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Siumu

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Si’umu is a village on the central south coast of Upolu island in Samoa. The population is 1183.[1] There is also a sub-village Siumu Uta which has a population of 304.[1]

Siumu Electoral Constituency

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Samoan fire dancer siva afi

Siumu Electoral Constituency (Faipule District) comprise the villages of Siumu, Siumu Uta, Maninoa and Saaga.[2] The constituency has a total population of 2,349 and is part of the larger political district Tuamasaga.[1]

History

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Known for its fire dancers,[3] a 5-year-old girl from the village demonstrating a siva afi (or fire stick dance) was one of the principal performers at the opening ceremony to the 2007 Pacific Games at Apia Park.[4]

On 5 October 2024 the Royal New Zealand Navy ship HMNZS Manawanui ran aground and sunk off the coast of Siumu while surveying a nearby reef during a storm.[5][6] The sinking of the Manawanui has polluted the surrounding sea and disrupted the livelihoods of local Samoan villagers, who were unable to fish.[7][8] The Samoan and New Zealand authorities were criticised by local villagers for a lack of compensation and engagement with local communities.[9] This led local villagers to seek financial assistance from the Chinese Embassy in Apia.[10]

On 12 February 2025 the Samoan Government lifted a "precautionary zone" around the wreckage of HMNZS Manawanui following testing by the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa (SROS). However, a two km prohibition zone around the sunken ship remained in force.[11]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 "Census 2016 Preliminary count" (PDF). Samoa Bureau of Statistics. p. 7. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  2. ↑ "Samoa Territorial Constituencies Act 1963". Pacific Islands Legal Information Institute. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
  3. ↑ Leone, Diana (2002-05-19). "Teen is first girl to win fire knife contest". Honolulu Star. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
  4. ↑ Tepuke, Ali (2007-08-27). "South Pacific Games Open in Apia, Samoa". Solomon Times online. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
  5. ↑ Yee, Isaac (7 October 2024). "New Zealand loses first naval ship since WWII; vessel threatening oil spill off Samoan coast". CNN. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  6. ↑ Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (6 October 2024). "NZ navy ship sinks, oil smell fills village air". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  7. ↑ Duff, Michelle; Tupufia, Lanuola (18 October 2024). "A sunken timebomb? Samoa fears long-lasting damage from wrecked New Zealand navy ship". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  8. ↑ Tinetali-Fiavaai, Grace (29 November 2024). "Manawanui probe 'being done by the wrong people,' Samoan expert says". RNZ. Archived from the original on 29 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  9. ↑ Tinetali-Fiavaai, Grace (29 November 2024). "Manawanui probe 'being done by the wrong people,' Samoan expert says". RNZ. Archived from the original on 29 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  10. ↑ Tinetali-Fiavaai, Grace (6 February 2025). "Samoa communities affected by Manawanui sinking seek support from China". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  11. ↑ "Samoa govt removes precautionary zone around Manawanui disaster site". Radio New Zealand. 12 February 2025. Archived from the original on 12 February 2025. Retrieved 12 February 2025.

14°00′29″S 171°46′44″W / 14.008°S 171.779°W / -14.008; -171.779

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