May 17th 2012
ISSUE 50 EXCLUSIVE
Fair Trade?
While New Zealand exports to the Pacific continue to rise, imports from the region continue to struggle, as a new report Making Sense of New Zealand’s Trade with the 23 PICs reveals.
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May 10th 2012
Local farm contender for national Maori farming award
Te Puni Kōkiri Te Arawa Regional Director Wally Tangohau was amongst the supporters and judges visiting the Waewaetutuki 10 dairy unit in the final judging round of the 2012 Ahuwhenua Trophy – BNZ Māori Excellence in Farming Award Dairy.
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May 8th 2012
Tokelau expected to earn millions from PNA scheme
The Tokelau government expects the atolls will earn millions from joining the Parties to the Nauru Agreement vessel days scheme, or VDS. The scheme is part of the PNA’s attempt to ensure that tuna in the Pacific is fished more sustainably.
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May 2nd 2012
Samoa to become 155th member of world trade group
The World Trade Organization will welcome Samoa as its 155th member later on in the month. WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy reports that he is looking forward to working with Samoa in helping them become full and active members of the global trading system.
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May 1st 2012
Maori business leader for 2011 named
Art and science patron Chris Mace (Ngāti Porou, Te-Whānau-ā-Apānui) has been named winner of the Aotearoa New Zealand Māori Business Leaders premier award for 2011 - the first in the event’s history to specifically honour artistic and scientific endeavour.
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April 30th 2012
Unlimited Pasifika Potential
Hekia Parata, Minister of Pacific Island Affairs and Education and Siuai Fiso, owner/director of established IT company Connect Global Ltd entertained the audience at the Pacific Business Trust’s Unlimited Pasifika Networking evening at Gear Homestead in Porirua.
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April 26th 2012
Vanuatu celebrates five years of RSE participation
New Zealand's Department of Labour has congratulated the Vanuatu Government on reaching its fifth year of participation in New Zealand's Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme.
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April 26th 2012
Maori kiwifruit group sets its sight on Japan
A large Maori business and cultural group left the country in April to promote New Zealand-grown kiwifruit in Japan at the start of the new selling season.
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April 18th 2012
Expressions of interest called for in Increasing Agricultural Commodity Trade Project
The European Union funded Increasing Agricultural Commodity Trade (IACT) Project works to increase Pacific Islands’ exports of agriculture, livestock, forestry and aquaculture/mariculture products.
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April 17th 2012
Interest in inaugural regional trade fair builds up
The inaugural Trade Pasifika 2012 event – to be held in Denarau, Fiji in June – is beginning to generate increasing interest among participants and visitors from across the region and beyond.
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April 17th 2012
Recognised Seasonal Employment scheme brings wide benefits
At the Waipopo Orchards in Timaru seasonal apple pickers from Vanuatu are valued for both the speed and quality of their work. They are amongst the best apple pickers in New Zealand, according to orchard owners.
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April 16th 2012
NZ creative shop has designs on The Cooks
Having recently received approval from the Cook Islands’ Business & Trade Investment Board (BTIB) to operate as a foreign enterprise, Tauranga, New Zealand based design and marketing company Woods the Creative Agency has begun operations in Rarotonga.
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April 12th 2012
Local MP proud of Maori business initiative
Maori Party MP for Waiariki, Te Ururoa Flavell, is congratulating Te Awanui Huka Pak for their initiative in advocating for the development of the kiwifruit industry through leading a delegation to Japan to build key trade relationships.
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April 11th 2012
Calls for Samoa to invest in large scale rice production
A Chinese agricultural expert says Samoa could be the next rice producer in the Pacific if the government invests in large scale production of the crop.
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April 10th 2012
Growing concern in Vanuatu over sea cucumber deal with China
As reported by Radio New Zealand International, Vanuatu’s Sanma and Penama provinces have joined Torba to voice concerns at the government signing an exclusive 50-year agreement with Chinese company, South Pacific Agricultural Group Limited, to breed and to harvest sea cucumber on their reefs.
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April 5th 2012
Maori delegation to head to Tokyo for culture and business
A prominent Maori-owned kiwifruit company will lead a 55-strong business and cultural delegation to Tokyo this Sunday to further expand their produce into the Japanese market.
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April 3rd 2012
Fiji aviation ministry wants competition
Fiji’s aviation ministry has awarded a charter licence to a private airline, Island Sun, to provide charter services to any destination in the country.
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March 29th 2012
PNG's new personal property act will aid better business
The newly passed Personal Property Security Act in Papua New Guinea will help local people obtain credit and conduct business more easily. Under the new Act, a Personal Property Security Online Registry will be established to help protect consumers.
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March 27th 2012
Vanuatu launches big promo in Hong Kong
A celebrity movie star, billboards at Hong Kong’s main railway station, signage on some 50 city buses, full page ads in local papers and business magazines plus ad spots on TV and the internet kicked off the “Vanuatu, I want to go there” campaign in the city that is one of Asia’s biggest economic powerhouses.
