10 Feb 2022

In brief: news from around the Pacific

7:46 pm on 10 February 2022

NZ is providing enough vaccines to the Pacific

New Zealand's Minister for Pacific People's believes Aotearoa is providing enough vaccines to the Pacific amidst a growing omicron outbreak.

Humanitarian groups are concerned about low vaccine rates in some Pacific nations.

Aupito William Sio.

Auqpito William Sio. Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas

Aupito William Sio said New Zealand has donated at least 1.2 million vaccines to 10 Pacific and South-east Asian nations and territories.

"We were committed right from the start to ensure that the Pacific's needs will all be meet. I beleive to date we have been able to meet the needs from the Pacific, the more recent requests from Samoa and Tonga," he said.

Aupito said New Zealand will always be ready to respond to the needs of the Pacific when requested.

Fijiana Drua to join Super W competition

Fiji's national women's 15 rugby team will be the first in the Pacific to join the Super W competition.

Rugby Australia said the Fijiana Drua's inclusion in Australia's premier women's rugby competition will mirror that of the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika men's teams into the expanded Super Rugby Pacific competition.

Their inclusion is being touted as a major breakthrough for women rugby players in the country.

Australian High Commissioner to Fiji John Feakes said it will unlock a new generation of sporting champions and role models in the Pacific.

The announcement comes at a crucial time with the women's rugby world cup scheduled for later this year.

Rugby Australia CEO Andy Marinos said the Buildcorp Super W is one of the leading women's 15s products in rugby.

Mr Marino believes the participation of Fijiana Drua will not only assist Fiji's growth as a rugby nation but also provide more opportunities for Australian players.

Fiji Rugby Union High-Performance general manager Simon Raiwalui said Fijiana will not only represent women's rugby in Fiji but women's rugby in the Pacific when they step out onto the field in round one.

Names of dishonest travellers to American Samoa will go to AG's office

American Samoa's Department of Health will forward to the Attorney General's Office the names of travellers on the last Hawaiian Airlines flight who were dishonest on their TalofaPass registry.

Those travellers could be prosecuted.

The same will apply for passengers who acted unruly, damaging furniture and equipment at the quarantine sites.

The Director of Health, Motusa Tuileama Nua said passengers on the January 27th flight from Hawaii became testy after their MIQ time was extended because some passengers had tested Covid-19 positive.

The Department of Health had said that a more cautious approach was warranted, given the numbers involved.

Vanuatu's national football team will be without three internationalists

Vanuatu's national football team will be without three internationalists for the World Cup qualifiers next month due to travelling issues.

The Vanuatu Football Federation said Azariah Solomon, Alex Saniel and John Alick are all unable to get to Qatar for the matches.

The federation is due to announce its 23-player squad list tomorrow.

A larger playing party is currently training at the VFF Teouma Academy.

Team Manager, George Amos, said the unit is well prepared for the group matches being held in the second half of March against Tahiti, Solomon Islands and the Cook Islands.