Samoa

The associate professor of Pacific studies received Marsden Award funding in 2013 for work into 'The Transformation of Everyday Life in Samoa from 1800 to 2000'.

2016 is the final year of that funding and the conference draws the project to a close.

Dr Salesa said work from the conference would flow into development already underway on the Mau, the nationalist movement in Samoa in the early 1900's.

"We had the really well know Samoan animator and illustrator Ali Cowley and then we had a graphic note taker who were tracking the conference," he said.

Cowley, 23, finished this year's Mitre 10 Cup as Waikato's leading No 9 and started their last two matches, which were victories over Hawke's Bay (46-22) and Wellington (28-24).

Stuff reports Cardiff announced the capture of Cowley and former Wales first five-eighth Nicky Robinson on Monday (Tuesday NZ time) - the latter coming out of retirement after hanging up his boots last year.

Cowley will again team up with former Hurricanes and Waikato midfielder Willis Halaholo, who signed a three-year contract with Cardiff earlier this year.

Students who graduated were from 13 countries including non-regional countries of Australia, Belize, Jamaica, Nigeria and Papua New Guinea.

Nineteen per cent (19%) of graduates received Postgraduate qualifications and eleven (11) graduated with Master’s degree.

Fifty per cent (50%) of the graduates were females.

The event was attended by Honouorable Henry Puna, USP Chancellor and Prime Minister of Cook Islands and Mrs Akaiti Puna; Hon. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister of Samoa; and Ambassador Winston Thompson.

According to Lu, he has not seen anything like this in his 30 years of operating the Vacations Beach Fales in Itu o Tane district.  

“It’s so strong and the tides continue to rise that we eventually had to find ways to fight the erosion,” said Lu.

“Climate Change affects our oceans and beaches strongly. So with the assistance of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Samoa Tourism Authority we built this seawall. And since last year we’ve managed to keep our beaches,” he added.

The Niue community in Samoa came together last week to celebrate 150 years since settling in Samoa in what's known as the A'ai o Niue, in Apia.

Talamua Online reports that Niueans from New Zealand, Australia and Niue took part in the celebrations, which centred on a memorial service and the dedication of a plaque in front of the village church with the names of the pastors who served it and are buried in its grounds.

Samoa's Prime Minister, Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, said the Tui Samoa cable would improve the lives of people in his country as well as students who will access a new world of information.

The fibre-optic cable will link Samoa's two main islands and Wallis and Futuna to Fiji, where it will connect to the Southern Cross Cable between Hawaii and Sydney.

The chairman of the Samoa Submarine Cable Company, Pepe Christian Fruean, said the company was committed to delivering a fast, reliable and affordable internet service to all its partners.

RNZ reports Opeloge initially finished fourth in the women's over 75kg division at the 2008 Beijing Games.

But in August, a re-analysis of samples from eight years ago found the silver medallist, Olha Korobka from Ukraine, and bronze medallist, Mariya Grabovetskaya from Kazakhstan, tested positive for banned substances.

Korobka's provisional suspension was confirmed by the International Olympic Committee last month, ensuring Opeloge a podium finish.

Papatoetoe's D'Angelo Leuila has stepped up on the world rugby stage, starring for Samoa in a 25-23 win over Canada.

The Papatoetoe Under-19 a player kicked 20 points for Samoa to hold off Canada 25-23 to end their European rugby tour on a high on Friday (NZT Saturday).

Making his first start for Samoa, Leuila's expert goalkicking proved the difference in slotting four penalties, two dropped goals, and converted Samoa's only try in the match played in the French city of Grenoble.

The pageant week begins with a church service and over the course of the week will assess each contestants through various activities planned.

Contestants representing eight Pacific Islands - American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Samoa and Tonga have all gathered in Apia, Samoa.

Contestants and their teams started arriving in Samoa last week for the 30^th anniversary of the Miss Pacific Islands.

The team of more than 10 departed the country at 1:51pm on Virgin Air.

They will fly through Brisbane and then Auckland, New Zealand where they will spend at least 8 hours before continuing to their destination.

They are expected to touch down at the Faleolo International Airport at about 13:55pm tomorrow, Samoan time (9:00 am PNG time).

Miss PNG, Kellyanne Limbiye and Miss Pacific Abigail Havora will be stepping out fully dressed with their crowns and sash.

“I am super excited, nervous, just full of emotions right now,” Limbiye said.