Monday, January 31, 2011

[pima.nius] Pacific Media Centre on the move to AUT Tower

5:12 PM |

Warm Pacific greetings.

The Pacific Media Centre has moved location and is now in rooms WT1006
and WT1006A on the 10th floor of the AUT Tower, City Campus of AUT
University. However, it is not yet open for the semester as the
director, David Robie, is on leave until Monday, February 7.

See news item here: www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pmc-blog/2011-02-01/pacific-media-centre-move-aut-tower

and our contact details here: www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/contact

Check out our revamped new website at: www.pmc.aut.ac.nz

If you would like to keep up-to-date with news and current affairs
from the Pacific Media Centre, subscribe to our RSS news feed:
www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/rss.xml

If you would like Pacific Media Watch (the email service is ending
soon), subscribe to:
www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/feeds/pmw_article/rss.xml

If you would like to keep up-to-date with our forthcoming events,
subscribe to:
www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/feeds/event/rss.xml

The next event is a workshop and seminar on use of Pacific Media
Centre and Pasifika Journalism library resources on Thursday, February
10, WT1004, 4-5pm:
www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/events/pasifika-media-and-library-resources-seminar
- resource presenters Annie McKillop, Tony Murrow and David Robie.
ALL WELCOME - but especially useful for journalism staff and
postgraduate Pasifika students.

MIJT 2010 papers and articles:
If you would like to review the papers and articles at our recent
successful investigative and peace journalism conference, browse:
www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/events/media-investigative-journalism-and-technology-2010-conference

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[pima.nius] FIJI: New Fiji Times publisher Brian O'Flaherty takes helm

9:55 AM |


Title – 7233 FIJI: New Fiji Times publisher Brian O'Flaherty takes helm
Date – 31 January 2011
Byline – Shalveen Chand
Origin – Pacific Media Watch
Source – The Fiji Times, 31/1/11
Copyright – FT
Status – Unabridged
----------------------------
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O'FLAHERTY LEADS THE FIJI TIMES
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=164974

* See 7231

By Shalveen Chand

SUVA (The Fiji Times/Pacific Media Watch): Brian O'Flaherty is the new publisher of The Fiji Times.

The board of directors of The Fiji Times announced the appointment yesterday and said, O'Flaherty, 53, brings to the newspaper extensive knowledge and experience having worked previously in the media industry in Australia, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

He first served as publisher of The Fiji Times between 1992 and 1996.

The board said: "With his background and experience Brian will be a great asset to take The Fiji Times to greater heights and provide our readers continued enjoyable reading and re-enforce the adage 'Fiji without The Fiji Times is unthinkable'. "

O'Flaherty said he was privileged to be back at the helm of The Fiji Times and looked forward to working with some familiar faces.

"It will also be challenging and I am confident I will rise above it," he said.

O'Flaherty's appointment as general manager/publisher is effective from today. He replaces Dallas Swinstead who has returned to Australia.

* Comment on this item pmediawa@aut.ac.nz

+++niuswire

PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH ONLINE
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PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH is a media and educational resource compiled by the AUT Pacific Media Centre for the Pacific region.

(c)1996-2010 Creative Commons
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of PMW or the Pacific Media Centre.

For further information or joining the Pacific Media Watch listserve, visit:
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Sunday, January 30, 2011

[pima.nius] VASITI Ritova managing editor of the Bula Tribune

9:32 AM |

Stories of second chances

Paula Tagivetaua
Friday, January 28, 2011

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=164753


VASITI Ritova, a former Fiji journalist is making it big in the land of plenty.

It is a long haul for the mother-of-two from Nananu in Ra but as her province motto says - ma'e na ma'e - she can hack it out anywhere with anybody. Badidi, as her old girl friends from Adi Cakobau School call her, is managing editor of a newspaper with a difference, for the Fijian community in Sacramento, California.

This is what Vasiti has to say:

"There are many wonderful stories in this land of second chances and The Bula Tribune will share those stories with a world audience.

"Thousands of our people have come to live here and participate in its economy, pay their tax, make use of its resources and the wonderful things America shares with everyone and also dream their dreams with other immigrant communities.

"We feel passionately about its mission and the void it will fill.

"We saw how our people who have made the US their second home wish they would have a forum to share their feelings, stories, challenges, successes and their passion.

"It will be a platform on which many stories will be shared and revisited.

"The Bula Tribune is a resource centre that will tell the stories of how this group of hardworking Fijians stood up and made their journey across the seas to work hard for their family, children, their tokatoka, mataqali, yavusa and their village, province, church, school, island, tikina, businesses and many other ventures.

"Their stories are special and the newspaper will share them.

"I admire their resilience, their attitude toward work, their effort to raise kids, to help them get an education and carry on with life. Do you know that they contribute millions of dollars every year in remittances?

"For weeks now, a group of young Fijian professionals in California have meticulously planned something they believe in.

"Our passion to share our people's stories enabled us to establish The Bula Tribune.

"The group has a lot to give thanks for. Many are passionate about The Bula Tribune and have travelled this journey with the management.

"We are equally blessed to be in this country and participate in the process of educating our people here on the importance of doing what is right and what America wants for those who share its ideals with.

