Tok Talanoa: Pathways to the
Future for Melanesia and New Zealand

• Monday 29th September 2008

• Welcome Address: Mr Neil Plimmer, PCF Chair
• Paper will be posted shortly
  
  
• Opening Keynote Address: Rt Hon Sir Rabbie Namaliu, former Papua New Guinea Prime Minister
• 'The Melanesian Countries and New Zealand - Talking, Walking, and Working Together'
  

•  Tuesday 30th September 2008

• Welcome: Mr Vince McBride, PCF CEO
• 'Welcome Remarks'
  
  
• Opening Remarks: Ms Isabel Evans, PCF Board Member
• Paper will be posted shortly
  
  
• Guest Speaker: Hon Luamanuvao Winnie Laban, Minister of Pacific Island Affairs, New Zealand Government
• 'Pacific Cooperation Foundation's Melanesia Symposium'
  

• Plenary 1: Political & Regional Relationships
  
  
• Discussant/Chair: Mr Tia Barrett, Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade, New Zealand Government
  
  
• Keynote Address: Sir Albert Rocky Palmer, Chief Justice, Solomon Islands
• 'Building on our strengths - the way forward'
  
  
• Speaker 1: Sir Paul Reeves, Commonwealth Envoy to Fiji
• 'My work in Fiji'
  
  
• Speaker 2: John Hayes MP, NZ National Party Associate Foreign Affairs Spokesperson
• 'Melanesia: Political and Regional Relationships'
  

• Plenary 2: Economic Development
  
  
• Discussant/Chair: Professor Jane Kelsey, University of Auckland
  
  
• Keynote Address: Mr Kaliopate Tavola, former Fiji Foreign Minister
• 'Melanesia - New Zealand relations as a pathway to greater Pacific regionalism'
  
  
• Speaker 1: Mr Sidney Suma, Biosecurity & Trade Facilitation Advisor, Secretariat of the Pacific Community
• 'SPC trade facilitation and SPC/NZMAF collaborative activities in Melanesian Countries'
  
  
• Speaker 2: Mr John Salong, Director, Lolohor Provincial Council, Vanuatu
• 'Restoring the Pillars of Melanesian Economies; A Case Study of VANWODS Microfinance'

• Plenary 3: Security & Governance

• Discussant/Chair: Mr Paul Roughan, Research Associate, Macmillian Brown Centre, University of Canterbury
  
  
• Keynote Address: Dr Alumita Durutalo, Political Scientist, University of the South Pacific, Fiji
• 'Security and Governance in Melanesia: As Critical Survival Issues'
  
  
• Speaker 1: Mr Barry Coates, Executive Director, Oxfam NZ
• 'Human Security: What does it mean for Melanesia?'
  
  
• Speaker 2: Dr Graham Sem, Consultant UN Convention on Climate Change
• 'Impacts of, Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change in Melanesia Countries'

• Plenary 4: Understanding Cultural Frameworks, Artistic & Spiritual Linkages

• Discussant/Chair: Kabini Sanga, Associate Professor School of Education, Victoria University
  
  
• Keynote Speaker: Mr Bernard Narokobi, former Papua New Guinea High Commissioner to NZ
• 'Understanding Melanesian Cultural Frameworks'
  
  
• Speaker 1: Mr Christophe Sand, Archaeologist, Kanaky/New Caledonia
• 'The Melanesia Past: Outcomes for the Present of the South-Western Pacific Region'
  
  
• Speaker 2: Dr Ropate Qalo, Social Scientist, University of the South Pacific, Fiji
• 'Cultural Framework in Language and Social Capital'
  

• Symposium Conclusions & Recommendations
  
  
• Rappoteur: Dr Yvonne Underhill-Sem, Director School of Development Studies, University of Auckland & PCF Board Member
• Paper will be posted shortly
  

• Closing Remarks: Mr Vince McBride, PCF CEO
• 'Closing Remarks'