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Michael Field |
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pacifikanews@gmail.com |
+64 21 688438 |
Skype: michaeljfieldakld Twitter @mjfield |
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Last and lonely Coast Watcher remembers With damp eyes, old John Jones stood in front of an Anzac memorial today and did something he hadn’t done before – lay a wreath to his mates who 70 years ago were executed by the Japanese. Mr Jones, 91, is the last and loneliest of the coast watchers, the first New Zealand Japanese prisoner of war. And among the 25 men beheaded October 15, 1942 were three men, his best friends. “I felt very lonely,” he said after laying the wreath at the Takapuna Anzac service today, “and I thought believe it or not, my three friends, I will see shortly…. It is the first wreath that has ever been laid for them.”
Two fishing cultures meet at Oyang sinking An email, written soon after 45 men were rescued from a dark, oil stained ocean, has first the first time offered gritty first-hand evidence of the appalling treatment meted out to crews aboard foreign chartered fishing boats in New Zealand's exclusive economic zone. It was written soon after a the 38-year-old Korean ship, Oyang 70, had quickly sunk on August 18, 2010, killing five of its Indonesian crew and taking with it Korean skipper captain Hyonki Shin who refused to get off. In Wellington this week Coroner Richard McElrea held an inquest into the sinking which ended with the striking testimony of a one-time factory hand who rose up through the ranks to be one of New Zealand's top qualified masters, Nelson's Greg Lyall, skippering the Talley's 64-metre stern trawler Amaltal Atlantis.
Tongan princess denounces arranged marriages A Tongan princess has denounced her royal family's policy of marrying within its bloodline and warned that an unnamed male will not change her mind. Frederica Tuita, ninth in line to the throne, offered her unique insights into the royals on a Hawaii based WhatItDo.com website as Tonga's new crown princess prepares to marry his grand niece. Tuita, who lives in Auckland, says noble relations were "aligned strategically" and were about continuing chiefly lineage. The notion of marrying for love was fairly new. People like her could not be seen with single men and "people will not respect a woman of scandal." She says she has never had a boyfriend and used to think it unfair to see friends "go out with their boyfriends and socialize freely at the shopping centre or have lunch at St. Lukes' Food court." The system "was extremely arrogant and only perpetuated the motive behind social climbers".
Politicians take money from fishing companies Fishing companies say they cannot pay higher wages to crews of foreign charter fishing vessels, but some of them do not mind giving cash to politicians. The bigger beneficiaries of the largesse come from what was once the party of the workers - Labour. Electoral Commission returns show that at elections last year Labour MP Clayton Cosgrove accepted $17,500 from Independent Fisheries of Christchurch. Some of their catch came from Oyang 70 and other Korean boats used by Southern Storm (2007) Ltd. Labour MP Shane Jones received $10,000 from Nelson's Sealord Fisheries, a half iwi owned company that uses Ukrainian boats. United Fisheries Ltd gave $3000 to Labour MP Megan Woods and $2800 to National MP Nicky Wagner. The Christchurch company uses Korean FCVs recently condemned in a ministerial report for damaging New Zealand's international image. Talleys, a Nelson company opposed to FCVs, gave $5000 a piece to National MPs Eric Roy, Colin King, Chris Tremain, Joanne Goodhew, Todd McClay, Lindsay Tisch, Chris Auchinvole, and Chester Borrows.
NZ steps up for widows after trawler tragedy The widows of Indonesian fishermen who died when a Korean boat sank in New Zealand waters in 2010 have finally received compensation – not from the vessel's owners or insurers, but from the taxpayer-funded Accident Compensation Corporation.For some of them, the ACC payment amounts to seven times what they earn in a year.
Fiji attacks international flood coverage
Fiji’s military regime has launched an attack on international media for their coverage of this week’s deadly flooding saying it was aimed at pandering to anti-regime sentiment. Seven people died in this week’s floods and an 11-year-old boy remains missing, feared dead. But concerned at the impact of the news internationally, the military regime and the Fiji Visitors Bureau are trying desperately to save their Easter business. The latter this morning issued photos of a cleaned up, tidy but empty Denarau Island resort near Nadi captioned “ready for guests”.
No democracy in Tonga - power switched from royal to nobles When in 1215 King John of England signed the Magna Carta it was at the instance of the nobles rather than commoners. It was the nobles who wanted liberties proclaimed and the acceptance, by the king, that no "freeman" could be punished except by the law of the land. But it was mostly a transfer of power to the lords, not the commons. That would have to come later. There is no Tongan Runnymede, nor a Magna Carta. Some argue that Tonga's late King George Tupou V was some kind of reforming figure, introducing to his feudal kingdom the notion of democracy. His successor and brother, with great imagination now called Tupou VI - or Tee-six to his subjects, has sharply reduced the mourning period, from a hundred days to a handful, it is already appropriate to examine the dead king's reign.
