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Fritch dismisses French Polynesian citizenship calls
French Polynesia's president says he is not interested in pursuing suggestions to create a French Polynesian citizenship.
Edouard Fritch (above) said that to establish this would amount to a strategic error.
He made the comment amid a debate over property taxation, after a French court annulled a French Polynesian law hiking transaction fees for non-residents by 1000 percent.
Fritch said the decision is controversial and as a result, the notion of citizenship is misunderstood by French Polynesian voters.
He said their notion is attached to the fact that French Polynesians wish to protect jobs and land for locals.
Fritch said this was in no way meant to be a New Caledonian version of citizenship, which could divide the population.
New Caledonian citizenship is restricted to indigenous Kanaks and long-term residents as defined under the terms of the 1998 Noumea Accord.
Quota blamed for Samoan brain drain
A research associate at the Australian National University's Development Policy Centre, Richard Curtain, says the Samoan Quota which allows just over 1000 Samoans into New Zealand every year may be the cause of its so called brain drain.
Last month Samoa ordered a review after reports over the loss of police officers to New Zealand's Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme.
The same concern was raised by local businesses which have lost skilled manpower to the scheme and are facing difficulty in finding local workers.
Dr Curtain has written a series of blogs on this and said the claims are based on anecdotal accounts and more substantial information is required.
But he said Samoa should also look at the impact of the Quota.
"They are talking about the seasonal worker programme being the source of people leaving their paid public service jobs. I would suspect it's more likely to be the Samoa Quota."
Marianas challenge to cockfighting ban dismissed
A US District Court dismissed a legal challenge by a former Northern Marianas Islands local politician who was arguing that the US cockfighting ban did not apply to the islands.
Cockfighting, where two or more specially bred birds, known as gamecocks, are placed in an enclosed pit to fight, is a crime in the US.
In a statement, Animal Wellness Action said Andrew Salas argued that an anti-cockfighting provision of the US Agriculture Improvement Act - which took full effect in late 2019 - overreached in applying the ban to the Northern Marianas Islands.
This was opposed by the US.
In a 15-page verdict, Chief US District Judge Ramona Manglona determined the federal interests, which included preventing the spread of avian flu and ensuring the humane treatment of animals, outweighed the degree of intrusion into the internal affairs of the Northern Marianas as it relates to the tradition of cockfighting.
Sala plans to appea; the decision.
NZ minister meeting new Vanuatu PM
New Zealand's Associate Foreign Affairs Minister Aupito William is enroute to Vanuatu to meet new Prime Minister, Ishmael Kalsakau.
A spokesperson from Aupito's office says he will also attend the Pacific Community Ministerial Conference which is being hosted in Port Vila this week.
This year's conference celebrates the science organisation Pacific Community's 75th anniversary.
Man dies after being found on side of the road
Tonga police are investigating after an injured man found on the side of the road died in hospital.
Early on November 20, Police received a report from Vaiola Hospital that a male patient was in critical condition with severe injuries.
The 29-year-old has been rushed to hospital with the help of Nualei residents and passers-by who had found the victim lying on Taufa'ahau Road, at Nualei.
Police have launched an investigation to his death.
Fiji and Kiwi kids celebrate World Children's Day
Children in New Zealand and Fiji connected virtually over the weekend for fun events and activities to mark World Children's Day.
First established in 1954 as Universal Children's Day it is held every year on November 20 to celebrate children's rights, promote awareness among children and reaffirm commitments to improving children's welfare.
The theme for this year was 'Inclusion for every child'.
Save the Children NZ lead for child rights advocacy and research, Jacqui Southey, helped organise the virtual talanoa between kiwi and viti kids over the weekend which included a global yoga session.
She said while many of the issues around child welfare are very serious issues it is important to celebrate chidlren's rights and in doing so, show children's rights in action.