Papua New Guinean women and children protest over recent brutal gender attacks over allegations of sorcery. Image: One PNG

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Michael Sergel and Finian Scott

The United Nations and the international community have a “genuine and general concern” about the rights and representation of women in Pacific nations, says UN Women New Zealand spokesperson Sue Kedgley.

During the Pacific Parliamentary and Political Leaders Forum in Wellington, delegates from 18 countries overwhelmingly supported a motion to promote gender equality proposed by Samoan cabinet minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa.

But Papua New Guinea’s Oro Province governor Gary Juffa accused the UN of painting his countrymen as “thugs who beat their women” and Vanuatu cabinet minister Ralph Regenvanu said serious steps to increase the political representation of women “cannot come from the United Nations”. Read more »

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 »

Niue … falling population. Image: southpacifictourism.com

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Michael Sergel and Finian Scott in Wellington

A Niue politician believes family planning initiatives are threatening the future of the small Pacific nation.

Va’aiga Tukuitonga told delegates at the Pacific Parliamentary and Political Leaders Forum in Wellington today that the high use of contraception was the root cause of depopulation.

“We are the only island in the world with depopulation,” she said. Read more »

Samoan master carver Tuailevaoola Pio Timu creating frangipanis on the Cook Island column. Image: Alistar Kata/PMC

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Alistar Kata

A new early childhood centre will keep South Auckland’s culture alive by erecting pieces of artwork on its Mangere campus.

Six columns, or pou mamanu, will be designed and carved especially for the school, representing some of the main islands in the Pacific, including the Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Samoa, Tonga and New Zealand (Aotearoa).

This display will coincide with the opening of the learning centre in November this year. 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 »

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 »

Tawaa Tebunang, 46, at Tanikabaai Village, Tabontebike, Abaiang, in Kiribati. This land was inundated with water following a king tide in 2004. Many crops
were lost as a result including pawpaw, pandanus, banana, taro and figs amongst others; the soil is now too saline to grow food. Image: Rodney Dekker/Oxfam Australia

A NEW report on the way climate change funding is managed in the Pacific is calling for a coordinated and “inclusive” approach in fighting the multiple threats of climate change. A special Pacific Scoop backgrounder.

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Cassandra Mason

Oxfam has proposed a strategic “big picture” approach to regional coordinated funding for Pacific climate change in a new report launched at the Pacific Islands Forum today with the issue being a “core item” on the agenda.

The report, Owning Adaptation in the Pacific: Strengthening governance of climate adaptation finance, gives a detailed look at how climate finance is being managed in Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Vanuatu and makes recommendations for improvements – and also across the Pacific.

Funded by the British High Commission and launched by Oxfam and Richard Benyon, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Natural Environment and Fisheries in DEFRA, the report acknowledges good work that is already being undertaken by governments, donors and civil society. Read more »

Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi (centre) with his wife Gillian (centre right) and other guests enjoying the To’ona’i. Image: the Cook Islands News

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Matiu Workman on Rarotonga

Food, friendship and acknowledging the links between Niue, Tonga and Samoa with the Cook Islands was the focus of two special celebrations from local communities when leaders arrived on Rarotonga.

A kaikai was held for various Polynesian leaders, including Samoa’s Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and French Polynesian President Oscar Temaru at the residence of the late Sir Terepai Maoate on Friday night.

The celebration was all in the name of entertaining the guests and ensuring there was time to mix and mingle with local expatriate communities ahead of the Forum proper. Read more »