Radio New Zealand National:
Tongan funeral procession for King George Tupou V
US backed search for lost aviator Amelia Earhart An
officially backed search is to get underway again to find out what happened 75
years ago to lost aviator Amelia Earhart, who disappeared over the South
Pacific. In
a glittering event in
From a US Embassy cable published by Wikileaks on the late king and China: The Crown Prince has strong connections to China, after previously having equally strong connections to Taiwan until the King shifted allegiances in 1998. Reportedly, Tupouto'a is in hock to a Chinese bank for a $30 million unsecured loan, presumably used to finance some of his business ventures (Tonga's electric utility, a domestic airline, etc.). Advisors have urged him to find a way to jettison the loan before he becomes King. Responding to public dissatisfaction, he is working with Tonga's Ministry of Finance to sell off the electric utility. The Ministry is resisting any government buy-back, preferring to facilitate transfer to some private-oriented entity.DINGER
Tonga's new king opposed democracy Tonga’s
new king is an anti-democrat who as an appointed prime minister took the kingdom of 100,000 people to near economic disaster. The new 47-year-old king, currently known
as ‘Ulukalala Lavaka Ata ahead of taking on a yet unannounced monarch’s title, late last year tried to lead a bid to bring government back under the
control of Tonga’s royals and nobles. Now that he is king, Tonga’s future depends on whether he still wants to reign the marginal democratic
progress already made.
Tonga's King George Tupou V dies Tonga’s
King George Tupou V has died just as his kingdom was sliding closer to
economic ruin and financial default. Announcing the death, which occurred in
a Hong Kong hospital, Tongan Prime Minister Siale'ataonga Tu'ivakano said
"the sun has set".
Alarming fishing at McMurdo Sound says scientist A summer at Antarctica’s McMurdo Sound has come up with the alarming finding for scientists – the region’s population of toothfish shows signs of collapsing.
Fiji's military chief abolishes chiefs
Fiji’s
military dictator Voreqe Bainimarama has sudden abolished one of the South
Pacific’s oldest political institutions, the Great Council of Chiefs.
Radio New Zealand National:
Amazing catch from Maui's hook in education A
startling education revolution is winning global attention in one of the
most unlikely places – amongst the Maori and Pacific island state house
kids of
Fiji’s military dictator Voreqe Bainimarama has told the nation how it is going to get its fourth constitution. In an address to the nation Bainimarama, who seized power in a military coup in 2006, did not make any specific promises about democracy restoring elections. He has previously said they would be held by 2014 at the latest, while there is a roadmap to a constitution, there is no election timetable today.
A
Korean fishing company
expelled Indonesian and Filipino crew of a 36-year-old unlicensed fishing
ship and got them out of
Military report unveils a version of Speight's Fiji coup When
shaven headed bankrupted businessman George Speight seized Fiji’s
Parliament in 2000 and held the government hostage for 56 days speculation
began as to who really was behind the country’s third coup – and has
remained unanswered since. Now
a secret report of a Republic of Fiji Military Force board of inquiry
has emerged, thanks to runaway Colonel Tevita Mara, painting a terrifying
picture of how close Fiji came to total anarchy.
Out with the young, in with the old From the new Apia Financial Review... What did shock me were the photos I saw of the state church service at New Year to mark the beginning of the 50th anniversary of independence. They were visions of old, self-satisfied men, some with their dutiful spouses. What is this? Samoa — a collection of old men. Where are the young, who in fact make up the majority of the nation? Where are the women in politics? Did those Samoans who risked everything for the right to rule do that so that a cabal of geriatric males should always rule?
Strange voyage of Oyang 77A
36-year-old South Korean-flagged charter fishing boat caused a legal flurry
after it upped-anchor near Lyttelton and headed toward international waters
yesterday despite a High Court arrest warrant.
A
major British legal group has declared that the rule of law no longer
operates in
Radio New Zealand National: PNG shipping disaster and constitutional crisis - and a hoax Tongan Olympian
South Korea's plunder of the Southern Ocean A
South Korean fishing boat that illegally took $600,000 worth of toothfish
from the Southern Ocean has been fined by its own government $1600 which
pressured other nations to keep it off an international list of banned
boats.
Plunder of a small South Pacific fish has sparked an international battle to keep Northern Hemisphere interests away from here following their pillage of their own stocks, says a New Zealand lawyer. Wellington's Bill Mansfield heads a six year old bid to create a convention to save jack mackerel. Instead its biomass has plunder 90 percent in 20 years.
