September 2nd 2010
South Pacific women to reap the benefits of a new World Bank Scheme
With the aim of providing performance-based grants and business advice to microfinance organisations in Pacific countries and East Timor, a new scheme has been funded by the World Bank’s International Finance Cooperation.
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September 1st 2010
Pacific Trade Expo now scheduled for 2011
The 2010 Pacific Trade Con ference & Expo scheduled for September 21-22nd and hosted by the New Zealand Pacific Business Council, is now postponed to March 14-15, 2011. NZPBC chairman Gilbert Ullrich says a number of factors caused the change – the main reason being so that the optimum number of Pacific Island governments and private sector operators can attend.
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August 27th 2010
Maori Accountants share ideas for sustainability
About 80, including 15 accounting, business and commerce students (eight of them from Massey) are expected to attend along with professional accountants from throughout New Zealand.
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August 27th 2010
Fighting drugs goes to the dogs
Growing drug trafficking in the Pacific has prompted the Pacific Security Fund and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) to support the establishment and training for drug dogs and handlers in Samoa and Tonga.
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August 25th 2010
New tourism venture for American Samoa
Whale watching can be big business and the setting up of such a venture would be welcomed by American Samoa.
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August 23rd 2010
FOMA supports compulsory superannuation
The Federation of Maori Authorities (FOMA) supports the Government’s move to re-examine compulsory superannuation in an effort to lift national savings.
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August 20th 2010
Opportunities for investment in Pacific Region
The first ever Pacific Islands Investment Summit was organized by the Forum Secretariat's Pacific Islands Trade and Investment in Sydney.
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August 19th 2010
Deloitte announces appointment of new Maori business sector leader
Deloitte announced today the appointment of Leon Wijohn as an accounting and advisory partner, based in its Auckland office, and lead partner for its Maori business team. Mr Wijohn will have two main focus areas: working with SMEs (small to medium-sized enterprises) and working with Maori-owned businesses or trusts.
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August 18th 2010
Tongan vegetables for New Zealand shops
Tonga’s Growers Federation is happy that their heat treatment plant is finally up and running again, said the CEO, Viliami Tiseni. They will now be able to export more vegetables to New Zealand.
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August 11th 2010
New Caledonian Kanaka chiefs hope to share knowledge with Vanuatu
Vanuatu has recently successfully come up with a number of hybrid yams, taro, sweet potatoes and cassava
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August 4th 2010
Honey - The sweet taste of success
Following on from a growing interest from villages - mainly members of BASI, WIBDI, SUNGO and the Livestock Division under the Ministry of Agriculture, a major milestone will be achieved for the Beekeepers Associations of Samoa Inc (BASI) with a capacity building programme for village communities.
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August 4th 2010
On the trail of quality Pacific products
The Pacific Cooperation Foundation (PCF) is launching a quality assurance mark originating from the Pacific. Senior Programme Manager Chris Cocker and Project Manager Stella Tanoi report on their visits to the islands.
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August 4th 2010
2010 Pacific Trade Expo postponed
The 2010 Pacific Trade Conference & Expo scheduled for September 21-22nd and hosted by the New Zealand Pacific Business Council, is now postponed to March 14-15, 2011.
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Rapare 29 Hongongoi 2010
Samoa becomes third country to benefit from Pacific Islands business mentoring programme
The new Pacific Islands Business Mentoring Programme has been launched in Samoa. Five volunteer mentors from Business Mentors New Zealand (BMNZ) landed in the country on Monday.
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Raapa 28 Hongongoi 2010
Innovative idea turns weed into energy
An innovative idea for iwi to turn waterweed into energy has won funding from the Foundation for Science, Research and Technology worth $107,500 over three years.
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July 23rd 2010
Young Pacifica entrepreneurs compete in competition
A group of Christchurch students are swapping the rugby ball for soap and male moisturizer in a bid to win in the Young Enterprise Scheme, a national competition requiring students to set up businesses and turn a profit.
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July 13th 2010
WiFi Nation Expands Coverage
The day when all villages on Niue have WiFi internet coverage is drawing closer.
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Uniquely Karas
From starting as a small shop on the outskirts of Apia, Samoa two decades ago, Karas has become an international business
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Building in the Pacific
The SPASIFIK November/December 2009 Issue 34 profiled Cook Islander Joe McCarthy who shared his dream of building a home on is "piece of paradise" in Titikaveka, Rarotonga. At the start of the year his dream became a reality when he and his friends built it... in 10 days.
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New Events centre opens in Onehunga
A new events and cultural centre is up and running in Onehunga thanks to the dream of Pulotu Arthur and Maretta Solomon, who opened the Brother Priscillian Music, Performing Arts, vents & Culture Centre.
