February 9th 2010

On the Business Page
Hotel multi national to build resort in Tonga’s Vava’u
Tourism Fiji wants more Kiwi Visitors

On the Environment Page
BLOG: Cyclone Oli causes up to US$11m worth of damage

On the Community/Health Page
BLOG: Call to ban smoking on beaches

February 9th 2010
NATIONAL
PM acknowledges limitation of iwi leaders’ group
The Prime Minister has acknowledged that the iwi leaders' group with which the Government is negotiating over the foreshore and seabed issue does not represent all Maori.

February 9th 2010
OBITUARY
Frank Fasi, Honolulu mayor for 22 years, dies at home at age 89
Serving as Honolulu mayor for 22 years, Frank Fasi died at home. He was 89.

February 8th 2010
EXCLUSIVE BLOG
Road to Recovery
Niu FM breakfast host Sela Alo emerged from his life-saving heart operation at Auckland’s Mercy Hospital on January 26th. In the third of his blogs exclusively for SPASIFIKmag.com with the support of Pharmac’s One Heart Many Lives campaign, he details the lead-up to the operation and his recovery process at home.

February 8th 2010
PACIFIC REGION
Rules to be tightened in Solomon’s after lawyers misuse client money
The Solomon Islands Bar Association says it intends to bring in laws regarding trust accounts after two lawyers were accused of misusing clients’ money.

February 8th 2010
PACIFIC REGION
Tonga police aim to rid country of illegal guns
Tonga’s Police Commissioner, Chris Kelley, says he wants to eliminate illegal guns from the country.

February 8th 2010
PACIFIC REGION
28 Fiji Methodist church leaders now facing charges for allegedly holding illegal meetings
The Methodist Church in Fiji says 19 of its ministers have this week become subjects of interest in ongoing police investigations into the church allegedly holding illegal meetings.

February 8th 2010
NATIONAL
Refurbished waka hits the water
A waka that was built for the centennial of the Treaty of Waitangi has taken to the water on its 70th anniversary after getting a refurbishment.

February 8th 2010
NATIONAL
Decision disappoints Kahui's lawyer
The lawyer for Chris Kahui says her client is disappointed an inquest into the deaths of three-month-old twins Chris and Cru Kahui has been postponed indefinitely.

February 8th 2010
NATIONAL
Waitangi Day marked across New Zealand
Waitangi Day was commemorated in glorious sunshine across New Zealand on Saturday at various, events, festivals and concerts marking the 170th anniversary of the signing of the Waitangi treaty.

February 4th 2010
NATIONAL
Maori dance theatre invited to festival in India
The Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre in Hawke's Bay has been asked to take part in a festival of sacred arts in India next month.

February 8th 2010
NATIONAL
Government puzzled over unemployment hike
Prime Minister John Key's message is "don't panic" but the Labour Party is pouring criticism on the government over the highest unemployment rate in a decade.

February 5th 2010
OBITUARY
Service celebrates Fuemana's life
Music celebrities turned out in force on Thursday night to celebrate the life of How Bizarre singer/songwriter Pauly Fuemana in south Auckland.

February 5th 2010
NATIONAL
Security tightened for Waitangi celebrations
Security has been tightened for the Prime Minister's arrival at Waitangi's Lower Marae on Friday morning.

February 5th 2010
PACIFIC REGION
Tsunami communities frustrated by slow rebuild
Many of the Samoan communities destroyed by last year's tsunami say they are getting frustrated with the slow progress of rebuilding.

February 5th 2010
NATIONAL
New tree for One Tree Hill on the cards again
A new tree for Auckland's iconic One Tree Hill is back on the agenda, after the government announced plans to give some local landmarks back to local iwi.

February 4th 2010
CRIME
Fiji PM Assassination Attempt
Yesterday a spy admitted in Court that he suggested a method to assassinate Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama to gather more information from a group of men already trying to assassinate him.

February 4th 2010
OBITUARY
One of Tonga's most prominent education figures, Futa Helu, has died, aged 75.
Helu, emeritus professor of the Atenisi Institute for Critical Education in the South Pacific, died at the Vaiola Hospital in Tonga on Tuesday.

