Auckland

Pacific Christian School denies abuse allegations

The Pacific Christian School in Mangere had its registration suspended last week by the Education Ministry.

The school's principal, Lisita Paongo, says police warnings given to the school lacked evidence. Ms Paongo says families and staff are disappointed with the decision and want the school to stay open.

She says they're even more upset because they found out through the media before a formal announcement was made by the school's board.

The school came under scrutiny last year, when an 11 year old stabbed another child with a pair of scissors.

NZ MP hopeful Pacific Christian School can survive

The ministry has suspended the Pacific Christian School's registration from the start of next term, the first time it has ever done so to a private school.

The school came under scrutiny last year, when an 11 year old stabbed another child with a pair of scissors.

Su'a has been dealing with the school, and says the move has come as a shock.

He says the sad outcome is the loss of the school's special character, as it is the only one which provides Tongan bilingual teaching.

NZ construction firms urged to up jobs for Pasifika

Employers gathered in Auckland today to hear about a trades training programme aimed at plugging a predicted labour shortage in the construction and infrastructure sectors.

It is estimated 32,000 jobs will be generated in the next three to five years in New Zealand.

Auckland's Mayor Len Brown says the initiative will help address the high number of unemployed Maori and Pasifika people and boost the city's economy.

Pacific emergency response needs a tailored approach

The regional summit was called to consider emergency response solutions at a time when more frequent natural disasters are expected as a result of climate change.

In their report, delegates recommend building capacity so local officials can take the lead when disaster strikes.

Vincent Omuga, Acting Head of the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Pacific, says the different capacities of countries to deal with disasters make a tailored approach necessary.