October 2006 in Oceania

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October 1, 2006 (Sunday) The Wearable Art Parade is held in central Wellington. (Stuff) October 3, 2006 (Tuesday) Australian Prime Minister John Howard vows to investigate claims that West Papuan dissidents are trying to manipulate Australia's asylum system. [1] October 6, 2006 (Friday) The Australian Government will contest a Federal Court ruling that granted native title over the Perth metropolitan area to the Nyoongar. A motion of no confidence in the Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, is deferred for a week. (Radio NZ) Fijian military spokesman Major Neumi Leweni calls on the Fijian Government of Laisenia Qarase to resign. (Radio NZ) October 7, 2006 (Saturday) Palau officially moves in to its new capital Melekeok. (vpchin.com,Sep 22 entry) Mount Tavurvur near Rabaul in New Britain erupts. Two hundred people are evacuated but favourable winds help protect the town from the impact. (ABC News Australia) October 8, 2006 (Sunday) New Zealand Fisheries officers' request to be allowed to carry batons and pepper spray is denied by Minister Jim Anderton. (NZ Herald) October 11, 2006 (Wednesday) $11.5 Billion dollar government surplus is announced by New Zealand Finance Minister Dr Michael Cullen (NZ Herald) Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare survives a motion of no confidence. (ABC) October 12, 2006 (Thursday) The New Zealand Auditor-General's report into 2005 election funding is released. $1.17 million dollars was unlawfully spent during the election by seven parties, more than half of it by Labour. Labour immediately promised to repay the money. (NZ Herald) Controversial new media laws are passed by the Australian Senate. (Sydney Morning Herald) Both major parties in the Cook Islands election have filed petitions challenging the result. (Radio NZ) October 13, 2006 (Friday) The main access roads into Papeete are blocked by unions protesting against the high cost of living. (Radio NZ) October 15, 2006 (Sunday) A 6.6-magnitude earthquake and a series of aftershocks hit Hawaii at 7:07am local time, with an epicentre 9 miles (14 km) NNW of Kalaoa. 95% of power was lost throughout the state. Widespread structural damage on the Big Island has been reported, but no major injuries and no fatalities as of yet. (CNN) (USGS) October 17, 2006 (Tuesday) The Military of Fiji issue an ultimatum to the government to drop legislation which would give an amnesty to the leaders of the 2000 coup, or resign. (SMH) The New Zealand House of Representatives discusses retrospective legislation to legalise aspects of Vote Parliamentary Services as part of the 2005 New Zealand election funding controversy (NZ Herald) October 20, 2006 (Friday) A Bill to return the minimum age to purchase alcohol to 20 years will be decided by a conscience vote in the New Zealand Parliament. (NZ Herald) Solomon Islands police and members of the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) raid the office of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in Honiara. (ABC News Australia) October 23, 2006 (Monday) National leaders gather in Fiji for the Pacific Islands Forum annual meeting. (ABC) Excerpts from an amateur DVD broadcast in the Australian media lead to controversy and a police investigation. (The Age) October 24, 2006 (Tuesday) Striking unionists and members of the former GIP intervention force in French Polynesia occupy the presidential palace overnight, before being evicted by riot police. (Radio NZ) The Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, has formally proposed a reduced role for Australia in the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) in his country at a Pacific leaders forum in Fiji. (ABC News Australia) Carl Scully resigns as Police Minister of New South Wales for misleading the New South Wales Legislative Assembly twice in two weeks over a report on the 2005 Cronulla riots. (Daily Telegraph) October 25, 2006 (Wednesday) Brigadier Mick Slater, the commander of Australian troops in East Timor warns that a humanitarian disaster could happen in that nation, unless housing for refugees fleeing the unrest in Dili can be arranged before the approaching wet season. (ABC News Australia) The WWF releases a list of the nations making the most excessive demands on natural resources. Australia and New Zealand are in the top ten. (NZ Herald) October 26, 2006 (Thursday) In Australia, Sheikh Taj El-Din Hilaly apologizes after a public uproar over his statement comparing women who did not wear the hijab to "uncovered meat". (BBC News) October 30, 2006 (Monday) The final appeal for six men convicted in the Pitcairn sexual assault trial is rejected by the Privy Council. The men will now serve their sentences, which range from community service to six years in jail. (NZ Herald) October 31, 2006 (Tuesday) Fiji's military stage exercises around the capital Suva and close off the city's army barracks as tensions rose due to fears of a coup d'etat. Fiji's military chief, Frank Bainimarama, has threatened to force the Prime Minister of Fiji Laisenia Qarase to resign unless the Prime Minister drops two Bills, one which will offer amnesty to some of those involved in a 2000 coup led by George Speight. (ABC Australia) Tonga declares that November 4 will be commemorated as its National Day. The Tongan Constitution was proclaimed on November 4, 1875. (Matangitonga)

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