HONIARA (Pacnews) — The Solomon Islands High Court registrar, David Chetwynd, says the inquiry into the death of New Zealand diplomat Bridget Nichols is set to go ahead with all relevant documents and witnesses available.
Chetwynd said the inquiry will begin on Thursday next week, and will be attended by both medical and police professionals.
He said these include Dr. Michael Taylor, the New Zealand scientist who undertook the forensic investigation, and the medic who attended the scene, as well as others.
“There will be several Solomon Island police officers, including the detective superintendent, Nathaniel Mosesi, who was leading the investigation from the Solomon Islands side and there will be the lead New Zealand detective, Brian Pearce, and there will be some other police or professional, as it were, witnesses.”
Chetwynd said three days have been set aside for the inquiry.
SUVA (Pacnews) — A delegation of Fiji government officials will leave for New Zealand soon to study details of the Waitangi Treaty—an agreement that secured land rights for the indigenous Maori population.
The trip coincides with government’s decision to set up a Lands Claims Tribunal to address land claims in Fiji.
During the colonial era prior to independence in 1970, some land in Fiji was either sold or seized by government and converted to freehold land, following uncertainties over who were the traditional owners. The issue came into sharp focus during the 2000 political crisis, when indigenous villagers seized, or attempted to seize, a number of properties around the country.
The deputy secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office, Sakiusa Tuisolia, said the trip will study the legislation, funding and structure of the Waitangi Tribunal—the body that deals with indigenous land claims.
RAROTONGA (Pacnews) — A book by Rarotonga resident Lynnsay Francis has been selected as a finalist in this year’s Montana Book Awards in New Zealand.
“The Art of Tivaevae: Traditional Cook Islands Quilting” is a finalist in the Lifestyle section of the prestigious awards and is up against three other books written by New Zealand authors. The book features interviews with the makers of tivaevae quilts throughout the Cook Islands and was released last year.
According to the organizers of the awards, the winners of all non-fiction categories will be announced at a luncheon in Auckland on July 20.
The winners of the non-fiction categories will win NZ$5,000 ($2,455) each, while the winner of the Montana Medal for non-fiction will be awarded NZ$15,000 ($7,366).
PORT MORESBY (Papua New Guinea Post-Courier/PINA) — Papua New Guinea’s Post-Courier newspaper says it has become the first newspaper in the South Pacific islands to recycle its waste newsprint.
South Pacific Post managing director Bob Howarth said his company had struck an agreement with PNG Recycling Ltd.
It will ship its waste and unsold papers along with printing plates and film negatives from its newspaper and commercial printing operations to Brisbane, Australia.
Howarth was particularly pleased to be able to make the announcement to mark World Environment Day in Papua New Guinea.
Most waste paper is usually dumped and burnt or used as wrapping paper in Port Moresby.
Previous attempts at recycling newsprint in Papua New Guinea were unviable due to high shipping costs.
