China offers help with Samoan bodies awaiting autopsies, Tongan repatriation flight just carries cargo, Samoa's polling date is confirmed and there's another round of funding for Pasifika education in NZ.
Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital Photo: facebook
China offers help with Samoan bodies awaiting autopsies
The backlog of deceased awaiting autopsies in Samoa may soon get relief with an offer of assistance from the Chinese Embassy.
The Samoa Observer newspaper reported some 18 bodies, including those of children, were lying at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole National Hospital mortuary waiting for autopsies to be performed.
Samoa does not have a resident pathologist and relied on those seconded from Australia and New Zealand.
However due to Covid-19 border closures this had not happened.
An Embassy spokesperson said they fully understood the situation and China was willing to provide support after further discussions.
Last month Justice Vui Clarence Nelson called on the government to take urgent action on the matter.
Tongan repatriation flight now just for cargo
The repatriation flight to Tonga that was scheduled to arrive today with passengers from Auckland, will now only arrive with cargo.
The Chief Executive of Tonga's Government Communications, Paula Ma'u, told local media the next passenger repatriation flight from New Zealand would be determined later.
This is the second time a passenger flight to Tonga had been deferred.
The repatriation flight was originally planned for 3 March, but was postponed to 10 March following Auckland's alert level three lockdown on the 28 February due to Covid-19 community cases.
The New Zealand government downgraded the lockdown alert levels on 7 March to alert level two in Auckland and level one for the rest of the country.
Ma'u said Tonga's health officials were monitoring the Covid-19 situation in Auckland closely.
Samoa polling date confirmed
Samoa has confirmed the date in which people can go to the polls to elect members of the next parliament.
The Head of State Ao Mamalu o le Mālō, Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II issued the Writ on Tuesday, "appointing 9 April 2021 as the official date for the General Election of Members of Parliament for all Constituencies".
The Writ directed the Office of the Electoral Commission to serve public notice of the deadline for withdrawal of candidates nomination on 26 March.
It also set out the pre-polling period from 5 April to 8 April.
The return of the Writ must be in by 23 April 2021.
Another funding round into Pasifika education in NZ
New Zealand's Associate Minister of Education has announced another funding round for Pacific education this week.
Aupito William Sio said around $US8.6 million has been made available for communities, providers and educators looking to develop solutions for Pacific learners and families.
This would be through the Pacific Education Support Fund and Innovation Funds.
In 2021 to 2022, the Support Fund allocated $US2.8 million to Auckland Pacific community organisations and Pacific providers to respond to immediate education and wellbeing needs.
A further $US1.4 million had been allocated to the Waikato, Hawkes Bay-Tairāwhiti Gisborne, Wellington, Canterbury and the Chatham Islands regions to support Pacific families in their pursuit of education and to overcome challenges presented by Covid-19.
An Innovation Fund of $US4.3 million was also available.