"The Fijian community, save for those who break the law, has worked hard to be recognised at high levels of community giving."

The Bula Tribune will showcase the critical importance of sharing what we are with those we love and care about, with those whose companionship and friendship we enjoy.

Fiji is not just any country in the world today.

"It is an important place for its people, for those who work hard to carry its torch forward, whether as leaders, men, women, youth and children, sportsmen and women, or those who simply share with others the importance of the country in the world today."

We are all Fijians and we care about others.

The Bula Tribune will partner with everyone who has a story to tell. It will make summaries of life.

"The Bula Tribune is dedicated to every Fijian in the world today, to our resolve in the face of challenges, to those who stand up and do things for themselves, to those who love the great outdoors, travelling, nice wine and nice friendship.

"For me, personally, yes, it has been 20 long years in all facets of media in Fiji and the Pacific Islands and beyond - long time indeed but workable most of the time, achievable, blessed, and all attempted with hard work.

"I can safely say I tried to be good at my work and through all of it I earned what educated human beings fondly refer to as reputation.

"I walked into a formal newsroom (FM96) , with all its vibrancy, hustle and bustle, in early October 1990 and started on a journey - into homes, lives and minds, into personalities, attitude and differences.

"I celebrated my 20th year in journalism in California and the journey has been a wonderful one.

"Journalism became an art, a vocation and not a 9-to-5 job because the profession taught me to belong, to share my thoughts, feelings and my aims.

"I have asked hundreds of thousands of questions in this line of work, simply because they tied with justice. My stories did justice to many things and many people."

The Bula Tribune will be launched at the Delta King Hotel in Sacramento, California by former Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and his wife, Sulueti on January 29, and will be attended by 150 guests including representatives from the Embassy of Fiji in Washington DC, the Consul General in San Francisco, Fijian businessmen in California and a host of caregivers who provide the fuel for the Fijian community's engine room in the United States.

The Bula Tribune is part of Nest Media LLC in Sacramento County, California State. It is the second of the group's business entity. The group also owns Bula Television Ltd. Inoke and Ateca Qarau are also part of Vasiti's team.

It will publish every fortnight - 3000 copies, 24 pages in color and distributed all over the United States.

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[pima.nius] FIJI: O’Flaherty back as new Fiji Times general manager

9:30 AM |


Title – 7231 FIJI: O'Flaherty back as new Fiji Times general manager
Date – 28 January 2011
Byline – Roland Koroi
Origin – Pacific Media Watch
Source – Fiji Broadcasting Corporation/Pacific Media Centre, 28/1/11
Copyright – FBC/PMC
Status – Unabridged
----------------------------
* Pacific Media Watch Online - check the website for archive and links:
www.pacmediawatch.aut.ac.nz

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O'FLAHERTY BACK AS NEW FIJI TIMES GENERAL MANAGER
http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/2011-01-28/fiji-o%E2%80%99flaherty-back-new-fiji-times-general-manager

By Roland Koroi

SUVA (Fiji Broadcasting Corporation/Pacific Media Centre/Pacific Media Watch): Australian Brian O'Flaherty is the new general manager of The Fiji Times newspaper.

FBC News has been reliably informed that O'Flaherty is expected to resume duties on Monday, replacing Dallas Swinstead.

O'Flaherty is a former News Ltd employee and was publisher of the Fiji Times in the mid-1990s.

After leaving Fiji, O'Flaherty is understood to have joined News Ltd's Cumberland newspapers.

News Ltd sold the Fiji Times last year to the Motibhai Group of companies after a Media Decree directive that all media organisations have 90 percent local ownership.

* Comment on this item pmediawa@aut.ac.nz

+++niuswire

PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH ONLINE
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PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH is a media and educational resource compiled by the AUT Pacific Media Centre for the Pacific region.

(c)1996-2010 Creative Commons
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Items are provided solely for review purposes as a non-profit educational service. Copyright remains the property of the original  producers as indicated in the header. Recipients should seek permission
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[pima.nius] Radio News Editor Vacancy for Pacific Media Network

9:29 AM |


http://www.seek.co.nz/JobListing/Preview?id=18962987

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-me-jobs/Marketing-media-communications/Journalism/listing-350321433.htm?key=479463

Patrick Lino
Network Programme Director

Ph:     (+649) 361 6656 xtn 220
Mob:    021 173 7413
Fax:    09 361 3966
Email: 
patrick.lino@pacificmedianetwork.com
Web:   
www.niufm.comwww.531pi.co.nz

Level 1
56 Brown Street
Ponsonby
Auckland 1021

NiuFM | Radio 531pi | Pacific Radio News
Whangarei 100.3 Auckland 103.8 Hamilton 103.4 Rotorua 103.9 Taupo 103.9 Hawkes Bay 103.9 Wellington 103.7 100.7 Christchurch 104.1 Dunedin 103.8 Invercargill 103.9

Picture (Metafile)




--
Lisa Williams-Lahari
Media Freelancer
Regional Coordinator, IFJ Pacific Media for Democracy and Human Rights Project
Ph Mob: (64) 0210642704
Skype: lisalahari
 

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."-- Martin Luther King Jr. 

