News

October 2009

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No. 13

Excerpts from several newsletter and other sources, October 2009

11:45 Te Taka Keegan
Te Taka Keegan is a Māori language activist and senior lecturer in computer science at the University of Waikato. He has been instrumental in many technological advances for the Māori language including the Microsoft keyboard template, the on-line Māori Niupepa Collection, Microsoft Windows and Office in Māori, and the Google web search interface in Māori. He was a visiting scientist with Google in 2008/2009, and assisted in the development of the Google Translator Toolkit.  
Te Taka Keegan
Maori language activist and senior lecturer in computer science at the University of Waikato, who has assisted in the development of the Google Translator Toolkit. (duration: 10′06″)
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source

 Tino Rangatiratanga Newsletter 7.10.09 - 4:48

   

Guam Residents Organize Against US Plans for $15B Military Buildup on Pacific Island
The United States is planning an enormous $15 billion military buildup on the Pacific island of Guam. The project would turn the thirty-mile-long island into a major hub for US military operations in the Pacific in what has been described as the largest military buildup in recent history. We speak with Julian Aguon, a civil rights attorney from the Chamoru nation in Guam.

Read the full text here in Aloha Südsee!

Source:

Tino Rangatitatanga  13.10.09 - 10:28
    

Tonga's biggest Blue Marlin caught in Vava’u
The biggest blue marlin in Tonga was caught in Vava’u last week by Hakula Fishing vessel with a weight of 477kg. Jeff’s nephew Todd had done lots of fishing and was hoping to get his first Marlin on his visit to Tonga; but he did not bargain for what was about to happen, to see him and deckhand Ki’i land the biggest Blue Marlin ever caught on rod and reel in Tonga. According to Jeff LeStrange of Hakula Gamefishing, “I have been waiting for over 20 years to go head to head with a big blue”.
  Over the past 10 years Jeff noted that they have had plenty of encounters with Big Blues aboard Hakula and all have won their freedom. Their biggest to date was a 258kg monster that had another 50kg eaten off one side. “Even though we can’t claim it as a record fish, it will still stand as the biggest blue marlin caught on rod and reel in Tonga just 17lbs short of grander”, says Jeff. The picture tells it all….Janine and Jeff LeStrange of Hakula Gamefishing and Hakula Lodge coordinates the annual Tonga International Billfish Tournament held in Vava’u around the month of September. (Source: Tonga Visitors Bureau Events News)

source:

  SPTO Newsletter 23rd Oct. 2009
    

Princess ships deliver relief to Samoa
When Star Princess and Sun Princess called in Apia, Samoa and Pago Pago, American Samoa after this month’s tsunami, the ships brought along some relief supplies and more than US$10,000 in donations. The ships offloaded pallets of bottled water, sugar, flour, linen and clothing donated by passngers and crew, plus lollies for the children. In Pago Pago, both ships welcomed Red Cross relief workers onboard for some relief of their own, with hot showers, lunch and use of the ships’ laundries and telephones. The ships also conducted a fundraising auction and collected donations from crew and passengers. Pictured bottom left, in Apia, the Minister of Tourism and Deputy Prime Minister, Misa Telfoni, presented Star Princess Captain Ed Perrin with a carving to thank the crew for their “random acts of kindness and love”. Pictured right are ship officers and Samoan officials outside Star Princess as it unloads relief supplies. (Source: Cruise Weekly 20 October 2009)

source:

  SPTO Newsletter 23rd Oct. 2009
 

Tanoa Tusitala Hotel, Apia, Samoa
Mr Y P Reddy, Chairman of the Tanoa Hotel Group, has stated that the additional challenges faced in the complete refurbishment of the hotel as a result of the major fire and the recent horrific tsunami have taken there toll but that the planning in both logistics and the purchasing of materials was well under way and he is confident that this will result in minimal delays in opening. ‘We will endeavour to now deliver a better product then before and one which we sincerely hope that the people of Samoa can take pride in. There is much work to be done in the restoration of the market as it reacts to the aftermath of the tsunami but we are confident that Tourism Samoa, with the support from Government, the various aid agencies and from the airlines servicing Samoa, will do a great job in minimising the impact on both the workforce and economy caused by this tragic event.’ He is looking to open mid 2010. For further information please contact Ms Kalpana Reddy at kalpana@reddygroup.co.nz.

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  SPTO Newsletter 23rd Oct. 2009