May 21st 2013
Free Stub It Out game now available on iPhone
A free iPhone game is being promoted for Māori and Pacific people who are trying to quit smoking, hot on the heels of a successful iPad release.
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May 20th 2013
ISSUE 56 EXCLUSIVE
Darkness to light through the FitLife bootcamps
The streetlights are on and most of Auckland is asleep. But it’s a different story at the Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) carpark in Otara.
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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
Specsavers boss to help bring sight to Pacific
The head honcho of Specsavers New Zealand will be in the Rotorua store this week (May 15) acting as a "store slave" after he was auctioned off in a company fundraiser.
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May 9th 2013
Maori Business Leader of the Year joins trust
The NZ Children’s Screen Trust is pleased to announce that Ian Taylor (CNZM) is joining the Board of Trustees.
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May 8th 2013
Experts in Rotorua to discuss public health challenges
New Zealand and Australian nutrition and physical activity experts are in Rotorua to discuss the linked public health challenges of improving our food supply and getting New Zealanders up and moving.
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May 2nd 2013
Taking her memories of her Grandfather to Gallipoli
Kohupatiki's Melanie Huata-Lucas couldn't believe it when she was selected to participate in the 2013 Anzac Day services at Gallipoli, Turkey. The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) employee and former sailor was part of the New Zealand Defence Force contingent that provided both ceremonial and musical support.
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April 30th 2013
POLITICS
Debate over necessity of designated Pacific seats in Parliament
Pacific representatives on New Zealand’s Constitutional Advisory Panel want electoral changes to provide designated seats for Pacific people in Parliament and on some city councils.
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April 24th 2013
In sickness and in health
Bahadurali and Rashida Ahmed pledged in front of witnesses to love and honour each other “for better or for worse, in sickness and in health.” After being married for more than 40 years, both found that living on their own had become too difficult with their weakening health. Pacific Homecare stepped in to help.
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April 24th 2013
Pacific Parliamentary Forum closes with call for greater action on regional issues
In their closing statement to the Pacific Parliamentary and Political Leaders Forum in Wellington earlier this week (April 22), delegates from across the Pacific have called for regional action to meet the challenges facing Pacific islands states.
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April 22nd 2013
Get your child immunised on time, every time
Making sure your children get the immunisations they need, at the time they need them, is the best way to protect them from nasty illnesses. And immunisations are free!
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April 18th 2013
Collaboration key to breast screening success for Pacific
Pacific women are amongst the 600 women dying of breast cancer in New Zealand every year, where early detection is the best protection. In November 2010 screening rates for Pacific women aged 45 to 69 were 64%; considerably lower than the 70.3% for non-Maori / non-Pacific women.
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April 17th 2013
EDUCATION
Pasifika people urged to stand for school boards
An Auckland mother has taken up the challenge to get more Pasifika representation on school boards of trustees.
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April 16th 2013
Pacific provider Pacific Homecare scoops two industry awards
Successful Homecare provider Pacific Homecare secured two prestigious homecare industry awards, as part of the 2013 New Zealand Home Health Association Service and Quality Awards.
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April 15th 2013
ENTERTAINMENT
Maori country singers take on the big smoke
Well-known Maori country music singers Eddie Low and Dennis Marsh will be performing in Auckland this weekend as part of their national tour.
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April 15th 2013
Findings released about health and wellbeing of Pacific people
The Ministry of Health has released a brief paper presenting key findings about the health and wellbeing of Pacific adults and children in 2011/12. These results come from the New Zealand Health Survey.
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April 12th 2013
Agreement to strengthen policing in the Pacific
A four year plan to strengthen policing in the Pacific has been launched by New Zealand Police, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade and seven participating Pacific Island nations.
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April 11th 2013
Tiki Tane travels home to raise money for Starship Children's Hospital
Well-known Maori musician Tiki Taane from Papamoa was forced to improvise when he played for his smallest audience to date at a charity concert in Papamoa last night.
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April 9th 2013
Rappers awarded orchestra scholarships
Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra (APO) has added two talented young artists to a select group of APO Remix the Orchestra scholarship recipients.
