Pacific/New Zealand - scam
New Zealand's Ministry of Pacific Peoples says the country's immigration department is aware of a scam aimed at Pacific Access Category and Samoan Quota residence visa applicants.
In a email newsletter, the Ministry said applicants are advised to check with the companies involved, to ensure any offers are genuine before handing over any money.
Immigration New Zealand said on its website it charges only an application fee. An applicant may need to pay for costs when gathering evidence for the application, such as completing a medical.
More information on immigration scams to watch out for, and how to protect yourself from scams and visa fraud, is on the Immigration New Zealand website, and also available in Tongan and Samoan.
Solomon Islands
A $2.5 million support agreement has been signed between Solomon Islands and China for the purchase of a new ship.
The funding came via a new partnership between the Ministry of Rural Development and Beijing.
Part payment of $5.4 million has already been made for the ship from the Temotu Provincial Government.
Temotu Provincial Secretary Allan Agassi said they are working on bringing the vessel - designed to carry both cargo and passengers - into the country by January.
New Caledonia scheme
A group of 30 young adults has left New Caledonia for holiday work in New Zealand.
Under the International Pacific Volunteers scheme, sponsored by the New Caledonia Government, selected applicants receive plane tickets and reside and work at a cherry farm in the Cromwell region.
New Zealand Consul General in New Caledonia, Felicity Roxburgh says they will meet people from other nationalities and it's a real opening to the world for them.
Most of the group members say this will also be an opportunity for them to improve their English.
New Caledonia's minister for Youth, Mickaël Forrest says the scheme could be extended to similar working travels in rural Australia, French Polynesia and Vanuatu.
Samoa - extracts
A group of Pacific scientists say they have found two traditional Samoan medicine extracts which have antiviral activity against the virus which causes Covid-19.
They are now seeking more funding to continue their work.
A research team from the University of Auckland, Victoria University, and the Scientific Research Organisation of Sāmoa, is investigating how traditional medicine can complement western remedies.
The study also involves a network of traditional healer practitioners in Samoa.
For six months, the scientists have investigated the anti-viral properties of Sāmoan medicine against Covid-19.
Dr Natalie Netzler from the University of Auckland said early results are promising.
She said researchers found anti-inflammatory properties of a plant that's up there with ibuprofen.
Vanuatu - nepotism
Vanuatu's Sports Minister says his country's sports administrators must stand against nepotism in the selection of athletes to represent the country.
The Minister for Sports Development, Tomker Netvunei, said officials should instead search for talents around the country and work on developing them.
Vanuatu Daily Post reported Netvunei made the call while officiating at a 'thank you' event for Vanuatu's athletes and teams that competed at the Pacific Games in Honiara.
The minister was speaking at an event at the Warwick Le Lagoon Resort in Port Vila over the weekend where he handed out a total of VT2 million to athletes.
Gold medal winners received VT100,000 each, silver medalists VT80,000 each and bronze medal winers each received VT40,000.
Tonga - rugby
The Tonga Rugby Union believes having Moana Pasifika play a home game at Te'ufaiva Stadium in the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific competition will be great for Tonga rugby and local rugby fans.
Chief executive Peter Harding said it will be a good reward for Tonga's investment in the team.
Moana Pasifika revealed last week that they will announce a new destination outside of New Zealand for their home game against the Highlanders on May 4, 2024.
The franchise team had played the Reds in Apia earlier this year.
Moana Pasifika is made up of Samoan and Tongan players selected from competitions in Australia and New Zealand.
Tonga - players
Former Tongan rugby captain Inoke Afeaki wants World Rugby to do more in helping prevent players froms suffering head injuries.
Afeaki, who also played for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby, said World Rugby should have done more with the information available to protect players.
Afeaki fears that if the governing body doesn't act fast, it could result in the sport withering on the vine.
He said everyone has only one brain and they need it to be protected, even in a game of rugby.
The 50 year old Afeaki is among more than 200 named claimants, which includes former All Blacks Carl Hayman and Regan King, who are suing World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and the Welsh Rugby Union after suffering symptoms they state come from head injuries during their careers.
Pacific - weightlifting
A number of weightlifters from the Pacific are competing at the IWF Weightlifting Grand Prix II in Doha, Qatar this week trying to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games.
Lifters from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Nauru, New Caledonia, Samoa, Solomons Islands, Papua New Guinea and Tahiti are in Doha this week.
The lifters had also competed at the Pacific Games.
Fiji weightlifting coach Henry Elder told RNZ Pacific their champion lifter Taniela Rainibogi is competing for qualification after winning Pacific Games and Oceania Championship gold medals.
