A Samoan seasonal worker is warning others to be wise on the job and not fall into infidelity. Photo: RNZ / Anusha Bradley
Samoa - infidelity
A Samoan seasonal worker is warning others to be wise on the job and not fall into infidelity.
A 37-year-old father of two from Poutasi, Taavao Lefua Taavao, joined the Falealili Seasonal Work Programme under the Recognised Seasonal Employers scheme in New Zealand in 2017.
The Samoa Observer spoke with the father-of-two to report on some of the challenges seasonal workers face.
Taavao said in six years working abroad, he has witnessed married men and women cheat on their spouses who are back home in Samoa.
Church communities have raised this issue as well and face the challenge of navigating the consequences that lead to broken families.
Taavao is scheduled to depart Samoa alongside over 400 other men under the Falealili seasonal work program in Australia and New Zealand.
Palau - plastics
Palau's United Nations permanent representative Ilana Seid says the new world plastics treaty under discussion is a chance to attack the problem at its source.
The new global plastic treaty under negotiation will go through five International Negotiating Committee meetings, with the third session to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, next month.
Seid, who is also the chair of Pacific Small Island Developing States, said while recycling was important, it was not a panacea for the overwhelming volumes of plastic waste that threaten the oceans and terrestrial ecosystems.
She said Palau's stance was clear: the full lifecycle of plastic must be looked at, including reducing plastic production.
The Secretariat of the Pacific Environment Programme said the world has generated nine billion tonnes of plastic since the 1950s.
Cook Islands - development
Members of the public in Rarotonga have raised concerns over the island's ring road being diverted for the Sheraton re-development.
The main road in Vaimaanga currently hugs the coast, but plans are in place for it to stretch around the back of the new development to give the property beachfront access.
Prime Minister Mark Brown in an interview with Cook Islands News said he has no issue with the planned changes.
However, others are worried the diverted road will be an inconvenience and disrupt local residents.
Some members of parliament are also opposed to the change.
Fiji - building
Fiji's National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) says buildings in rural communities are often badly affected by cyclones because of no building code.
NDMO director Vasiti Soko said the absence of building code enforcement in rural communities have been the reason for devastation as homes and infrastructure are not up to standard.
She told FBC News the issue was being looked at.
"Our historic analysis have indicated that majority of the homes that are affected during cyclones are the rural communities and our building code does not apply to them and so we are working very closely with our partners and key stakeholders to see how we can strengthen them."
Three tropical cyclones are in the outlook for Fiji in the 2023 - 2024 season.
Fiji - renewable
The Fiji government has plans for the island of Ovalau to generate its power using renewable resources.
The project, called agro photovoltaic, combines both agriculture production and generating electricity using solar panels.
Lomaiviti Provincial Administrator Asesela Biutiviti told FBC News the plan was to change from the current fossil-fuel power systems to renewable energy.
The project is valued at around $US14 million.
Samoa - airways
Samoa Airways interim chief executive Fauo'o Fatu Tielu has apologised to travellers over ongoing issues with Faleolo International Airport's container loader, which led to a New Zealand-bound flight leaving behind most of its cargo on Thursday.
Samoa Airways, which provides ground handling services for the airport, recently installed new ground service equipment from China at a cost of $1.4 million tālā in September. But the cargo loader was purchased separately from Spain at a cost of $1.1 million tālā.
Tielu told the Samoa Observer there had been a four-month delay by the Spain-based supplier of the refurbished container loading equipment.
He said the supplier has confirmed the equipment is now ready but is waiting for shipment which is likely to take another two months depending on the shipment schedule.
NZ/Pacific - suicides
The number of suspected deaths by suicide within Aotearoa New Zealand's Pacific communities has dropped significantly.
The chief coroner's office has released data showing the number of suspected deaths in Pacific populations is now 5.1 per 100 thousand people, down from 9.2 in the previous year.
The overall figure across the whole population has risen slightly with Maori continuing to be the worst affected.
A Mental Health Foundation spokesperson says one death is still too many and a wide range of actions are required with specific approaches for different groups, such as young people, Māori, Pasifika and men.
If you are in New Zealand and you or someone you know need immediate help, please call 1737.