Perhaps the most surprising part of this exhibit is the variety of species including designer geckos. In the glass-enclosed habitats, these cleverly concealed lizards hide in plain site. Take for instance the Satanic-Leaf-Tailed Gecko-which at first glance appeared to be a weathered leaf attached to a twig. Not all the lizards are hard to spot. The New Caledonian Giant Gecko-the largest of all gecko species, was the size of an adult iguana! Throughout the self-guided tour, learning stations allow you to test your gecko IQ, listen to gecko sounds, or even build a custom gecko. The rare albino gecko located at the end of the exhibit was a favorite with younger museum attendees.

Complete your gecko experience with the IMAX® film Bugs! A Rainforest Adventure showing at Fernbank May 28-September 30. (A separate IMAX® ticket or Value Pass admission is required for the film.)

Geckos—Tails to Toepads is on view at Fernbank Museum of Natural History from May 28-September 6, 2010. The exhibition is included with Museum admission, and free for museum members and children under 3.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/family-entertainment-in-atlanta/leapin-lizards-fernbank-s-gecko-exhibit-worth-sticking-around-to-see#ixzz1UpzZYK8k

The New Caledonian players have gained much experience contesting the Oceania circuit events in Suva-Fiji, Altona-Australia and Counties Manukau-New Zealand. Tongan player and NBDO Sione Vainikolo also played at the Fiji International.

Fiji have gained valuable experience from the services of Australian coach Brent Munday and fitness trainer Kate Warren working with their national squads. Brent is heading back again soon to oversee their final preparations and will travel with the team to Noumea, coaching throughout the competition.

While last week, at the New Zealand Slazenger Cup competition, Fijian team member Burty Molia gained valuable match fitness and experience playing for his home-team Auckland. In Auckland’s tie against Bay of Plenty Burty played singles against BOP #1 player and coach, Tom Armstrong. Tom headed off to Tahiti on Sunday for two weeks coaching the Tahitian national team, assisting in their preparations for the Games.

No doubt our Pacific players are getting excited about testing their fitness and skills, and we are all looking forward to the upcoming competition!!

The Memorandum of Understanding for the Conservation of Cetaceans and their Habitats in the Pacific Islands Region now provides an institutional umbrella for PICs to work more closely together on cetacean issues throughout the region. It was negotiated under the auspices of the Convention on Migratory Species, in close collaboration with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme based in Apia, Samoa.

The following countries and territories signed the MoU: Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa and Vanuatu. Contracting parties to CMS are: Australia, Cook Islands, France, New Zealand and Samoa.

The MoU will remain open for signature indefinitely and other Pacific Island Countries are expected to sign it in the near future. Three additional PICs had earlier announced their intention to sign the MoU shortly after their internal processes were completed.

By signing the MoU, the PICs agreed to cooperate and reinforce efforts to protect and conserve all cetaceans that occur in the Pacific Islands Region, including the coastal and high seas habitats of these magnificent marine mammals. The accompanying Action Plan asks signatories to reduce threats; respond to strandings and entanglements; and to protect habitat, including migratory corridors. Cooperation, information exchange, education and public awareness activities are also significant components of the Action Plan. In addition, signatories need to undertake more training, research and monitoring. Working towards sustainable and responsible cetacean-based tourism is another objective.

Whales and dolphins have immense cultural significance to communities throughout the Pacific. They have also developed into aesthetic icons particularly within eco-tourism circles. Like dugongs, whales and dolphins have evolved over the course of 50 million years, but whale populations have crashed dramatically and historical data attributes it to the growth of whaling in the Pacific in the last century to fulfil commercial and traditional purposes. (PR)

Source: http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=61210

Personal account by Alcina Charlie (Vanuatu Tourism Office E-Marketing) on the brand launch in Esp. Santo :

