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Pacific and New Zealand surveying and geospatial professionals join forces for capacity development

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Pacific and New Zealand Professionals join forces

10 Apr 2018 | Nuku’Alofa

The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Pacific Geospatial and Surveying Council (PGSC) and New Zealand Institute of Surveyors (NZIS) today signals new opportunities to enhance geospatial capacity and professional support in the Pacific Islands. The signing took place during the fourth PGSC meeting currently underway in Tonga and attended by Pacific Island lands survey and geospatial experts. This meeting is held in coordination with the United Nations Initiative on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) International Workshop on Legal & Policy Framework for Geospatial Information.“We are grateful that NZIS has come on board as we need to work with regional partners to advance geospatial and surveying services in the region,” said the chair of the PGSC and Director of Tuvalu Lands and Survey Department, Mr Faatasi Malologa.

 

“The PGSC has developed significantly over the last few years and this is another great step forward.”

President for New Zealand Institute of Surveyors, Ms Rebecca Strang noted, “NZIS will assist in advocating for the development of capability in the Pacific and explain to our own ministers and aid organisations why NZ should share our skills, resources and learnings with you and in turn, learn from you.”  Strang commended the work of the PGSC in developing a comprehensive 10-year Strategy to guide and enhance surveying and geospatial services in the region. She noted that the strategy presented a number of opportunities for NZIS to contribute, and was particularly interested in the establishment of a Young Surveyors Network, noting that a similar initiative has been successful in New Zealand.

The Pacific Community has established the Pacific Geospatial and Surveying Partnership Desk to provide secretariat services and support the PGSC in achieving their goals and objectives. “Members of the PGSC will no doubt benefit from today’s MOU signing as services provided by Pacific geospatial scientists and surveyors support a multitude of industries and sectors and contribute significantly to the security and well-being of Pacific people,” said Deputy Director for Geo-resources and Energy Mr Akuila Tawake.

The PGSC Strategy 2017-2027 will be launched tomorrow evening by The Honourable Prime Minister of Tonga Samiuela ‘Akilisi Pōhiva. The Pacific Geospatial and Surveying Council Strategy is the product of several years of collaborative consultation and design on the part of PGSC members and development partners, including SPC, Geoscience Australia, Land Information New Zealand, the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG), and the United Nations Initiative on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM). Made possible by Australian Government funding, it is the first such regional strategy ever produced by a surveying and geospatial body.

 

Media contacts:

Evlyn Mani, Capacity Development & Communications Officer, E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or T: +679 3249 222

Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 April 2018 09:57  

Newsflash

Monday 13 October 2014, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Suva, Fiji -  The Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) formed an Interim National Seabed Minerals Management Board (INSMB) on 2 October 2014. The board members, consisting of a small team of government officers and non-governmental representatives, are tasked by Cabinet to develop national policy and law for the appropriate governance of the nation’s deep sea resources. The Board will receive financial support and technical assistance from the Deep Sea Minerals (DSM) Project: a partnership between the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the European Union (EU).

Old tales of treasure at the bottom of the ocean did not sound so fanciful in Majuro two weeks ago, when INSMB held its inaugural meeting to discuss the precious metals known to exist in the nation’s deep seabed.

INSMB Chairperson Rebecca Lorennij (Secretary for the Ministry of Resources and Development) thanked those at the meeting: ‘The RMI government and its people would like to thank SPC and the EU through the SPC–EU DSM Project for the ongoing support provided during the past few years.

The INSMB will now progress further with the national policy on deep seabed mining and the Seabed Management Bill before approval by the RMI government, a prerequisite to establish responsible governance and management of these resources.’