Aotearoa supporting PNG; American Samoa kids getting jabs; and veteran Tongan minister aiming to return to Parliament
New Zealand to send support to PNG to fight covid
New Zealand is sending a medical and logistics support team and essential supplies to assist Papua New Guinea with its Covid-19 crisis.
The Associate Foreign Minister, Aupito William Sio, says the PNG government has formally requested humanitarian and medical support from partner governments to respond to the health crisis, with rising case numbers, hospitalisations and deaths due to the current Delta surge.
Photo: AFP
As of last Tuesday, PNG has recorded 415 Covid-19 deaths with local media reporting the health system is unable to cope with the medical crisis.
Aupito said New Zealand is deeply saddened by the increasing loss of lives in Papua New Guinea.
He said New Zealand remains committed to supporting its Pacific neighbours to respond to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
American Samoa to begin vaxxing children
With a shipment of COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 years old having arrived, health officials in American Samoa are beginning, from this week, to vaccinate children.
Doctor Faiese Talafu said the Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for this age group will occur on Mondays and Wednesdays at the Health Department's Tafuna Family Health Center.
She said the vaccinations will be held there only as, because this is a new vaccination for children, it wants to evaluate the children and look out for any side effects.
Samoa's Registrar General dies
Samoa's top statistician, Ali'imuamua MalaefonoTauā-Faasalaina, died over the weekend. She was in her late forties.
Ali'imuamua was first appointed as Samoa's Registrar General in 2018 and reappointed in January.
The news of her death was viral on social media, whereas her friends, colleagues and family paid tribute.
A mother of five, Aliimuamua holds a Masters of Arts in Demography from the Australian National University and was among the longest serving loyal SBS staff since 1987 after graduating from the University of the South Pacific in Suva Fiji with a BA in Economics & Administration.
She is survived by her husband Malama Ta'aloga Fa'asalaina, and her five children and four grandchildren.
Ex-Tongan minister hoping for comeback
This week's election in Tonga is likely to bring in some new faces to parliament, but one former minister is hoping for a political comeback.
Aisake Eke Photo: RNZI/ Koro Vaka'uta
Aisake Eke was finance minister in 'Akilisi Pohiva's first government, but lost his seat in the 2017 election.
He said he's been working in a teaching and advisory capacity in the private sector in the interim and hadn't planned to stand again.
But Dr Eke said people in the community approached him and convinced him his skills were needed.
Salesa new head of New Zealand university
Auckland University of Technology has appointed Damon Salesa to be its next vice-chancellor.
Dr Salesa is currently Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific at the University of Auckland and will be the first person of Pacific heritage to lead a New Zealand university.
He replaces long-standing AUT vice-chancellor Derek McCormack in March next year.
China, Solomons sign Pacific Games deal
China and Solomon Islands have signed an agreement for a dormitory housing project to accommodate athletes during the 2023 Pacific Games.
The dormitory will be located at the Solomon Islands National University.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and the Chinese Ambassador Li Ming witnessed the milestone undertaking between China's Ministry of Commerce and Solomons' National Housing Authority.
The Solomon Times reports Li Ming saying the signing is "another milestone for China -Solomon Islands relations."
The complex will include three four-storey dormitories, providing 216 rooms, enough to accommodate over 900 people.