February 3rd 2010
PACIFIC REGION
Ban extended on Fiji Methodist Church meetings
The Fiji government has extended its crackdown on the Methodist Church by banning its divisional and quarterly meetings.

February 3rd 2010
OBITUARY
Pauly Fuemana’s Family Service
The family service will be held Thursday 4 February, 6.30pm, at the Otara Music & Arts Centre, Bairds Road, Otara.

February 3rd 2010
NATIONAL
No flag at Manukau City on Waitangi Day
The policy and activities committee met on Tuesday night to discuss the issue for the third time in two years and voted not to fly the flag on civic flagpoles.

February 3rd 2010
NATIONAL
Maori super city board “tokenism”
The only Maori member on the Auckland City Council says the proposed Maori statutory board for the new Auckland super-city smacks of tokenism.

February 3rd 2010
NATIONAL
Claims Tongans sold citizenship plan
Hundreds of Tongan overstayers have been invited to Waitangi in a bizarre plan they believe will see them become New Zealand citizens.

February 3rd 2010
NATIONAL
Growing strength of Ngapuhi reflected at festival
The presenter of a recent Maori Television series on Ngapuhi says a weekend festival in Kaikohe showed the growing strength of the tribe.

February 3rd 2010
PACIFIC REGION
Strong earthquake strikes near Papua New Guinea
A strong earthquake has struck in the ocean near Papua New Guinea, but there have been no immediate reports of injury or damage and no tsunami warnings have been issued.

February 2nd 2010
ENTERTAINMENT
Tagata Pasifika – Olohega
A small, idyllic Pacific island north of Samoa. Bought for a bottle of gin and 15 shillings per acre and is now in possession under the US. Its former inhabitants were evicted almost sixty years ago from their island and long to return.

February 2nd 2010
PACIFIC REGION
Aloha State Says Goodbye to Civil Unions
A bill that would have granted state recognition to civil unions of same-sex partners in Hawaii has died in committee.

February 2nd 2010
MUSIC/OBITUARY
OMC Pauly Fuemana mourned
Niuean Maori ‘How Bizzare’ hit singer dies at age 40. Pauly Fuemana from the Otara Millionaires Club (OMC) was the artist behind New Zealand's best selling record, taking the number one spot in countries around the world.

February 2nd 2010
PACIFIC REGION
Hawai'i film Recieves special jury prize at Tahiti Film Festival
Hawaiian filmmaker Anne Keala Kelly’s newly released documentary “Noho Hewa: The Wrongful Occupation of Hawai‘i” was awarded a special jury prize at this week’s Festival International Du Film Documentaire Oceanien (FIFO) in Tahiti.

February 2nd 2010
NATIONAL
Kiwis want cigarettes banned by 2020
Half the nation, including smokers, supports completely banning cigarettes within 10 years, a study has found.

January 29th 2010
PACIFIC REGION
World Press Freedom Day set to take place in May
This is a first for Australia and the broader Pacific region and the theme for the conference is Freedom of Information: the Right to Know.

February 2nd 2010
PACIFIC REGION
NZ man admits partial responsibility for sinking
The New Zealander who bought the ill-fated Tongan ferry Princess Ashika has admitted he is partially to blame for its sinking.

February 2nd 2010
POLITICS
New partnerships with Maori wanted
The Human Rights Commission is calling for the government to form new partnerships with Maori and establish new forums for consultation.

January 28th 2010
RELIGION
Pope John Paul flagellated himself
The late Pope John Paul flagellated himself regularly to imitate Christ's suffering and signed a secret document saying he would resign instead of ruling for life if he became incurably ill, a new book shows.

January 28th 2010
PACIFIC REGION
Unseaworthy ferry sails in Tonga again
In the weekend Tonga's last remaining ferry, Pulupaki, was declared unseaworthy but this was overruled the Minister of Transport, Noble Nuku, who allowed it to sail.

January 28th 2010
ENTERTAINMENT
NZ film Boy premieres to full house at Sundance film festival
Taika Waititi's feature film BOY premiered to a sell out house on Friday night at the opening weekend of the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. The Festival is widely regarded as the premiere US showcase for American and international independent film.

