New PMC media freedom video complements the Pacific Media Watch report. Image: PMC YouTube channel

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Pacific Media Watch

Brutal repression of journalists and civil rights in Indonesian-ruled West Papua, censorship and self-censorship in Fiji and abuses of a free press in Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu have been highlighted in a Pacific media freedom report being published tomorrow.

The 41-page report by the Pacific Media Centre’s freedom project Pacific Media Watch is a harrowing indictment of the “fragile” state of the media in the region.

Marking the UNESCO World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) – observed globally on May 3 each year – the report is also accompanied by an eight minute video about the media made by a School of Communication Studies crew at the Auckland University of Technology. Read more »

NZ Foreign Minister Murray McCully answers the media with Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr. Photo: Alex Perrottet/PMC

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Alex Perrottet in Suva

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully and his Australian counterpart Bob Carr have received strong assurances that Fiji is well on its way to democracy and have acknowledged that Fiji “is in a state of transition”.

McCully, who is Chair of the Forum Ministerial Contact Group visiting Fiji, today  said the outlook was “very positive” but there was still concern over basic freedoms being observed.

“We were encouraged by the reports we received today about the firm intention to hold elections in 2014 and the reports about the machinery put in place to make those elections possible,” he said. Read more »

Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr ... looking into "progress" in Fiji. Photo: FBC

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Ritika Pratap and Dev Narayan in Suva

The visiting Pacific Islands Forum Ministerial Contact Group is optimistic that talks progressing in the next two days will be positive, reports Fiji Broadcasting News.

MCG chair and New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully, who arrived in Fiji earlier today, thanked the government for accepting to meet the MCG as part of “engagement”.

The meeting is an opportunity for members of the Ministerial Contact Group to see first hand the reforms being undertaken by the Bainimarama government as the country prepares for a new constitution next year and elections in 2014. Read more »

Performance artist Kura Te Ua ... haka theatre the stage for story of love and revenge. Photo: Te Waha Nui

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Astrid Gjerde ⋅

Kura Te Ua is one of around 120 Māori and Pacific artists chosen to represent New Zealand at the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts in the Solomon Islands from July 1 to 13.

Her performance, The Cries from Down Under, combines elements of kapa haka, contemporary Māori dance, and drama in a new concept known as haka theatre.

She says although haka theatre may have originated as far back as the 1920s, younger generations were only introduced to the genre last year during the Rugby World Cup, with the production Arohanui – The Greatest Love, by Te Matatini Society Inc. Read more »

Tamaki Primary students enjoy the fun day out. Photo: Jessi Mee/PMC

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By  Jessi Mee

Tamaki Primary School students were treated to a free school party at the weekend thanks to C3 Church, Auckland.

The event, which had more than 150 C3 church volunteers involved, included food, face-painting, giveaways, bouncy castles and dance performances.

One of the pastors from C3 Church, Jackie O’Dwyer, says the church has been hosting free school party days for five years as part of Random Acts of Kindness day (RAK.co.nz). Read more »

Thirteen PICs ... ""delusion of sovereignty". Photo: Dev Policy

Pacific Scoop:
Analysis – By Professor Wadan Narsey

Everyone knows that PACER Plus negotiations, if successfully conducted by Office of Chief Trading Adviser (OCTA), have the potential for offering major development benefits to Forum Island Country peoples.

The most important benefit should be generous access for unskilled guest workers to Australia and New Zealand, to assist in employment of unskilled FIVC people, and the strengthening of remittance flows of valuable foreign exchange, in return for trade liberalisation.

However, Forum Island Countries (FICs) allege that Australia and NZ are dragging their feet when it comes to the funding of the (OCTA) which is supposed to be the secretariat for PACER Plus negotiations. Read more »

David Ward ... a wider Pacific focus planned for donated teaching resources programme. Photo: Jessi Mee/PMC

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Jessi Mee

A volunteer group providing donated teaching resources for Tonga is responding to a growing need for resources in other Pacific nations by changing its name to Island Resources.

It is also now making plans to help other countries, such as Fiji.

Private school manager David Ward established the organisation as Resources4Tonga and started to gather quality second hand education goods from New Zealand schools, businesses and local communities. Read more »

Papua New Guinea gold ... vast mineral wealth changing Pacific politics. Photo: Kiridaresources

Pacific Scoop:
Commentary – By economist Professor Wadan Narsey

If this was a news release by a geologist, alarm bells would be ringing around the Pacific and international scientific community.

But retitle it “Pacific politics tilting to PNG” and the alarm bells would be ringing in Samoa, Tonga and the Cooks (as I am sure they already are).

However, if Papua New Guinea ever decides to flex its burgeoning muscles, encouraged by a belligerent Fiji, the alarm bells would be ringing loudest in Canberra and Wellington. Read more »

Cambodian dance troop Tiny Toones have been touring around Auckland this week. Photo: tinytoones.org.nz

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Melissa Low

Former Cambodian street children are breakdancing around Auckland this week as they share their life stories with New Zealand’s youth.

Cambodian dance group Tiny Toones is currently touring Auckland high schools with hopes it will inspire students.

Based in Phnom Penh, Tiny Toones is a charity that runs as a youth drop-in centre, offering creative and education programmes to children from the poorest neighbourhoods and slums in Cambodia. Read more »

Three generations are grateful for the return of the hero's sword. Peter Judson (left to right), Dylan Judson and David Judson. Photo: Heath Moore/PMC

Pacific Scoop:
Exclusive Report -  By Heath Moore

A sword of a Victoria Cross medal recipient from World War I has made a 50-year journey back home to the man’s family.

The sword was given to Henderson RSA member Nigel Lindsay by Major Reginald Stanley Judson after the pair became friends following World War II.

Today at the Henderson RSA, Lindsay presented the World War I sword to six-year-old Dylan Judson, who is Major Judson’s great-great grandson. Read more »