Samoa

The mayor of the Savai'i village of Fagasa, Fa'itau Tuitama'i, told the Samoa Observer the government had misled the public over the tax.

The mayor said they were told only 'alofa' or members' donations to the church would be taxed, but tax was also being imposed on the gratuities traditionally given to ministers when they officiate at birthday, wedding and funeral services.

He said the government was hiding this.

Another Savai'i mayor, Moeautolo Filipo of Safua, said there was not enough consultation between the government and the public on the issue.

There have also been angry social media exchanges between fans and pictures of various flags being burnt.

Jenny Salesa said rugby league was a game they all enjoy and people could celebrate in a way which is respectful and where everyone is safe and people are acting within the laws.

Mrs Salesa urged the Pacific community to come together in peace and unity, and to celebrate the pedigree of sporting talent the two Pacific nations possess.

Aupito William Sio said the community should be celebrating their league prowess and not throwing punches.

Speaking at a reception to acknowledge the arrival of the Tui-Samoa Cable, Tuilaepa said broadband Internet is a basic right for all Samoans.

“I have stated previously the Samoan government will leave no Samoans and no village behind and so we must find ways to make affordable broadband internet services available for all our people.”

The Prime Minister noted that affordability is a barrier to rural Samoans who have access to broadband internet, but cannot afford to use it.

The manager of the Ministry of Health's Renal Division, Christina Poliai, said the numbers seeking dialysis have escalated in the 12 years since dialysis facilities were first available in Samoa.

She said they were up from six in 2005 to 103 now, which has required an additional shift.

Ms Poliai said the numbers needing dialysis could still climb substantially but she hopes the work that has gone into educating people about how to combat NCDs starts to bear fruit.

Wiring company, Fero, will start operations next week in the island country and is urging other businesses to look at doing the same.

Fero General Manager, Sam Fulton says, "we see Samoa as the best kept secret in manufacturing I think there is a lot of opportunity to look close to home and not go to the standard Asia, China, Vietnam or Taiwan manufacturers".

While the score line will please fans, the Kiwis coaching staff will be wanting a better performance from their side heading into their second match against Scotland next week.

The Kiwis were the first to open the scoring down the right flank when winger Jordan Rapana broke his way through the line on the halfway mark.

He linked up with Shaun Johnson on the inside before Johnson repaid the favour, giving Rapana an open run to the try line.

The Kiwis threw caution-to-the-wind for much of their opening game at the Rugby League World Cup, resulting in them making 17 errors and completing just 62 per cent of their 42 uses with the ball.

An extensive and occasionally fraught preparation will come to a head in Auckland when Blair's Kiwis take on Samoa at Mount Smart stadium tonight.

But for the 41-Test prop, all the potential excuses -- injuries, defections and enforced absences -- would not hold come game time.

The team had enjoyed a solid training stint, including a three-day bonding trip, and had every belief they could make World Cup waves.

That needed to start immediately against the Samoans.

The conference acknowledged the shark would benefit from collaborative conservation measures.

Gillian Shirley Tuagalu, from Samoa's Ministry of Natural Resources, said the blue shark has been hunted by developed countries from outside the Pacific reducing its numbers to depressingly low levels.

RNZI reports the blue shark is the most frequently-caught shark globally.

Ms Tuagalu said suggestions it was being harvested sustainably, stem from inherently inaccurate fisheries stock assessments.

The manager of Renal Services, Christina Poloai, told the Samoa Observer that when dialysis started in Samoa in 2005 there were five patients, but now there are 103 patients.

The general manager of the National Kidney Foundation, Mulipola Iose Hazelman, said the last survey showed 23 per cent of Samoa's population as either diabetic or suffering hypertension.

He said 80 percent of patients on dialysis started from unmanaged diabetes or unmanaged high blood pressure.