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April 8th 2013
Local MP selects local young person to represent Maungakiekie
Local MP Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has selected Lafoai Luaitalo from One Tree Hill College as the Maungakiekie representative at Youth Parliament 2013.
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April 4th 2013
Maori roll options to decide electorates
The Electoral Commission is urging Maori to enrol and decide if they want to be included in the Maori roll or general roll for the next two elections.
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April 3rd 2013
Auckland group spreads healthy living message
When it comes to the community, the Feel Good Buzz Movement is all about giving back. Founding members Tugi Togiaheulu and Pablo Sinclair chat to SPASIFIK about spreading the positive message of healthy living.
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April 2nd 2013
Standing up for New Zealand's Marginalised Communities
As a participant in the 2011 Community Activism and Minority Rights International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), Reverend Uesifili Unasa of New Zealand was invited to stand on the exact spot at the Lincoln Memorial where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous 1963 ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.
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March 28th 2013
Maori Bible given new life
Thirteen years in the making, a new edition of Te Paipera Tapu (the Holy Bible in Māori) has been launched at Te Rau College in Gisborne. A team from Bible Society New Zealand has been reformatting the Māori Bible for a new generation of Māori speakers.
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March 26th 2013
Water safety campaign for Pacific islanders
A campaign has been launched to educate Polynesians about water safety after seven Pacific islanders drowned in Auckland last year. Many islanders are taking Folau Malou, or 'journey safely' boating courses in the city. Tutor Chris Laufale says there has been a huge uptake.
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March 25th 2013
Acute rheumatic fever alert for Auckland suburbs
General Practitioners and practice nurses in Panmure and Glen Innes have been contacted by the Auckland Regional Public Health Services (ARPHS) to be vigilant for group A streptococcal pharyngitis and acute rheumatic fever in children living or attending school in these areas.
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March 22nd 2013
Pacific Islands AIDS Foundations (PIAF) prepares for closure
An organisation that has represented the rights and voices of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the Pacific for over a decade is closing.
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March 21st 2013
Tuvalu PM delivers forum statement to the world
The Pacific Islands Forum remains committed to ending all forms of violence against women in the Pacific. This was the assertion made by the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Honourable Willy Telavi in delivering the Pacific Islands Forum’s Statement.
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March 20th 2013
NZ Constitution Review
Auckland’s Pacific community are being invited to take part in a conversation about a New Zealand Constitution with the second of three meetings held on March 18 at Manukau.
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March 20th 2013
Unsung stories of WWII Pasifika soldiers honoured this ANZAC Day
Hekama Creative & Chocolate Stigmata presents Goodbye My Feleni an uplifting and moving new play by Samoan playwright DF Mamea.
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March 19th 2013
Maori and Pacific stand together for their babies
Too many Māori and Pacific babies are dying and front line staff working with whānau have a real opportunity to make a difference, according to two leading Māori and Pacific organisations for sudden infant death prevention.
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March 19th 2013
A Pacific-led vision for HIV and other STIs in the Pacific
This month Ministry of Health representatives and stakeholders from across the region will come together to determine the future direction of the response to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the Pacific.
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March 19th 2013
EVENTS
Murder On The Dance Floor, new show by Parris Goebel
Dance sensation, Parris Goebel, who appeared on the cover of SPASIFIK Jan/Feb 2013, has returned home with a new dance show.
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March 18th 2013
Immunisation the best protection against influenza
New Zealand’s largest provider of services to support the well-being of children under five is encouraging New Zealanders to take up the government’s offer of free influenza vaccinations.
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March 18th 2013
Aussie volunteers to provide assistance to Tongan government departments
Six new Australian Volunteers have arrived in Tonga to provide assistance to Government departments and the Mango Tree Centre for a year.
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March 14th 2013
Christchurch musician recognised by Coldplay to perform in one off concert
A talented Christchurch musician who has captured the attention of British band Coldplay will perform in the city next month as part the Cavell Leitch New Zealand Jazz & Blues Festival.
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March 13th 2013
World Salt Awareness Week
World Salt Awareness Week (11-17 March) aims to raise awareness of the dangers of too much salt in the diet. New Zealanders consume an average of 9g of salt a day which is far more than our bodies need and is contributing to serious health problems.