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March 27th 2012
Encouraging Pacific farmers to seek markets abroad
The Pacific Islands Trade and Invest officials recently ran a three-day workshop for farmers on how to invest in overseas markets at Luganville on the island of Santo in Vanuatu.
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March 26th 2012
Tongan business should feel no effects from official mourning period for King
The 63-year-old king died in a Hong Kong hospital, where he was being treated for cancer and type-2 diabetes.
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March 21st 2012
Mobile operator launches $1 money transfers
Pacific Island mobile operator Digicel this week has announced an international money transfer service on its mobile telephone network that costs just $1. International transfers to Fiji, Samoa and Tonga can be done for just a dollar.
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March 21st 2012
PIT& Invest team meets Pacific business people at Pasifika
Pasifika, the world’s biggest annual Polynesian festival, which was held in Auckland last week, saw more than 100,000 visitors at the mega fair, sampling a taste of Pacific Island foods and produce, trying out island merchandise and handicraft.
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March 21st 2012
Warning on growing sea farming businesses
A new report on mariculture (marine aquaculture) has urged Pacific nations to think twice before embarking on sea-farming enterprises. It found that many mariculture projects had been undertaken in the past without proper economic studies.
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March 20th 2012
Lamana Hotel gets Taumeasina Island
The Lamana Group in Papua New Guinea has been given the green light to build a multimillion dollar hotel on Taumeasina Island.
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March 19th 2012
Vanuatu and Fiji leaders meet
At a meeting between the leaders of Fiji and Vanuatu for the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), Fiji’s Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama took the opportunity to speak about developments undertaken by the Fijian government towards holding the next elections in his country.
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March 15th 2012
More European cruise ships add Samoa as stopover
The Pacific Islands region is attracting cruise liners from all over the world. This year is expected to be a record year for cruise liners in the region, with Vanuatu set to welcome more than 100 liners.
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March 15th 2012
Taiwan fisheries giant eyes Samoa for new processing facility
Taiwanese fisheries major Yuh Yow Fisheries Company wants to build a fish processing plant in Apia. It has applied to the Samoan government’s Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries for permission.
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March 15th 2012
LNG spurs petrol giant to open PNG office
Global petroleum giant Shell has opened a new representative office in Papua New Guinea. The Anglo-Dutch oil and gas major is pursuing the potential for LNG export projects.
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March 15th 2012
Samoan Cabinet inspects projects
The Cabinet Development Committee last week toured a number of government projects underway in the country. The Committee – or CDC – is chaired by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and comprises all Cabinet minister and government chief executive officers.
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March 14th 2012
Young Maori business leaders sought for new Sir Hugh Kawharu Foundation Fellowship
Young New Zealand Māori business leaders will be targeted by a new fellowship aimed at supporting and growing initiatives based around the development of talented Māori students.
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March 14th 2012
'Pilot markets' for women in farm business
As in much of the developing world, women in the Pacific Islands region work hard both at home and to earn a living, often earning far less than what their male counterparts do. Women also face discrimination and a host of other challenges in the course of doing business.
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March 13th 2012
Centre Director appointed as Trade Commissioner in Auckland, Aotearoa
Fonoti Dr Lafitai Iupatai Fuatai, Director of the Centre of Samoan Studies, was farewelled at dinner put on by the Centre staff at the Aoa Conference Room, Papaigalagala
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March 13th 2012
ISSUE 49 EXCLUSIVE
Business as usual - regional delivery survives shake up
February 21, 2012 marked a significant milestone for the Pacific Business Trust’s regional delivery. Just one day before the first anniversary of Canterbury’s most devastating earthquake PBT confirmed a lease agreement on new office space
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February 27th 2012
Another inter-island investment project ready to go
Pacific Periscope has recently reported stories on the growing trend in inter-island investments – particularly in the faster growing Melanesian countries.
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February 27th 2012
Tremoana Mato joins PITI in Auckland
Teremoana Mato has joined Pacific Islands Trade & Invest as Trade & Export Promotions Officer. Teremoana has worked in diverse trade and business roles in the Cook Islands, where he comes from, and brings a wealth of experience to his new position in Auckland.
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February 27th 2012
Virgin Samoa touches down in Apia
Ploynesian Blue has been formally relaunched as Virgin Samoa as the airline’s 737 touched down in Apia today featuring its new Virgin Australia-style livery and interior.
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February 27th 2012
Fijian biscuit company nominated for trade fair
The Biscuit Company of Fiji Limited has been nominated through Investment Fiji to participate at the International Food and Beverage Exhibition, a specialized trade fair in Japan next month.
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February 24th 2012
Making a beeline for Samoas liquid gold
The honey bees at Ken Newton’s farm in Samoa live a pretty sweet life. Surrounded by lush rainforest, clean air and some of the purest water in the world their existence – by insect standards – is luxurious.