I hit the shower which runs both cold and hot water, immediately after unpacking and changed into something comfortable and light before trotting down to the restaurant to order one of the best Beef Burgers I’ve ever indulged. 1606 Restaurant is named after the year of Pedro De Queros who was the Spanish explorer to first set foot on the island. After an enjoyable Beef Burger, kumara chips, and fresh lime juice, I was totally satisfied. I turned on the fan, rested myself on a comfortable, soft bed and fell asleep like a child on a hammock. Three hours later, I woke up and only then did I realize that my work involved with preparing for brand launches, back in Vila, did wear me out without my noticing and here was a perfect excuse to catch up on the energy loss!  Naturally, it did come without my forcing it.

My mobile rang and it was a work colleague from Santo, offering a special welcome do and dinner where she and other colleagues were staying. Then soon after, a truck pulled up at the Village’s parking area,  we drove into town across to Unity Park where Edou, a popular singer from New Caledonia and a Pacific music icon, was staging his concert. The town was swamped by thousands dancing and cheering away into the night. I was impressed and tempted to join the crowd but it was getting slightly late and I had a busy schedule tomorrow, and so an hour later I was dropped off at the resort.
What a first day experience on the island that I last visited, or to be more specific transited, twelve years ago. Already, I could sense there were more hidden treasures to discover.

Sunday 27th March 2011: Preparations & Santo outskirts
Breakfast came on a tray and small jugs of fresh orange juice, local fruits, cereal, toast, and coffee. A meeting was held at 9am at the Chief’s Bar between Beverly, who was incharge of the entertainment program for the brand launch, Kevin (keyboardist/vocalist), Jimme and myself. We discussed available sound equipments, bands, fees, plus set up time, followed by sound check, which we all agreed needed to happen that afternoon and into the evening while the Drokas mamas were decorating the stage. At 11am we drove off to meet Desmond who is responsible for Canal Studio and the hiring of sound equipments. Desmond is a youth from Santo who also plays in Santo’s top local reggae band “Steel Soul”. After Canal Studio, we ventured off to Ridley “tusker”’s home at Shapi area, then off to 26 Roots residence where I met with one of Santo’s most senior resident originally from England, Ms Caroline Nalo. Caroline spoke very softly, and with elegance as we exchanged greetings. I knew Caroline through her son Dave Nalo who is also very much involved in the development of Youth and Music in Santo.

Sharpi area was extraordinary, as we drove, I saw local expats driving their trucks filled with Ni-Vanuatu families, everyone well dressed as if they’ve all just come out of church together. As I hear stories on projects that Beverly and her husband Nabil are involved in to raise funds for village communities including the setting up a Sister Kinda program between Brisbane and Mango Station, their involvement in the development of the local music scene in Santo, and raising funds for building materials to complete an assessment centre in Sharpi for people with disabilities after discovering a local lady who looks after 25 disabled children at her home at any one time, I came to realize that these were some of Santo’s hidden heart-felt treasures. From there, I was beginning to discover a special side of Santo that exist between the local communities and local expats that live in Santo.

From further observations around Luganville and its outskirts, I saw that the roads were in good condition and could event fit 3 to 4 vehicles! After tracking down the equipment it was time for a lunch stop back at Village de Santo, and at 3pm, we would start transporting the equipments to Unity Park stage.

After another delicious lunch with Bev and Nabil at  Restaurant 1606, I took off to my apartment, cooled off under the cold shower, had an hour’s rest, and then we drove off to Canal Studio, Alliance Francaise and Kevin’s residence to pick up the sound equipment and ship them off to the stage. By 5.30pm, Desmond started setting up the speakers, amps, mixers and sub woofers, and by 7pm we tested and sound checked.
The quality was crystal! We were very happy with the turn out, thanks to dear Desmond.

Arriving back at Village de Santo, Jimme and I got ready to entertain for around 2 hours, as a courtesy gig to thank Bev and Nabil for hosting us, and in return which we didn’t expect, we were feasted to pizzas and seafood pasta which were simply divine to close off a long and tiring day.

