Meanwhile, the Australian Government is urgently tightening its rules on kava use.

Last year, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) agreed to amend the status of kava in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.

The amendment banned takeaway kava and tightened existing regulations on how it is prepared.

It came into effect immediately in Australia.

New Zealand held off, however as the Code didn't consider kava's cultural importance to the Pasifika community.

Australia then conducted a 12-month review of the Code. They were looking to see if further changes were needed, or if amendments should be reaffirmed or revoked.

In March, the Australian Government decided to keep the changes.

Kava's cultural importance

The New Zealand Government has confirmed it will not keep the proposed changes, with respect to kava's cultural use.

University of Waikato kava expert Dr Apo Aporosa is pleased.

As a Pacific person living in Aotearoa, the Government recognising kava's cultural significance is important, he said.

"Their consideration included recognition of kava's cultural importance to Pacific peoples as part of cultural practice and relational connection, together with kava use safety, continuing to classify kava as a ‘food' under the Food Safety Standards," he said.

Aporosa said it also meant the Government stood by its commitment as a signatory to the United Nations' Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It showed this by recognising the culture and practices of Pacific peoples in Aotearoa.

Alcohol alternative

The Government's decision also considered the increased use of kava by Maori, as part of their pre-migration culture, Aporoso said.

"This also supports and encourages Maori's use of kava as an alternative to alcohol. We know that kava does not cause 99 percent of the health and socio-cultural impacts caused by alcohol.

"This is also why it's important that Pacific people be given unfettered access to kava - we seek to limit alcohol harm in our community."

Aporosa has advised the Australian Government on kava safety since 2008.

It is sad that Pacific families across the Tasman were not considered when changes were made, he said.

"This has imposed additional barriers to kava access in Australia.

"Additionally, those barriers in Australia continue to prevent me from posting kava to my family or friends over there. However, I can post a box of Jack Daniel's.

"Go figure, particularly when you consider the disproportionate level of harm caused by alcohol when compared with kava."

Deputy director general of the Ministry for Primary Industries Vincent Arbuckle said last year's amendments were made under an urgent proposal.

"This is not the usual process for changes to Standards," he said. Under the FSANZ Act, urgent proposals were reserved for matters that were an urgent public health risk.

"The proposal meant that New Zealand's Pasifika community did not have sufficient opportunity to engage in a matter of significant cultural importance."

Food Safety Minister Meka Whaitiri said kava was a culturally significant beverage for the Pasifika community. Therefore the amendments would not be adopted in New Zealand on cultural grounds.

Source

• Stuff

Koreti Tiumalu told the 'In the Eye of the Storm' climate change conference that she had seen many strange things in her life as an environmental activist.

In her speech, she described spending time praying in the Vatican - before the Paris conference in November - on mats depicting stories from Pacific communities affected by climate change.

Tiumalu had wanted to "get right spiritually" before the conference. The Climate Warriors also hosted the "first ever kava ceremony in the Vatican" with supportive Pacific island priests.

A mother and former public servant, Tiumalu abandoned a life of financial stability to pursue a career as an activist when the Climate Warriors offered her a part-time position.

Minimal hours and pay forced her to make sacrifices such as selling her house and car.

The group comprises activists from 15 countries who had taken action regionally and across the world to combat climate change.

In the coming weeks, Tiumalu said the group would determine "what the Pacific Climate Warriors are going to look like over the next three years".

She often worries about the future: "I'm nervous, it's scary. You've seen the pictures of what they do to activists. But it's not something we can afford not to do."

She hoped that more young activists and public figures, like the Australian former rugby league star and American football running back Jarryd Hayne, would take interest in the Climate Warriors.

"That's the other thing we need to do - empower our young people to be leaders."

Source

• scoop.co.nz
• Image: pmc.aut.ac.nz

Mafi was on his way to Tokelau to attend the church's 150th anniversary celebrations there.

The highest form of Samoan traditional welcome, the ava (kava) ceremony was presided over by the chiefs, orators, taupou (chiefly women) and untitled men of the village of Leauva'a, whose village chiefs accepted the Catholic faith at Lealatele, Savai'i in 1835.

Chiefs and taupou in traditional regalia were part of the guard of honour of mainly bare chested and tattooed men lining the outskirts of the malae (marae) and the immediate area where another taupou used her bare hands to mix the royal ava for the chief guest.

The ceremony was attended by the Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, the Masiofo, Her Highness Filifilia Tamasese, Minister of Public Enterprises, Lautafi Selafi Purcell, Minister of Police, Sala Fata Pinati and leaders of the Roman Catholic Church.

Source

• samoaobserver.
• talamua.com.
• Image: talamua.com.

The church leaders and church members' resolution on kava was that it was not to be consumed on Sunday until after the Sunday afternoon worship or sermon.

Methodist Church secretary for communication and overseas mission Reverend James Bhagwan said this followed various reports coming in from the church on the abuse of kava consumption. Continue reading

Church communications secretary Reverend James Bhagwan said they would continue to honour Waqairatu's views, however, the church standing committee is working on ways to balance the ban and culture and tradition.

"One way in which people can honour the late president's memories is to respect his views," Mr Bhagwan said.

"There have been a lot more hits or views on our You Tube page on him explaining his views on kava. And since his passing there has been an increase in people who are trying to understand him better.

The ban had upset the local Pacific Island community, which had been warned that anyone caught with kava would face jail.

Pacific Islanders in Canberra have been working with Australia's Greens Party and the Government in the Australian Capital Territory to allow consumption of the alcoholic drink.

The ban was imposed in 2009, after several deaths in Europe were linked to Kava tablets.

Tui Labasa, Adi Salanieta Tuilomaloma, in an interview with The Fiji Times yesterday said it was time her people increased cultivation of land.

"We need to make use of available resources and cultivate the land as much as we can as these measures will benefit us only," she said.

Source

• Fiji Times
• Image: Travel Pod