Samoa promised swine flu support

John Key announced part of an increase in Samoa's aid funding would be used for combating swine flu. Photo / Dean Purcell

Prime Minister John Key has promised to help Pacific countries cope with swine flu after arriving in Samoa to be met with strict screening procedures and news that the flu was spreading to other islands.

Mr Key is on a four-day trip around the Pacific, visiting Tonga, Samoa, Niue and the Cook Islands.

Samoa was the only country with a confirmed case of swine flu when the trip left on Tuesday - however, yesterday reports came through that the Cook Islands also had a case.

Mr Key said there were a few cases among children in Samoa, believed to have come in from Australia.

Tokelau has announced it will impose a seven-day stand down period for anyone visiting the the island from Samoa. A boat trip from Samoa is the only means of entering Tokelau.

The Ministry of Health was already dealing with Samoan officials to help it contain the spread.

Mr Key announced part of an increase in Samoa's aid funding would be used for combating swine flu and said New Zealand was also willing to open some of its Tamiflu stocks to Pacific countries, if needed. He said Tamiflu would be offered on a similar basis as in New Zealand, and only if required.

"But if there was a real need for help, of course New Zealand would offer that help."

The Air Force Boeing Mr Key's delegation is travelling on was met at Samoa by officials wearing masks, who boarded the plane to screen passengers for symptoms.

Alongside the airport building, nurses also waited with thermometers. Although none of the delegation were stopped, the scenes were a strong reminder of the 1918 influenza epidemic, which is estimated to have wiped out a third of the population.

Samoa's annual aid from New Zealand will increase from $10.7 million a year to $14 million this year and up to $17 million by 2011. It follows a similar boost in aid for Tonga as part of the Government's plan to focus more aid in the Pacific.

While Samoa has one of the most robust economies in the Pacific, many families remain dependent on remittances sent by family working overseas. Mr Key said Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi had told him remittances out of New Zealand had now started to fall as unemployment among Samoans increased. There was also a reduction in retail sales.

"But the good news part of the story is the increase in tourism that has been coming to Samoa that would probably otherwise have gone to Fiji is helping bolster the economy here. We are hoping our aid increase will also help fill the gap."

He said the seasonal employers' scheme in New Zealand would also help, and the filming of Survivor under way in Samoa would also boost the economy.

"There's a lot of things happening in Samoa and the feeling is very strong,"

He said about $1 million of the new aid would go to help poor families pay school fees.

He hinted the remaining two countries on the trip would benefit from similar largesse.

"I think you can predict a pattern of behaviour from New Zealand. It reflects the fact we have made it quite clear we intend to increase our aid budget and direct more of that aid into the Pacific."