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Samoa's new High Commissioner
New Zealand’s new High Commissioner to Samoa will be career diplomat Nick Hurley. He takes up his assignment in late July, replacing Caroline Bilkey, who is returning to Wellington. He talks to SPASIFIK about his experience in the Pacific and about his latest diplomatic posting.
Conference adds appeal to Trade Expo
The extension into a conference with seminars and workshops ensures the New Zealand Pacific Business Council’s third Pacific Trade Conference and Expo at the TelstraClear Events Centre on September 21-22 will be the biggest so far
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In his element
“It’s always a struggle doing business when you have a family,” says Warren Burrows (Ngai Tahu), father of three and owner of Power Signs in Nelson. “But Warren’s children are all grown up now, so times have become easier. But this signwriter says he wouldn’t have changed anything for the world.that’s something you get through.”
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My own boss
Dr Scott Waghorn has been a dentist for six years. After five years of study at the University of Otago, Scott, of Ngäpuhi descent, moved to Auckland to work in a dental practice and gain experience from professionals in the industry. While the move was successful in helping him achieve more hands-on knowledge, he was looking for something more.
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Perfect Timing
Organising a match to raise funds for the Samoan Tsunami Relief effort as General Manager of New Zealand Rugby League last October was the spark that led Peter Cordtz to think of a career outside of the game he served for a decade. INNES LOGAN interviews the 44-yearold, now the new chief executive of the Pacific Business Trust
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Fishy Business
While commercial fish farming is on the increase as an answer to depleting ocean stocks, Native Hawaiians and Environmentalists are urging traditional alternatives to industrial fish farms. ANA CURRIE reports from Hawaii.
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Sky High Service
A strong Maori and Pacific profile and being chosen as The Airline of the Year by the leading international industry publication are just two of the reasons Flight Service Manager Salesi Lelaulu calls himself a proud Air New Zealander
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June 28th 2010
Samoa will not upgrade from Least Developed Country (LDC) status
Samoa will not graduate from its status as Least Developed Country (LDC) next year as scheduled. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi confirmed this last Friday.
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June 24th 2010
Fiji military seize Momi Bay Resort
Bridgecorp's receivers tried to stop the action by the Fijian military regime when it seized the failed Momi Bay resort against its wishes, and they are now investigating what to do.
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June 22nd 2010
PACIFIC REGION - OPINION
Melanesian Spearhead Group Meeting
This article was first published on the independent blog Fiji: The Way it Was, Is and Can Be.
Professor Crosbie Walsh.
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June 22nd 2010
Potato planting kicks off in Fiji
Potato planting has started again in Fiji in the Wailailai Settlement in the district of Mataso exactly four decades after planting the first spud, with more than 80 farmers in the province of Ra kicking off the new season.
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June 22nd 2010
Maori Council wants control of 4G
A battle is looming between Maori and the Government about control of telecommunications frequencies, and the Maori Council says it is entitled to 100% of new, fourth generation spectrum.
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June 18th 2010
Samoa government considers ending power supply monopoly
Samoa’s only electricity supplier, the Electric Power Corporation, will soon face competition, when proposed legislation aiming to establish a power regulator becomes law.
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June 18th 2010
Kiwi to Head Niue Tourism Development Programme
The Chairman of the Niue Tourism Board; Hima Douglas has announced that Hayden Porter has been appointed to the position of Senior Tourism Development Manager to the Niue Tourism Board.
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June 16th 2010
New Zealand Business Mentors head to Tonga
The new Pacific Islands Business Mentoring Programme, which was launched in the Cook Islands last month, has arrived in Tonga. Five volunteer mentors from Business Mentors New Zealand (BMNZ) landed in the country on Monday.
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June 16th 2010
Niue firms up plans for new cabling
Outages are common on Niue - the last was about three months ago but there were about six, two years ago. Niue’s 45 kilometres of new power cable should stop outages but it won’t bring better telephone, internet, radio and TV access.
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11th June 2010
Pacific Trade Conference and Expo 2010
The New Zealand Pacific Business Council (NZPBC) will be hosting the Pacific Trade Conference & Expo in Auckland 21st - 22nd September 2010. The event will include a conference programme that has a core focus on infrastructure in the Pacific.
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BLOG
June 11th 2010
Morgan puts money into grassroots loans
Pacific women preferred for business investment over men
Trade Me founder Sam Morgan has invested $700,000 in a Pacific Island-based microfinance company, South Pacific Business Development (SPBD), that lends capital to women wanting to start their own businesses, because “men tend to spend a bit on cigarettes and alcohol”.
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June 10th 2010
Ready to make a long-term commitment to New Zealand
Kalyx is a leading provider of prison services with significant expertise across the full spectrum of Private Public Partnership formats and, its parent company, Sodexo is engaged with 111 correctional facilities around the world – including in the UK, Australia, Chile and France.
