Samoa

More than 200 people needed emergency shelter.

RNZI reports most businesses have returned back to work today to begin their assessment of the damages to their building as well as cleaning up debris to quickly resume business as usual.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has announced that there have been no reports of any casualties as a result of Tropical Cyclone Gita.

The National Disaster Committee will continue assessing damages this week and will release another report that will include whether there are still any casualties.

Cyclone Gita wrought significant damage in both Samoa and American Samoa.

Niue was spared the full force of Gita when it curved around Niue Saturday night.

The Samoa government announced that schools will be closed for the next few days because of the flood major damage caused by Gita.

RNZI reports health officials have also issued warnings.

The public is being advised to boil all the water and make sure they clean up those areas where mosquitoes can easily lay eggs.

Dengue fever has been an ongoing issue in Samoa for the last few months.

The cyclone tore through the country bringing damaging winds and torrential rain but is now moving away to the east.

Ulu Bismarck Crawley, from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said the entire country has been affected, but worst hit are the north coast and riverways prone to flooding.

He said there were no reports of injury or death but emergency services were focusing on people isolated by the effects of the storm.

The Samoa Meteorology Division in its latest weather update says a wind advisory remains effective for all of Samoa.

There is also a warning for heavy rain, flooding and possible landslide in vulnerable areas.

A flood advisory has been issued for low-lying coastal areas due to high surf from Saturday morning.

Samoa is already drenched after days of heavy rain, with some parts experiencing flooding.

An advisory for small craft and alia fishing boats remains in effect for all Samoa open waters due to strong and gusty winds with high combined waves and swells.

The Samoa Observer reports, CEO of the Justice Ministry, Papali'i John Taimalelagi, saying a "lapse" had been uncovered during a routine review of acts under his mandate.

The Newspapers and Printers Act 1993 drew condemnation from local and international media organisations and practitioners when it was first introduced in Parliament.

It was widely seen as a tool being used by then Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana and the Human Rights Protection Party to curb criticism from the media.

TV1 Samoa reported police as saying the victim was drinking alcohol with the three accused men at Sapulu village when a fight broke out which is alleged to have led to his death.

A police investigation resulted in the arrest of the three men who were in custody awaiting court appearances on 26 February.

Their names were not released.

According to the Regulator Lefaoali'i Unutoa Auelua-Fonoti, after two rounds of advertisements calling for interested companies to tender their Expression of Interest to operate the Digital TV platform, not a single EOI was made.

She said the onus is now with her office to search for an alternative solution. 

“We have found an investor but details at this point in time cannot be released until all the underlying issues to ensure that both parties are satisfied are finalized.”

Cabinet had approved the Digital TV initiative.

Kitiona Mauli'o, 35, collapsed and died at the prestigious Malua Theological College on the island of Upolu in Samoa on Friday.

A Samoan police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia Mr Mauli'o collapsed and was taken to Leulumoega Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Mr Mauli'o has left behind his heartbroken wife Taafili and their young daughter.  

His death came just days after he arrived from Brisbane to begin a theology course at the college and was welcomed onto the campus in a grand ceremony. 

The airline's owner Tevita Palu said it will fly its SAAB 340 which seats thirty passengers from Tongatapu to Faleolo Airport outside Apia, via Vavau, in Tonga's northern island group.

Real Tonga Airlines has signed a codeshare agreement with Samoa Airways so the two airlines can share the same flight.

Tevita Palu said he was looking forward to working hand in hand with Samoa Airways, to develop direct air transportation between the two nations and to support tourism growth in the region.

Navigating at sea was a common practice among Pacific ancestors and the Samoa Voyaging Society (SVS) is using its canoe as a floating classroom to educate people around the Pacific about that part of history.

The 22-metre Samoan traditional canoe, Gaualofa, arrived in New Zealand early January and will sail around New Zealand until the end of March.