TKI
Hot Topic for 2 October 2001
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Other Hot Topics
due to feature in the coming weeks include Children's Day, Labour Day,
Guy Fawkes, surf safety, the Sun, and cards and packaging.
The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean in the world at over 155 million
square kilometres – covering one third of the world's surface. The
ocean is home to thousands of islands and many different nations, physical
geographies, languages, and cultures – including Melanesian, Micronesian,
and Polynesian.
From the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands in the north-west Pacific
Ocean to Pitcairn in the south-east, there's a lot more to Pacific nations
than sun, surf, and sandy beaches.
Although less than 0.1 percent of the world's population lives in the
Pacific area, over one third of the world's languages are Pacific languages.
For example, around 700 languages are spoken in Papua New Guinea.
This Hot Topic collects websites on some of our many Pacific neighbours.
Resources on TKI
Atlas
of the South Pacific
This atlas collects maps and information on many Pacific nations (www.usp.ac.fj/~gisunit/pacatlas/Frame2/Atlas2.htm).
Pacific
Islands Report
This site provides updated Pacific news and stories, as well as links
to Pacific newspapers, magazines, radio/TV stations, and government sites.
There is also access to maps of Oceania, satellite weather resources,
and population data (http://pidp.ewc.hawaii.edu/pireport/graphics.htm).
The Pacific Islands
Trade and Investment Commission
The commission's mission is to enhance the economic and social well-being
of the people of the South Pacific. This website has information on Pacific
products, international trade, and marketing (www.sptc.gov.au).
Glen Jowitt Photography
Superb photographs of the Pacific from one of New Zealand's top photographers
(www.jowittphotography.co.nz).
Federated States of Micronesia Government
This is the home page for the government of the four Federated States
of Micronesia: Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap. It has maps, information
on the history, economy, health, language, infrastructure, and culture
of these islands in the North Pacific (http://fsmgov.org).
The Cook Islands
This website contains information about the Cook Islands, including
history, the arts, maps, geography, the weather, government services and
tourist information. It has local updates and a moderated message board
for people sharing or seeking information (www.ck).
Noa'ia
'e Mauri
This is the website for the people of Rotuma, an island 465 km north
of Fiji. It has information about Rotuman society and culture, archives,
and a Rotuman/English dictionary. It also aims to keep the Rotuman communities
across the world in touch via a news page and a bulletin board (www2.hawaii.edu/oceanic/rotuma/os/hanua.html).
Government of Guam
The official homepage of the government of Guam (www.gov.gu/index.html)
has information on fishing, its history, flag and emblem, coral reefs,
and culture. The legislature also has its own homepage (www.guam.net/gov/senate).
Kiribati
Information on Kiribati can be found at (www2.hawaii.edu/~ogden/piir/pacific/kiribati.html)
as part of the World Encyclopaedia on political systems.
Samoa
The CIA's World Factbook has a map, information on the government
and population of Samoa (www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ws.html).
West Papua Information
Kit
The Australian West Papua Association in Sydney produced this information
kit which has a gallery of images, and an outline of the current situation
and social change in West Papua (Irian Jaya) (www.cs.utexas.edu/users/cline/papua).
Papua New Guinea
The Parliament of New Guinea (http://www.parliament.gov.pg)
and the Investment Promotion Authority of Papua New Guinea (www.ipa.gov.pg/png.htm)
provide country profiles and information on the government.
Fiji
Fiji Government Online (www.fiji.gov.fj)
contains press releases, news briefs, historical information, and maps.
Tonga
The CIA's World Factbook has information on geography, population, and
government (www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/tn.html).
Marshall
Islands
The CIA World Factbook has information and history on the Marshall
Islands (www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/rm.html)
including environmental issues, people, and its government.
Bikini Atoll
This website (www.bikiniatoll.com)
has everything from fishing information to detailed information on the
cleanup of the residue of nuclear testing, to news and information on
its anthem and government.
Niue
The Government of Niue site (www.gov.nu),
and the official website of the people of Niue (www.niueisland.nu)
has history, and lots of images of Niue.
When
Cultures Meet
In this level 5 unit, intended for years 9 to 10, students look at
the impact of cultural interaction on Pacific cultures, both in the Pacific
and New Zealand. Includes a study of tatau – Samoan tattooing, as
well as a look at mythology, gods, and ancestry (www.tki.org.nz/r/socialscience/curriculum/SSOL/cultures/index_e.php).
Our
Small World (year 9 to 10)
This unit plan has been produced to support the video Our Small World
which has been sent out to all schools for years 9 to 10 students. It
focuses on the movement of people from Tokelau and Faka'ofo to New Zealand,
and factors that influence people's access to resources, goods, and services.
It includes a list of references to information about Tokelau (http://tki.org.nz/r/socialscience/curriculum/tokelau//unit2_e.php).
Our
Small World (year 11)
This teaching unit has been produced to support the video Our Small
World which has been sent out to all schools for year 11 students. It
focuses on how and why Tokelauan culture is adapting and changing, and
the effects of change on people's rights, roles and responsibilities.
It includes a list of references to information about Tokelau (http://tki.org.nz/r/socialscience/curriculum/tokelau//unit1_e.php).
They
Came to This Land of Plenty
This is a level 4 unit intended for years 7 to 8. Students study some
of the immigrant groups that left their homeland for the unknown –
New Zealand. It looks at how and why these groups pass on their culture
and heritage in New Zealand. (www.tki.org.nz/r/socialscience/curriculum/SSOL/plenty/index_e.php).
Curriculum
links on TKI
Social Studies in the New Zealand Curriculum (www.tki.org.nz/r/socialscience/curriculum/index_e.php)
is available on TKI.
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