“I feel someone of my particular background and experiences can contribute significantly to the area by advocating a strong message of hope, ideals and vision” – Steve Viliamu

Former Bligh government minister, Cameron Dick, will re-launch his political career at the next state election by contesting for the seat of Woodridge.

He is up against a political debutant and Samoan LNP candidate, Steve Viliamu, who believes he is the first Pacific islander to run the Queensland Parliament.

For Mr. Dick, who is a former Cabinet Minister, he acted as the Queensland Attorney General and held the portfolios of Industrial Relations and Education during his four year tenure from 2009-2012.

Mr. Dick said he decided to return to politics because he felt there was more he could achieve as an MP. “I feel in my heart that I haven’t been able to complete my service that I can give to the community,” he said.

“I’d like to focus strongly on education and employment for young people,” he said.

“I’m very keen to work as a local MP with business and residents to create employment opportunities.”

The Labor candidate said he would be a strong voice in parliament by standing up against service cuts affecting the Woodridge electorate.

He said he would also like to improve roads and public transport in the area. Mr. Dick will face political debutant, LNP candidate Steve Viliamu at the next state election.

Mr. Viliamu, a Samoan descendant who grew up in New Zealand, believes he is the first Pacific Islander to run for Queensland Parliament, at least from the major parties.

Having moved to Brisbane’s south side from Wellington in the mid-1980s, Mr. Viliamu said he had a strong affiliation with Woodridge, where many of his family members reside.

“I feel someone of my particular background and experiences can contribute significantly to the area by advocating a strong message of hope, ideals and vision,” Mr. Viliamu said. “Being of Samoan-Tokelauan heritage with a Kiwi upbringing, there is no real surprise I have a natural affinity for the place.”

Greens candidate Scott Thomson is also vying for Woodridge and he’s being ramping up his campaign attending rallies against assets sales and the proposed greyhound racing track.

Dr. Thomson said he would strive to reduce cost of living expenses including water and power prices if he became the state representative for Woodridge.

Acknowledging the vital role charities and social services play in our community, Dr. Thomson said he would stand up against cuts to not-for-profit organisations and restore funds that have been reduced. The Woodridge seat will be vacated by long-serving, respected ALP member Desley Scott on election night.

The NZ Herald - The Monster is hoping for some good news on Halloween.
Scotland’s Stephen Simmons, known as the ‘Simbo Monster’ due to his impressive physical strength, is one of a handful of cruiserweight boxers in contention to be handed a wildcard for next month’s Super 8 fight night on the North Shore.

Sky Arena will likely confirm their wildcards, one of which will be international and one from New Zealand, on Friday, which happens to be Halloween.

“The Monster’s getting let loose on Halloween,” Simmons said from Scotland.

The Super 8 tournament has six confirmed names with Australians Brad Pitt (15-1), Daniel Ammann (29-7-1) and Anthony McCracken (16-7-1) ready to lock horns with Kiwis Lance Bryant (3-0) and Monty Filimaea (9-10-1), while Samoa’s

Vaitele Soi (22-0) was added during the weekend.

Fighters will be paired off in to quarter-final match-ups and they will meet over three three-minute rounds with the winner advancing.

There’s an attractive $150,000 purse on offer for the night and Simmons, who holds the WBC’s international silver title, said it would be a great way to end the year before he goes to Mexico on his honeymoon in December.

“It’ll be good to get in this tournament, win first place, win some prizemoney and just relax on my honeymoon.”

Of the other contenders hoping to claim an international wildcard for the November 22 show, Nigerian Olanrewaju Durodola (18-2) looks a dangerous prospect and is ranked sixth in the WBC.

Veteran American heavyweight Brian Minto (39-8), who is no stranger to Kiwi fighters, can also make the cruiserweight limit of 90.7kgs and is reportedly interested.

Closer to home, kickboxer Israel Adesanya, fresh off another knockout victory across the Tasman during the weekend, wants the New Zealand wildcard, while James Emmerson (1-2) and the Gold Coast-based James Porter (4-2) are also interested.

Adesanya, who won August’s King in the Ring cruiserweight kickboxing tournament in Auckland, has never had a professional boxing fight but is 2-0 in MMA and 40-2 as a kickboxer with 20 knockouts.

“I want to step in there against them and test myself and I think I’ll do quite well,” he said. “It’s just martial arts, boxing is a martial art and I feel like I want to step up. I want to challenge myself.”

The Super 8 fight night will be headlined by a heavyweight clash between veterans Shane Cameron (29-4) and Kali Meehan (41-5) who will meet for the WBA Oceania crown.

Kiwi cruiserweight David Aloua (11-1) will also put his WBA Pan African title on the line against Australian Daniel Baff (16-2-1).

The Commissioner of Prisons and Corrections Services, Taitosaua Edward Winsterstein, is slowly settling into his new role.

Having being appointed to the position in May, Taitosaua has been quietly working behind the scenes to prepare for the separation of Prisons from the Ministry of Police.

The official separation is scheduled for January 2015.

Meantime, Taitosaua says he is pleased with the progress thus far.

“We have a recruitment for new officers in the next couple of weeks,” he says. His budget allows him to recruit at least 15 new officers, subject to approval as per normal public commission and recruitment process.

“So I’m working on that at the moment in preparations for the separation".

There are currently 50 police officers working for the Prisons.

But Taitosaua says he needs at least another 80 more.

So, will there be much difference in the way the prisons are run now from when the separation happens?

“Not much,” says the Prisons and Corrections Commissioner.

“I’m grateful for the assistance from Police. If we do break, we still need to work hand in hand".

“In one area, we rely on the Police to bring in and enforce the law. On the other side, we are keeping offenders in prison so we still have to work together".

In light of the recent Commission of Inquiry report into Taifa’igata Prison, Taitosaua does not want to dwell on the negatives. Rather, he wants to focus on the positives, hoping to turn the negatives into something useful for Samoa.

“A lot has been highlighted in the recent Commission of Inquiry and I’m using that as my baseline to move forward and address all the issues raised,” he says.

