Pacific Insider
There's no time like 'island time'…

The new Samoa Conference Centre opens in a few weeks. It is located in the heart of downtown Apia, there are two levels and the conference centre can seat 450 guests. Everything is state-of-the-art (sound system, video facilities, LED screens, interpreter rooms etc). There are 13 flagpoles out front and cultural experiences can be integrated [...]

Meet Pascal Guillet.  Pascal owns and manages Vanuatu Ecotours and he’s a man who loves his work.  Because he goes on bushwalks to waterfalls and river kayak safaris and mountain biking, he gets to stay extremely fit, visit beautiful, scenic spots off the beaten track and meet people who enjoy doing the kinds of things he does.  [...]

Wow!  This one even has a jaded cynic like me thinking ‘romance’… The Pacific Resort on Aitutaki is my favourite Cook Islands resort – it’s elegant but casual and in a sensational location… this ‘picnic’ dinner is served on the beach… they can set a Bedouin style tent at the water’s edge, surrounded by petals and [...]

The Sustainability Report released by P&O Cruises today predicts that more than 250,000 travellers will cruise the Pacific in 2013.  That’s half a million feet and a lot more footprints.  Let’s hope they include a lot of thought and planning into how much tourism is ‘good’ tourism and that there is a healthy balance of [...]

Well, after 24 years the Kiwis have the William Webb Ellis Trophy and now it’s time to move on to more important footy. New Zealand rugby enthusiasts have pledged their support for Fiji by entering four teams into Fiji’s Coral Coast 7’s tournament taking place on the Coral Coast on November 18 and 19. There [...]

Fiji didn’t make the finals of the Rugby World Cup but the Fiji Police Band had a number of wins. The 40 piece band played daily concerts in Auckland, entertaining thousands of people. Apart from making news in  NZ, papers in the United Kingdom ran stories and photos.

This man isn’t a dentist, but we still can’t show you his face.  When you read on you will understand his desire for anonymity – even though his initials are Marc Neil-Jones. Marc is the editor of the Vanuatu Daily Post and he has been known to frock up and perform occasionally. Not known for [...]

Word is going around in Port Vila that investors are being sought to build a private hospital.  40 shares in the hospital would be offered at 5million vatu each (AUD$55,000).  Coincidentally, this is the amount someone needs to invest in the country to gain residency – and one of the concerns of retirees wanting to [...]

Consumer watchdog, Choice, has given frequent flyer schemes the thumbs down saying that consumers are far better off looking around for the cheapest fare than being ‘loyal’ and trying to accumulate FF points. To put it in lay terms – with Virgin you need to clock up 13 return flights from Sydney to Los Angeles [...]

Iririki Island Resort has a reputation for fun in the festive season. There will be a Christmas feast in Michener’s Restaurant and to welcome in 2012 there’s a party with the theme, “Pirates of the South Pacific”. Iririki is now a family resort and there’s a separate party for kids so everyone can enjoy dinner, drinks, live [...]