Media Round-up: Friday 29 February to Friday 7 March 2008
This page identifies and where possible links to major development related news and stories featured in: Radio New Zealand; Dominion Post; Auckland Herald; Christchurch Press; Sunday Star Times; and includes major press releases from NZAID and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. We may occasionally publish stories from other sources.
Back to current media round-up.
Aotearoa New Zealand
7 March, North Shore Times: Deportation Could Spell Death
Immigration New Zealand is ordering a 25-year-old Iranian Christian back to Iran within the next two weeks. Converting to Christianity is – under Sharia law – an offence punishable by death and what awaits Ms. Moradi in Iran is uncertain.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/4428448a6016.html
7 March, NZ Government: Women's Role as Peacemakers Crucial – Dalziel
New Zealand places great importance on peaceful conflict resolution, and believes women have a crucial role to play at every level of conflict prevention and resolution, as well as peace-keeping and rebuilding shattered communities post conflict, Associate Justice Minister Lianne Dalziel says.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0803/S00123.htm
7 March, NZ Government: NZ–Samoa sign agreement on WTO accession
New Zealand has signed a market access agreement with Samoa as part of their bid to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Trade Minister Phil Goff announced today.
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release
6 March, DomPost, National Party: We'll settle Treaty then ditch Maori seats
A National-led government would start the process to abolish the Maori seats in Parliament after historical Treaty claims had been settled, party leader John Key said today.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominionpost/4428181a23917.html
Pacific
4 March, Radio NZ International: Nuie Pacific Forum Summit
NZ foreign affairs official says NZ is committed to helping Niue stage the Pacific Island Forum Summit on the island of Niue. This comes after calls by an opposition MP to have Niue hold the Summit in NZ because the island lacks the resources to carry out the event.
http://www.rnzi.com/audio/datepac.mp3
4 March, Radio NZ International: Papua New Guinea
A series of demonstrations calling for a referendum on Papuan self-determination have taken place in several main towns in Indonesia’s Papua region. The demonstrations have also been a protest against special autonomy provisions introduced in Papua in 2001.
http://www.rnzi.com/audio/datepac.mp3
International
7 March, World Public Opinion: All Countries Favor Equal Rights For Women
According to a new WorldPublicOpinion.org poll of 16 nations from around the world there is a widespread consensus that it is important for "women to have full equality of rights" and most say it is very important. This is true in Muslim countries as well as Western countries.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0803/S00088.htm
7 March, UN: Afghans hit by soaring food prices receive UN Aid
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is distributing emergency assistance to Afghans suffering from food shortages due to the surge in the price of wheat, which has risen by 70 per cent over the past year.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0803/S00081.htm
7 March, World Watch, Radio NZ: Tensions in South America countries Ecuador, Venezuela and Columbia continue
Representatives of OAS have declared Columbia’s attack inside Ecuador as a violation of sovereignty which comes after Ecuador and Venezuela have positioned troops on the border with Columbia.
4 March, Radio NZ: Russians vote Medvedev in as president with 70 percent of the vote
Dmitry Medvedev has won in Russia’s presidential race though not without international election observer’s scepticism. Medvedev is President Vladimir Putin’s protégé and it is believed that Putin will be awarded the position of Prime Minister.
3 March, Radio NZ: Situation in Gaza Deteriorates
Israel is continuing its military action in Gaza despite international calls for restraint. It is said to be the worst humanitarian situation in 40 years.
29 February, World Watch, Radio NZ: Kenya
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, and the opposition leader, Raila Odinga, have signed an agreement to end the country’s post-election crisis.
