Samoa’s Tafua Maluelue Tafua … used a media speech to seek NZ immigration policy reform for the Pacific. Image: Savalinews

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Michael Sergel and Finian Scott

A Samoan cabinet minister has called on New Zealand to make it easier for Pacific people to migrate to the country, but Deputy Prime Minister Bill English says New Zealand workers must come first.

Samoan MP and former North Shore City councillor Tafua Maluelue Tafua has used a speech on media reform at a Pacific leaders forum to call for a rethink on New Zealand immigration policy.

“New Zealand and Samoa are good friends, but Samoans have to spend $200 to get a visa to New Zealand,” Afiago Tafua told delegates, adding that many people in Samoa would struggle to save that much money during an average year. Read more »

Kiribati Independent publisher and editor Taberannang Korauaba … back in business. Photo: PMC/KI

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Pacific Media Watch

The Kiribati Independent, the fourth newspaper in the Pacific nation of Kiribati, resumes publication today.

The newspaper closed down in June last year while police investigated a complaint from the Ministry of Communications claiming that the paper had breached the Newspaper Registration Act.

Editor and publisher Taberannang Korauaba told Pacific Media Watch that neither the police nor the Communications Ministry had advised him on the progress of that investigation. Read more »

The Pacific Plan … under review, criticised. Image: PMC

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By the PMC news desk

An independent review team of leading experts has been named to consider the Pacific Plan during this year.

Pacific Islands Forum leaders nominated a former Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Sir Mekere Morauta, to lead the review at the Forum meeting in the Cook Islands last September.

Following a competitive selection process, the rest of his team has been named. Read more »

Kiribati Independent publisher and editor Taberannang Korauaba … shut down due to political pressure. Photo: PMC/KI

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Pacific Media Watch in Auckland

The Tarawa edition of the Kiribati Independent newspaper remains closed six months after it voluntarily shut down “indefinitely” after harassment by authorities.

But editor Taberannang Korauaba and two Tarawa-based staff have begun circulating a  free New Zealand edition with some Kiribati stories to readers in the island nation.

“We are publishing with a view to updating our readers with news from New Zealand and Kiribati,” Korauaba told Pacific Media Watch. Read more »

Professor David Robie presents his inaugural professorial address at AUT University last night. Image: Alex Perrottet/PMC

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Alex Perrottet of Pacific Media Watch

Restoring public trust, engaging in critical journalism, and opening the media’s eyes to common blind spots were all on the agenda for the inaugural address of the first professor in journalism studies in New Zealand and the Pacific.

Professor David Robie spoke to a crowded conference room of almost 200 people at AUT University tonight after receiving his professorship last year.

Beginning with the current so-called Hackgate media crisis and visiting plenty of other “hot spots” throughout the presentation, Professor Robie charted the course of his life’s journey through New Zealand, Africa, Europe and back to Oceania. Read more »

The brochure for Pacific Media Centre director Professor David Robie’s address today on media, politics and education. Image: David Robie/AUT

Pacific Scoop:
Live Streaming – AUT University

At the heart of a global crisis over news media credibility and trust is Britain’s so-called Hackgate scandal involving the widespread allegations of phone-hacking and corruption against the now defunct Rupert Murdoch tabloid newspaper News of the World.

Major inquiries on media ethics, professionalism and accountability have been examining the state of the press in NZ, Britain and Australia.

The Murdoch media empire has stretched into the South Pacific with the sale of one major title being forced by political pressure. Read more »

Kiribati shortage of fresh water supplies … serious problem. Image: SOPAC

A mission – first to the Pacific by the UN Special Rapporteur on safe drinking water since the post was established in 2008 – has cast light on the precarious nature of fresh water supply in Kiribati.

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Harry Pearl

A United Nations official has hit out at what she sees as a lack of vision and strategy from the Kiribati government on a “desperate” water and sanitation problem.

Catarina de Albuquerque, UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, called on Kiribati to implement a coherent strategy.

Replying to questions from Pacific Scoop, de Albuquerque said: “I observed that none of the government institutions seemed to have a specific responsibility for sanitation and hygiene promotion. Read more »

Pacific Islands Forum leaders meet at their retreat on Aitutaki atoll in the Cook Islands yesterday. Image: Cook Islands News

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Shaun Tandon, Neil Sands and Rachel Reeves on Rarotonga

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has vowed the United States will remain active in the South Pacific for the “long haul” but says the region is big enough for a rising China.

Clinton announced some $32 million in new aid projects as she became the first US secretary of state to take part in the traditional dialogue after the Pacific Islands Forum leaders summit, in a sign of renewed interest in the vast region.

Clinton’s visit came as many island states have been forging closer ties with China, which according to Australia’s Lowy Institute has pledged more than $600 million in low-interest and mostly strings-free loans to the South Pacific since 2005. Read more »

Cook Islanders welcome US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Rarotonga last night for the post-Forum dialogue today. Image: CSM

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Calida Smylie on Rarotonga

After much hype and speculation about whether US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would attend the Forum, she finally arrived in Rarotonga last night and was engaged in talks with the Pacific today.

Clinton flew in last night just before 11pm on her personal jet, one of four government C-32s, or a Boeing 757 fitted with auxiliary fuel tanks enabling it to fly about three hours longer than a regular 757.

She had breakfast today with other leaders at Trader Jack’s and afterwards attended the 24th post-forum dialogue partner’s meeting at the National Auditorium. Read more »

Pacific Scoop:
Report

Here is the 43rd Pacific Islands Forum Communiqué released at the end of the Leaders’ Retreat held in Aitutaki in the northern Cook Islands today:

FORUM COMMUNIQUÉ

The Forty-Third Pacific Islands Forum was held in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, from 28 to 30 August 2012 and was attended by Heads of State and Governments of Australia, the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Kiribati, the Republic of Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu. Read more »