“It highlights the problems at the moment and at the same time, it is a way forward because if it hadn’t been established (the Inquiry) no one would’ve picked up the faults in the system, no one would’ve realised its existence and the need to address it".

The former Assistant Police Commissioner, Sala Seaga Uili resigned following the first Commission of Inquiry.

The Inquiries Chaired by Ombudsman Maiava Iulai Toma confirmed the “significant culture of corruption,” “exploitation” and “sad state of leadership”.

“The significant culture of petty corruption, prisoner ill treatment and exploitation that is flourishing in Tafaigata is directly linked to the absence of prescriptions in Regulations for proper warden conduct and the inability of prison leadership to breach this serous gap,” stated the report.

“Prison staff contempt of ordinary decencies towards prisoners, open disregard of the strict prohibition against alcohol consumption within prison precincts and the creeping abuse of concessions allowed to them as in personal crop plantings on prison land, illustrate the shocking state of profession conduct prevailing in Tafaigata and the inability of prison leadership to impose appropriate standards".

A male working for the ANZ Bank was found dead at the Tatiana Motel at Fugalei last week.

Acting Police Commissioner, Nafo’i Talaimanu Keti, said the cause of death is suicide, adding that the 19-year-old checked himself into the Motel the day before he was found dead.

His body was found on 22 October, only when his girlfriend approached the front desk of the Motel for the master key to get to his room.

When the motel staff opened his room, they found him dead.

The Police would not reveal further information about the death, saying they are investigating.

But they confirmed that the young man had taken his own life by using a bed sheet that belonged to the motel.

A Vaitele resident, whose mother owns a property at Si’usega, has filed a letter of complaint with the Samoa Water Authority (S.W.A) after experiencing water shortage and excessive bills.

The complaint was filed on 22 October 2014, with the S.W.A.

The businesswoman who asked not to be identified until she receives a reply from the S.W.A said they have been having problems with the S.W.A-supplied water since 2004.

“We installed a 1500 litre water tank and we thought that this would solve the water problem,” her letter of complaint, obtained by the Samoa Observer, reads.

“However, due to the continuous water shortage within the Siusega area, we installed another 3300 litre water tank to save water. A water pump was also installed to supply the water to the house".

“I sometimes take water from my home at Vaitele to Siusega because there is no water most of the time and do most of my mother’s washing at Vaitele".

“I had to loan funds to purchase water tanks and pumps for Siusega. Further, the water pumps have to be serviced regularly and parts installed. The motor of the first pump installed in 2004, was burnt due to constant shortage of water and a second pump was installed".

The businesswoman also raised issues regarding the water bills.

“I reside at Vaitele-uta and there are five people in my household,” she writes. “At Siusega only two people occupied the property, my late mother and my sister who took care of her. Compared to the usage by my household at Vaitele, I pay twice more per month for the water at Siusega than Vaitele".

She said she already raised the issue several times in the past years with the Authority.

“I was asked to provide a written request regarding my water bills. I do not know if the said letter request was ever noted".

“I recall a survey was done then".

“A survey was carried out and I understand…the meter is ok and they found no leaks with the pipes".

When the Managing Director of Samoa Water Authority (S.W.A), Seugamali’i Jammie Saena was asked by the Samoa Observer for a comment, she asked that questions be sent in an email.

This was done on Tuesday.

At press time yesterday, a response had not been received.

The Accident and Compensation Corporation (A.C.C) has put its hand up to assist the Ministry of Health to fund the $1.5million CT scan for the Moto’otua hospital.

In Parliament, the Minister of Health, Tuitama Dr. Talalelei Tuitama, said the partnership with A.C.C has been approved by Cabinet.

Tuitama was responding to a question from M.P., Motuopua’a Dr. Aisoli Va’ai, about when the CT scan is likely to arrive.

“The Ministry has been searching for a CT scan from its health donors but its search hasn’t been successful,” said Tuitama.

“The machine is not cheap, its one that costs about a million".

“A.C.C. has agreed to fund the machine and a memorandum of Understanding was signed in July to allow money from A.C.C to fund the CT-scan".

At this stage, the Minister said tenders have been invited for bringing the machine to Samoa. Once that is decided, it will only be a matter of months before the Scan arrives.

“The company will be given 90 days to bring the CT scan".

According to Tuitama, the CT-scan machine should arrive in January 2015, and ready for use.

He said a more advanced machine is needed to be installed and utilised at the newly constructed hospital at Moto’otua.

“The world is looking to this small island developing state to set the tone for the respect of human rights in the Pacific. It is an exciting time for Samoa, an especially momentous occasion for the Ombudsman’s Office, and I cannot think of a better place to be a Fulbright Fellow”

The Ombudsman’s Office has welcomed a Fulbright-Clinton Fellow to their team.

Johanna Gusman has been placed at the newly established National Human Rights Institution, to assist in the drafting of the women’s issues and gender-based violence section of the first State of Human Rights Report due to Parliament in June of next year.

The J. William Fulbright-Hilary Rodham Clinton (Fulbright-Clinton) Fellowship is a component of the Fulbright United States Student Programme.

Fellows serve in professional placements as special assistants in foreign government ministries or institutions to gain hands-on public sector experience in foreign countries while simultaneously carrying out an academic research/study project.

Ms. Gusman is a Gates Public Law Scholar (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation scholarship), who graduated from the University of Washington, with a concentration in international law in 2013.

During her legal studies, she served as a Human Rights Liaison at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' headquarters in Geneva and contributed to a General Assembly report on integrating non-discrimination and equality into the post-2015 development agenda, under the United

Nations Special Rapporteur on the human right to water and sanitation.

Most recently, she worked at the World Health Organization’s Western Pacific Regional Office, on global tobacco control policy.

Through her participation in the fellowship, Ms. Gusman hopes to gain a deeper understanding of the Samoan people and their traditions, widen her experience in using human rights indicators for evidence-based reporting, and learn how to implement laws and policies using a rights-based approach informed by the realities of the most vulnerable populations.

For her Fulbright research, she will be look into the cross-section of women’s health outcomes and public policy as it relates to Samoa’s international legal commitments to ending violence and discrimination against women and girls.