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Thursday, January 27, 2011

[pima.nius] Re: [Pacific_media_watch] 7226 TONGA: Kele'a newspaper sued by cabinet minister Edwards

9:40 AM |



On 27 January 2011 19:02, Pacific Media Watch nius <pacific_media_watch@lists.apc.org.au> wrote:
Title – 7226 TONGA: Kele'a newspaper sued by cabinet minister Edwards
Date – 27 January 2011
Byline – None
Origin – Pacific Media Watch
Source – Taimionline, 26/1/11
Copyright – TO
Status – Unabridged
----------------------------
* Pacific Media Watch Online - check the website for archive and links:
www.pacmediawatch.aut.ac.nz

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KELE'A NEWSPAPER SUED BY CABINET MINISTER
http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/2011-01-27/tonga-kele%E2%80%99-newspaper-sued-cabinet-minister-edwards

NUKU'ALOFA (Taimionline/Pacific Media Watch): Tonga's Minister of Public Enterprises and Revenue Clive Edwards has filed a civil lawsuit against the Kele'a newspaper alleging defamation.

Police prosecutor Mema Latu has confirmed that the case will be heard this week in the Magistrate Court.

According to Kele'a editor Mateni Tapueluelu, Edwards is asking for compensation from Tapueluelu and publisher Laucala Pohiva Tapueluelu over a report published last November.

On the week of elections, the newspaper ran a front page story accusing some candidates of forming a "secret" political party backed by the government of the day.

Individuals named as alleged members of this party included William Clive Edwards, Dr Taniela Palu, Dr Viliami Tangi, 'Aisake Tu'iono, Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa, Dr Massaso Paunga, Samiu Vaipulu, 'Etuate Lavulavu and others.

Edwards, who lost his seat as a representative in Parliament to Dr Sitiveni Halapua, alleged the news story affected the outcome of the elections.

Tapueluelu told the Tonga Chronicle he could not comment on further details of the case while it was before the courts.

Edwards is representing himself and the Tapueluelus are represented by Siosifa Tu'utafaiva.

Sevele lawsuit
Meanwhile, the defamation lawsuit filed against the newspaper by former Prime Minister Lord Feleti Sevele has not been resolved.

The case was filed last year in New Zealand courts, where the newspaper is published.

The newspaper recently ran an apology last month (December 29) to Lord Sevele, withdrawing allegations made against him regarding his role in the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika ferry.

"With Dr Sevele's retirement from office and a new political era beginning, we considered it appropriate to try and turn the page," said a statement from Tapueluelu.

The Kele'a newspaper was founded as a regular newsletter in 1986 by pro-democracy MP 'Akilisi Pohiva. It was transformed to a weekly newspaper in 2005 and is now managed by Pohiva's children.

* Comment on this item pmediawa@aut.ac.nz

+++niuswire

PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH ONLINE
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Wednesday, January 26, 2011

[pima.nius] Tonga poverty and youth unemployment a concern

9:35 AM |

Tonga poverty and youth unemployment a concern

The United Nations has identified tackling basic needs poverty and improving youth employment as the two priority areas Tonga needs to work on in its attempts to achieve millennium development goals.

A report on the nation's progress was launched last week by Tonga's Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu.

Its the second status report produced by Tonga since 2005.

In 2000, Tonga was one of 189 countries which signed a United Nations Millennium Declaration to work towards achieving progress in the basic areas of human development.

They include the targets of eradicating poverty and hunger, universal primary education, promoting gender equality and reducing child mortality.

Presenter: Geraldine Coutts
Speaker: Knut Ostby, United Nations Development Program's Resident Representative based in Fiji

OSTBY: We have supported the production of this MDG report, and they have identified with government data a number of key issues that needs improvement. Of course a number of success stories are there as well, but one of the issues is the increase in basic needs poverty, which has increased from 16 to 23 per cent from 2001 to 2009. Basically poverty is a common problem across the Pacific, and Tonga also has this problem. Other issues identified is the participation of women, it's the non-communicable diseases, and the increase in deaths and the fall in income from remittances and tourists. Some of the success areas include education and child mortality, other health indicators, and they've done good things also in the area of environment. But these areas, including the basic needs poverty remain to be addressed.

COUTTS: Are we tilting at windmills when we talk about combating basic poverty, I mean the Pacific it's a subsistence lifestyle in many parts, there is the cash economy, but what should they be doing that they're not?

OSTBY: We think that one of the key areas to work on is to include anti-GE concerns in policies, in plans and in budgets, in budgeting, and there's a great opportunity now for the new parliament and the new government to do that, when they engage in their budgeting processes to have these human centered priorities at the centre of their planning. And also when there's growth, when there is economic initiatives to make sure that these are inclusive, that one takes into account employment opportunities when you plan economic growth.

COUTTS: But what are the practical concerns, what can actually be done? We've been talking for some years about the Millenium Development Goals, which we need to applaud and herald, because they're all areas that the world needs to look at. But we've spent a lot of time talking with it, producing policy, but on the ground and practically what actually is being done and can be done?

OSTBY: Well as I said when the government makes its budget it has to make priorities. It can prioritise between roads or schools�

COUTTS: But we're also talking about budgets that aren't very large?

