KEY POINTS:
SAMOA - Samoa was referred to as the "pinup star" of the Pacific by New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Winston Peters at a trade and economic forum in Apia yesterday.
"Samoa has made giant steps in recent years and the last decade and it is a very, very successful example of Pacific democracy and economic progress," Peters said.
Speaking to economic and trade leaders in Samoa, Mr Peters suggested that New Zealand has much to learn from Samoa in economic development.
"This is a private and humble observation, we have learned some serious things about how to run the economy from Samoa, or rather, how not to run the economy, in fact we are the world experts," he said.
According to the New Zealand Minister, Samoa has the advantage of social and economic stability as opposed to other countries in the Pacific which they have "heard adverse things or unsound things about."
"This is not like some of the cases you hear in the Pacific, Samoa is special and different," he said.
Peters is currently in Samoa with an entourage of more than 60 officials in government, private sector, and civil societies from New Zealand.
The aim of the visit according to Peters is to strengthen trade relations between Samoa and New Zealand.
Asked as to why New Zealand is concentrating on Samoa, he said: "We belong to the Pacific neighbourhood as Samoa does, we are all part of the same environment, part of the world."
Peters said the two countries maintain a partnership that dates back to the treaty of friendship and that News Zealand seeks to try and "improve the economic and social lives of the inhabitants of the Pacific"
He said: "I suppose the key to that is good governance and democratic institutions."
Peters is now in Savaii visiting local projects supported by NZAID in Samoa.
Speaking of Savaii, the recently announced World Cup squad for Samoa does not include any players from Savaii rugby clubs.
In defence of the selection Chairman of Samoa Rugby Union Hon. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said: "As you can see there are many boys from Savaii but playing in Upolu teams, so it doesn't matter what club you are from."
The announcement of the much anticipated World Cup squad yesterday signaled the official beginning of Samoas preparations towards the international rugby event later this year.
Rugby stars Brian Lima, Siuleo Lafaialii, Semo Sititi, Henry Tuilagi, Steven Sooialo and Roger Warren have made it onto the team.
Coaching the team is Laauli Michael Jones.
In other news, various aspects of Samoan land was the topic of discussion amongst senior figures an academics and from across the Pacific early this week.
The meeting is part of peer review sessions organised by the Australian Aid under the "White Paper."
The White Paper is an initiative by the Australian Government which sets out the strategic directions for its aid program over the next decade.
The two day meeting in Apia was held to discuss innovative practices and problems in land tenure and administration in the Pacific.
Unfortunately the facilitator did not wish to be interviewed.
The meeting in Apia comes at a time when land is a hot issue on the islands due to the Lands Bill currently under review stages.
The Lands Bill a controversial issue since the first reading earlier this year suggests the placement of customary land in the ownership of a 'property holder'.
The concept according to the Samoa Umbrella for Non Government Organisations (SUNGO) "takes away the land from the people as customary lands belong to families, and not to individuals."
Some of the issues discussed at the Pacific Land Meeting include, Land for public purposes in Samoa, Land dispute settlement in Samoa, Absentee land ownership in the Cook Islands and the ownership and management of land by incorporations and trusts under the Maori Land Acts in New Zealand.
"This meeting in Apia is one of four 'peer reviews' that are currently being held in locations across the Pacific" Australian High Commissioner, Matt Anderson, said.
Mr Anderson said the aim of the case studies is to inform Pacific governments, officials, customary owners and other stakeholders on how other countries in the region have sought to address some common issues in land tenure.
"These case studies are not designed as policy prescriptions to be transplanted from one country to another.
"They seek to provide ideas and inspiration to Pacific governments and stakeholders on how solutions might be developed or adapted for the unique needs of their own countries," he said.
"Conclusions will be drawn in the case studies from both successes and failures," Mr Anderson said.
"The Australian Government has made a clear and strong commitment to provide support to our Pacific partners who are seeking to strengthen their land systems."
SUNGO, the only active critic of the Land Bill says they were unaware of such a meeting in Samoa.
In the village beat, the coconut wireless informs me that the healthy diet of South Pacific Games athletes means there will be plenty of imported fruits for the duration of the SPG.
"If each of the 6000 athletes eats an apple a day for the two weeks of the games that means 84,000 apples will be consumed during SPG," said a local player.
Unfortunately there will be no apple eating competition, so we won't all get to witness the mass consumption of the foreign fruit.
Manuia le Aso from Samoa