Shut eye for me was around midnight but by then, I wasn’t overly exhausted, because I was still abuzz from all the excitement for tomorrow’s launch.

Monday 28th March 2011: Discover what matters…Vanuatu launches!
We were asked to be at the stage to start “making noise” or play music, at around 7.30am so I was up by 6.30am, had a cold shower, ate breakfast, then changed into my red uniform top and a long black skirt. Around 8am we arrived at the stage and soon after started playing music. The band that sound checked before Jimme and I was a full 6 piece gospel reggae band Redeem and they were fantastic. Kevin followed soon after performing several of his band’s hits. After 2 hours of lively entertainment to hype up the crowd before the launch ceremony, a colourful parade led by the Vanuatu Mobile Forces brass band, followed by cultural groups, and dignitaries, Sanma tourism industry, tour operators, local business houses, and the general public paraded from the Police Station to Unity Park.

The official ceremony was filled with an array of activities including cultural performances, a traditional knife dance from Malo Island, hanging of flower leis, speeches and remarks from Sanma province, the private sector, Sanma tourism council, the brand manager, Hon. Minister of Finance, Hon. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Department of Tourism, the cutting of ribbon and cake, dedication prayer, kava ceremony, a special song “Vanuatu Smile” performed by Jimme Taea and Alcina Charlie, refreshments, and lastly 2 to 3 hours of Santo’s top live bands rocking Unity Park up to 5pm.

There was a VIP guests cocktail held at the new Vanuatu National Provident Fund building, inside a spacious and beautiful conference room, where all government, provincial, and private sector dignitaries, as well as all tour operator reps assembled for finger food and drinks. During the function, there was a power point presentation by VTO’s brand manager, Ms Elizabeth Youdale, on VTO’s role in destination marketing leading onto why a brand such as Discover what matters Vanuatu, matters for Vanuatu. Throughout the function, Ms Alcina Charlie and Jimme Taea entertained from 1pm to 4pm.

We arrived back at Village de Santo around 5.30pm, worn out and tired. I showered, had a quick bite to eat, then off I went into my own little world far, far away. The last thing I recalled before dozing off, was thinking about was how successful the launch turned out and what a story this would make! It sure was a privilege to be a part of a milestone achievement, especially to be able to participate in it here on Santo.
I would be heading back to Vila tomorrow, and with me I would take memories and experiences I discovered here in Santo that matter very much especially in a fast and material world that we live in today, and one of them was appreciating one’s culture and living with its people. Thanks Bev and Nabile for looking after Jimme and I. No words can express how thankful we are. Your hospitality has been fantastic. Thank you dearly, and we wish you all the best!

So far they have had success  and a number of sponsors locally have come on board to assist. But like all things representing a country costs money  and money can come and go.  Starting in April the team has to attend a competition in Sanya , China and then from there Shanghai, Beijing, Rome, Switzerland, Russia, Canada, Poland, Austria, Finland, Netherlands and Thailand.  Olympics qualifications require the team to attend 12 international events throughout the year , totaling over  250 thousands US dollars in costs.  A large majority of the funds came from a local sponsor last year, but circumstances have changed and the team could be left high and dry, missing out on their Olympic chance.  

The Government and International Olympic Committee have committed to supporting the team, but the shortfall to make up the rest of the funds comes down to the players, their families and a small but dedicated team who work tirelessly to raise money voluntarily.  But the pressure of training, the lack of funds and lack of staff is starting to have an impact.  The Vanuatu Women’s Beach Volleyball team are now asking for community of Vanuatu to rally around them and give support. Next week the Australian Women’s Beach Volleyball team, currently ranked in Australia, will arrive in Vanuatu to train with the women’s team and share skills with the Ni- Vanuatu team.  