Asked about her thoughts on the work set out for her, she said she is excited.

“I am honoured to assist the Ombudsman in the historically significant very first State of Human Rights Report, particularly as Samoa prepares for its second Universal Periodic Review under the Human Rights Council in 2016,” she said.

“The world is looking to this small island developing state to set the tone for the respect of human rights in the Pacific. It is an exciting time for Samoa, an especially momentous occasion for the Ombudsman’s Office, and I cannot think of a better place to be a Fulbright Fellow".

She has also been impressed by the hospitality of the Samoan people and their willingness to teach her the culture of Fa’asamoa. She has already enjoyed excursions with local families to the beautiful beaches as well as shared in some traditionally prepared cuisine, of which palusami is her favourite.

If you are interested in learning more about the Ombudsman’s Office’s new mandate as the National Human Rights Institution please visit www.ombudsman.gov.ws. If you have information on women’s rights and/or gender-based violence issues that you would like to raise for inclusion in the State of Human Rights Report, please contact the Office at info@ombudsman.gov.ws or call 25394.

Uncertainty hangs over the Officers of Parliament Committee’s (O.P.C.) Report as the country continues to wait for the government to respond to it.

In a bid to pin down exactly when the government was likely to table their response in the House, Tautua Leader Palusalue Fa’apo II used Parliament’s inaugural Questions time to ask Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi.

In response, Prime Minsiter Tuilaepa said the delay was due to the Small Island Developing States (S.I.D.S.) Conference.

“The response to the O.P.C. report to Parliament in response to the report from Chief Auditor is being prepared by the ministries and organisations of the government,” he said.

“That by the end of this (Parliament) sitting all the reports are in.

“The Minister does not prepare (the reports) the employees of the government does. Those that head the Ministries were involved in the S.I.D.S. preparations.”

The controversial Report has been in play for almost a year now, with the Government well past the 90 days it had to respond to it.

It highlights and supports the findings of the Audit Office that certain ministries and Public Enterprises were engaged in what the Committee called corrupt practices during the financial years ending 2010 and 2011.

Associate Minister for Public Enterprise, Papali’i Niko Lee Hang, said while the government may table a reply this December, the real question is whether or not it would accept the Committee’s recommendations. “Hopefully it will be tabled then,” he said.

“Then we’ll see the response, whether it’s accepted our recommendations or not.”

He said that if the Committee’s recommendations are accepted by government, the issues of those involved in collusion and defrauding of public moneys would be resolved in court.

“That is our recommendation unless government thinks otherwise for other reasons,” he said.

“Which will again reflect the government trying to protect those involved in corrupt practices.”

Papali’i said it surprised him how long the government has taken to look into the Committee’s findings, which only confirmed those of the Controller and Chief Auditor, Fumiaono C.G. Afele.

“Regarding fraudulent practices so that was confirmed from our investigation,” he said.

“Hence our report to government to ensure that they respond accordingly to our recommendations.

“(However), that's yet to be seen.

“The way they are dragging the issue I am not sure now whether they are going to accept the recommendations.”

*According to the Standing Orders of the Parliament of Samoa, Private Members business takes precedence over government business on sitting Thursdays – this includes time for private members to ask ministers questions.

“On Thursday Private Members’ business shall have precedence of Government business, excepting Committee of Supply, and Private Members’ Motions shall have precedence of Private Members’ Bills,” the Orders read.

“Provided that Private Members’ questions for written answers, motions for which notices have been given and reading of Private Member’s Bills shall follow questions for oral answers on Thursday sittings only.”

Fire safety in Samoa received a tremendous boost yesterday evening thanks to the Australian government.

As part of Samoa’s implementation of its Fourth National Adaptation Programme of Action (N.A.P.A 4), the Australian government handed over a package of assistance to Samoa during a ceremony held in Apia.

The package of assistance included:

• Two trucks through the NAPA, a 1996 Isuzu NPS 300 and 1987 Isuzu FSR 550 (These rural fire trucks will fight forest fires) • One Scania Fire Truck donated by the Melbourne Fire and Emergency Services Board through the Collaborative deed with Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority (S.F.E.S.A).

According to Australian High Commissioner to Samoa, Sue Langford, the handover of the trucks and some associated protective equipment is an example of the enduring and constructive partnership between Australia and Samoa.

“Australia provided 4.9 million Tala to the Government of Samoa, from Australia’s “International Climate Change Adaptation Initiative”, to help Samoa implement its Fourth National Adaption Programme of Action or NAPA 4. Part of that grant has funded two of these trucks.”

Given the predicted severity of El Nino conditions for Samoa including the already declared meteorological drought, these fire trucks and equipment will assist the Fire and Emergency Services Authority in their response efforts to address threats and risks posed by extreme weather events in the coming months, including fire hazards”.

“In the past few years, Australia has also funded the Maota Fire Station and Asau Fire Station in Savaii. Australia has also supported Samoa’s National Forest Fire Management Strategy.”

“Australia recognizes the importance of Samoa’s efforts to protect its community, especially at a time when extreme weather conditions can increase the risk of events such as local and forest fires that will threaten livelihoods and people’s lives.”

“I am confident the men and women serving Samoa through the Fire and Emergency around Samoa will continue to work hard and effectively, making good use of these trucks to protect the people and communities of this beautiful country.”

In his response, Deputy Prime Minister Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo thanked the government of Australia for the financial assistance that enabled Samoa to procure the 2 fire trucks under the NAPA 4 program of action.

He also thanked the Melbourne Fire and Emergency Services Board.

Samoa’s export earning markedly increased by 21 per cent, the Central Bank of Samoa (C.B.S.) reports.

In its latest Selected Economic Indicators Report, the Bank attributes this jump to higher receipts from fuel re-exports, beer, nonu juices, taro, copra meal and coconut, to name a few.

“Import payments also rose by 4.0 per cent, which led to a 2.5 per cent (or) $1.8 million hike in merchandise trade deficit to $75.0 million in the month under review,” the report reads.

“Private remittances bounced back by 1.2 per cent (by) $0.4 million to $31.5 million.

