Samoa

He was speaking to a group of climate scientists, experts and delegates in New Zealand's capital at the Pacific Climate Conference.

Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi opened the climate summit reminding delegates that people from developed nations are not immune to the effects of climate change.

The remains of Cyclone Gita had just passed through Wellington and forced a change to the conference programme as some delegates were not able get into the city on day one.

The Samoa Observer reported the police spokesperson, Superintendent Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo, had confirmed the investigation, but could not give any details.

But a source told the paper that the incident occurred in Vaitoloa which is on the outskirts of Apia.

Faamausili Moli is a son of the late Head of State Malietoa Tanumafili II, and faces police charges of assault, armed with an object, and throwing an object at a family member last August.

He is also charged with using insulting words at that family gathering.

The court heard how that meeting had been called to discuss family differences regarding the grandfather's estate.

Talamua Online reports Judge Talasa Atoa Sa'aga has reserved her decision until 5 March.

A global 1.5 degree target is what the Pacific has been advocating to combat climate change.

Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, who is the current chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, said the region needed to address its own climate issues if it is to call on the rest of the world to address their emissions.

Tuilaepa was speaking at the Pacific Oceans Climate Change Conference in New Zealand's capital.

He told the Wellington audience that climate change was a reality that the Pacific faced every day.

The electoral commissioner, Faimalōmatumua Mathew Lemisio told Talamua Online the new voting system would solve the delays in obtaining preliminary election results on polling day.

He said a voter's fingerprint will be scanned and registered digitally and that information will accompany the voter's choice of candidate on polling day.

The electoral commissioner said as well as the new technology, for more traditional voters, the old paper and pen voting system will still be available.

According to court documents all the charges against Hillary Eteuati were dismissed in a separate hearing in 2016 and in a Supreme Court appeal hearing last year.

But the lawyer for the accused had fought a long legal battle against the prosecution over why the police had wanted to refile the charges.

Mr Eteuati was originally charged with assault, obstruction, threatening words and armed with a dangerous weapon.

“It will be an honour to have the Pacific Mission led by the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and is a further sign of the importance New Zealand attaches to our Pacific neighbours,” says Peters.

“The government carefully considered whether the Pacific Mission would impose a burden on Tonga and Samoa in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Gita.”

The first of three series looks into Samoan traditional leadership, customary land tenure and religious rights.

A large number of respected speakers from New Zealand and abroad gave depth into each of the three key issues on the agenda.

The former Head of State, Le Afioga a le Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Ta'isi Efi, was the keynote speaker on traditional leadership in Samoa.

However, with the Customary Land Alienation Bill currently tabled in parliament, land rights was the hot topic of the conference, which Tupua touched on.

'O Le Palemia' had been using the social media platform for scathing attacks and allegations of corruption against the government of Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.

The government had unsuccessfully tried to identify the blogger and last year reintroduced the Criminal Libel Act which forces journalists to reveal their sources.

Tuilaepa and other politicians targeted by O Le Palemia have never directly responded to the accusations.

However, the blogger's accusations were found to be in breach of Facebook's Community Standards.

The minister for government enterprises, Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell, announced the move last week after a trip to New Zealand to visit Samoan RSE workers in Hawkes Bay, Nelson, and Tauranga.

Lautafi said RSE workers he spoke with in New Zealand said they supported the move.

He said the contributions will be deducted from their salaries.