As a highlight of the trip the Vanuatu Team and Australian team will be hosting an exhibition match on Saturday April 2nd at 2pm at Stade Stadium.  The match which is expected to be a thrilling event will be followed  by a Fashion Parade featuring the Men’s and Women’s Beach Volleyball team and the Australian Players, at The Grand Hotel and Casino.  Tickets will cost only 2,000 Vatu and all funds will go towards the Vanuatu Women’s Beach Volleyball, World Tour, as part of the qualifying rounds to the Olympics. This is just one of many events that the volunteers and girls have to drive to raise funds towards their Olympic journey.    

But London could be missed if the funds are not raised and grassroots support from communities and individuals is lacking. Debbie Masauvakalo the Manager of the team explains “Going on tour may sound glamour’s, but it is hard work, the team is away from their families months at a time and it can be very isolating and lonely.  

They are in big cities representing our country and they have the added pressure of performing to qualify, they really do need the good wishes and financial support of the people back home.” She continues “ We want these women to represent Vanuatu in the world arena and lift our country up to the rest of the world, there is International media interest in the team, but hardly anyone here at home knows about them or the amazing things they doing for women and sport on an international stage.  We should be very proud of them and the whole country should cheer them on to be the first Olympic team to represent Vanuatu. “ she adds “ Digicel, ANZ, The Grand Hotel & Casino, Coconut Palms Resort, Asco Motors , Splash swim wear and Vanuatu Post supported and we are so grateful for their support and without  sponsors we would not even be able to go down this path.   But we do need everyone to understand, it is not just the women of the team representing Vanuatu and carving their own path. They are Team Vanuatu when they step onto that world stage because they represent all of us and we need as many people as possible to be part of Team Vanuatu.”

There are challenges ahead for the team some personal, some financial and some which they have yet to discover.  But if the determination of the girls and the team that supports them is anything to go by  London 2012 is possible and when they step into the Olympic arena, the financial hardship, the personal sacrifice and will be worth it, as they raise the flag and represent Vanuatu. More information to go www.vanuatuvolleyball.org.

It is not thirst that brings these adventurers to the Kingdom of Tonga – No It is MONEY!  The four Americans competed against the Canadians in an adventure of a lifetime, exploring exotic locations, trekking through uninhabited and unusual lands, racing the clock to solve the clues to find the hidden whiskey and earn a $100,000 reward for its return.

The two teams flew in from New Zealand and took the domestic  flight to the Vava’u Group of Islands where the hunt took place.

On April 13, the hunt was over  as Kristina Beall of Team USA has found the hidden case of Canadian Club whiskey.  She won  $100,000 for her efforts.  Congratulations Kristina!

Lucknow native Jordan Andrew also completed the last leg of the Canadian Club Hide A Case contest and even though he didn’t win the $100,000 grand prize he said it was an experience like no other.

Andrew said he is grateful for the Canadian Club giving him the opportunity to visit a place like Tonga. He said it was a place he would have never gone to if it weren’t for all of the support of his friends, family and of the Lucknow community.

“Tonga is such an exotic location; it is hard to give it words. Crystal clear water, towering palm trees, untouched beaches. It is truly a paradise for both those wanting an off-the-grid romantic getaway, as well as those who want the exercise of Tonga’s forests and rural areas,” said Andrew. “I was really thankful to visit Tonga because of how unique its location within the world is; Tonga is a very isolated group of islands located south of Fiji.”

The story is about Mia, a young Tongan woman who was born in Tonga, raised in Australia and loses her culture, identity and language because she becomes lost in her western identity. The movie takes you on a serious but humorous journey of Mia finding the one thing that has been missing most from her life and that is her culture. This movie will appeal to every other Pacific nation and cultures that have forgotten where they have come from.

My Lost Kainga was premiered in Auckland on April 8 2011.