“On the other hand, visitor arrivals contracted by 1.1 percent while tourism earnings rebounded modestly by 17.7 per cent to $29.9 million due to a sharp increase in the average tourist expenditure for August 2014.”

Consequently, the C.B.S. says gross official foreign reserves fell by 4.7 per cent to $338.7 million, representing a monthly overall deficit of $16.7 million in the balance of payments.

“This was equivalent to 5.1 months of import cover, down from 5.4 months a month ago,” it says.

“The overall volume supplied at the local markets around Apia expanded by 2.3 per cent reflecting higher supplies of ta’amu, breadfruit, yam, head cabbage, tomatoes, Chinese cabbage, cucumber and pumpkin.

“As a result, the overall price index narrowed by 5.4 percent.”

Looking now to the economy on the global stage, the United States (U.S) Gross Domestic Product (G.D.P) growth rate was revised upwards in the second quarter of 2014 while economic activity weakened somewhat in the Euro area.

“The New Zealand economy continued to expand following strong construction activity and business investment while Australia’s economy also grew moderately,” the report reads.

On the domestic front, the Bank says the weighted average official interest rate remained unchanged at 0.15 percent from the previous month.

“On market interest rates, the weighted average lending rate narrowed 12 basis points to 9.99 per cent while the average deposit rate expanded to 3.02 per cent,” it says.

“Consequently, the commercial banks’ interest rate spread contracted to 6.97 per cent in the month under review.”

Furthermore, the report says commercial banks’ credit to the private sector and public institutions combined went up by 16.2 per cent to $791.7 million.

“The government’s net position with the financial system slipped by 2.1 per cent to $180.2 million, reflecting a cash deficit of $3.8 million,” the Bank reports.

“However, total ‘net domestic assets’ expanded by 2.3 percent (or) $11.2 million to $492.5 million despite a moderate $14.3 million decrease in ‘net foreign assets’, leading to a $3.1 million contraction in total money supply.

“The overall nominal value of the Samoa Tala weakened by 0.06 percent as (the) Tala depreciated against the U.S. dollar and the Australian dollar but appreciated against the New Zealand dollar and the Euro.”

The latest Consumer Price Index (C.P.I.) data released by the Samoa Bureau of Statistics (S.B.S.) showed that the overall headline C.P.I. fell by 0.2 percent from the preceding month but was 0.2 percent higher than its level in August 2013, the C.B.S. says.

“Nevertheless, the annual average headline inflation rate rose slightly to -1.0 percent from -1.1 percent in the previous month but lower than -0.9 percent in August 2013,” the report reads.

Old Samoan songs, chants, children’s lullabies and stories (fagogo) dating back to the mid 1800’s will become part of the inaugural Samoan Musicology Forum that kicks off in American Samoa this weekend and ends in Apia on Friday 7 November.

The inaugural forum will feature respected ethnomusicologist Professor Richard Moyle who will discuss his findings of old Samoan music from 10 years of extensive field work and research.

An Honorary Research Professor, Moyle is the former Director of the Centre for Pacific Studies and a graduate of The University of Auckland. He came to Pacific Studies after 22 years in the Department of Anthropology.

For 17 years Richard was also Director of the Archive of Maori and Pacific Music. He held teaching positions at Indiana University and the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and for eight years was a Research Fellow at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies in Canberra.

His research career spans 45 years, including 10 years of fieldwork in Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Niue, the northern Cook Islands, Central Australia, and Takuu.

In Apia this week, Professor Moyle met with His Highness the Head of State, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, himself a scholar of Samoan oratory and traditional studies and knowledge.

“The power of the uttered word, whether whispered, spoken or sung, is a way to contact the spirits,” said Professor Moyle.

“Singing is refined and sophisticated and high valued compared to speech and elevates the performers to a higher level,” he said.

He said there are old songs to stop the rain and change the weather and songs to the sick.

Often overlooked are children’s songs and rhymes such as Ai Sakea “which prepare children to sing together, listen to a leader and prepare to follow as a norm in society.”

In his field research, he made recordings of 600 old Samoan songs and chants, lullabies, and stories - fagogos and songs from significant periods of Samoan history such as the colonial era and the Mau independence movement.

Fagogos teach moral lessons to children and these stories are often told and listened to in a group. “You know you’re safe with people – usually family around you,” he says.

Given the emotive and expressive power of music, Professor Moyle says that old songs can be compared to a peoples’ home and the lyrics are a window to look through and see how they think.

“It’s why that past is important for the people’s current existence and future.

It’s a dimension of our past that is very much a part of our present,” he says.

“Musicology is not a museum that is static. It’s a living museum if you like.” While copies of his work were made available to Samoan radio stations, some 600 old Samoan songs he recorded will soon be online to give wider access especially to young people.

The Samoan Musicology Forum will be convened in American Samoa this Friday by Samoan academic Galumalemana Alfred Hunkin in collaboration with the Department of Education.

The Forum in Apia will be held at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel Friday 7 November supported by the Ministry of Education Sports and Culture and the National University of Samoa as a start to the Samoan leg of the Samoana Jazz and Arts Festival 2014.

The Government of Japan under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) has granted $220,000 each to Vaovai and Matautu Primary Schools.

The schools from Falealili and Salelologa received the assistance yesterday. An official signing ceremony held at the Embassy of Japan in Apia for the Reconstruction project took place between the Ambassador of Japan to Samoa, Kazumasa Shibuta and representatives of the recipient schools headed by Matamua Sili Alapati, President of Salelologa Primary School and Associate Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure, Tusa Misi Tupuola.

“The grant will fund the reconstruction and renovation of the school buildings that have deteriorated over the years due to consecutive cyclones and earthquakes. The projects are therefore seen as Cyclone Relief Assistance,” a statement from Japan says.

Matautu and Vaovai Primary School will each use the grant to reconstruct eight classrooms, a library and a staff room.

For Salelologa Primary School the fund will be used to renovate its existing school building.

Ambassador Shibuta hopes that the completion of the projects would help provide a safer and improved learning environment for children. “Japan will continue to contribute to Samoa’s efforts to revitalize the community and accelerate pursuing the National Vision of Improved Quality of Life for all,” Mr. Shibuta said.