January 28th 2010
NATIONAL
Momentum on Treaty issues continues
Positive progress on Treaty of Waitangi issues continued over the past year, with the Maori Party's contribution to government and a pledge to repeal the Foreshore and Seabed Act points of note, the Human Rights Commission says.

January 28th 2010
NATIONAL
Brutal abuse leaves baby girl left with lifetime injuries.
A sentence of less than five years in jail for inflicting injuries on a baby that left her in a condition like that of a stroke survivor is all Lance Teriwhi Corkery will be suffering for the damage he has done.
 

January 28th 2010
NATIONAL
Eleven hospitalized after Auckland chemical spill
A chemical spill in the Auckland suburb of Manukau on Wednesday night saw 11 people taken to Middlemore Hospital.

January 28th 2010
PACIFIC REGION
Aussie parade celebrates culture
Melbourne has celebrated the many cultures that make up the nation with a colourful Australia Day parade in the city.

January 27th 2010
OBITUARY
American Samoa leaders mark passing of long serving senator
American Samoa governor Togiola Tulafono and Congressman Faleomavaega Eni have expressed their sadness after learning of the death last Friday of territorial senator Tuanaitau Tuia, the longest serving member of the American Samoa Legislature.

January 27th 2010
POLITICS
Labour receive a warm welcome at Ratana
Labour and Maori Party MPs descended on Ratana on Sunday to mark the beginning of the political year and to join the birthday celebrations of the prophet Ratana.

January 26th 2010
MUSIC
Raggamuffin – Successful turn out
About 40,000 reggae music fans crammed Rotorua on Saturday for the third annual Raggamuffin festival.

January 26th 2010
PACIFIC REGION
Fiji critics warned to keep low
Amnesty International has hit out at Fiji's military regime for threatening critics to "keep low" and cooperate or be treated badly.

January 25th 2010
OBITUARY
Tombstone unveiled for teen killed by stray police bullet
The family of a teenager killed by a police bullet in crossfire between officers and a gunman on Auckland's north western motorway unveiled his tombstone, a year after his death.

January 25th 2010
POLITICS
Land tax ‘unfair for Maori’
The Maori Party says any new land tax would affect Maori unfairly.

January 25th 2010
ENTERTAINMENT
Pirates of the Caribbean 4 to be shot in Hawaii
The fourth installment of Pirates of the Caribbean film series will be shot in Hawaii. The Johnny Depp star is likely to give a boost to the Hawaii's tourism industry.

January 25th 2010
NATIONAL
Brian Tamaki proposes legal support to finance marae trustees challenge
Pastor of Destiny Church, Brian Tamaki, admits being part of a group that sought legal aid to oust his marae's trustees.

January 22nd 2010
NATIONAL
Photographer: Willie Apiata "there to fight"
"Tired and sweaty" Victoria Cross hero Willie Apiata was photographed in the Afghanistan capital of Kabul earlier this week, moments after he came out of a building where three bodies were found.

January 22nd 2010
POLITICAL
Re-engagement with Fiji must consider human rights
Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand has renewed its call for the New Zealand Government to ensure human rights are included in any dialogue with Fiji.

January 21st 2010
PACIFIC REGION
School fee scheme to benefit all government primary school students in samoa
Thousands of students in government primary schools in Samoa will soon benefit from the government’s school fee scheme programme.

January 21st 2010
EVENTS
Celebrate island culture at the Pasifika Festival in Auckland
Pacific Island communities will come together in Auckland for the Pasifika Festival on March 13th

January 20th 2010
NATIONAL
Support mounts for Hells Angels
An unlikely crew has stepped in to support the Hells Angels following a bid by Wanganui Mayor Micheal Laws to pull down the walls of the gang's pad.

January 20th 2010
PACIFIC REGION
Hawaii troops headed to help Haiti relief
Three C-17 Globemaster cargo jet planes, with Air Force and Hawaii Air National Guard air crews, will leave Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu today to help fly humanitarian relief supplies from the mainland to Haiti.