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June 10th 2010
Unprecedented meeting of minds to build International Relations across Pacific
The single largest International Relations conference New Zealand has ever hosted is set to begin later this month.
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June 9th 2010
Cook Islands government to seek access to New Zealand market
The Cook Islands Government plans to seek permission to export three locally grown products to New Zealand. They are the Tahitian Lime, the Poblano Chili (bell shaped) and the Breadfruit. If permission is granted, it would bring to 12 the number of products we can export to NZ.
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June 9th 2010
American Samoa to join forces with Microsoft
American Samoa will join forces with computer giant Microsoft to provide free technology training to individuals across the Territory.
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Thursday, 3 June, 2010 / Aso Tofi , tolu, luni, 2010
Polynesian Fisheries Co-Operative Formalised
A polynesian fisheries co-operative has been formalised, strengthening the voice of the Southern Pacific members within the Forum Fisheries Agency.
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Wednesday, 2 June, 2010 / Aso Lulu, lua, luni, 2010
NZ Business Mentors start work in the Pacific
The first New Zealand volunteers taking part in the new Pacific Islands Business Mentoring Programme have started work in the Cook Islands
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Monday, 31 May, 2010 / Aso Gafua , tolu sefulu tasi, Me, 2010
Waipapa 9 Trust awarded for dairying excellence
The Taupo based Waipapa 9 Trust has won the prestigious 2010 Ahuwhenua Trophy – Bank of New Zealand Maori Excellence in Farming competition for its outstanding dairying operation.
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Monday, 31 May, 2010 / Aso Gafua , tolu sefulu tasi, Me, 2010
Whale Watch Kaikoura New Zealand- Winner, Community benefit Award 2010
Whale Watch Kaikoura (WWK) is New Zealand's only marine-based whale-watching company operating year round, and offering visitors an exciting and up-close encounter with the Giant Sperm Whale.
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May 26th 2010
The Pacific Business Trust is delighted to announce the appointment of Peter Cordtz as Chief Executive.
Board of Trustees Chair Hamish Crooks said the Board are excited by the skills and experience that Peter brings to the organization.
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Issue 37 Business Feature
SPASIFIK's Business Feature is packed full of indigenous businesses, inspsiring stories, as well as helpful advice to not only forward your Business or Career, but also manage your money and finances too.
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May 19th 2010
Kiwi-born Samoan lights up New York
New Zealand-born and raised Samoan architect Steven Tupu is featured in the New York Times providing tips on lighting. Tupu is based in New York as head of the award-winning landscape architect business Terrain NYC and was won numerous awards. He featured in SPASIFIK’S May/June 2008 Issue No 26 as a Mover & Shaker.
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May 18th 2010
Art Trader
“The tahaa is a carrying vessel made of a gourd from the hue family. It can float on the ocean tide, through the swish and sway of creativity.”
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May 18th 2010
An Eye for Business
Leah Poto has an impeccable eye for art, so it was only fitting that she should name her gallery after that talent. An Eye 4 Art has been in business for nearly six years and has grown from a small studio in Leah’s family home to a large retail store in Manukau City’s biggest mall.
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May 18th 2010
SPASIFIK EXCLUSIVE
Tom McNicholl Pacific Pioneer
Takeovers and the dominance by huge multinational shipping corporations has left Reef Shipping as the only New Zealand-owned shipping servicing the Pacific. Tom McNicholl founded the company more than 40 years ago and in February was awarded the New Zealand Pacific Business Council’s Annual Valedictory Award honouring Pacific Pioneers. INNES LOGAN reports.
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May 17th 2010
Partnership on Course to Success
The partnership between the Pacific Business Trust and Te Wananga o Aotearoa (TWOA) launched in late 2009 offering free business courses at its head office in Otahuhu is proving popular while New Zealand claws its way out of recession.
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May 17th 2010
Talks for better use of coconut tree
Consultations are under way on the establishment of a coconut processing plant on Vanua Levu to help revitalise the coconut industry.
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May 14th 2010
Mill waits for Electric Power Corporation installation
A coconut oil mill in Savai’i Island which is believed to be the first coconut oil mill established there, could start production at the end of this month.
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May 7th 2010
European Union Provides Multi Million Grant for Rural Electricity
The Hon Prime Minister Dr the Hon Feleti Vaka'uta Sevele held meetings with EC Commissioner for Development, Mr Andris Piebalgs, and senior officials at the EU Headquarters in Brussels on Thursday and Friday of last week on issues of mutual interest. Tonga’s application for budgetary support and its political reform programme were high on the agenda.
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May 5th 2010
Huge value seen in NZ’s EXPO exposure
New Zealanders have been assured they are getting value for money out of the country's $30m pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo, which opened amid great pageantry last week.
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