Vanuatu's market mamas forced to move after December earthquake
7.3 magnitude earthquake
which damaged the city's main market house in the centre of town.
At the Port Vila Show Ground Market, groups of women sold their produce under a marquee-style tarpaulin shelter set up beside a permanent concrete verandah.
Those operating under the temporary shelters once sold their wares at the Central Market House in downtown Port Vila before it was damaged in the quake.
The earthquake killed 14 and injured more than 250. The NDMO said 80,000 people were effected and 1473 displaced from their homes.
Fresh produce seller Leidab David said when the earthquake struck they were at the national market in town and they all ran.
"We did not know where to go to do our market," she said.
"After some days, weeks and months had passed now we have come together again. We have found ourselves here in the market house at Seaside."
Each mama pays a table fee to the Port Vila Municipal Council to sell their goods.
Photo:
Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai/RNZ
Under the marquee there are approximately 16 to 20 tables - about 8 to 10 on each side.
Those on the concrete verandah are largely vendors who had already been based at the Show Ground Market.
"Now the public and vendors know that the mamas that used to market in town, which is damaged - they are all coming to this place," David said.
"Now we are starting to sell and now the room, the place is small."
David said the manager has told them that if they come and it is full, sellers can go to Fres Wota Park and to Anamburu Park.
For two older mamas, Susan Esau (63) and Elsie Solo (72), selling their produce daily earns them up to 20,000 vatu (US$165.48) a week.
For two older mamas, Susan Esau (63) and Elsie Solo (72), selling their produce daily earns them up to 20,000 vatu (US$165.48) a week.
Photo:
Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai/RNZ
Solo, who sells coconuts, said she has seven people in her family to feed while Easu, who sells fruit, said she has six mouths to feed.
"Yes, it is enough" they say to help provide and put food on the table for their family.
The Show Ground Market is now one of the few satellite markets with access to toilets and running water, an essential service for vendors who spend long days at their stalls.
Leidab David said they need a better venue.
"We need a big building; we need a safe place for all of us to come to and be safe," she said.
"We want a good one like at the national market. Right now we are just doing things individually. We need a big space for us vendors to come to and be safe."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
5 hours ago
- Scoop
Cutting-Edge Healthcare Technology To Showcase In Heart Of South Auckland
Press Release – University of Auckland NZ's medical technology innovation hub, Medtech-iQ Aotearoa holding showcase in heart of South Auckland. New Zealand's medical technology innovation hub, Medtech-iQ Aotearoa will hold an inaugural showcase in the heart of South Auckland this month. MedTech Explorer will be an interactive showcase of MedTech innovations – from life-saving medical devices and AI-powered diagnostics, to wearable health tech and digital solutions shaping the future of healthcare. The event will bring researchers, innovators and experts together with cutting-edge healthcare technology alongside South Auckland communities. Open to the public with free admission, the event will be held at the Fale in Māngere on 28 August. University of Auckland's Strategic Partnership Lead of Auckland Bioengineering Institute Dr Diana Siew, co-leads the national Te Titoki Mataora | Medtech Research Translator programme, the foundation of Medtech-iQ Aotearoa. She also chairs the national stewardship group of Medtech-iQ Aotearoa. Her vision is to develop capability in NZ to create new medical technologies with a focus on health and equity. She aims for the Fale showcase to inspire young Pacific people and entrepreneurs to participate in the sector, highlighting opportunities for high-value jobs, supporting Pacific community health and encouraging the start of their own tech businesses. 'It's important to meet the Pacific community in the heart of their neighbourhood. This is a such a wonderful opportunity to introduce Pacific youth to the wonders of the latest technology meeting the urgent demands of the health sector. 'This event offers the community a unique look up-close, to not only learn the latest techniques and equipment available, but also to showcase to our young people possible career pathways about making a real difference to the lives of whānau and friends in their communities.' Moana Connect, a Pacific-led organisation based in Mangere, South Auckland is one of several partners delivering the inaugural showcase. Dr Amio Matenga-Ikihele a general manager at Moana Connect, co-leads the Pacific module within Te Titoki Mataora | Medtech Research. She's also an Honorary Lecturer in Pacific Health with the University's Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences. 'We're excited to welcome our Pacific communities to this inaugural MedTech showcase. This event is about connection – bringing together Pacific communities, health providers, clinicians and innovators to experience first-hand the innovations shaping medical technology. 'We're also delighted students from local high schools will be attending, as it's a chance to inspire them with potential career pathways in medical technology and to highlight the many possibilities this field offers.' Soteria Ieremia is also a co-lead Pacific for Te Titoki Mataora | Medtech Research, and a sponsor and collaborator with her roles in Pacific-i and Pūtahi Manawa. She says the event was a powerful initiative for the community and the showcase will leave a lasting impression on Pacific youth. 'This is a great opportunity to meet the Pacific community where they are and introduce our Pacific youth to the many possibilities of where technology meets health. 'Our Pacific people are natural innovators, their ability to navigate the Moana with technology over the past millennia is evidence of this.'