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February 24th 2012
Maori trademark closer to new roll out
TIKI - the entity charged with managing toi iho: the Maori trademark of quality and authenticity is a step closer to accrediting qualifying users after board members met at Te Putahi a Toi - the School of Maori Studies, Massey University last week.
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February 23rd 2012
SROS attains international accreditation
On Thursday of last week, a landmark was reached by the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa (SROS) when internationally recognised accreditation agency IANZ (International Accreditation of New Zealand) officially recognised their Chemistry and Food Safety laboratories.
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February 23rd 2012
Promise in breadfruit, avocado and cassava
Avocado oil and breadfruit and cassava flour took center stage this morning at the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa (SROS) plant at Nafanua Delivering the keynote address at the launch, Prime Minister
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February 22nd 2012
Media entrepreneur expands business in recession
At a time when businesses around the world are dreaming of a recovery from the effects of the global economic crisis, one media entrepreneur in the Pacific is expanding his business precisely because of the recession.
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February 22nd 2012
Maori delegation is ready for India trip
The Maori Research Institute is leading a well-represented Maori delegation to India to enhance business, cultural and educational relations between India and New Zealand from a Maori perspective. The delegation will be in India from 27 February to 11 March 2012.
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February 21st 2012
Local iwi lay claim to one of the Crafar farms
The battle over who will get the Crafar farms took a further step when a group of local iwi took action to claim their rights over ancestral land.
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February 16th 2012
Tongan economic recovery dependent on buying locally produced food
The governor of Tonga’s Reserve Bank, Siosi Mafi, says a key to economic recovery is the people eating locally produced food.
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February 15th 2012
ACP leaders to target intra-group trade
One of the important items on the agenda of the African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) heads of state meet in Equatorial Guinea in December this year is the promotion of trade and cooperation on technical matters within the ACP grouping.
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February 15th 2012
Opportunities for young Aucklanders applauded
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett welcomes a joint initiative to provide work experience opportunities for young people in Auckland. The Auckland Council, the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Social Development are working together on an initiative to provide around 230 places this year.
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February 14th 2012
Minimum wage increased to $13.50
The Government will increase the minimum wage from $13 to $13.50 an hour, Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson has announced. The training and new entrants’ minimum wages will increase from $10.40 to $10.80 (or 80% of the adult minimum wage).
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February 8th 2012
Russia wants to grow Pacific Island investment
Russia and the Eastern European states have shown increasing interest in developing ties with Pacific Island nations in recent years. Diplomatic visit have been exchanged and aid programmes have been promised and implemented.
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February 3rd 2012
After dropping Dreamliners, Air Pacific to get Airbus A330-200's
Fiji flag carrier Air Pacific will get new Airbus A330-200 aircrafts in place of the new Dreamliner B787 planes that it had earlier ordered and subsequently cancelled.
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February 3rd 2012
New 34m Broadband project for Tonga
A tripartite financing arrangement between the Tongan government, the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank has resulted in a $34 million project that will help Tonga gain high-speed internet access through a submarine cable system.
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February 2nd 2012
Vanuatu gets helping hand with shipping services
Asian Development Bank and New Zealand partner to help improve shipping services Vanuatu. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the New Zealand Government are assisting Vanuatu with upgrading its ports and jetties and improving the safety, reliability, and frequency of interisland shipping services.
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January 31st 2012
Maori Communities Key To NZ’s Forestry Success
One of the hidden strengths behind forestry’s success lies with the humble and hard-working nature of those who lead the many small and medium companies who produce the goods day in and day out.
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January 23rd 2012
ISSUE 48 EXCLUSIVE
PBT supports excellence in sports administration
Soon after Va’aiga Tuigamala announced plans to launch the inaugural Pacific Island Sports Awards in July 2011, he spoke with Pacific Business Trust (PBT) Chief Executive Peter Cordtz about the opportunity for the Trust to become a partner in the inaugural event.
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January 23rd 2012
Islands see possible end to nutty problem
Neighbouring countries often engage in banning each other’s produce to protect their own farming economies. We have see this happen with apples, where Australia only recently lifted a decades long ban on the import of the much sought after New Zealand apple.
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January 23rd 2012
Nauru makes strides in sustainable initiatives
The tiny Micronesian island nation of Nauru will access $4 million from the Pacific Environment Community (PEC) Fund to fund two sustainable initiatives, it was announced this week.
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January 10th 2012
ISSUE 48 EXCLUSIVE
Mann On A Mission
Don Mann’s father and younger brother both reached the peak of rugby league in New Zealand by representing their country. He has followed suit, but off the field working for the Vodafone Warriors for the last decade. As the club’s General Manager, the 47-year-old of Maori and Tongan descent was awarded Sports Administrator of the Year at the inaugural Pacific Island Sports Awards last November. He talks to INNES LOGAN, who grew up with him on the same west Auckland street.
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