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March 13th 2013
Second chance at visas for some Pacific people
Chief Ombudsman Dame Beverley Wakem says Pacific people who believe they were not treated fairly when Immigration New Zealand implemented policies enabling Pacific residency quotas may now get another chance to be considered.
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March 12th 2013
EVENTS
Pacific Early Learning Workshops coming to south Auckland
The Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs and the Ministry of Education together with Ministry of Social Development and Inland Revenue will be holding a series of workshops over the coming months.
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March 12th 2013
Jae D Walks The Talk
Taking part in an 8 kilometer walk would have been the last thing on Pacific Island broadcaster Jae D Victor’s mind. However Jae D decided on a new course for 2013 to eat healthier and lose weight.
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March 11th 2013
NZ, Australia and UK join forces to run South Pacific leadership programme
The British High Commissioner will open a groundbreaking conference of Pacific police officers this week (March 11) from across the Pacific.
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March 6th 2013
Adolescent sexual health tackled in Solomon Islands
New Zealand MPs have joined forces with officials from Solomon Islands to launch a report on adolescent sexual health.
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March 6th 2013
Growing statistical knowledge across the Pacific
This month, Statistics New Zealand is hosting statisticians from four Pacific countries as part of a programme to help build statistical capability in the Asia-Pacific region and encourage reliable international data.
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March 4th 2013
Cook Islands Parliament consulted on HIV Bill draft
The Cook Islands continues to make positive progress with its draft HIV Prevention, Care and Support Bill, as it ensures that there is wide consultation before the bill is brought before the Cook Islands Parliament.
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March 4th 2013
South Auckland Poets Collective presents Lessons & Poetry Show
The South Auckland Poets Collective is pleased to announce their first show for 2013 Lessons & Poetry to be hosted at the Mangere Arts Centre on Saturday 9th March, featuring Australian Poetry Slam Champion, Luka Lesson.
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March 1st 2013
Walk for clean water in the Pacific
This March Unitec and Rotary are challenging the community to walk 6km for UN World Water Day. It’s the distance millions of people around the world have to walk for clean water every day.
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February 27th 2013
Niue Adds Second Weekly Flight
Air New Zealand will run a second mid-week flight from Auckland to Niue starting in April this year. In a statement announced in 2012, Premier of Niue, Toke Talagi says, it’s a land mark for Niue’s development and a step forward for Niue’s economic self-sustainability.
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February 27th 2013
Cyclone Evan Fundraiser to raise funds for victims
Tropical Cyclone Evan may have well and truly passed, however relief to families and villages is still needed. MP Su’a William Sio is thinking about his country in need. During December 2012, parts of Samoa were decimated when the deadly Cyclone hit the country.
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February 27th 2013
Warriors launch season with community carnival in Otara
To mark the major efforts put in by the team during the offseason the Vodafone Warriors are taking the novel step of launching their 2013 campaign with a special outdoor community carnival on Thursday February 28 in Auckland’s Otara, home to a majority Pasifika population.
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February 27th 2013
TEN GUITARS BY TEN GOOD WA’ at the Auckland Arts Festival
On Saturday March 16, as part of Auckland Arts Festival’s world premiere music extravaganza Everything is Ka Pai, ten of the country’s hottest musicians will be bringing back to life the iconic Kiwi anthem Ten Guitars.
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February 26th 2013
New book highlights diverse ways to improve Pacific peoples health
A new book being launched by the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) this week (Feb 28) contains a collection of research papers from the fourth HRC Pacific Health Research Fono, which was held last year.
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February 25th 2013
Auckland Kapa Haka group take out top prize in Rotorua
Four days of quality kapa haka performances came to an end over the weekend (Feb 24) with the naming of Auckland group Te Waka Huia as winners of Te Matatini 2013 National Championship at Rotorua International Stadium.
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February 22nd 2013
South Seas Health Centre opens its new offices in South Auckland
South Seas Healthcare Trust (SSHT) celebrated the opening of its new Integrated Family Health Centre in Otara last Friday (Feb 15) by the Hon Tariana Turia, Associate Minister of Health and Minister of Whanau Ora.