OSTBY: This is true and it's about the aid budgets and the government budgets are not very large, and there's a question of making do with what you have. And of course as you said there is a significant subsistence economy. But the indicator of basic needs, poverty takes that into account. And what is needed is to make sure that we go back to the human needs when the planning takes place. That you don't plan for big projects that have an effect only on a limited number of people.

COUTTS: Now how much of an impact have the things that we can't have any control over, like the global economic financial crisis, the climate change concerns, natural disasters such as 2009 tsunami which hit Niuatoputapu, resulting in loss of life and physical damage. I mean that must have an impact, and also be a considerable hurdle for not just Tonga but other governments in achieving their development goals?

OSTBY: Yeah I think they have been hit by the global economic crisis quite visibly in the last three years. It's the increase in external debts that have gone up from 30 per cent of the GDP to almost 40 per cent of the GDP over the last three years, and then significant drops in income from tourism and trade and remittances. These are impacts that they don't have much control over, but in terms of the debt issues, there are things that can be done to manage the debt better in terms of focussing on that management inside the government machinery, and to review the recurrent spending of government. These are a couple of things that probably needs to be looked at in relation to the debt problem.

COUTTS: Well this is a second stage report for Tonga, we've talked about some of the downsides of it, but there must be some positives that have come from it as well?

OSTBY: Yes they're doing very well on education, there's progress on environment, although as you said there's these external factors like climate change that is also outside the control of government. On health issues outside of non-communicable diseases, there is good progress. But there's of course the remaining issue of non-communicable diseases; diabetes in particular that needs to be combated.

COUTTS: Now just moving off Tonga for a moment; the Pacific as a whole, how are they going? Is it fairly similar to Tonga?

OSTBY: There is a pattern across the Pacific that is basic needs poverty. It's difficult to tackle. The absolute poverty there is very little, but the basic needs poverty is difficult to tackle. Also issues of gender and the participation of women in political life, and also violence against women is a Pacific-wide issue. And then of course everyone has problems with the climate change and so on. There is overall progress, it appears that Polynesia is doing better than the other parts of the Pacific.

COUTTS: Why is that?

OSTBY: I'm not sure if we can conclude exactly why that is, we think it goes back to government policies, but I hesitate to come with a very concrete diagnosis about why this. But I think it's useful for the countries to exchange experiences on government policies, and I think other countries would fine that some government policies from Polynesia it could be used for other countries to learn from.

COUTTS: Now the 64-thousand dollar question Mr Ostby, are any of the Pacific nations likely to reach their development goals by 2015?

OSTBY: Yes I think some of the Polynesian countries for sure have a good chance. There's also one Micronesian country, Palau, that are doing better than the others. So there is a good chance. I think what is needed for the next five years is to focus, to pick key issues, such as for example gender and for example basic needs poverty, and invest in these, and to focus attention both from donors and governments on these, and they will have a ripple effect across the whole MDG network of all these goals. And at least there is a good chance that a number of the countries could reach.

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Tuesday, January 25, 2011

[pima.nius] NZ: Real threat of 'honour killings' , women's advocacy group tells media

9:45 AM |



Title – 7225 NZ: Real threat of 'honour killings' , women's advocacy group tells media
Date – 25 January 2011
Byline – None
Origin – Pacific Media Watch
Source – The NZ Herald, 25/1/11
Copyright – NZH
Status – Unabridged
----------------------------
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REAL THREAT OF HONOUR KILLINGS IN NZ, WOMEN'S GROUP SAYS
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10701867

AUCKLAND (The NZ Herald/Pacific Media Watch): Honour killings have taken place in New Zealand, a spokesperson for an ethnic women's advocacy group says.

The comment comes in the wake of the death of 28-year-old Fiji Indian Ranjeeta Sharma, who was found burnt to death on the side of a rural Huntly road.

New Zealand Herald inquiries have revealed that Sharma - a nurse at Middlemore Hospital - was involved in a violent marriage and moved out of her Manurewa home in South Auckland recently, after complaining of being beaten by her husband.

Her husband and four-year-old son have fled to Fiji and have been found by Fiji police.

There is speculation Sharma's death may have been an "honour killing", although some Indian groups have dismissed the suggestion.

Priyanca Radhakrishnan, from Shakti, a support group for women from Asia, Africa and the Middle East, told Radio New Zealand she could not comment on whether Sharma's death was an honour killing.

But she said honour killings had "absolutely" occurred in New Zealand.

"There has been one that has been proven to my knowledge to have been an honour killing, this was some years back, but the nature of honour killings is such that they are made to look like accidents or suicides."

Radhakrishnan said women had approached the organisation in fear.

"Unfortunately we get quite a high number of women who have been threatened to be killed.

"We've had women seek our support and tell us they've been told they've acted dishonourably by dressing in Western clothes or talking to men, having a boyfriend, things that are deemed acceptable in New Zealand society but may not be in the male-dominated families that they come from."

Radhakrishnan said while honour in Western culture was associated with individual integrity, in more communal societies the social behaviours of individuals was reflected on the collective.

"Which means then that if an individual is perceived to have acted dishonourably the onus is on the collective to take social justice into their hands and to mete out punishment to restore honour.

"If the transgression is deemed severe enough then the ultimate punishment is death."

