 2013
MUSIC
Three Houses Down release EP and announce tour
After riding the wave of international success, an award-winning sophomore album and a strong tradition of unbeatable live performances, Three Houses Down are back with the release of their Moon & Back EP on 31 May.
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May 15th 2013
Kicking the habit for good
Realising that she had been smoking for ten years was the wake-up call that 30-year-old Aucklander Jasmine Reti needed to quit. She’d started smoking age 17 and had tried to quit twice before she successfully kicked the habit in 2008.
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May 14th 2013
EU-funded community theatre builds courage among women in South Pacific
For years, female survivors of domestic violence in the Solomon Islands have been afraid of saying anything in public, unable to find a way to stand up to the oppressive abuse they experience on a regular basis at home.
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May 8th 2013
Pacific youth come together for the Auckland Pasifika Youth Conference
Over 200 young Pacific people will share their views on how they can do better at the Pacifika Youth Conference in Auckland, says Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs Chief Executive Pauline Winter.
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May 2nd 2013
ENTERTAINMENT
Ashley Tonga making waves overseas
18-year-old drag queen Ashley Tonga stunned New Zealand audiences with a flamboyant rendition of ‘Proud Mary’ on X Factor New Zealand that saw her progress to the boot camp stage of the competition. But her “proud” performance alone has already scored her universal acclaim.
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May 1st 2013
Maoridom remembers ‘Matua’ Horomia
The Labour Party lost their ‘Matua’ yesterday when long-serving Ikaroa-Rawhiti MP Parekura Horomia passed away due to health complications at his Tolaga Bay home surrounded by his closest friends and family, of which MP Shane Jones was included to offer a final farewell.
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May 1st 2013
DANCE
Atamira set to wow audiences on US tour
The oldest international summer dance festival in the United States, the acclaimed Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival presents many forms, styles and traditions from across the world with an audience of 80,000 every August.
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April 29th 2013
POLITICS
Cook Islands to not stray from gay marriage stance
Same-sex marriage was approved by the New Zealand Parliament almost two weeks ago but the Cook Islands will stay true to fundamental Christian beliefs on which its government was founded, according to Prime Minister Henry Puna.
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April 29th 2013
FEATURED
We're not racist, but...
Editor and owner of SPASIFIK Magazine, Innes Logan, featured in New Zealand’s Weekend Herald on April 28 in an opinion piece by Susan Edmonds on identity and cultural diversity in Aotearoa. He says the biggest driver of racism is not being exposed to other cultures.
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April 24th 2013
POLITICS
Britain wants to be present in the Pacific again
Britain wants to renew ties with the Pacific after being significantly absent for almost a decade. After the British Government withdrew twice from the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, they want to reestablish ongoing diplomatic relations yet again.
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April 23rd 2013
Committee established to prevent collapse of Pacific Islands Media Association
An interim committee has been assembled to assess the future role of the Pacific Islands Media Association (PIMA) in response to a threateningly low turnout at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting recently
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April 19th 2013
POLITICS
Regional leaders debate Pacific issues at New Zealand parliament
The first-ever general debate on Pacific issues will be held today in Parliament. The debate will be part of the Pacific Parliamentary and Political Leaders Forum, a gathering in Wellington of 70 politicians and leaders from across the Pacific region.
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April 19th 2013
EXHIBITION
Fresh Horizons for aspiring artists
Dunedin secondary school students will get a chance to hone their talents and try new art related ideas in workshops this month. The workshops, part of Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust’s Fresh Horizons programme, will be held on 22, 23 & 24 April.
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April 17th 2013
Fishing trip goes wrong for another Pacific family
Despite rough weather a family of seven set off from Kawakawa Bay south-east of Auckland yesterday on a near-fatal fishing trip. A family fishing trip took a turn for the worst yesterday when seven people were left drifting in the Hauraki Gulf after their vessel sank.
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April 16th 2013
AWARDS
Albert Wendt honoured at former high school
Distinguished writer, Albert Wendt, who featured in SPASIFIK Issue 54, appeared in the Taranaki Daily News after being honoured by the high school he attended in New Plymouth as a young boy fresh from Samoa.
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April 9th 2013
ENTERTAINMENT
Jay Laga'aia to play The Wizard of Oz
New Zealand- born Samoan star of stage, television and screen, Jay Laga’aia, is confirmed to play The Wizard of Oz in the Auckland season of WICKED, the Broadway musical blockbuster coming to New Zealand in September.
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April 8th 2013
ISSUE 55 EXCLUSIVE
Education: the key to health and prosperity for Pacific people
This summer has been stunning and it is traditionally a time for firing up the BBQ and enjoying time with family and friends at the beach or local pools. It can also be a time of tragedy for some families, as witnessed by the fatalities we have seen recently on the water.
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April 8th 2013
ISSUE 55 EXCLUSIVE
Stand up and be counted
The Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs is calling on Pacific parents to play a bigger part in their children’s education by standing for elections and voting in the school’s Board of Trustees. MPIA is also seeking nominations for Pacific people with the right skill-set for various governance boards and committees.
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April 8th 2013
Pacific Homecare job vacancy: office administrator
Pacific Homecare is looking for an Office Administrator to join their dynamic and professional team in South Auckland. This role would be suitable for an enthusiastic, self-motivated, team-player who can take ownership of internal initiatives.
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April 5th 2013
POLITICS
SPEECH: Su'a William Sio on definition of marriage amendment bill
On 27 March 2013, Labour MP for Mangere, Su’a William Sio, set forth to propose another marriage amendment bill in wake of the high-profile marriage equality debate. His amendment was defeated in the Committee stage debate of the bill with 22 votes in favour, and 88 votes against.
