TAGATA O TE MOANA 17/02/2018

A weekly Pacific magazine programme features New Zealand and regional Pacific news, issues, information and music. This programme is also simulcast domestically on Radio New Zealand National.

It's now four days since cyclone Gita whipped across Tonga's Tongatapu causing widespread damage; following his visits to Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has highlighted a range of deep concerns in these countries; the University of Auckland launches a three part Pacific conference series with part one exploring Samoan traditional leadership, customary land tenure and religious rights; in 1968 twelve Pacific countries founded the University of the South Pacific which has grown to become the premiere provider of tertiary education in Oceania; the World Bank says poor child and maternal health is hampering Papua New Guinea's long term economic prospects; Over 4-thousand people from Vanuatu are working in New Zealand's horticulture and viticulture industries this year under the Recognised Seasonal Employer or RSE scheme; tributes flow this week for renowned Samoan musician.