However, Tika Ram, a former member of Satsangramayan Mandali, an Auckland-based Indian religious society, told the Herald honour killings were "very uncommon" in Fiji, while Auckland Indian Society president Harshad Patel said media speculation Sharma's death was an "honour killing" was premature and it seemed unlikely to be the case.

"In civilised societies you don't see this sort of thing, especially in New Zealand."

* Comment on this item pmediawa@aut.ac.nz

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[pima.nius] Stranded Tuvaluans still hopeful of getting to New Zealand for holiday

9:45 AM |

Stranded Tuvaluans still hopeful of getting to New Zealand for holiday

Updated January 25, 2011 16:59:14

A group of more than 100 Tuvaluans hope New Zealand will quickly process their tourists visas, after being left stranded in the Fijian capital, Suva, for more than month. Many in the group of men, women and children from the island of Nukufetau have never previously travelled out of Tuvalu. They say they got stuck in Suva when New Zealand rejected their group visa, and insisted that they apply as indviduals, to visit families in New Zealand for Christmas.

The New Zealand immigration department says there are specific policy requirements for groups travelling to the country and urges all travellers to check thier visa requirements before they leave home.

Presenter: Alexandra Wake
Tuvalu Group leader, Valu Afe Lafita

LAFITA New Zealand immigration here in Fiji, they don't allow us to apply in a group. So they decline our visas, our application forms, and they told us to apply in individual visas.
WAKE: Why did you decide to apply as a group, rather than individuals, in the first place?
LAFITA: Because we are travelling in a group. That's the idea of applying in a group in the first time. Because we are travelling in a group.
WAKE: Who is in that group? Can you tell me about the people?
LAFITA: Well the people we are travelling with, we are from one side of our island in Nukufetau, our island is divided into two sides, and we are from one side.
WAKE: And I understand there is a wide range of people and ages in your group?
LAFITA: That is correct. Some are old and some are young people. Also for some of them it is their first time out of Tuvalu. They really want to meet their families and our community in New Zealand.
WAKE: I understand that you had been planning to go to New Zealand for Christmas but that you have been stuck in Suva for over a month?
LAFITA: Yes, that's correct. We arrived in Fiji on December 16th, till now, we are sitll in Fiji.
WAKE: And where are you staying? Do you have a place to stay?
LAFITA: Yes, we are staying at a hall that belongs to the Rabi Community here, so it's owned by the Rambi Community, Methodist Church, here in Suva.
WAKE: Can you stay there for very long or do you need to leave?
LAFITA: Well this place they offer us for free of charge, we will stay there until we leave fiji.
WAKE: Are you hopeful now of getting to New Zealand or do you think you will need to return to Tuvalu.
LAFITA: Becuase we have lodged our visas now to the New Zealand embassy so we are still looking forward to continuing our trip to New Zealand because we already lodged our visas within the NZ embassy.
WAKE: Were you aware before you left home that you needed to do individual visas , or why were you under the impression you could do a group visa? Did you look into it before you left?
LAFITA: When we left Tuvalu we did not know that we should, that our visa would decline because of this group visa, but when we arrive in Fiji, they just let us know that they decline us from this group visa.
WAKE: Do you have enough money to stay in Suva while this matter is sorted out?
LAFITA: Well at the moment we are still have enough, at the moment the NZ embassy, they are still workign for us so in the meantime, shortly I think we are ready to leave here.

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[pima.nius] More public talking needed on Tuvalu's Public Order ban: PFF statement

9:43 AM |

via Freedom Forum


Colleagues, the www.pacificfreedomforum.org link has been updated with
the text and links below. Please publish/share widely with relevant
networks.

Begins:
25 January 2011, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- An historic 14-day ban on
large public meetings or gatherings ending this week in Funafuti must
put Tuvalu's leadership on notice that freedom of assembly and
expression are key to democratic rule, says the Pacific Freedom Forum,
PFF.

The regional media freedom monitoring network says Tuvalu's first-ever
invocation of its Public Order Ordinance on January 13 banning public
gatherings or meetings on the capital island of Funafuti will have
trickle down impacts on free speech and free expression in the small
island nation.

The 1973 ordinance has never been used -- til now. It was applied in
the wake of a public protest march demanding the resignation from
government of  the Finance Minister Lotoala Metia on January 13. It's
been reported such a move would topple the government's one-seat
majority in Tuvalu's Parliament and allow Opposition MP Enele Sopoaga
to take up the leadership. Metia and Sopoaga live in Funafuti, as MP's
for the outlying island constituency of Nukufetau. Sopoaga, responding
to the refusal by the Senior Magistrates Court in Tuvalu to rule on an
application from the protestors on the Public Order, says the ban
amounts to a gagging of the people of Tuvalu by the government.


"Governance and governments benefit when people have access to
information from a free and independant media, and can freely share
their opinions in private or public. Issuing a ban in a small place
like Tuvalu may  villainise those who chose to be part of the protest
and warn off others who would want to stand up for their causes in
future. Thus, a situation like this would actually need more and not
less dialogue and debate around the issue," says PFF chair Susuve
Laumaea.

"We are glad to hear that colleagues at Radio Tuvalu feel they able to
report freely at this time and encourage the government to support
editorial independance of the media," he says.