God was probably an artist and if proof is needed, sail out beyond New Zealand's horizon. Five kilometres or so into New Zealand's exclusive economic zone and it's a world of birds completely different from those on the coastline. Hypnotic and colourful, many of the birds are attracted to the fishing boats that are also drawn to waters for the same reason the birds are - it is rich in food.
Samoans who claim they are poor are lazy, Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele says. He says there was no poverty in Samoa. "Every Samoan has claim to land. There are plenty of mangoes, pawpaws, bananas and breadfruit falling off and rotting on the ground, plenty of fish in the sea," he said.
Worries aboard a Ukrainian fishing boat On the darkened bridge of a large Ukrainian fishing boat it was easy to tell if the captain was near as he incessantly clicked his rosary-like worry beads. "In Russia," says Yuri Kylybov, the 49-year-old captain of Aleksandr Buryachenko, "we have a saying that a fisherman is twice the mariner of any other mariner."
Environmentalists demand end to Ross Sea fishing An international coalition of environmental organisations is demanding an end to fishing in the Ross Sea south of New Zealand following two major accidents in the last month. "
Fiji TV says sorry for not making Bainimarama a winner Fiji’s military dictator Voreqe Bainimarama has won an apology from the country’s free to air broadcaster after it ran a personality phone texting competition in which he came second. Bainimarama – breaks his own word so often “We will not tolerate an iota of disruption to the peace, safety, stability and common and equal citizenry we now enjoy….” Voreqe Bainimarama, speech to Fiji, 6 January 2012. Those of us who were there that damp Suva Sunday evening remember much of the strangeness. The empty swimming pool covered in plywood, the piss stench from dozens of men who had drank way too much kava and impeccably dressed George Speight. It was 9 July 2000, at what we all came to know as “Iloilo’s House” in Maunikau.
California law threatens NZ fish exports Fish exports to the United States worth $178 million a year could be in trouble after California enacted a law to fight human trafficking and slave labour in global supply chains.
From the files... Man with a past - interview with a massacre survivor At 83 years of age Kabunare Koura still manages to cut toddy although he laughs that it is no longer from the high coconut trees any more. Life is good, he says sitting in a small traditional house on Bairiki Islet in Kiribati's Tarawa Atoll, and he is happy with his nine children, 20 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. "The past is gone."
Fijians protest against miners Photos have leaked out of Fiji - where the military's martial law controls all gatherings and imposes heavy censorship - of a protest in Namosi. Villagers there are resisting Voreqe Bainimarama's push to mine large areas of Fiji. It is plain from the photos and the protest, that Bainimarama has forgotten the lesson's of PNG's Bougainville.
Auckland flash dance winning millions in India A flash dance staged in Auckland's Aotea Square on Monday has made it into the top part of television bulletins across India. The 30 strong Indian Auckland group, organised by movie script writer Padma Akula, staged the flash dance at both Britomart and Aotea Square.
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Prayas presents RUDALI
In
the small To some it is destiny and caste, but not to Sanichari, the central character in an exciting new English language play from Prayas. Together,
they weave a story of friendship, treachery, greed, lust and duplicity around
the unusual business of ‘‘Rudali’’ a professional female mourner. There
are places in Jointly
directed bymit Ohdedar, Prayas and Margaret Mary Hollins, TAPAC , Rudali will
showcase Indian folk music with a live orchestra, colourful dances and a
vibrant village carnival.Rudali will be staged at TAPAC, Western Springs,
Antarctica * Alarming fishing at McMurdo Sound says scientist * Environmentalists call for polar reserve * Ross Sea protected area a battle for toothfish * Korea's new polar base pointing to Antarctic grab Easter Island
Fiji * Fiji attacks international flood coverage * Fiji's military chief abolishes chiefs * Military report unveils a version of Speight's Fiji coup * Fiji TV says sorry for not making Bainimarama a winner * Fiji dictator angry at losing poll * Fiji's Public Order Act 1969 and its military decree amending it * Bainimarama imposes new order rules Civil group reaction to the lifting of martial law in Fiji * Top NZ lawyer heading to Fiji over jailed grandmother * Fiji announces end to martial law * Statement from Mere Samisoni's family * Samisoni accused of inciting violence * Fijians protest against miners, despite martial law and censorship *
Cruising