Carolanne who was at the premier of ‘My Lost Kainga’ in Auckland said, ‘The movie premiere of “My Lost Kainga” was a huge and great success. I felt so proud to see the older Tongan men and women who came to watch the movie cry with so much heart and feeling because they were watching a movie in their own language and they could understand it easily. And it was wonderful to see the younger generation totally absorbed in the movie because they can see themselves in the characters. I think it’s important that we tell our stories in our own language because our language is our legacy. I’m so proud of MLK and I thank God for blessing me and giving me the opportunity to play Mia’.

My Lost Kainga will be premiered in the Kingdom of Tonga in July.

The Oceania Sevens Championship is also the Regional qualification tournament for the HSBC Sevens World Series, offering the Member Unions of FORU the chance to compete with the region’s core teams – Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Samoa – at selected legs of the HSBC Sevens World Series.

Tonga, Papua New Guinea and the Cook Islands qualified for the Adelaide and Wellington legs of the 2010/2011 HSBC Sevens World Series on the back of their performances at the 2010 Oceania Sevens Championship in Darwin, Australia. Tonga also qualified for the Hong Kong Sevens after finishing thirdrd in Darwin.

The Prime Minister of Samoa and Samoa Rugby Union Chairman, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, is delighted that Samoa will be hosting some of the best Sevens teams in the world in October.

“We are extremely excited at the opportunity to host the Oceania Sevens in 2011.  Our region boasts four of the top six teams in the IRB World Series together with others, such as Tonga, Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea and Niue, that have continuously proven their ability to upstage even the best teams in the world” he said.

“The Prospect of witnessing these teams in action at Apia Park will be an immense source of excitement for the Rugby loving people of Samoa. We look forward to delivering a World Class event, worthy of the World Class teams and athletes we will host.” 
Samoa Rugby Union CEO, Su’a Peter Schuster, believes the popularity of sevens in the Region reflects the success Oceania Unions have had in recent times.

“The Oceania region is the most competitive Sevens region in the world, which ultimately reflects the popularity Rugby Sevens enjoys within the Oceania Region. Hosting this year’s Oceania Sevens in Apia will therefore be just reward to the Rugby faithful in Samoa, whom have enjoyed and supported the great strides our Sevens team have made over the past two years” said Schuster.

“We look forward to contributing towards promoting and expanding the Oceania Sevens brand in the region as the stepping stone for all Oceania Unions to aspire to during the HSBC Sevens World Series and importantly, Olympic gold in 2016. “

The FORU Member Unions are American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Oceania Sevens Championship Tournament Director, Michael Groom, says that the Samoa Rugby Union has a proven track record in hosting major International Rugby events and will deliver an outstanding tournament.

“In recent years, the Samoa Rugby Union has hosted Rugby World Cup qualifiers, Women’s Rugby World Cup qualifiers, Rugby Sevens World Cup qualifiers, the Pacific Nations Cup, Pacific Rugby Cup and the Oceania U19 Championship – they have an excellent event management team and they will deliver the Championship to a level befitting the quality of the teams that will be participating”

Australia are the defending Champions after defeating Samoa 34-12 in the final of the 2010 Oceania Sevens Championship

The island nation is planning to reverse a decision made 119 years ago to stay behind a day to help do business with American traders in California.

That choice has meant that when it’s dawn on Sunday in Samoa, it’s already dawn on Monday in adjacent Tonga – and fast approaching dawn on Monday in New Zealand, Australia and China.

Samoa has found its interests lying more with the Asia-Pacific region and now wants to switch back to the west side of the international dateline, which runs roughly north-to-south along the 180-degree line of longitude in the Pacific Ocean.

“In doing business with New Zealand and Australia, we’re losing out on two working days a week,” said the prime minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi

“While it’s Friday here, it’s Saturday in New Zealand and when we’re at church on Sunday, they’re already conducting business in Sydney and Brisbane.”

Samoa’s change will have a cost: it has long marketed itself as the last place on Earth to see each day’s sunset.