The Ambassador also hopes that the two projects would create an additional practical symbol of the strengthening friendship and cooperation between Samoa and Japan. In response, Matamua thanked the Ambassador and the Government of Japan.

“We want to thank you very much… the grant will help our children to get a better life… and it’s also for the future of our village and also our contingency and also our own economy” Since 1991, Japan has undertaken 150 projects, with an equivalent value of $26.2 million into the country.

Just as the naysayers outside of the Sunshine State raised their pitchforks and asked what could possibly have topped a 43-year-old NRL fairytale that included a John Sattler-esque hero, out stepped the Kiwis with a well-timed rugby league curveball.

And in case anyone is keeping score, that’s two strikes now (for the Kangaroos). A third and it’d be their longest walk back to the home dugout without a finals appearance in 60 years.

But Saturday is about these upstart New Zealanders, a learned bunch who, in less than a week, could be the first nation into the Four Nations final with another dominant victory.

And should they do that, backing up their 30-12 romp over the Australians last Saturday, the host nation will deservedly enter the final fortnight of the campaign with the kind of swagger normally associated from the Lord of the Rings Republic in their 15-man code.

Standing in their way are tournament underdogs Toa Samoa, a wildcard nation who proved they had a head-turning googly of their own when they went within a video refereeing decision of upsetting England’s land of giants in last week’s tournamentopener.

They might not have the experience, depth or class of rugby league’s ‘big three’, but their rapid rise over the past 12 months under coach Matt Parish has been a breath of fresh air for the international game.

Even with excitement machine Anthony Milford locked out of the blue jumper on a technicality, RLIF’s seventh-ranked nation pushed the only side in the tournament from the northern hemisphere right up until the final buzzer courtesy of their own unique brash and open power game.

Still, their line-up gets an added boost this Saturday with Canterbury-Bankstown’s grand final centre Tim Lafai hoping to celebrate last week’s wedding nuptials with a win for his country, replacing unlucky threequarter Ricky Leutele.

Parish also responded to Pita Godinet’s big-men defying double off the bench by swapping jumpers with Michael Sio, as does try-scorer Isaac Liu and Sam Tagatese.

Stephen Kearney also gets troops back this week in the form of Issac Luke, a now-healthy Manu Vatuvei, who comes in for Gerard Beale. Kearney’s only other change sees forward Suaia Matagi – who faced off against his fellow countrymen for the Samoans in the World Cup last year – replacing Greg Eastwood on the bench.

Watch out New Zealand: It wasn’t quite well-documented in the aftermath, but in case anyone was wondering what Samoan lock Josh McGuire thought of his omission from the prop-starved Kangaroos squad, he said it all with these numbers: 14 runs, 110 metres, a game-high 42 tackles, and two tackle busts that led to two try assists.

His coach said this tournament was the perfect opportunity for players to prove their worth as a rep player. Consider McGuire’s prospects proven.

Watch out Samoa: You don’t think Issac Luke has a bone to pick with the rugby league gods this weekend? Denied a premiership spot and a precious Test against the Kangaroos (suspended), the veteran Kiwi let all his emotions out when he led the Kiwi haka last Saturday. Expect the stone-strong dummy-half to hold this game by the scruff of its neck and 'bully' it around when and where he wants.

Plays to Watch: Only two teams hit double figures in offloads last week, and they aren’t the ones still fumbling around in Melbourne.

Premier prop Jesse Bromwich led the Kiwis with four, while Adam Blair and Martin Taupau had a couple each. For the Samoans, their back three of Tim Simona, Daniel Vidot and Antonio Winterstein got their sets off with some enterprising play with six handoffs between them.

Where It Will Be Won: Samoa’s goal line defence. At some stage, the Samoans are going to realise that they won’t be able to rely on momentum changes and outscoring opponents on the run. The Kiwis have been learning for a long time what it takes to play with patience at this level and it’s a lesson the Samoans copped the hard way last week.

Applying it from the notebook to the playing field is tougher than it looks, however. Moreso when it’s in your opposition’s backyard.

The History: Played 2; New Zealand 2, Samoa 0. The first was a 50-6 shellacking in Auckland in 2010, when Vatuvei and Shaun Kenny-Dowall bagged four between them. And then there was last year’s epic group-opener, a 42-24 result that was in the balance until the 73rd minute, a match best remembered for Sonny Bill Williams’ jaw-dropping brain fart over the try line.

The fixture in Whangarei will be the first of its kind in region, where hopes of a capacity crowd of 18,500 will boost its chances of hosting a Test in the 2017 World Cup.

What Are The Odds: Sportsbet punters have been enticed by the big odds offered for Samoa and there is as much money on the tournament's outsiders as there is on Four Nations favourites New Zealand. Perhaps the story is best told in margin betting though, where 80 per cent of all bets placed are on the Kiwis to win 13+.

For the latest odds visit www.sportsbet.com.au

Match Officials: Referee – Henry Perenara; Touch Judges – Grant Atkins & Anthony Eliott; Video Referee – Ian Smith.

Televised: Gem – Live 12.55pm (AEST), 1.55pm (AEDT)

The Way We See It: Not since 2008 have we seen a Kiwis side so assured of itself, so talented across the park, as the one that took Australia’s school of kids to kindergarten last week. Now on their home soil, with their tails up and a chorus of fans behind them, we can’t go past another controlled performance from them this weekend. Kiwis by 14 points.

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Toa Samoa pushed New Zealand all the way but were overrun in the dying stages in an epic Four Nations encounter.

Both teams scored three tries apiece and Shaun Johnson’s conversion, the only one of the afternoon from either side in the swirling Whangarei conditions, proving the difference as the Kiwis scraped home 14-12.

Leading 12-10 in the final 10 minutes the Samoans were clinging grimly to their lead with some bone-jarring defence.

Having just narrowed the gap through a Jason Nightingale try, it was another piece of magic from the same player that gave the Kiwis a winning lead.

