Latest news with #Micronesia
ABC News
3 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Maps made of Memory
For Kathy Martin, maps aren't something you find on your phone. They're inherited; passed down in the way your aunty cuts fish or says your name like it's always belonged to the land. From Piis-Paneu in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia, Kathy grew up knowing that place wasn't just something to chart — it was something to feel. Her earliest memories are of travelling between islands like the ocean was a highway guided by language, memory, and the people who raised her. Culture wasn't taught. It was lived. Kathy came from a community where every adult looked out for every child, where stories were shared like food, and where language didn't just communicate — it anchored identity. She carried that with her. From teaching at her former high school to working across the Pacific helping schools support Micronesian students and families, to stepping onstage as a storyteller. In this episode, Kathy shares how Micronesian children are raised in community and why that matters. Why culturally safe education begins with language and belonging. And what it meant to step onstage and speak a truth too often overlooked: that culture is not small, and neither is Micronesia. This is a story of voice, vision, and the kind of maps we carry long before we ever draw our own.
RNZ News
28-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Palau ready to host Pacific Mini Games
Team Palau's Jezzlee Baiei competes at the Honiara Games in Solomon Islands. Weightlifting will be one of 12 sports at the Palau Mini Games next month. Photo: ONOC / Kirk Corrie Palau is ready to host the 2025 Pacific Mini Games. That's the assurance from Dr Patrick Tellei, chairman of the Games Organising Committee. He has promised athletes, officials and fans "an exciting [the] and best game", starting off when the moment they arrive in the capital Koror. "We are excited, and we're doing the best we can to make sure we host the Games to the best of our abilities, with what we have," Dr Tellei told RNZ Pacific. With a month to go before the Games' official opening on 29 June, Palau is now rolling out what they hope will ensure the Games - the second they are hosting - rolls right from start to finish. Twenty-four countries are going to be represented at the event, where athletes will compete in 12 sports, majority of them played in Micronesia, which means some of the more popular sports in the Melanesian and Polynesian regions have been excluded. But Dr Tellei said that should not be a problem. Backed by government and the stakeholder federations, the organising committee have worked around the clock to ensure that all facilities earmarked for use during the Games are ready in time. Dr Tellei said having those infrastructure in place and the economic benefits hosting the Games will give the country, are going to be massive for Palau. "I think it's very important for us and we're happy that 20 years later, we are now having an opportunity to host it again," he said. "Coming on the heels of Covid-19 and Palau being tourism dependent economy, I think anytime there is enough number of visitors, such as athletes coming to the Games and supporters, it will bring in more people. "The whole nation is excited. From the economic standpoint, although these athletes are staying in the villages, and they're on a very limited per diems, I'm sure there will be others who will go out of their way to check what's available in and around what Palau has to offer." He said the focus has also been on ensuring that the support services for athletes and officials are well in place. "We're hoping that people will enjoy their stay and they will be well accommodated, they will be fed well, they'll be well transported to and from venies," he said. "I think they expect to see a country that's ready. There's a sense of excitement all around the country." Palau last hosted Mini Games in 2005. They have hosted the Micronesian Games in the past but Dr Tellei believes the standard of competition that will be seen at the Mini Games will be tougher than what the Micronesian athletes have tasted in the past. "We know that the Pacific Games is way above the Micronesian Games," he said. "It's a different level of sport, and we're very excited because it bring a new level of competition. Our country and our people will be able to witness the level of competition. "We're excited to be the host, and hopefully we'll win a medal or two in this event also." To that point he said it would be tough on Team Palau as hosts to claim medals, with expected tugh competition coming from all pariticipating countries. "The last time we hosted the Games in Palau, we were very fortunate, because that's the first time we medalled," he said. "Looking at this year, I'm looking at some home advantage, but we know the big powerhouses in the previous Games will always be powerhouses. "We have Tahiti, New Caledonia, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Cook Island, the big countries. "But we will be competitive in baseball and I have high hopes in our beach volleyball, our tri-athletes, women softball, which are pretty much Micronesian sports. "I guess between Guam, CNMI, Palau, FSM and the RMI will be fighting hard for that." He was also excited about Palau's weightlifting and wrestling teams, who have won medals for the country in the past. Dr Tellei said all facilitieas for the Games are ready for use. That is something the committee has focused on, with strict deadlines to adhere to. The facilties also includes the Games Village, where athletes will be accommodated. "All our all our facilities are ready," he said. Building new facilities and renovating existing ones have been on the go since day one. Keeping the preparatory work within budget has also been a focus for the committee. The Palau National Government fiscal 2025 budget appropriated $1.2 million to the committee to cover the cost of hosting, with an additional $200,000 included in a supplemental budget. Dr Tellei said despite some costs going up they have magaed to work within their budget allocation. Community support has also been a major part of the preparation, with $100,000 as community donation to the cause. Keeping with international sports regulations, the Palau Games will be tobacco, alcohol and drug free. Dr Tellei is hoping all teams participating at the Games will taker note of that and be ready to abide by the rules of engagement. "Because Palau is a very health conscious community, smoking in public places are prohibited," he said. "Vaping is prohibited and we will declare the Games drug, alcohol and tobacco free competition. "That's not to say that people who really need to smoke or have alcohol use it can't but you need to be away from the public facilities, that includes the villages and the sports venues." Dr Tellei said they are excited to welcome the first arrivals in the third week of June, confident that when the competition proper does get off, the Pacific will be celebrating Palau and what it has to offer.