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April 4th 2013
PACIFIC REGION
Samoa Airlines charges passengers by weight
Travel light, is what Samoa Air is telling passengers quite literally, as the airline has become the first in the world to introduce "pay as you weigh" flights in which overweight passengers have to shell out extra cash.
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March 25th 2013
ISSUE 55 EXCLUSIVE
Trio in Tandem at TAV
The popular TAV clothing store in the central Auckland suburb of Mt Eden, featuring Cook Island garments worn by Catherine Duchess of Cambridge, have welcomed two more quality labels inspired by the islands they come from.
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March 22nd 2013
Maori not happy about the appointment of Dame Susan Devoy as Race Relations Commissioner
With the appointment of Dame Susan Devoy as the country’s new Race Relations Commissioner earlier this month, opponents have highlighted her record of criticising Waitangi Day and the wearing of burqas in New Zealand.
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March 22nd 2013
ISSUE 55 EXCLUSIVE
A unique opportunity for cooperation
The five graduates, who all completed a WelTec or Whitireia pre-trade qualification in plumbing, flew to Apia, Samoa with WelTec tutor Ken Hodge in late January where they have been putting their plumbing skills into practice.
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March 20th 2013
ARTS FESTIVAL
Contemporary Pacific Arts Festival hits Australia
The inaugural Contemporary Pacific Arts Festival (CPAF), developed by Footscray Community Arts Centre and the Big Island Collective, will be bringing together a series of events that showcase excellence in Pacific Contemporary Arts from artists of Pacific Island heritage.
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March 13th 2013
Radio NZ reports
Language advocates say Auckland is failing to reap the benefits of being one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world. Interview includes comments from Hamish Crooks, Chief Executive of Pacific Homecare.
March 12th 2013
Ed Sheeran gets ta moko during New Zealand visit
Ed Sheeran’s visit to New Zealand was brief but he left Aotearoa with something he will treasure for the rest of his life. The red-headed singer-songwriter from Sussex who shot to fame in 2012, received his first “tattoo with real meaning” when he was in the country over the weekend.
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March 8th 2013
PACIFIC REGION
Chef Oliver and Zoomslide TV to promote Samoan cuisine and food tourism
SPASIFIK Columnist and International Chef Robert Oliver and Zoomslide television productions are back in Samoa to film an episode of their food and travel show Real Pasifik.
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March 5th 2013
PACIFIC REGION
Young Pacific Islanders in Melbourne weave new films
A unique filmmaking project in Melbourne, Australia is reenergising traditional Pacific storytelling. Story Weavers is a hands-on filmmaking project for young Melbourne-based Pacific Islanders wanting to make a stronger connection with their Pacific identity in urban Australia.
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March 1st 2013
NEWS
Maori studies professor named New Zealander of the Year
An Auckland University Maori Studies professor has been named New Zealander of the Year. Dame Anne Salmond was awarded the title for her services in Maori and Pacific studies at a gala dinner in Auckland this week (Feb 28).
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February 28th 2013
PACIFIC SHOWCASE MARKET 2013
Telesa author in public book signing at Pacific Showcase
Acclaimed Samoan writer, Lani Wendt Young, author of the celebrated Telesa series, is holding a book signing on Saturday, March 2nd at the Pacific Showcase Market in Auckland to promote her latest installment to the series, I Am Daniel Tahi.
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February 27th 2013
Tame Iti emerges as a new man
Tame Iti made his first public appearance today since being released from prison looking happier and healthier as ever. Tuhoe activist, Tame Iti was spotted for the first time this morning since being released from Waikeria Prison two weeks ago.
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February 27th 2013
Government adds their 25 cents to the minimum wage discussion
The minimum wage rose by 25 cents this week, leaving a sour taste in the mouth of many New Zealanders. New Zealand’s Labour Minister, Simon Bridges, yesterday announced the minimum wage is to rise to $13.75.
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February 22nd 2013
PACIFIC REGION
Immigration issues for Tongan seasonal workers
Tongan workers involved in the New Zealand Recognised Seasonal Employers programme were not able travel to New Zealand on Monday (February 18) as intended because Immigration New Zealand put their visa applications on hold.
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February 19th 2013
PACIFIC REGION
Kiribati President to receive Edmund Hillary leadership award
Two officers from the New Zealand-based Hillary Institute of International Leadership are expected to arrive in Kiribati this week to present President Anote Tong with the Edmund Hillary leadership award.
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February 19th 2013
PACIFIC SHOWCASE
A Pacific showcase of art and culture
The annual Pacific Showcase aims to bring together the best of the Pacific. On Saturday February 16, as well as some of the finest Pacific products, the Showcase featured two of the leading people in Pacific art.
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February 8th 2013
More sorcery-related killings in Papua New Guinea
Sorcery or witchcraft is an ongoing problem in Papua New Guinea and with the latest sorcery-related killing in PNG’s Western Highlands province yesterday, church leaders and development agencies like OXFAM are calling for better legislation and education to help stem the problem before it grows out of control.
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February 8th 2013
MUSIC
Aaradhna signs US Record Deal
Following the Platinum Single presentation for her number one song ‘Wake Up’, Frequency Media Group/Dawn Raid Entertainment have announced that leading Kiwi songstress Aaradhna has signed a multi-album deal with Republic Records in the USA.
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February 4th 2013
FILM
Hollywood producers mentor Pacific Filmmakers at Film Raro
Come March, brothers Webster and Robert Stone will mentor local filmmakers during the Film Raro Pacific Paradise Film Challenge. The Challenge will see teams of professional filmmakers from all over the world journey to Rarotonga.
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