Tagata o te Moana is a weekly Pacific programme, broadcast on Radio New Zealand National (Saturdays at 5.30pm). It features news, interviews, and discussion of issues. Presented by Don Wiseman.
The programme for 8 December 2007 includes the following:
- Reconstruction in flood-devastated Oro Province in Papua New Guinea. The flood three weeks ago has claimed at least 150 lives, and thousands remain homeless. Helicopters remain the only way to get supplies around the province. The Australian led effort has contributed around 500 tonnes of supplies since the beginning of last week. However many are still in need of food. Repairs to infrastructure are also needed.
- This week, Fiji marked a year since the elected government was ousted in a military takeover. A new poll has been promised, but not until 2009. Philippa Tolley reports on how the last year has effected Fiji. There are questions over human rights, security issues, and increased violence in Fiji - seven soldiers have been implicated in the death of a detained teenager; while another military man has been charged with causing death following an alleged beating during an interrogation at the barracks in Suva.
The economic and social fallout is also impacting on families, with the cost of living increasing and more people falling under the poverty line. There is also a lot of unemployment. Professor Vijay Naidu of the University of the South Pacific (Suva) is interviewed. He says Fiji society is becoming increasingly divided.
- A Samoa Commission of Enquiry has called for a formal warning to all Land Court staff following claims of corruption. The Commission's brief was to look at the relationship between the role of the formal courts and the village councils. Jennifer Craddock reports that the Chair of the Commission has heard evidence that court staff altered documents and accepted bribes. The Chief Executive of the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration, Masinalupe Tusipa, rejects the claims his staff are corrupt.
The Commission's report is due to go to Parliament on 17 December.
- The Governor of the Indonesian province of Papua says all log exports will be banned from next month, in a bid to preserve one of the world's largest remaining tracts of untouched forest. Governor Barnabas Suebu told the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali that it should endorse funding the anti-logging move, due to its impact on reducing global warming. Johnny Blades reports.
- The Refishing processing plant in Niue says it will reopen in around three months, and twenty staff will be out of work for several months. The plant was a key part of the government's plan to reinvigorate the island's economy. The decision to close it down has come suddenly, with staff only informed yesterday afternoon. However the Auckland-based company's Niue General Manager, Kim Gordon, says the plant is only being reorganised for the duration of the cyclone season.
- The Niue Government says it wants to rebuild its phone services, but it doesn't know where the money will come from. Telecommunication can be difficult on the island - Niue Telecom can only make piecemeal repairs, because it has no financial reserves to replace outdated machinery. It may cost more than 2 million US dollars to renew the system. There is an offer for a Chinese company to own and manage Niue Telecom, but this is not likely to be taken up.
- Pacific politicians look at the problems facing educators in the region: keeping children in school; retaining staff; and training students to meet their country's skills shortages. These issues were the hot topics for the Pacific Forum for Education Ministers, meeting in New Zealand last week. Leilani Momoisea was there, she reports on the forum.