RNZ News
26-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Pasifika Sipoti in brief for 26 May
Team Palau marches for the opening of the 10th Micronesian Games in Majuro. Photo: Giff Johnson Palau Mini Games organising committee chairman Dr Patrick Telle says hosting the event after 20 years is something the people of Palau are looking forward to. Telle said having teams from 24 countries in Koror, Palau's capital city, will be a boost. "The whole nation is excited," he said. "I'm sure from the economic standpoint - although the athletes are staying in the villages and they're on very limited per diems and we're providing meals for them - I'm sure there will be others who go out of their way to check what's available in and around, and what Palau has to offer." The Mini Games will officially open in Koror on 29 June. Dr Telle said they understand the level of competition the Games present for local athletes and is hopeful the team can win some medals at the event. Twenty-four countries are scheduled to compete in 12 different sports. A 17-year-old Nevada State high school sprint champion could be racing for Samoa at the 2027 Pacific Games. Jayden 'JT' Thompson won the Nevada senior boy's 100 and 200-metre titles this month. His dad, Jeremaine Thompson, said his son qualifies to represent Samoa, the Phillipines or the United States of America, through his heritage. Jayden Thompson stopped the clock at 10.44 seconds in the 100 metres and 21.06s in the 200 metres final, at the Nevada State event. The Oceania Rugby Under-20s Challenge tournament will feature Canada against the Pacific three teams of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. The event will kick off in Nadi, Fiji on Wednesday, 28 May and run until 7 June. Pacific island teams Fiji and New Caledonia have been drawn in tough pools at the upcoming FIFA Under-17 World Cup. Fiji is in group D along with Argentina, Belgium and Tunisia, while New Caledonia has Japan, Morocco and Portugal in group B. Oceania champions New Zealand are in group L with Mali, Austria and Saudi Arabia. The Under-17 football World Cup will be held in Qatar in November. Team Papua New Guinea's volleyball campaign at the upcoming Mini Games in Palau has received a timely boost, with a local company sponsoring their team uniforms. NBC PNG reports Moni Plus, a company based in Port Moresby, has stepped in to help the volleyball team by funding the purchase of 56 pairs of uniforms from the Philippines. PNG Volleyball Federation president Edward Aisi said the sponsorship is crucial, with four teams preparing to compete in the men's and women's beach volleyball, plus the men's and women's indoor volleyball. A student with Tongan heritage has won the 2025 3C2A California State Championship women's shot put. Jane Seymour Taufa is a sophomore at the College of San Mateo. Tonga Independent News reported Taufa threw the shotput 13.98 metres, to claim the state title in her division. This adds to other titles she has won this year.
RNZ News
25-05-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Two or three typhoons possible in Guam and CNMI for the rest of 2025
NOAA's western North Pacific Tropical Cyclone (TC) Outlook for the remainder of 2025. Photo: NOAA The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is forecasting two or three typhoons for Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan for the rest of this year. Below-normal tropical cyclone (TC) activity is forecast for the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands; and near-normal activity for Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Yap State and Palau. The NOAA, in its report , stated the outlook is a general guide to the predicted, overall cyclone activity across the US-affiliated Pacific islands, and does not indicate how many of these systems will actually make landfall. However, it does provide a general idea of how many tropical storms and/or typhoons could affect a specific island or a group of islands across Micronesia, with peripheral effects such as strong damaging winds, torrential rainfall, and/or storm surge/inundation. "Although TC activity peaks around September-November for many regional locations, TCs can occur throughout the year across the western North Pacific," the report said. Photo: NOAA A typhoon is defined as a storm with maximum sustained winds of 74mph (119km/h). The areas with the likelihood of the most typhoons for the rest of 2025 - two or three - are Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan; and the Northern CNMI with one to three predicted. Pacific Daily News reported Marcus Aydlett, warning coordination meteorologist at NWS Guam, saying the late 2024 and early 2025 La Nina weather pattern has ended, shifting into El Niño-Southern Oscillation-neutral (ENSO-neutral) pattern. With the shift, storm formation is expected to move slightly to the east as compared with 2024. "Basin-wide TC activity typically shifts eastward in El Niño years, and westward during La Niña years," the NOAA report said.
RNZ News
25-05-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Two or three typhoons possible in Guam and north CNMI for the rest of 2025
NOAA's western North Pacific Tropical Cyclone (TC) Outlook for the remainder of 2025. Photo: NOAA The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is forecasting two or three typhoons for Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan for the rest of this year. Below-normal tropical cyclone (TC) activity is forecast for the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands; and near-normal activity for Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Yap State and Palau. The NOAA, in its report , stated the outlook is a general guide to the predicted, overall cyclone activity across the US-affiliated Pacific islands, and does not indicate how many of these systems will actually make landfall. However, it does provide a general idea of how many tropical storms and/or typhoons could affect a specific island or a group of islands across Micronesia, with peripheral effects such as strong damaging winds, torrential rainfall, and/or storm surge/inundation. "Although TC activity peaks around September-November for many regional locations, TCs can occur throughout the year across the western North Pacific," the report said. Photo: NOAA A typhoon is defined as a storm with maximum sustained winds of 74mph (119km/h). The areas with the likelihood of the most typhoons for the rest of 2025 - two or three - are Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan; and the Northern CNMI with one to three predicted. Pacific Daily News reported Marcus Aydlett, warning coordination meteorologist at NWS Guam, saying the late 2024 and early 2025 La Nina weather pattern has ended, shifting into El Niño-Southern Oscillation-neutral (ENSO-neutral) pattern. With the shift, storm formation is expected to move slightly to the east as compared with 2024. "Basin-wide TC activity typically shifts eastward in El Niño years, and westward during La Niña years," the NOAA report said.