Scoop
6 hours ago
- Scoop
Cutting-Edge Healthcare Technology To Showcase In Heart Of South Auckland
Press Release – University of Auckland New Zealand's medical technology innovation hub, Medtech-iQ Aotearoa will hold an inaugural showcase in the heart of South Auckland this month. NZ's medical technology innovation hub, Medtech-iQ Aotearoa holding showcase in heart of South Auckland. New Zealand's medical technology innovation hub, Medtech-iQ Aotearoa will hold an inaugural showcase in the heart of South Auckland this month. MedTech Explorer will be an interactive showcase of MedTech innovations – from life-saving medical devices and AI-powered diagnostics, to wearable health tech and digital solutions shaping the future of healthcare. The event will bring researchers, innovators and experts together with cutting-edge healthcare technology alongside South Auckland communities. Open to the public with free admission, the event will be held at the Fale in Māngere on 28 August. University of Auckland's Strategic Partnership Lead of Auckland Bioengineering Institute Dr Diana Siew, co-leads the national Te Titoki Mataora | Medtech Research Translator programme, the foundation of Medtech-iQ Aotearoa. She also chairs the national stewardship group of Medtech-iQ Aotearoa. Her vision is to develop capability in NZ to create new medical technologies with a focus on health and equity. She aims for the Fale showcase to inspire young Pacific people and entrepreneurs to participate in the sector, highlighting opportunities for high-value jobs, supporting Pacific community health and encouraging the start of their own tech businesses. 'It's important to meet the Pacific community in the heart of their neighbourhood. This is a such a wonderful opportunity to introduce Pacific youth to the wonders of the latest technology meeting the urgent demands of the health sector. 'This event offers the community a unique look up-close, to not only learn the latest techniques and equipment available, but also to showcase to our young people possible career pathways about making a real difference to the lives of whānau and friends in their communities.' Moana Connect, a Pacific-led organisation based in Mangere, South Auckland is one of several partners delivering the inaugural showcase. Dr Amio Matenga-Ikihele a general manager at Moana Connect, co-leads the Pacific module within Te Titoki Mataora | Medtech Research. She's also an Honorary Lecturer in Pacific Health with the University's Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences. 'We're excited to welcome our Pacific communities to this inaugural MedTech showcase. This event is about connection – bringing together Pacific communities, health providers, clinicians and innovators to experience first-hand the innovations shaping medical technology. 'We're also delighted students from local high schools will be attending, as it's a chance to inspire them with potential career pathways in medical technology and to highlight the many possibilities this field offers.' Soteria Ieremia is also a co-lead Pacific for Te Titoki Mataora | Medtech Research, and a sponsor and collaborator with her roles in Pacific-i and Pūtahi Manawa. She says the event was a powerful initiative for the community and the showcase will leave a lasting impression on Pacific youth. 'This is a great opportunity to meet the Pacific community where they are and introduce our Pacific youth to the many possibilities of where technology meets health. 'Our Pacific people are natural innovators, their ability to navigate the Moana with technology over the past millennia is evidence of this.'
RNZ News
12 hours ago
- RNZ News
School calendar set to change in Samoa as schools closed for another week
Photo: 123RF Samoa's Ministry of Education and Culture chief executive A'eau Christopher Hazelman says the school term calendar is set to change due to prolonged dengue-related closures. Primary school students in Samoa will have a fourth week of school closure next week, while years 8 to 12 are going into a third week. A'eau said the week of 11 August would have been week three of term three. "Beginning from our ECE (early childhood education) centres through the years one to year seven, they have not had any classes over the last three weeks," he said. "On the first week of term three we had the years eight right up to year 12. "I want to make sure that people understand that the moment cabinet activated the NEOC - the National Emergency Operations Committee - this is when we now follow the law, the actual Act and the frameworks of NEOC within government - hence the ministry will not make a decision by itself." A'eau said T-Vet providers and those in universities have also been affected. He also thanked school teachers and principals for making classes available online, but said they need to look at changes. Further adding to the time, the government has announced public holiday on 28 and 29 August for the general election . "We now have to look at making amendments and changes to our school calendar," A'eau said. "I want to make this very clear to all schools and to all parents - we are going to change the school calendar, even to the point that there may be no school holidays between term three and term four to make up the time." A'eau said they will also look at changing the dates of the national assessments. There have been six dengue-related deaths and nearly 8000 clinically-diagnosed cases recorded in Samoa since January.
