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Members of Auckland's Pasifika and Maori community are to perform a haka in support of Native Americans protesting against the construction of a controversial pipeline. There have been protest camps on Sioux land at Standing Rock in North Dakota since April against plans to build an oil pipeline through the area. A Maori group launched a social media campaign to support Standing Rock including the creation and dedication of a new haka.

North Fly Member, Boka Kondra’s dismissal from office was upheld by the Supreme Court yesterday. Mr Kondra was initially dismissed from office in May 2015 after a Leadership Tribunal found him guilty of six counts of misconduct in office as a leader. Between 2008 and 2010, he unlawfully used K238,442.62 [US$74,000] in public funds to pay for office rentals in Kiunga, family accommodation in Port Moresby and to settle the outstanding payments of a hire bus he used during the 2007 election.

American Samoa continues to collect data for it’s application to the federal government for possible funding to help workers who will be dislocated when Samoa Tuna Processors cannery plant operation closes down indefinitely in less than two weeks. Commerce Director Keniseli Lafaele told Samoa News last month that Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga had appointed a committee to look at ways to assist, including possible federal funding, for the “up to 800 or possibly more,” employees who will lose their jobs when STP closes indefinitely on Dec. 11.

Chamorro cultural and heritage advocate Liana Hofschneider says it is about time that someone in the government acquires the courage to halt development to ensure that there is a balance between development and cultural-and historical-heritage protection. She said there should never be a reason to “fast-track” any development especially in “a fragile and pristine island environment.” “This must be one of the highest considerations,” she said, commenting on the ongoing development projects and the role of various regulatory agencies in safeguarding the historical artifacts of the islands.