The Tuvalu Media Corporation is the only mainstream media organisation
in the country, and is owned and controlled by the government.
National broadcaster Radio Tuvalu falls under the Ministry of
Information  -- whose Minister is the current PM.

"It's important for governments across the region to apply the
governance and human rights principles of the Pacific Plan they
themselves endorsed in 2005," says PFF co-chair Monica Miller.

"Tuvalu, like many Pacific nations where the state controls the main
media outlets, should also look to its own Constitution guaranteeing
freedom of assembly and freedom of expression to guide what happens
after the ban ends. It's clear that more Tuvaluans need to feel heard
by their leaders and provide input in ways that both voters and their
elected leadership are happy with."--ENDS



 CONTACT: PFF interim Chair Susuve Laumaea | Sunday Chronicle
Newspaper | Papua New Guinea Mobile: 675-684 5168 | Office:
675-321-7040 | Email: susuve.laumaea@interoil.com PFF interim co-Chair
Monica Miller | KHJ Radio | American Samoa Mob 684 258-4197 | Office
684 633-7793 | Email: monica@khjradio.com




The Pacific Freedom Forum are a regional and global online network of
Pacific media colleagues, with the specific intent of raising
awareness and advocacy of the right of Pacific people to enjoy freedom
of expression and be served by a free and independent media. We
believe in the critical and basic link between these freedoms, and the
vision of democratic and participatory governance pledged by our
leaders in their endorsement of the Pacific Plan and other commitments
to good governance. In support of the above, our key focus is
monitoring threats to media freedom and bringing issues of concern to
the attention of the wider regional and international community.


--
Lisa Williams-Lahari
Media Freelancer
Regional Coordinator, IFJ Pacific Media for Democracy and Human Rights
Project
Ph Mob: (64) 0210642704
Skype: lisalahari

* "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that
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Monday, January 24, 2011

[pima.nius] Claims of proof Tongan King's house in NZ paid for by govt

9:29 AM |

Claims of proof Tongan King's house in NZ paid for by govt

Updated January 24, 2011 17:55:44

Tongan lawyers in Auckland who are trying to prevent the sale of the King's house in the city claim to have uncovered proof it does not belong to him.

The property, Atalanga, is being sold by His Majesty King George Tupou V, but the lawyers insist the money to purchase it in 1952 came from the Tongan government rather than his grandmother, Queen Salote.

One of the lawyers trying to prevent the sale, Joel Fotu, says the legal document holding up the sale, called a caveat, will be lifted shortly, and it's not been decided if an attempt will be made to reinstate it.

Presenter: Bruce Hill
Speaker: Joel Fotu, Tongan lawyer in Auckland

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[pima.nius] 7223 TONGA: Opinion - A rough ride but with hope

9:28 AM |




Title – 7223 TONGA: Opinion - A rough ride but with hope
Date – 25 January 2011
Byline – Kalafi Moala
Origin – Pacific Media Watch
Source – Taimi Media Network, 17/1/11
Copyright – TMC
Status – Unabridged
----------------------------
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Opinion:
A ROUGH RIDE BUT WITH HOPE
http://www.taimionline.com/articles/1471

By Kalafi Moala, publisher of the Taimi Media Network

NUKU'ALOFA (Taimi Media Network/Pacific Media Watch): Tonga's people and Parliament have chosen to base their hope for the country on a promise made over a period of two decades, backed by popular support, and by Western countries like Australia and New Zealand. This is a promise that democracy will bring solutions that would help Tonga align itself with the same values that drive the West, and hoping that the outcome of peace, happiness, wealth, health, and social cohesion will now be shared by Tonga.

Never mind that none of these values are actually effectively at work in the West, and are perhaps even more elusive in the so-called third world cultures that have embraced this offer of a solution by becoming a democracy.

When it became clear that 'Akilisi Pohiva and his political party, Democratic Friendly Islands Party (DFIP), won most seats for the people's representation, there was muted celebration in Tonga – but the Australian and New Zealand media, together with their respective governments, hailed the victory as Tonga's final crossing from feudalism into a new era of where we now join the herd of democratic island states in the Pacific region.

Any thinking islander could detect that there could be a hint of neo-colonialism here. Apparently "democracy" is the new tool of Western powers to bring all the rest of the non-Western world into alignment with a Western agenda. In other words, it is easier for the powerful to control the weak within a democratic framework.

This is not being anti-West. We are all under the spell of Westernisation, whether we like it or not. There is much in the West to be admired and maybe adopted. But, we need to look deeper at the core of Westernisation so we can at least come to grips with the nature of the social wave that is sweeping over us in most aspects of our lives.

Dealing with dictators, despots, or feudal-like systems of governance can be uncomfortable and rather politically inconvenient for the West, although there have been many cases when Western powers would back dictatorship and tyranny when it suited their interest. But there is a paradox here that is not so hard to comprehend. Those who push a democratic form of governance on others always seem to dictate life for smaller nations through their powerful economic might.

It's interesting, and ironic, that this is a practice that is itself undemocratic – that the nation states with the larger economic strength should try to set the agenda for those with less. It's like the "golden rule" – he who has the gold, rules! The feeling among leaders of the West is that democracy is fine and needs to be promoted elsewhere, as long as it does not interfere with business.