January 20th 2010
PRINCESS ASHIKA INQUIRY UPDATE
Kiwi to give evidence on ferry inquiry
New Zealand businessman, John Jonesse, who bought the ill-fated ferry Princess Ashika, will give evidence this Thursday before the Tongan Royal Commission, examining why it sank.

January 20th 2010
PACIFIC REGION
Thousands rally in Hawaii against same-sex civil unions bill
Thousands of people filled the state Capital yesterday with prayer and song, a celebration of traditional values laced with an explicit warning to state lawmakers to preserve marriage as between a man and a woman.

January 20th 2010
POLITICS
No support from Maori Party on “three strikes”
The Maori Party has blasted the proposed "three strikes" legislation, saying it shows the government is hidebound by political rhetoric on crime and punishment that has no factual basis.

January 20th 2010
PRINCESS ASIHKA UPDATE
Tonga PM called to give Ashika evidence
Tongan Prime Minister Feleti Sevele will give evidence on February 12 to the Royal Commission inquiring into the sinking of the ferry MV Princess Ashika.

January 19th 2010
Moko man told to move on
A man, who has been charging tourists for photographs of him with a makeshift moko scribbled on his face, has been told to move on from his pitch in Auckland.

January 19th 2010
OBITUARY
Death on roads increase
In the weekend a child died as the result of a car crash which also claimed the life of his mother and brother near Hastings on Thursday.

January 19th 2010
MUSIC
Raggamuffin Update: Wyclef Jean postpones Ragamuffin appearance
Its been announced that Lauryn Hill will now be bringing her own band to perform at Raggamuffin 2010, while Wyclef Jean remains in the US to continue his plight to help the people of Haiti.

January 19th 2010
NATIONAL
Charges over marae deaths
The Department of Labour will lay charges over the deaths of two men killed while working at a marae in South Auckland last year.

January 19th 2010
NATIONAL
New name for Ninety Mile Beach possible
Ninety Mile Beach could be renamed under a tentative Treaty of Waitangi deal.

January 19th 2010
NATIONAL
Prince William's Kiwi Feast
Prince William touched down for his three-day visit to New Zealand in the weekend, and those tasked with catering for him are wondering: What does one feed a visiting royal?

January 19th 2010
NATIONAL
PM rules out $15 wage this year
A survey has found 61% of people support raising the minimum wage to $15 but Prime Minister John Key has ruled out that kind of increase this year.

January 18th 2010
PACIFIC REGION
Satellites from Tonga to help tsunami warnings
Satellites launched from Tonga’s soon to be built rocket pad could help warn Pacific nations of tsunamis.

January 18th 2010
OBITUARY
Honolulu Veterinarian and son killed in east Oahu plane crash
Family members of a well-known Honolulu veterinarian say Nicholas Palumbo and his 20-year-old son were killed in a plane that crashed into a steep ridge near Lanipo, east Oahu in last weekend.

January 15th 2010
NATIONAL
Hangi and Government House ready for Prince William
Government House is hoping to give Prince William a taste of Aotearoa and relaxing first night in the country.

January 15th 2010
NATIONAL
Government warns Fijians about immigration scam
The Immigration Minister is reminding people the only agency which can grant visas to travel to or stay in this country is Immigration New Zealand.

January 14th 2009
TSUNAMI UPDATES
Still Thuggin by Victor Rodger
VICTOR RODGER, award-winning New Zealand playwright of Samoan-Scottish descent, reflects on his return to his father’s homeland two weeks after the tsunami devastated the south side of Samoa on September 29th 2009.

January 14th 2010
ISSUE 36
Australia's 'Mozzie' Idol
Stan Walker shot to fame during the 2009 season of Australian Idol, winning over the hearts of musicians, judges and fans alike

January 13th 2010
ISSUE 35
Ink'd
Aotearoa is one of the most tattooed nations in the world. QIANE CORFIELD-MATATA looks at the rise in popularity of skin art and meets those who break the stereotype of people who are inked

January 13th 2010
POLITICS
Cook Islands parties seek political shakeup
The Cook Islands' two main political parties have petitioned the Queen's representative to recall Parliament so a no-confidence motion can be made against Prime Minister Jim Marurai.

