Pacific Beat
Tuesday, 7 September 2010
Australian Labor Party snatches back power
Updated 07/09/2010 18:06:32
With the backing of independents, Labor will again take office under the leadership of Julia Gillard by the narrowest of margins.
World Vision wants PNG LNG proceeds used wisely
Updated 07/09/2010 18:06:32
The Papua New Guinea government has been warned it will be disastrous if it does not use proceeds from the multi-billion dollar Liquefied Natural Gas project to bring much needed social services to the people.
Tonga's new party pledges reforms
Updated 07/09/2010 18:06:32
Tonga's newest political party has pledged to fight for government accountability and economic reform if elected in the November poll.
Solomon Islands Speaker candidates nominated
Updated 07/09/2010 18:06:31
In Solomon Islands, nominations for the Speaker of Parliament have been announced.
Tens of thousands of homes damaged in NZ quake
Updated 07/09/2010 08:28:38
Significant aftershocks of a magnitude more than 5 continued overnight as the state of emergency is extended in New Zealand following Saturday's powerful Christchurch earthquake.
Fear continues for New Zealanders left homeless by quake
Updated 07/09/2010 08:28:38
Hundreds of New Zealanders are still unable to return to their homes after Saturday's earthquake in Christchurch.
Samoan MP hopes to make way for woman parliamentarian
Updated 07/09/2010 08:28:38
Samoa's associate minister for commerce, industry and labour, Hans Joachim Keil, will not seek re-election when parliament dissolves in November.
Japanese whale meat whistleblowers dodge jail
Updated 07/09/2010 08:28:37
Two Japanese Greenpeace activists have escaped jail terms after being found guilty of stealing a box of salted whale meat to unearth the procedes of Japan's scientific whaling catch.
NZ health boards defend radiographer negotiations
Updated 07/09/2010 08:28:37
Thousands of surgeries are due to be cancelled in New Zealand from today when medical lab workers embark on a nationwide strike.
Climate economist pushes Australia on carbon price
Updated 07/09/2010 08:28:37
The man who wrote a landmark report for the British government on the economic impact of climate change says political will is what is most needed to tackle global warming.
Poor turnout mars Guam primaries
Updated 07/09/2010 08:28:37
Low voter turnout and up to 14 per cent of spoiled votes has marred Guam's primary elections over this past Labor Day holiday.
Fiji focus on development, away from charity for civil service
Updated 07/09/2010 08:28:37
A conference for civil society organisations in Fiji heard last week that leadership is the key to economic recovery.
New super pineapple debuts on Australian market
Updated 07/09/2010 08:28:34
It has taken years, but finally Australia has a pineapple it can call its own - and with twice the vitamin C as regular varieties.
Monday, 6 September 2010
Sour end for Fiji Sugar Corporation Chairman
Updated 06/09/2010 17:42:20
The Chairman of the Fiji Sugar Corporation has resigned after less than two years in the role amidst a disastrous sugar harvest year.
Simbu students flee PNG's Lae Unitech
Updated 06/09/2010 17:42:20
One student is dead and two others have been hospitalised in following an ethnic clash between students from two provinces at PNG's Lae University of Technology in the Morobe province.
Fiji cash heist nets one million
Updated 06/09/2010 17:42:20
Fiji Police are investigating the disappearance of up to one million dollars from from the Suva Wharf.
Building code saves NZ from serious destruction
Updated 06/09/2010 17:42:20
As we've heard in earlier reports, many New Zealanders are assessing the damage from the weekend's earthquake.
Call to eat camels in Australia, not cull them
Updated 06/09/2010 17:42:18
Australia's herd of feral camels is expected to double in the next decade.
Massive earthquake strikes NZ's Christchurch
Updated 06/09/2010 09:00:46
New Zealand is reeling from a magnitude 7 quake as measured by the US Geological Survey which hit just 45 kilometres from the country's second largest city, Christchurch, at 4:35am on Saturday morning.
Govt preparing to roll out NZ rebuilding effort
Updated 06/09/2010 09:00:46
National and regional authorities in New Zealand are already working on strategies to rebuild areas devastated by the earthquake that struck Christchurch on Saturday.
Seismologist surprised by location of NZ quake
Updated 06/09/2010 09:00:46
As we go to air the aftershocks are continuing there near Chistchurch, with a 4.8 magnitude aftershock occuring 10 kilometres from Christchurch just after 4am New Zealand local time this morning.
Chinese defence funding for Pacific viewed warily
Updated 06/09/2010 09:00:46
Australian military intervention helped guarantee East Timor its independence and still helps underpin its security, but that does not mean the government in East Timor's capital, Dili, is about to put all its security in the hands of just one regional friend.
Queensland trade rep says PNG links set to soar
Updated 06/09/2010 09:00:45
The Australian state of Queensland's new special trade representative to Papua New Guinea, Jeremy Blockey, says he hopes to help add hundreds of millions of dollars to the value of trade with PNG over the next few years.
Internet governance issues arise in Pacific
Updated 06/09/2010 09:00:45
An important workshop on Internet governance and communications technology was held in Fiji last week, but at least one invitee refused to attend due to Fiji's strict media censorship.