Other nations, not only in our region but also throughout the world, have proven that an inappropriate application of democracy has played havoc in their social, economic, and political life. Often, weaker nations which are trying to determine their own destinies can no longer use the "no interference" foul cry as an excuse to stop the infringement. The actions of the powerful seem to be saying: "We are here to change you so it would be easier for you to understand us, and makes it easier for us to deal with you. You see, we have our education system, our powerful media, our economic power based on consumerism, our innovative technology . . . all of these to aid you to become like us."

It is the pinnacle of colonialism: "We can only get along if you become like us! Never mind us becoming like you. We are better, and so we need to change you to become like us!"

Independence and self-determination become curse words to the neo-colonialists of the 21st century. Those values are only possible for the powerful. The weak have no right to independence and self-determination. At least that's the attitude that comes through the ungodly and undemocratic relationships set up between the strong and the weak states.

The weak, in order to survive and be relevant in a new world order dictated to by those who have, end up being dominated from the outside, with outside values and practices. The notion that this is "progress" has become the rationale applied as comfort to those confused and socially afflicted by it.

This is the backdrop behind the stage where the drama of colonialism is being enacted in our Pacific, including our island kingdom called Tonga.

And so we are going to be in for a rough ride with this new government taking charge of Tonga. But, we can be comforted with the fact that the Prime Ministership has gone to Lord Tu'ivakano and not to 'Akilisi Pohiva. If it were Pohiva at the helm, with the majority of his henchmen in Cabinet, we wouldn't be riding anything. Tonga would have entered a new era, not only of inexperienced and possibly incompetent leadership, but also of a dangerous political agenda that would facilitate the first outright dictatorship in 200 years, sponsored by "the people" themselves.

But why is this? It is because Pohiva and his pro-democrats want Tonga to be dominated by outside values, a system from the outside, and an outside force. Over the past years of trying to bring about a reform to our system of government, New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom have always been thrown up on the screen of public debate as the ideal model for us as a poor island state to at least try and imitate.

It is a sell-out and most Tongans wouldn't have it, despite the fact they have been deceived over the past three decades on the benefits of reform.

Let's look at what Pohiva said in an interview after he missed out on being selected as Prime Minister. He told the Tonga Chronicle that Australia and New Zealand are not happy with Parliament's election of a noble as Prime Minister. He said: "Since the previous regime has not been accountable and transparent to Australia and New Zealand with the aid they've given, they don't see any real change."

"The core issue is accountability and transparency… they (Australia and New Zealand) hate it."

"Australia and New Zealand are sick of dealing like that with Tonga."

There are two significant things in these statements by Pohiva: 1) that Australia and New Zealand are disappointed at the outcome of the selection of a Prime Minister, meaning they had an expectation that was not met, and 2) that the previous government is alleged to have been less than accountable and transparent concerning aid money.

The New Zealand High Commissioner in Tonga has denied making such a statement, and further states that there is no dissatisfaction on the part of New Zealand regarding the Prime Minister's selection. Attempts to verify or substantiate Pohiva's claims about Australia have been unsuccessful as yet due to the holiday season. But, what Pohiva said does prove the allegations that he values very highly Australia and New Zealand's position on what goes on in Tonga.

Australia and New Zealand are friends of Tonga, and they do have a right to their own opinions about anything, and in the same way Tonga has a right to her own opinion about her two regional friends. But the question here is why we should care about what Australia and New Zealand think about a sovereign and internal matter pertaining to the government of the Kingdom of Tonga? What right do they have in approving or disapproving our choice of Prime Minister or government?

But then, it is also mostly likely, as mentioned earlier, that Pohiva is mouthing off his own view and claiming Australia and New Zealand as "sponsors" of his policies and agenda. That is a possibility, of course, based on a number of statements made by the pro-democracy leader over the past few years. He often brought out the assertion that Australia and New Zealand have his political interests in mind.

In any case, what Pohiva's pro-democrats offered Tonga was inexperience and a fragmented outlay of a political agenda that would have taken Tonga to depths of difficulties unknown before.

But they had something powerful going for them. They had 31 percent of those who voted believed and embraced their brand of democracy.

When asked what were his plans for the new government if he became Prime Minister, Pohiva replied that there were two key things they will do immediately: 1) To review the current reform legislation and amend that which needed to be amended. In other words: "We will reform the reform we have put in place!" 2) We need to find out what money, if any, is left in the government coffers. (They don't need to "find out" . . . the records are there.)

There was no plan for the future from a government under his leadership. It would have been like giving a kid a hunting gun and telling him to enjoy it. He has no idea whatsoever what the gun is for. All he knows is that he has a gun and has the power to use it.

But God has acted graciously to give Tonga an opportunity to think soberly, to dig deep into the values that have guided her during the past 180 years or so. We must not allow "outside forces" to determine how we govern and live our lives for the next decades. We need to determine our own destiny. We need to rise as Tongans whose ancestors navigated and sustained life in these coral reef islands for centuries and do something that will sustain us for the next century without becoming slaves of neo-colonialism in the process.

The new government under Lord Tu'ivakano's leadership is in for a rough ride. But, at least we are at the helm of our ride, determining where we want to go. The challenges are looming but they can be overcome, not with the solutions of the West or the East, but with our own solutions. Tonga is not without its own solutions to its own problems. We need the support and the encouragement to find a way to fixing our problems ourselves, and to keep our integrity in place in the process.

