Press Release – New Zealand Government

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully will meet his counterpart from the Solomon Islands, Foreign Minister Clay Forau, for official talks tomorrow. The Solomon Islands is important to New Zealand. We have a major aid and development programme … Read more »

Press Release – Tax Management New Zealand

Media Release 28 February 2013 Tax Management New Zealand Appoints Sir Ralph Norris to Advisory Board Dynamic, respected business leader Sir Ralph Norris has been appointed to the Advisory Board for Tax Management New Zealand. He joins Barrister David McLay … Read more »

Nautilus Minerals plans a controversial Solwara 1 deep sea mining project in Papua New Guinea. Image: Deepseaworldnews.com

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By the Pacific Media Centre news desk

A Papuan New Guinea environmental advocacy group has accused Prime Minister Peter O’Neill of “falling silent” on the controversial  Solwara 1 deep sea mining venture planned off the coast of Madang.

“Why has our Prime Minister fallen silent on this core issue?” asked Wence Magun, national coordinator for the Madang-based Mas Kagin Tapani and also a steering cvommittee member of the Deep Sea Mining (DSM) Campaign.

The campaign wrote to O’Neill last December about its environmental concerns about the Solwara 1 mine and asked for documents relating to the approvals process of Nautilus Minerals Solwara 1 deep sea mine be made publicly available. Read more »

Press Release – Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development

Theres only 10 days to go until Western Springs Park transforms into an island paradise as it hosts 10 nations in a colourful celebration of Pacific culture. Western Springs Park is home to the annual Pasifika Festival, showcasing the sights, … Read more »

Press Release – New Zealand Government

Hon Murray McCully Minister of Foreign Affairs 28 February 2013 Media Statement McCully to host Cook Islands PM Read more »

The Act of Killing, an award-winning documentary by British-based American filmmaker Joshua Oppenheimer, contains disturbing new material about Indonesia’s death squads.

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Andjarsari Paramaditha in Jakarta

Bejo Untung was a 17-year-old Indonesian schoolboy when armed soldiers came to his village in 1965, forcing him on the run for years until he was caught, tortured and jailed.

A communist-led coup attempt had just failed, triggering a wave of arrests and killings that ushered in more than three decades of rigid anticommunist education and propaganda. The subject is still so sensitive it is rarely broached in public.

But now a documentary, The Act of Killing, made by Texan-born director Joshua Oppenheimer, shines a light on that dark era, focusing on the death squads and torture that seem like a myth to the majority of the Indonesian population. Read more »

Press Release – Deep Sea Mining Campaign

Last December the Deep Sea Mining Campaign sent a letter to Papua New Guinean Prime Minister , Peter ONeill. The letter outlined specific environmental concerns about the Solwara 1 mine and requested that documents relating to the approvals process … Read more »

An abandoned Panguna mine truck on Bougainville. Photo: ABC

Pacific Scoop:
Report – The National in Buka

Former Bougainville Revolutionary Army commander Sam Kaona has warned Australia not to meddle in Bougainville affairs.

He said the first policy draft on mining in Bougainville was no different from the colonial policy that caused the crisis.

“The Australians have taken control of mining policy in Buka and the first policy draft by ABG legal unit headed by [constitutional lawyer] Tony Reagan is no different from the previous policy,” Kaona, who is chairman of the recently formed Bougainville Resources Owners Representative Council, said. Read more »

AUT Vice-Chancellor Derek McCormack welcomes King Tupou VI of Tonga on the university campus in Auckland today. Image: Daniel Drageset/PMC

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Daniel Drageset in Auckland

Tonga’s King Tupou VI included AUT University in his first official visit to New Zealand today and was greeted by Vice-Chancellor Derek McCormack at Hikuwai Plaza on the Auckland city campus.

The King spent one hour at the university, where he exchanged gifts with McCormack. He was also shown AUT’s newest building, the Sir Paul Reeves Building, which houses the School of Communications Studies precinct and state-of-the-art media centre.

The King’s three-day New Zealand visit has included trips to Wellington and Auckland. Read more »

Press Release – Solomon Islands Government

OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATION UNIT MEDIA RELEASE 27-02-13-GH Health Authorities Step Up Measures To Tackle Dengue Outbreak Read more »