New Zealand

The export market for sawn timber from Solomons' community operators is continuing to grow but consumers' are increasingly demanding that it is sourced from legally and sustainably managed forests.

The New Zealand Imported Tropical Timber Group has had a number of contacts with Solomons' operators this year, leading to commitments to develop a system of third party legality assurance over the next two years.

The Group's Malcolm Scott says this will allow audits of sawn timber production.

Ioane Teitiota and Angua Erika and their three New Zealand-born children have lost claims for refugee status due to global warming.

Teitiota has been battling deportation to Kiribati since 2011, when he overstayed his visa.

He argued his family faced indirect persecution from man-made climate change, which has caused rising sea levels, contaminated water, destruction of crops, tidal surges, and extreme weather.

Tuvalu’s Reverend Tafue Lusama is currently on a tour of New Zealand’s main centres in an effort to highlight the urgency of tackling climate change effects in the Pacific.

He is calling for New Zealand – which he refers to as “Tuvalu’s big brother” – to take the lead in climate change action and help to save the sinking country.

“I’ve always regarded New Zealand as Tuvalu’s big brother,” Rev Lusama said in his address at the Love Your Neighbour event earlier this month, which was co-ordinated by Oxfam.

Te Vaka is a group of musicians and dancers from various Pacific Island backgrounds based in New Zealand.

Their unique music - a blend of traditional Island and contemporary tunes - has taken them around the world and they have a huge following around the Pacific region.

Speaking during a press conference held after the meeting PM Sogavare thanked everyone who turned up for the high level talk, while warmly welcoming the presence of the New Zealand delegation into the country.

Sogavare reiterated on the historical friendship of both countries, which has been in existence for 37 years now since Solomon Islands gained independence.

This was confirmed yesterday by spokesperson Rev James Bhagwan.

A delegation of Methodists from Australia and New Zealand, led by former church President Reverend Dr Ilaitia Tuwere, made the official donation at the opening of the annual fundraising drive.

Part of the money is expected to be used for the building of the new residence for the church’s president at Davuilevu.  Its part of the church’s return to its historical base at Davuilevu, according to spokesperson, Reverend Bhagwan.

That's how the people of Tuvalu feel.

It's predicted the Island nation, the smallest archipelago in the Pacific, could be underwater in the next 30 to 50 years due to rising sea levels.

Tuvalese leaders spoke of their plight at a breakfast event in Mangere last week as part of a Climate Change Tour hosted by NZ NGOs including Tear Fund and Oxfam. The tour aims to create awareness around the effect climate change is having on our pacific neighbours, and continues in Christchurch and Wellington this week.

Prime Minister Puna arrives tonight ahead of a series of community and official engagements, including a meeting with Key.

“It was my pleasure to attend the celebrations marking 50 years of Cook Islands self-government in free association with New Zealand in Rarotonga last week,” Key said.

“The anniversary is a significant occasion for both our countries and I am pleased to confirm that New Zealand will return that hospitality, and mark the anniversary with a celebration of our own.

Mr Puna says anyone leaving the Cook Islands will now only have to check in and follow the normal security checks before departure.

However, arrival cards will still need to be completed.

Meanwhile, Mr Puna arrives in New Zealand today for a week of events marking the country's 50th anniversary of self government.

It follows gala events on Rarotonga last week.

The very existence of many of the island nations is threatened by the impact of climate change and they feel that their “big brother”, New Zealand, isn’t doing enough to help them.

Among the leaders speaking out, is the general secretary of the Christian Church of Tuvalu and founder of the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network, Rev Tafue Lusama.

His homeland, Tuvalu, is projected to be underwater in less than 50 years.