January 13th 2010
POLITICS
Fiji stops pension for government critics
Fiji says it has stopped paying pensions to people who speak out against the government.

January 12th 2010
TSUNAMI DISASTER UPDATES
Pizza man follows through with promise to rebuild Samoan preschool
A pizza restaurant owner is helping to rebuild a Samoan preschool swept away when a tsunami hit the islands.

January 13th 2010
MUSIC
ONLY TEN DAYS UNTIL RAGGAMUFFIN!!!
Raggamuffin is NEXT Saturday 23 January at Rotorua International Stadium featuring ....Ms Lauryn Hill with Sly & Robbie, Wyclef Jean, Steel Pulse, Julian Marley, Shaggy, Sean Kingston, Katchafire, Sola Rosa with Iva Lamkum, Sweet & Irie and much more!

January 13th 2010
POLITICS
New diplomatic ties with Fiji seen as practical step
An expert says the thawing of communications between New Zealand and Fiji should not be seen as an acceptance of the Fiji regime.

January 13th 2010
POLITICS
Fiji throws its heaviest book at nonconformists
Fiji’s military government is pursuing a new strategy to silence its critics: using the country's Independent Commission Against Corruption to prosecute adversaries for minor misdemeanours.

January 13th 2010
CRIME
Government department suspected of aiding human trafficking
An investigation is under way in American Samoa into an alleged human trafficking scheme involving the Immigration Office.

January 12th 2010
PACIFIC REGION
Tonga’s possible rocket launch project in Eua
Tonga’s government has kept up consultations with U.S. engineers on a project to build a rocket launch site on Eua.

January 11th 2010
POLITICS
American Samoa congressman attacks on Clinton
American Samoa's only congressman has condemned US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for visiting New Zealand, which has banned US warships, but not visiting Pacific states that supported it.

January 11th 2010
POLITICS
Firebrand Harawira addresses peace festival
Maori Party MP Hone Harawira has spoken out against the Foreshore and Seabed Act at the Parihaka Peace Festival.

January 11th 2010
TSUNAMI DISASTER UPDATES
TradeMe bid to help tsunami-hit Samoa
A bid to raise two million dollars to ensure Samoa's better warned of any tsunami threat has been launched online.

January 11th 2010
PACIFIC REGION
American Samoa immigration office raided
Law enforcement agents in American Samoa have raided the US territory's Office of Immigration seeking evidence of human trafficking in a case that could involve victims from China, the Philippines and South Korea, authorities said.

January 11th 2010
ENTERTAINMENT
Tiki Taane delivers at Parihaka
Tiki Taane & The Dub Soldiers delivered a two-hour show at the Parihaka International Peace Festival in the weekend, stunning the crowds with a passionate and well-executed performance which featured his father Uekaha Taanetinorau and Te Pou o Mangatawhiri, the 40-piece kappa haka group from Turangawaewae Marae in Ngaruawahia.

January 11th 2010
PACIFIC REGION
NZ contributes to Solomons relief fund
New Zealand is making an initial contribution of 36,600 US dollars to relief efforts in Solomon Islands following the recent earthquakes and tsunamis that have affected the country.

 

January 11th 2010
CRIME
Fiji Police consider charging former All Black
Fiji police will decide today whether to lay criminal charges against former All Black Robin Brooke, following allegations he groped a 15-year-old girl then attacked a 17-year-old boy who tried to intervene.

January 11th 2010
POLITICS
US Secretary of State to visit Pacific Nations
The United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton is to visit the Pacific next week.

January 11th 2010
PACIFIC REGION
Australian KFC ad slammed as racist
A KFC ad featuring an Australian man using a bucket of fried chicken to make friends with West Indies fans is being slammed as racist in the United States.

January 7th 2010
PACIFIC REGION
Second tsunami in three years hits Solomon Islands
UNICEF Pacific is provided immediate support to the victims of a tsunami that hit Rendova and Tetepare Islands in the Solomon Islands on this week.