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February 22nd 2013
Helen Clark urges action against NCDs in the Pacific
While discussions were being held in the Pacific on the issue of trade and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark has called for swift, firm measures to halt a global surge in diseases such as cancer and diabetes, saying they belong “permanently on the global development agenda.”
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February 20th 2013
Plunket pleased to see infant death figures at all time low
New Zealand’s largest provider of services to support the well-being of children under five welcomes the release of figures showing the number of infant deaths at record lows.
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February 20th 2013
Pasifika welcome flowers in bloom
More than 50,000 plastic flower lei will be exchanged for gold coin donations during the Pasifika Festival on March 9 and 10. Proceeds will go to Make-A-Wish-New Zealand, the charity that makes dreams come true for young people aged three to 17 with life threatening medical conditions.
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February 20th 2013
Solomon's film production company wins Oceania Pitch Competition
Sukwadi Media's pitch for a film called THE TEST has won the Oceania Pitch competition at this year's FIFO Film Festival in Tahiti, which was announced at the festival's prize ceremony in the weekend (Feb 17).
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February 20th 2013
New Zealand Parliament to host a Pacific Parliamentary Forum
Chair of the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade select committee, and Parliamentary Private Secretary John Hayes is pleased to announce earlier this week (Feb 18) that New Zealand will host a Pacific Parliamentary Forum in April 2013.
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February 18th 2013
Maori urged to take sun risk seriously
The New Zealand Cancer Society says Maori are more likely to die from melanoma than any other ethnicity and should stop underestimating the risk of skin cancer. Most recent figures show there were 21 cases of Maori with melanoma in 2009, and of those seven people or 33% died.
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February 14th 2013
Tongan surgeon receives Greg Urwin Award 2013
Dr Kolini Vaea, a general surgeon at Vaiola Hospital in Tongatapu has been selected as one of five Pacific Islanders of the Greg Urwin Awards for 2013. The awards will provide financial support for up to AUD$25,000 for recipients to take up workplace attachments for several months.
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February 14th 2013
New doco- Media Freedom in the Pacific
A new video, Media Freedom in the Pacific, has been produced by the University of the South Pacific journalism programme.
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February 13th 2013
Samoan doctor wins prestigious award
The award provides financial support for up to $A25,000 ($50,000) for recipients to take up workplace attachments for several months with either a Pacific regional organization or an Australian organization that best suits their particular career aspirations and future leadership potential, relevant to the needs of their respective countries.
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February 12th 2013
USO Bike Ride presents Cyclone Cycle Relay
The USO bike ride team is taking it to the people of Porirua by having a 12 Hour Cyclone Cycle Relay to raise funds for those affected by Cyclone Evan in Samoa and Fiji. All funds raised will be donated to the Red Cross.
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February 11th 2013
New Zealand Trade Minister to visit Pacific nations
Trade Minister Tim Groser will depart for a five-day visit to Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, The Solomon Islands and Vanuatu this week (Feb 11) to discuss trade issues as well as his candidature for WTO Director-General role.
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February 11th 2013
'Help needed' to reduce harmful Pacific drinking
A University of Canterbury health expert says New Zealand needs to reduce the prevalence of Pacific island children exposed to parental drinking.
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February 7th 2013
New study shows that Pacific obesity epidemic begins at birth
In American Samoa, approximately 23 percent of boys and 16 percent of girls are obese by 15 months of age, according to a new study. As some Pacific Island cultures have “westernized” over the last several decades, among the changes has been a dramatic increase in obesity.
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February 5th 2013
U.S preserves art of sennit making in Samoa
Knowledge and skills associated with the traditional Samoan craft of sennit making will be preserved thanks to a US$47,000 grant from the United States Government.
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February 1st 2013
Tonga has its human rights record reviewed by the Human Rights Council
The international community has, through the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations Human Rights Council, identified a number of human rights issues that the people of Tonga continue to face.
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February 1st 2013
Mayoral Fund for the Pacific
Mayor Len Brown has established a fund for Auckland to assist with emergency preparedness and rebuilding in the Pacific, in the wake of Cyclone Evan.
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