Pacific Islanders

One in five Pacific Islanders would move to Australia under new migration proposal

The proposal, from international policy think-tank the Lowy Institute, was prompted by what it describes as a “bleak” economic outlook for the region and a call from Malcolm Turnbull for a “step change” in engagement.

It also includes a more modest suggestion in which Australia attracts around 3000 Pacific Islanders per year to work permanently to deliver more benefits to the region by 2040 than the current aid program.

Jonathan Pryke, one of the report’s authors, said there was a “real need for change in the way we engage with the Pacific”.

New research sheds more light on ancient Pacific site

RNZ reports the 98 man-made islets of Nan Madol on Pohnpei housed the tombs and ceremonial centre of the island's Saudeleur rulers hundreds of years ago.

The 83 hectare site, which received UNESCO World Heritage status in July, is made up of impressive stone monuments linked by a network of canals in a lagoon on the south-east side of Pohnpei.

One of the researchers involved in the study, archaeologist Mark McCoy, said advances in technology enabled the team to date the architectural stone and coral from the tomb of the first chief of the entire island.

Ten Pacific island high achievers awarded NZ scholarship

RNZ reports the Kupe Scholarship, awarded by the Education Ministry, aims to encourage more Pacific students into teaching.

Recent government figures showed a twenty percent rise in Pasifika students leaving school with a secondary school qualification over the last eight years.

The figures also showed more Pacific people were now studying at tertiary level.

One of the recipients of a Kupe, Moana Toleafoa, said she hoped to encourage others to break the mould.

Seasonal farm workers receiving less than $10 a week after deductions, investigation reveals

The workers came to Australia in January as part of the Department of Employment's Seasonal Worker Program.

The group of 20 from Fiji, and others from Tonga, were taken to the caravan park in Merrigum, in the food bowl district of northern Victoria.

Seasonal Worker Programme expanded to take more Pacific Islander and East Timorese workers

Previously restricted to horticulture, aquaculture and cane farms, guest workers will now be allowed to work on cattle, sheep, grain and mixed farming enterprises.

Pacific Island and East Timorese workers can apply to work for either six or nine months, pay a flat 15 per cent tax rate and can return each year for the seasonal work.

We're no climate refugees'

This has been clarified by officials of an advisory group on climate change and human mobility.

Inspiring the Pacific Humanity – World Humanitarian Day 2015

“On World Humanitarian Day, we call for a more humane world and seek to inspire action from people across the Pacific to bring this about,” Vincent Omuga from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Regional Office for the Pacific (UNOCHA ROP) said.

People in this region are no strangers to humanitarian needs with Pacific Island Nations making up four of the top 10 countries on the 2014 World Risk Index.