“It will be really confusing for us. I just don’t see the point, and we don’t know the benefits yet,” islander Laufa Lesa told the Associated Press. “The government says it’s good for the economy, but it’s totally fine the way it is now.”

The prime minister already has a new tourism angle: telling visitors they can celebrate the same day twice, because American Samoa next door will stay on the California side of the dateline.

“You can have two birthdays, two weddings and two wedding anniversaries on the same date – on separate days – in less than an hour’s flight across [the ocean], without leaving the Samoan chain,” he said.

Tuilaepa hopes to scratch this year’s 31 December from the calendar and celebrate the new year a night early.

The original shift to the east side of the line was conducted in 1892 when Samoa celebrated 4 July – US independence day – twice.

The dateline drawn by mapmakers is not mandated by any international body.

Nearly as many Samoans now live in Australia and New Zealand as the 180,000 living in the islands, which are located about halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii and rely on fruit and vegetable exports as well as tourism.

In 2009, Tuilaepa enacted a law that switched driving from the right to the left, to bring Samoa into line with Australia and New Zealand.

He said then the change would make it easier for Samoans in Australia and New Zealand to send used cars home to their relatives. Opponents predicted traffic disruption, but this did not happen.

Tuilaepa said: “Today we do a lot more business with New Zealand and Australia, China and Pacific Rim countries such as Singapore.” The change of date would make commerce with the Asia-Pacific region “far, far easier”.

Article by The Guardian.co.uk

Working Holiday Schemes in New Zealand

Want to come to New Zealand to work and play for a while? Are you between the ages of 18 and 30 (or 35 for specified countries)?

Then take a close look into applying for a Working Holiday Scheme. New Zealand has agreements with 34 countries to offer young visitors the chance to work, play, study – or all 3 – in New Zealand, for up to a year!

With a Working Holiday Scheme visa you can gain valuable experience – or simply help fund your travel throughout New Zealand.

Each country’s agreement is slightly different. For instance, if you’re from the UK, under age 30 and accepted, you can live and work in NZ for up to 23 months. Alternatively, if you’re from Canada, under the age of 35 and accepted, you can live and work in New Zealand for up to 12 months.

Qualifying for Acceptance

The requirements for a Working Holiday Scheme visa differ depending on which passport you hold.

All nationalities, however, must:

• Have a passport that’s valid for at least 3 months after your planned departure from NZ
• Be at least 18 and not older than 30 (or 35 depending) years old
• Meet our health and character requirements
• Not bring children with you
• Hold a return air ticket, or sufficient funds to purchase such a ticket
• Not have previously been approved for a Working Holiday Scheme visa
• Be coming to New Zealand to holiday, with work being the secondary intention for your visit.

Note: You may need medical and comprehensive hospitalisation insurance for the length of your stay depending on your individual country’s Working Holiday Scheme requirements.

Questions? A few answers…..

How much money do I need to bring?

Requirements for the funds you need to bring do differ by nationality, but generally a total of NZ$350 a month, or NZ$4200 for 12 months is the minimum needed to meet your living costs while you are here. A copy of your current bank statement may suffice as evidence of available funds.

Do I need to pay tax if I take up work?

Yes. If you do accept temporary employment under this visa, you’ll need an IRD number so that your employer can deduct tax from your earnings at the correct rate. For more information see Inland Revenue’s Travelling to New Zealand webpage.

How do I find out the complete eligibility and requirements for my country?

Check out the links to your country below. If your country is not listed, head directly to Immigration New Zealand to find out more. Right now 34 countries have agreements with New Zealand.

United Kingdom Working Holiday Scheme

United States Working Holiday Scheme

Germany Working Holiday Scheme

Canada Working Holiday Scheme

Ireland Working Holiday Scheme

Netherlands Working Holiday Scheme

Denmark Working Holiday Scheme

Sweden Working Holiday Scheme

France Working Holiday Scheme

Hopefully, we’ll see you here soon!