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 Elma Maua.
The programme for 12 May 2007 includes the following:
- An audit of the Fiji general election has revealed that thousands of unused ballot papers are missing, and that many more were printed than were needed. The interim Finance Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, claims this is proof of an attempt to manipulate the results. Linda Skates reports, and there are comments from the deposed Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase.
There were two million ballot papers printed, but just over 840,000 votes cast.
- The formal campaigning process is about to start for general elections in Papua New Guinea. There is a record number of candidates contesting the first national poll under ‘limited preference’ voting, or LPV. Don Wiseman reports from Port Moresby. He speaks to candidate Mary Karo, who will be taking on Dame Carol Kidu, amongst others. There are also comments from Transparency International Papua New Guinea spokesperson, Emily George Taule, and from Dame Carol Kidu.
- The Solomon Islands government has revoked the disaster zone declaration, which was imposed on both Western and Choiseul provinces following the earthquake and tsunami last month. Lifting the declaration has ended the immediate relief phase of the operation, and the country is now entering the rehabilitation and rebuilding phase. Janine Sudbury reports.
Rebuilding the 800 houses and repairing the 600 damaged in the tsunami is a five-year project, and meetings are being held to decide who builds what.
- After last weekend’s French presidential polls, the French overseas territories are now gearing up for next month’s Assembly elections. The President-elect, Nicolas Sarkozy, won in the three Pacific electorates but his result was mixed. Walter Zweifel reports.
- There are concerns in Guam about the negative impacts the upcoming military build-up may have for the territory. From next year, the United States is to begin the transferral of 8,000 marines from bases in Japan to Guam, in a gradual process to be completed by 2014. A wide range of military and infrastructure construction is being planned to facilitate the build-up. Johnny Blades reports.
- Australia’s annual aid budget was released this week, with an overall increase in aid of more than 85 million US dollars for the Pacific region. Indonesia and East Asia, however, are getting a larger share of Australia’s aid, receiving 800 million compared with the Pacific which is getting 720 million dollars. Leilani Momoisea reports, and there are comments from Australian academic Dr Benjamin Riley.
- There are fears that the extension of the state of emergency in Fiji will hamper the recovery of the country’s lifeblood – tourism. Last week the military-backed interim government extended emergency provisions until the end of the month, and the New Zealand Foreign Ministry has issued a new travel warning for Fiji. Dubravka Voloder reports, and there are comments from the interim Tourism Minister, Bernadette Rounds Ganilau.
- Disabled people from around the world, including one from the Cook Islands, will gather in Auckland next week for a five-day camp organised and funded by the Rotary Club. The campers will be buddied up with the able-bodied Rotary Youth Exchange students, and will take part in joint activities including swimming, kayaking and rock-climbing. The Cook Islands Rotary is sending nineteen-year-old Dawn Hosking, who has cerebral palsy.