Seemingly wrapped up by the Samoan defence, Nightingale got a miracle offload away to Issac Luke with the ball then going through the hands for Shaun Kenny-Dowall to score.

It was a devastating blow to the men in blue who had led for most of the afternoon.

Leading 8-6 at the break after tries to Tautau Moga and Daniel Vidot in the first half, the Samoans extended that following a brilliant solo try to Joey Leilua, the best player on the field.

It was another thrilling result with the Samoa proving again that they are more than just making up numbers.

Gunshots were fired and countless chiefs and untitled men from Amaile gave a standing ovation yesterday as Samoa bid farewell to the holder of the Tama Aiga title, Mata’afa.

Tui Atua Mata’afa Tupuola Lui Iosefo, who was laid to rest at Mulinu’u, passed away peacefully at the beginning of the week. He was 84.

After a celebration of his life at Amaile, Mata’afa Lui’s body was transported to the royal tomb of Mata’afa titleholders at Mulinu’u where his predecessors are resting.

Back at Amaile, hundreds gathered to farewell a man described as a leader, a father and a person who loved his family and his country.

Among the mourners was the Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, the Masiofo, Her Highness Filifilia Tamasese, Acting Prime Minister, Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo, Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament.

Archbishop Alapati Lui Mataeliga conducted his final service at the Amaile Catholic Church.

Among relatives and friends who delivered eulogies was the Minister of Justice and Courts Administration, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, who said Mata’afa Lui was the chosen one.

Looking back, Fiame said the negotiations and consultations in the lead up to the bestowal of the Mata’afa title on Tupuola Lui was not easy.

Noting that the “throne of David” had been unoccupied for a very long time, Fiame said there could not have been anyone better for the title.

The last holder of the Mata’afa title was the late Mata’afa Faasuamaleaui Puela Patu in 1977. Tupuola Lui was bestowed the title in 2011.

Yesterday, Fiame said Mata’afa’s passing away is a sad day for the family because he was a man who put his family first. “To Mata’afa his family comes first.

No one was treated differently, to him they were all blood and flesh.”

Mata’afa Lui died two weeks ago at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole hospital.

Mata’afa is survived by his wife, Amelia, 12 children, 39 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

He was a builder and was remembered by his children as a father who wanted his children to be well educated.

Mata’afa is one of the royal family titles, referred to as the Tama Aiga, in Samoa. The holders of the other titles are the Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, Member of the Council of Deputies, Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II while the Malietoa title, once occupied by the late Malietoa Tanumafili II, remains vacant. Rest in love, Tui Atua Mata’afa Tupuola Lui Iosefo!

“I am excited to see important Samoan women because I want to be an important Samoan woman.”

This statement, from Choo, a Year 8 student from Salelavalu Primary School, echoes the sentiments of the forty other Year 7 and 8 girls who will attend this year’s G.L.O.W. Conference. GLOW stands for Girls Leading Our World.

It is a programme led by Peace Corps Volunteers around the world, designed to encourage young women from rural villages to develop their leadership skills for the future.

This year’s conference will be held November 14th and 15th in the N.U.S. Gym.

The conference will address three main themes: Careers and Education, Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, and Strong Hands Stop Violence.

The girls will hear from a variety of successful Samoan females for each of these themes, through presentations, games, and other activities. They will also have the chance to create a presentation of what they learned through G.L.O.W. to take back to their villages and communities.

G.L.O.W 2014 will include girls years 7-8 from Primary Schools in both Upolu and Savai’i.

The conference will host forty girls from 20 rural Primary Schools, each where a Peace Corps Volunteer is currently posted. The girls are chosen for the conference based on academic achievement.

Asked what she was looking forward to about G.L.O.W, Blessing, a Year 7 student from Falelima Primary School, replied, “I am very excited to have been chosen to go to Apia and participate in the Peace Corps program. I am excited to meet girls from other schools and to hear from the many speakers at the conference.”

Another Year 7 student from Falelima, Taimane, expressed her excitement that the “speakers will teach the girls to be captains of the world.”

This is the first year that a small number of Samoan teachers were also asked to attend. Ana, the Year 3-4 teacher at Falelima Primary School, describes why G.L.O.W is important to her: “G.L.O.W. will give the opportunity for these girls to not only learn what their future can be like, but also to achieve that future.”

This year, Peace Corps Samoa is collaborating with U.N. Women, Pan Pacific Southeast Asia Women’s Association (PPSEAWA), Ministry of Women, Community, and Social Development (MWCSD) and various individual community members to make G.L.O.W a successful and inspirational conference for the young girls of Samoa.

A brave Toa Samoa can hold their heads high today.
They might have lost their Four Nations game, 12-14, against a highly fancied Kiwis outfit last night but they won the hearts of the rugby league world.

In front of 16,912 fans at Toll Stadium in Whangarei in New Zealand’s north, the courageous Samoans outplayed the Kiwis for the first 75 minutes of the game but ultimately found themselves run down by a late effort from the home side who only claimed the lead for the first time in the match in the dying minutes.

The New Zealanders looked a far cry from the side which dismantled Australia 30-12 only seven days earlier, and the poor effort will have coach Stephen Kearney sweating ahead of the clash with England next weekend.
If not for some big individual efforts in the closing minutes of the clash the Kiwis would have found themselves with the unwanted tag of being the first ever team to lose to a fourth seed in the Four Nations.

The match started with a minute's silence for 17-year-old Warriors product Luke Tipene who passed away on the morning of the game.

In the early exchanges the Kiwis looked to exploit the Samoan edge defence with plenty of ball out wide, but it ended up seeing them concede first when Peta Hiku held his pass too long and delivered it right into the arms of a waiting Tautau Moga.

A late call-up for the Cowboys’ teammate Antonio Winterstein, Moga ran 80 metres to go over in the right corner. Tim Lafai was unable to add the extras.

The Kiwi response was swift.

After missing last week’s tournament opener through the suspension that also kept him out of the NRL Grand Final, Issac Luke made his presence felt when he crabbed across field and found Kieran Foran who ran a hard line to equalise.

Shaun Johnson made no mistake from in front to give the hosts a 6-4 lead.