in Fiji hires Washington black arts company * Sex workers tortured in Fiji – new report * Fiji military gets secret Indonesian deal * Fiji military scraps income tax for most * Inaccurate news on Fiji life expectancies - Wadan Narsey * Fiji chief angrily denounces military regime * Fiji regime seizes trade unionist * "Firing squad" for Fiji's rugby heads? * NZ businessman facing military audit * Fiji under attack from UN, NZ Law Society * Strange death in Fiji’s Blue Lagoon * Fiji military's ugly face published * Opinion: Just another coup being plotted in Fiji... again * Tonga & Fiji: the brawling cousins * Profile: Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum * Bainimarama moves in deepening S'Pacific crisis * Top soldier escapes to Tonga * NZ spied on Fiji during coups * Talking points - what went wrong with Fiji * Fiji military furious over US visa denial * Men jailed over Bainimarama assassination plot * Fiji military budget blowout * I live therefore I am: Bainimarama * Fiji Water closes; blames military * Fighting nurse takes on military * Military and a priest in dressing room * Et tu Brutus: Bainimarama knifed by his own * Fiji slipping back to anti-Indian rule * Killer heads Suva Rugby Union * Cannibal village says it's sorry * Still clueless in coup coup land French Polynesia * Bizarre cannibal claims dismissed in French Polynesia * Strange speech from French Polynesia's Temaru * French Polynesia loses on Akld mansion Kiribati * US backed search for lost aviator Amelia Earhart * Kiribati considers relocating on floating platforms * Attempted murder scientist wants to work on remains * Squalid Tarawa life destroying atoll * Xmas presents for Christmas children * Man with a past - interview with a massacre survivor
New Zealand * Two fishing cultures meet at Oyang sinking * Last and lonely Coast Watcher remembers * Politicians take money from fishing companies * Korea free trade deal on offer to NZ * Amazing catch from Maui's hook in education * Koreans send crew home unpaid * Banaban denied refugee status * South Korea's plunder of the Southern Ocean * Environmentalists demand end to Ross Sea fishing * Worries aboard a Ukrainian fishing boat * California law threatens NZ fish exports * Auckland flash dance winning millions in India * Outrage over fishing boat Ross Sea disaster *Over a billion dollars laundered in NZ * Anti slave fishing organisation set up NZ-South east Asia alliance birthday * Boomerang deportation for fisherman * Probe exposes fishing underbelly * Ross Sea protected area a battle for toothfish * Leaky old wreck ignored says author * Poet's blindness and Olive her liberation * NZ soldiers' rifles fail to hit targets * NZ navy struggling to maintain helicopters * Families of fishing crew face backlash Updated * Full File: Slave fishing in NZ waters * Tariq Ali ponders on New Zealand * NZ war dead in new Libyan battlefields * SIS spying on mosques revealed * Slavery on the high seas in hunt for toothfish * Chinese warning angers judge * Last conversation on doomed Air NZ * Rainbow Warrior - spies and rookie cop * Down to the Last 50 warriors * Great Barrier and the mountains of gold * Guide dog - puppies with a purpose * Air NZ sticking with Air Pacific * Bombay - on the border of two lands
Papau New Guinea *Sheep farming in PNG: a comedy? * NZ Navy finds sunken submarines * NZ forces back clearing up WW II mess in PNG * Warning over Bougainville's future Regional * Russians are back in the South Pacific *
Among
the
Samoa * Out with the young, in with the old * Samoa forced to take turkey tails for free trade * Plot to assassinate Samoan PM * Samoa tsunami family wants more * Making big changes where it can be a real dog's life S'Pacific Regional * Anti-Chinese trouble threatens S'Pacific * Pacific facing exotic new disease *China in the S'Pacific - something to worry about? * On being kiwi Pacific Islander * Disease and Pacific paradise * "Pacific bridge to noble wealth" scam Solomon Islands * Big Death: Battle of Guadalcanal Tokelau * Dateline shift gives first light to remote atoll Memorial planned for missing Joyita souls * US upsets after Tokelau claims part of America - Tokelau femme fatale revealed Tonga * Tongan princess denounces arranged marriages * No democracy in Tonga - power switched from royal to nobles * Video: Tongan funeral procession for King George Tupou V * China makes diplomatic score flying home Tongan king * Tonga's new king opposed democracy * Tonga's King George Tupou V dies * Tonga's royal cousins marrying * Scandal lurking in Tongan shipping deal * Record numbers of humpback whales found * Tonga takes back Minerva and issues warning * New scam in Tonga - a Russian oil deal? * Tonga's Ashika manslaughter trial in Parliament * Tonga democracy campaigner quits new cabinet * Tonga could default to China * Cold War returns to Tonga band * Tongan royals changing story on Akld place * Tonga gives thousands to Chch * Tonga Govt attacks Ashika commission Tuvalu * Time to move people off Tuvalu?
Assorted others
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