We need to begin 2011 with a pledge of allegiance to our own values that are pinned to a spirituality based on Biblical truths. We need to set aside short-sighted and self-centred agendas so we can unite together to move our "vaka" forward. And we need to use our training, our God-given gifts, and the opportunities before us, to build a nation not only for our generation but also for generations to come.

There are some serious concerns, however, in regards to the kind of ride we may be getting in the next four years. We can deduce this from the hidden policies embedded in so many speeches, declarations, and campaign promises.

Whatever it is we need to do, we must be pro-Tonga. For doing so is to be proud of whom we are – our history, our future as determined by our present positive participation in bringing about the necessary reform.

* Comment on this item pmediawa@aut.ac.nz

+++niuswire

PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH ONLINE
www.pacmediawatch.aut.ac.nz

PACIFIC MEDIA WATCH is a media and educational resource compiled by the AUT Pacific Media Centre for the Pacific region.

(c)1996-2010 Creative Commons
http://creativecommons.org

Items are provided solely for review purposes as a non-profit educational service. Copyright remains the property of the original  producers as indicated in the header. Recipients should seek permission
from the copyright owner for any publishing. Copyright owners not  wishing their materials to be posted by PMW please contact us. The views expressed in material listed by PMW are not necessarily the views
of PMW or the Pacific Media Centre.

For further information or joining the Pacific Media Watch listserve, visit:
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Email:
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Sunday, January 23, 2011

[pima.nius] Seeking interested full time and free-lance journos to join the Pacific media Assignment list

1:29 PM |


Kia Orana tatou and I hope you are all having the fabulous 2011 you so
richly deserve.

I'm seeking expressions of interest from Pacific journos able to
travel on assignment, pending funding, and report back on key Pacific
gender and development events .

If you want the chance to strengthen your journalism skills by filing
quality analysis and reporting on Pacific spaces at events like the UN
annual meeting on gender issues, please contact me off-list to add
your name to the WAVE media network assignment list. PLEASE
1. Ensure assignment list is in the subject line.
2. Include your passport country and name in the email.

Assignment journos will gain:
-- exposure to the decisions and processes which shape your national
and regional development agenda -- especially around gender and social
justice issues where the newsy 'people' stories are
-- a chance to challenge your language skills in breaking through UN,
development and officialese jargon and reporting in plain english on
the issues that matter
-- space to broaden your understanding of Pacific and global development
-- insights into how your views on gender-agendas silently shape your
own professional reporting of the world around you
-- opportunities to network with key decision-makers in the gender and
development world, and put some kick into your own CV

Assignment list members should be either full time or freelance
journos in any medium able to provide independant reportage -- and
ideally should be able to:
-- generate content and images to Pacific media organisations and
networks to increase information sharing, publicity and public
awareness of the event they are covering
-- lead or work with the portal editor on coverage and posts to the
WAVE news portal on Pacific gender events at www.pacificgap.info
-- self-direct and display initiative and editorial skills as most
assignments will be for one journalist only
-- be comfortable with or keen to learn more about digital media and
online information networking
-- able to wield and use a video or still camera as capably as they
weave words and audio to tell Pacific stories.

SO, if this is you, please make contact for this (hopefully) long term
WAVE initiative aimed at getting more of us out into the events where
Pacific voices could do with more reporting and challenging on the
issues that matter.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Lis


Lisa Williams-Lahari
Media Freelancer
Regional Coordinator, IFJ Pacific Media for Democracy and Human Rights
Project
Ph Mob: (64) 0210642704
Skype: lisalahari

* "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that
matter."-- Martin Luther King Jr.  *

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[pima.nius] 7221 TAHITI: Pacific film festival to showcase 37 documentaries

1:29 PM |



Title – 7221 TAHITI: Pacific film festival to showcase 37 documentaries
Date – 24 January 2011
Byline – None
Origin – Pacific Media Watch
Source – Radio NZ International, 23/1/11
Copyright – RNZI
Status – Unabridged
----------------------------
* Pacific Media Watch Online - check the website for archive and links:
www.pacmediawatch.aut.ac.nz

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* Pacific Media Centre on Twitter - http://twitter.com/pacmedcentre

FRENCH POLYNESIA GEARS UP FOR FILM FESTIVAL
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=58344

PAPE'ETE (Radio NZ International/Pacific Media Watch): People from across the world have been arriving in Tahiti for the eighth annual Fifo or Pacific Documentary Film Festival.

The event which begins tomorrow will showcase 37 documentaries based on the Pacific, from more than 230 entries from mostly Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia.

The director of the House of Culture in Tahiti and vice-president of the film festival Heremoana Maamaatuaiahutapu says the event grows each year and hopes it will attract wider attention to the talent of film makers in the Pacific.

"If we have more festivals like this one in the region, we can also help the film makers. We can help them to have a place that they can show their film and also more chance for the main TV to look at those films and probably to show those films on their channels."

Heremoana Maamaatuaiahutapu says he expects the event will attract more than 20,000 people.

* Comment on this item pmediawa@aut.ac.nz

+++niuswire

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