Lacking the intensity and execution they showed in spades only a week ago against the world champions, the Kiwis looked clumsy with ball in hand.

Winger Manu Vatuvei fumbled the ball into touch twice within minutes, although the first came from a Shaun Kenny-Dowall bat-on that itself was ruled forward. They also stalled several attacking raids with poor dummy-half service and offload selection.

Brilliant vision from five-eighth Ben Roberts spawned a second Samoan try on 20 minutes; the former Kiwi international spotting the New Zealand line playing too high and delivering a precision grubber in behind the line for Daniel Vidot to score untouched.

About the only battle the Kiwis were winning was the fiery heavyweight spat between Vatuvei and Joey Leilua; the pair coming together in a heated exchange before Vatuvei delivered a crushing hit which shook the Newcastle centre – who had earlier delivered a bone-rattler on Foran that saw the Kiwi five-eighth favouring his ribs for the remainder of the match.

The Samoans took an unlikely 8-6 lead into the break, then a couple of penalties and a knock-on within the opening three minutes of the second half put the Kiwis under immense pressure. Leilua made them pay with a commanding run and huge fend which upended Kenny-Dowall, allowing him to go over in the right corner.

The Samoans had been the better team by far, but Lafai’s inability to add the extras meant they led by only 12-6 despite outscoring their rivals three tries to one.

For all the courage and discipline the Samoans were showcasing, the Kiwis’ class finally started to show in the final 20 minutes.

Fullback Tim Simona did well to stop a certain try when he jarred the ball from Simon Mannering’s grasp over the line, but a short time later the home side found an overlap on the left for Jason Nightingale to score his second of the tournament.

With four minutes left on the clock the Kiwis pulled out the big play when it counted.

After Ben Roberts was on hand to take a vital intercept from a loose pass, he handed it straight back with an ill-conceived offload on the same play. Shaun Johnson then played a pivotal role in a swift left-side move which eventually beat the

Samoan cover defence and allowed Shaun Kenny-Dowall to go over and give the Kiwis a 14-12 lead.

Five-eighth Foran, still troubled by his battered ribs, closed the game out with a clever kick which allowed his teammates to trap Toa Samoa in-goal.

There was one late heart stutter in the final seconds when the impressive Leilua broke 60 metres downfield, but with referee Henry Perenara controversially ruling his offload travelled forward the play broke down as the final siren sounded.

Samoa coach Matt Parish must have left the field wondering what more his side have to do to get a win, after coming agonisingly close to victory – and scoring the same number of tries as their opponents – for the second week in a row.

The Kiwis meanwhile would be feeling relieved to have escaped a humiliating defeat only days after one of their best victories in recent memory.

New Zealand 14 (Kieran Foran, Jason Nightingale, Shaun Kenny-Dowall tries; Shaun Johnson 1 goal)

Samoa 12 (Tautau Moga, Daniel Vidot, Joey Leilua tries) at Toll Stadium, Whangarei. Half-time: 6-8. Crowd: 16,912. Referee: Henry Perenara (NZL).

A Select Committee has accused the government of putting its interests above that of struggling Public Enterprise – the Samoa Airport Authority (S.A.A).

The allegation is made by the Works, Transport and Environment (W.T.E.) Committee in its report to the Legislative Assembly on the S.A.A’s Annual Report for the year ending June 30 2012.

The Chairman of the Committee is the Associate Minister for The Ministry Of Works, Transport And Infrastructure (M.W.T.I.), Tusa Misi Tupuola.

“The Authority has been awaited [sic] for a final decision for Fagalii Airport, even the allocation is already approved in the Budget, the Committee reports,” the report reads.

“Moreover, it is still waiting for a final Cabinet Decision with ground handling services.

“The Committee believes that the issue has been delayed because the Government have shares with Polynesian Airlines.” This charge comes as the Committee further reports that the Authority failed to make a profit in its first 27 years of operation, accumulating a total loss of $45 million tala.

“Since 1984, the Authority operated without any profit until 2011 with a total accumulated loss of SAT45 million,” the Committee reports.

“At the end of 2012, the accumulated loss decreased by $1 million for the first time due to a profit but the accumulated loss usually at a total of $2 million — $3 million a year.

“The Authority has confirmed that the 2013-2014 Annual Report highlights a profit of $1 million.” The W.T.E. Committee says that upgrading work started in 2012, however the Board intends to seek for foreign financial assistance.

“The same year, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Authority and the World Bank,” it says.

“The Authority’s Master Plan includes recommendations by the KVA (Consult Ltd) that our runway length is not up to international standards."

“The World Bank and the Shanghai Company were also involved in the study conducted by the KVA, Airport Terminal’s renovation work will be constructed by the Shanghai Company.” The Committee said that the Authority now focuses on improving its priority areas in order to upgrade its services to assist its revenue collection.

“Negotiations with the World Bank and the Shanghai Company are already in place with regards to Terminals and Sanitation System Upgrade,” it reports.

“The Project (was) deferred due to financial issues. The whole Project cost is US$54 million ($130,454,603.99 tala).” Furthermore, the Committee noted “without any doubt” the accumulated loss and decrease in revenue would be an ongoing issue with the Authority when compared to a decrease in passengers and flight movements.

“In addition, the Authority has confirmed an increase in expenses on electricity at a total of $100,000 — $110,000,” the report reads."

“The Total Car Park revenue earnings (are) still (in) question.”

Despite financial issues faced by the Authority, but the Committee said it had witnessed a lot of improvements and achievements. The Authority did take the time to respond to the Committee’s concerns.

“Consultations now in progress with solar companies for future plants in order to minimise expenses on electricity,” it responded. ”Revenue earnings from the car park increased compared to the previous financial year. "

“The new change was initiated in order to cater for not achieving past car park revenues."

“The Final Decision for Fagalii Airport was deferred until S.I.D.S. (Small Island Developing States) Conference ends, however it is still pending.”

In addition to Tusa, the W.T.E Committee comprised of Deputy Chairman Afoafouvale John Moors, and Members Levaopolo Talatonu, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, Peseta Vaifou Tevaga, Toeolesulusulu Cedric Pose Salesa Schuster and Fagaaivalu Kenrick Samu.

