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 31 March 2007 includes the following:
- The Commonwealth Secretary General, Don McKinnon, wants to see efforts made to open dialogue with the Fiji Interim Government. Mr McKinnon says the only way to ensure a return to democracy in Fiji is to get alongside Commodore Bainimarama and his colleagues, and talk about the need for change. He says the criticism directed at them has not achieved its purpose. Don Wiseman speaks to Don McKinnon.
- Four months on from Fiji’s coup, the country’s tourism industry is regaining momentum. While heavy discounting has meant little profit for the country, visitor numbers are slowly on the increase. The New Zealand and Australian travel advisories are still cautioning visitors of a risk to their safety when travelling to Fiji. Leilani Momoisea reports.
- Development of the Solomon Islands capital, Honiara, appears to be going ahead unchecked, with prime land in the sight of developers. There are allegations of political interference, as protests mount. Linda Skates reports that waterfront and beachfront land in Honiara is under pressure, as developers look to capitalise on a more stable environment and build. It’s not the only area of town where construction is occurring at a rapid and apparently unchecked rate. She speaks to the President of the Chamber of Commerce, Peter Goodwin; and there are comments from the Secretary to the Prime Minister and Cabinet, John Rowan.
- There’s been mixed reaction to a new 160 million (US dollar) fund set up by Australia to protect the world’s largest forests. Australia’s Prime Minister, John Howard, says it’s a plan which will slow the rate at which forests are cleared in places like Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Johnny Blades reports that there are questions over how it can counter the large-scale devastation caused by the illegal timber trade.
- Almost a year on, the outcome of an enquiry into the Kiribati government’s controversial allocation of university scholarships has yet to be made public. The probe was over eighteen students who hadn’t qualified for degree programmes, but got scholarships to study at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji. Sara Vui-Talitu reports that the former chairman of the parent-teachers association in Kiribati has accused the government of an ongoing cover-up of the enquiry’s findings.
- Members of a group who arrived on Niue more than a year ago, promising huge investments, have been described as “undesirable visitors” by the government after running up debts of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Most of the money is owed to the island’s only hotel, the Matavai, which has not received any payment since last August. Other businesses and residents around the island are also owed thousands. The group’s visas have expired, but they’re unlikely to be deported with the debts outstanding. Some on Niue have linked the group to Vastu Shastra, a philosophy promoting architecture that’s in harmony with nature, and to a California-based cult, the Maha Devi Ascension Movement. The group has refused to speak to the media. There are comments from the Immigration Minister, Fisa Pihigia.
- The United Nations Population Fund has moved to lift the status of women in the Pacific. It has produced programmes to reduce maternal and infant mortality, as well as attempts to cut the high incidence of violence against women. The UNFPA says any hope that the world has for sustainable development must take women into account. Elma Maua reports; and there are comments from Sultan Aziz, Director of the Asia-Pacific Division of the UNFPA; and comments from Najib Asifi, the UNFPA’s Pacific Office representative.