Badminton gets regional development boost
Updated 06/09/2010 09:00:45
There is some good news for the nearly 20,000 badminton players in Oceania with the installation of a new regional development manager in Wellington, New Zealand.
London Irish NZ reps dominate Premiership Rugby opener
Updated 06/09/2010 09:00:45
New Zealand-born and Samoa representative Sailosi Tagicakibau has led from the front with a try in a London Irish win over Saracens 33-16 in the opening round of the Aviva Premiership Rugby season.
Friday, 3 September 2010
Tonga's government involved in row over departure of judge
Updated 03/09/2010 17:10:18
There is concern in parts of Tonga's legal community that the government refused a judge's request to cancel a leave application because of his role chairing the Princess Ashika Ferry inquiry.
PNG LNG project to meet target, regardless
Updated 03/09/2010 17:10:18
The Papua New Guinea government says early work on the country's multi-billion dollar Liquefied Natural Gas project is progressing well and on target.
Pacific policies of Australia's balance-of-power Greens
Updated 03/09/2010 09:13:16
Australia's Labor Party alliance with the Greens in the hope to form government has put our guest today, Green's leader Bob Brown, firmly in the spotlight - but what does this mean for the Pacific?
West Australian govt begins LNG plant land grab
Updated 03/09/2010 09:13:16
The premier of Western Australia has started the process of compulsory acquisition of land in the Kimberley for a massive liquefied gas project near the state's northern town of Broome.
Calls for Cook Islands election people's forum
Updated 03/09/2010 09:13:16
There has been a call for candidates in the Cook Islands' November 17 election to face a so-called people's forum to address four questions specially drafted for campaigners.
New Solomons govt called on to take MDGs seriously
Updated 03/09/2010 09:13:16
As the new Solomon Islands government begins taking the reigns of power in the nation, local NGOs are calling on it to start working seriously on improving the quality of life for its people.
Hawaii showcases renewable energy leadership at summit
Updated 03/09/2010 09:13:16
Hundreds of people, including energy business executives and cabinet ministers, are attending the 2nd annual Asia-Pacific Clean Energy Summit in Honolulu this week.
Pacific wetlands plan updated for new environment concerns
Updated 03/09/2010 09:13:15
A new three-year plan has been drafted to promote and strengthen the effective use and conservation of wetlands in the Pacific region.
Extinct flower rediscovered in Hawaii
Updated 03/09/2010 09:13:15
A flower thought to be extinct has been rediscovered on the Big Island of Hawaii with more than 30 plants bearing the characteristic greeny-white flowers and dark foliage found in rainforest on the slopes of Kohala volcano.
Thursday, 2 September 2010
Tonga's parliament debates public service bill
Updated 02/09/2010 17:04:49
Tonga's parliament is debating a controversial bill that would force public servants to resign, before contesting an election.
PNG Ombudsman wants Leadership Code reformed.
Updated 02/09/2010 17:04:49
Papua New Guinea's Ombudsman Commission says the national parliament is hampering its efforts to legislate reforms of the country's Leadership Code.
PNG Opposition warns of LNG project demise
Updated 02/09/2010 17:04:49
The Papua New Guinea Opposition has predicted the demise of the multi-billion dollar liquefied natural gas project.
Pacific NGOs highlight region's issues to the world
Updated 02/09/2010 17:04:48
The Pacific Islands' Network of NGOs has used this week's United Nation's conference in Melbourne on advancing global health to try to explain the problems and issues which countries face around the region.
Controversial airline owner among PNG crash dead
Updated 02/09/2010 08:44:00
It is now confirmed that among the three Australians and a New Zealander killed in a plane crash on Misima island in Papua New Guinea was a chief pilot from the airline involved in Australia's worst air disaster.
PNG locals 'not surprised' by another plane crash
Updated 02/09/2010 08:43:57
Local media in Papua New Guinea say police have not ruled out a technical fault causing the Misima plane crash after witnesses reported seeing flames coming from the plane as it attempted to land.
New Zealand incubating more potent swine flu
Updated 02/09/2010 08:28:44
It may be a bit later than usual but this year's flu season is still to peak, and there is concern that swine flu is back in the Pacific.
Discovery of how malaria-bearing mosquitos sniff-out humans
Updated 02/09/2010 08:28:44
Scientists say they have discovered that the mosquito which transmits malaria has a second set of odour sensors that sense humans.
Australian Greens, Labor pen agreement in election bid
Updated 02/09/2010 08:28:44
To Australia's swinging election outcome now, and the Australian Greens have now signed a deal with the prime minister to support a Labor government.
Medical staff walkout to halt NZ surgeries
Updated 02/09/2010 08:28:44
Thousands of medical procedures could be disrupted in New Zealand next week when the nation's medical laboratory workers are expected to go on strike as radiographers and other lab workers are locked in a pay dispute with district health boards.
Newcrest Mining debuts on PNG stock exchange
Updated 02/09/2010 08:28:44
In a fairly flat trading week on the Port Moresby stock exchange, Australian gold and coper company Newcrest Mining Ltd has become the 20th company to be listed there following its recent merger with Lihir Gold Limited.