The full report will be published tomorrow.

A group of people broke down technological barriers last week when they completed a five-day Web2forDev 2.0 and Social Media course.

Throughout the week, the 22 Samoans from various agencies learned how to incorporate social media such as Facebook and Twitter into their respective work places.

Women in Business Development Inc (W.I.B.D.I.) Media Specialist, Faumuina Felolini Tafuna’i said the purpose of the training course was to see what the social media knowledge is like in Samoa and what barriers are being faced by those who use it.

“Because we know that we are not really active in social media in Samoa, so why is that?” she asked.

“One of the barriers we see within the government ministries is the barrier to access.”

“And that information officers don’t have a high enough ranking to have internet access and so that means they are unable to use social media.”

“(For example) the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (M.A.F.) (only) recently set-up a facebook page after going through proposal process.”

“Also there’s a general barrier around cost, we need to bring down cost of data in Samoa because I guess its inhibiting the use of it.”

Faumuina said one successful example of a campaign that made use of the Social Media was the campaign around the recent United Nations Small Island Developing States (U.N. S.I.D.S.) conference.

“For instance the U.N. S.I.D.S. campaign. There was a campaign with foreign affairs, it’s a short term Facebook and Twitter campaign that raised a lot of awareness in short amount of time,” Faumuina said.

“We saw that that was successful.”

Faumuina said success is what they wished to be replicated by the participants especially those who come from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (M.N.R.E.) and M.A.F.

“Social Media in Samoa is another wonder to the work that we are doing here in this country, it also allows for outside people to look at what we are doing,” she said.

“And if we’re going to attract investment opportunities in this country, they need to know what Samoa is doing, what is the area that we are ahead of and I think that this one way we can do that.”

M.A.F. Senior I.T. Officer, Sarai Faleupolu Tevita, said the training helped to refresh her knowledge to use these web tools.

“Because I used it before but that was only for myself not for work,” she said.

“But I see that tool as more effective communication for M.A.F. because we have so many projects and we need to showcase them well to the donors, especially to the farmers and fishers and our stakeholders.”

“For example for M.A.F., the Google Docs and Facebook, I think are more effective for the research side of M.A.F. cause there are a lot of people out there who don’t know what we are doing.”

She said the social media tools are also important in providing feedback and in improving what the Ministry does.

She further urged the other government ministries to try to use these tools to improve their work.

According to the Web2forDev website, technological innovation is taking place at a breath-taking pace.

“Simple, open source internet-based application and services designed t enhance on-line collaboration are now available to the wider public at little or no cost at all,” the site reads.

“These new online technologies known as Web 2.0 and ‘social media’ enable people to collaborate to create, share and publish information.”

The training course was hosted by W.I.B.D.I. in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (S.P.C.), the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (S.P.R.E.P.) through the Pacific Environment Information

Network (P.E.I.N.), and C.T.A and covered advanced online searching, getting information served via alerts and RSS, ollaborating remotely using Google Drive, Dropbox, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), online mapping and social media was held at S.P.R.E.P. Training and Education Centre.

During the training, the participants were grouped and were tasked to create campaign strategies.

Among the proposed strategies were Social Media Campaign Strategy on Youth Unemployment in Samoa and the Social Media Strategy for the Tuna Commission meeting in Samoa.

The Samoana Jazz and Arts Festival is also bringing an educational element with the Samoan Musicology Forum that features Professor Richard Moyle who will discuss his research findings of Samoan music fifty years ago.

The inaugural Samoana Jazz and Arts Festival is now in progress in American Samoa. And it’s coming to Apia this Friday. It is an inspired mix of the likes of young Samoan jazz pianist Andrew Faleatua, who is now resident in Sydney, with his full band that includes Dylan Elise (drums) and Junior Nansen (bass).

Then there is a solid local counterpart talent with amazing young musicians ‘Banned from the Sun’, fronted by three albino girls and their brother (hence their name) who are children of Siuleo Pouesi from the talented musical Pouesi family in the Samoas.

Then there is the seasoned musicians in Symposium, the South African based jazz guitarist Eddie Lolesi and many more who are reliving the jazz genre first brought by the marines to American Samoa in the 1900s.

International guests from across the Pacific arrive in Apia throughout the week to perform in Apia with local musos at venues such as Tanoa Tusitala, Sails Restaurant and Bar, the Marina, Home Cafe and at the STA cultural village, and the Sinalei Resort.

It is home coming for New Zealand/ Samoan hiphop/jazz and RNB superstar Iva Lamkum, who will perform in Apia for the first time at a one night headlining concert at Sails Restaurant on Saturday November 8.

Iva’s homecoming journey is being followed by the New Zealand TVOne programme Fresh.

This first, boutique festival event is a warm up for a larger festival planned for 2015, and will be a fabulous introduction for many locals to a wide variety of jazz inspired music and a chance to experience some of the Samoan and the Pacific’s finest music talents from across the globe. The

Samoana Jazz and Arts Festival is also bringing an educational element with the Samoan Musicology Forum that features Professor Richard Moyle who will discuss his research findings of Samoan music fifty years ago.

The Andrew Faleatua Quintet will also visit the Music Department of the Ministry of Education, Sports & Culture for special performances and meet the local music students.

Free concerts around Apia include The Edge/Marina bars on Friday 7th, Home Cafe on Friday and Saturday lunchtime, and the STA cultural village during Saturday 8 November. Here a mix of local and international musicians will perform around town and bring a unique jazz/musical flavour for one weekend only to Apia.

There is a great line up of acts planned for Tanoa Tusitala on Friday night and all of Saturday afternoon - a great warm up for Saturday’s headlining concert at Sails Restaurant from 6pm – 11.30pm.

The concert will feature Iva Lamkum, the Andrew Faletua Quintet, and special guests from American Samoa, New Zealand and South Africa, - it is sure to be big draw card and audiences will be able to buy tickets as door sales ($20) on the night of the gig at Sails restaurant and Bar outdoor stage venue.