Category Archives: Oceania

Its going to be a bit easier to hop a ride in one of Navyas driverless, automatic, all-electric Arma shuttle boxes. The company just announced that it will expand its Oceania and Southeast Asia footprint from its test program in Perth, Australia to, new environments throughout Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia.

Since it deploy the first Arma shuttle in late 2015, Navya says its autonomous boxes, have transported more than 130,000 people and have grown to a fleet of 35 in use in 10 countries around the world.

The most interesting part about this new expansion is that Navya is working with the Australias RAC (Royal Automobile Club) to do it. Thats because the first RAC was started in 1897 in the UK with according to its website, the primary purpose of promoting the motor car and its place in society. The Australian RAC was started in 1903 and has worked to improve the motoring experience in Australia, as well as trying to improve road safety and the lives of its members. Apparently, cruising around a campus it the next, excellent level for motoring enthusiasts.

NAVYA PARTNERS WITH RAC TO ACCELERATE THE DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVERLESS SHUTTLES IN AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND SOUTH EAST ASIA

(LYON, France) May 23, 2017 NAVYA, the leading name in the conception and development of 100 percent autonomous, driverless and electric shuttles is pleased to announce it has signed a partnership agreement with RAC in Australia to coordinate the on-site commissioning of its NAVYA ARMA, as well as provide a range of technical support services in Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia.

For NAVYA CEO Christophe Sapet, this partnership will help ensure more people can experience automated vehicles and will support the fast-paced growth and global reach of NAVYAs vehicle fleet.

NAVYA is successfully delivering an ambitious program to deploy our smart mobility systems all over the world and securing local technical support for our vehicle fleet with RAC reinforces NAVYAs strong commitment to provide its customers with the best possible services in a timely fashion, he said.

RAC, with the support of the State Government, launched the NAVYA ARMA shuttle in South Perth in August 2016. This new partnership will enable NAVYA to test its innovative technology in new environments throughout Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia.

RAC Group CEO, Terry Agnew, said the RAC Intellibus trial in South Perth was one of the most progressive in the world. The RAC Intellibus trial is aimed at enhancing our experience and understanding of driverless technology, he said. Were continuing our own trials in WA, contributing to a number of national working groups and research initiatives and assisting with the development of policy to help ensure Australia is ready for the inevitable arrival of driverless vehicles. The more government, industry and the public learn about and engage with driverless vehicles, the more prepared we will be to transition them on to our roads.

ABOUT NAVYA

NAVYA, created in 2014, is a French company and leading name in the development of innovative, smart and sustainable mobility solutions. NAVYA develops driverless, automated electric vehicles that are dedicated to first and last mile and independent of all infrastructure. October 2016 saw NAVYA secure a 30 million euro raise in capital together with its original shareholder, investment fund Robolution Capital, Cap Decisif Management with the FRCI Fund (Fonds Rgional de Co-investissement de la Rgion Ile de France), holding company GRAVITATION, French groups VALEO and KEOLIS and GROUP8. NAVYA benefits from major advances in technology in the driverless, electric vehicle sector thanks to a highly-qualified R&D team. Christophe Sapet, its CEO, is supported by a team of 100 people divided up between Lyon and Paris. For more information visit http://navya.tech/.

About RAC

RAC (Royal Automobile Club) has been one of Western Australias most recognized and trusted membership organizations since 1905. Without shareholders, its profits are reinvested to benefit its 900,000 members and the wider community. In addition to advocating for safe, sustainable and more accessible mobility options, it also provides a number of services to members through Roadside Assistance, auto services, batteries, tires, insurance, security, travel, tourism and finance.

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Navya Will Expand Arma Driverless Shuttle Tests In Oceania - InsideEVs

MIKE WATSON

Last updated15:12, May 21 2017

ANDY JACKSON/Fairfax NZ

National Roller Ball wheelchair basketballer Ben Hekenui, of New Plymouth, preparing for the Oceania champs in China.

A national wheelchair basketball player has called for more people with disabilities to join the sport.

Taranaki's sole New Zealand repBen Hekenuiwarmed up for the Oceania championships later in the year with a solid workout in the northern league tournament at New Plymouthon Saturday.

Hekenuiand his Mid West teammates were upset byAuckland 26-15 inahardfoughtfinal at the TSB Stadium.

The Mid West team were top seeds at the weekend's tournament which is played each month alternating between four centres- NewPlymouth, Cambridge, Tauranga and Auckland.

READ MORE: * Mid - West Sixers wheelchair basketball team best in North Island * Wheelchair basketball match abandoned after brawl involving knives and baseball bats * Taranaki man scouted for multiple sports at HalbergJunior Disability Games

A shortage of players forced Taranaki to join Bay of Plenty to field a combined team.

The Countdown meat assistant is the regions only national representative in the Roller Blacks side to travel to the Oceaniachampionships in China in October.

It will be Hekenui's first experience at international competition although he hadtravelledtwice to Sydneyfor the Slam Down Underchampionships, picking up the Master's division team title.

Hekenuiencouragedthose with a disabilityto try the sport out.

The former rugby league and rugby union player had playedwheelchair basketball for six seasonsafterlosing both legs in an industrial accident nine years ago.

He had been in the national squad for the last fouryears.

"I enjoythe physical nature of wheelchair basketball, there's a good amount of close contact in the gamesbut also good sportsmanship both on and off the court,"he said.

"We're getting more people involved but we always need more.

"It may not be for everyone but it's worth coming along to see it suits you and there is a lot of support."

Hekenuikept fit with regular weight training, and on court training to help build arm and shoulder muscles.

He also cycled long distances, and hadtwice completed the final 44km leg from Pembroke Road, Stratford to New Plymouth in the annual Round the Mountain race.

"It's quite a skilledsport to play, you need to be fit inthe upper body.

"One of the hardest skills is being able to judge your speed as you approach the three-point line andshoot for goal,"he said.

Para Fed Taranakico-ordinator Tracy Coker said the northern league tournament was popular with sport peoplewho have become disabled through spinal injuries, cerebral palsy or amputations.

"Wheelchair Basket Ball New Zealand are working hard to grow the sport.

"We need more referees and Taranaki basketball and the national body are focusing on training courses," she said.

-Taranaki Daily News

See more here:

Oceania champs beckon Taranaki wheelchair basketballer - Stuff.co.nz

The Cook Islands will host the Oceania Cup rugby tournament in August, in a one-off clash against Tahiti in Rarotonga.

The winner of this year's tournament will progress advance to a two-match series against the winner of the Asia regional qualifying tournament, with the winner of that series earning a spot in the 2019 Rugby World Cup repechage tournament.

The third-ranked team in the Pacific Nations Cup between Fiji, Samoa and Tonga will also compete in the repechage event.

The Cook Islands won the Oceania Cup in 2013. Photo: Bruce Southwick/Zoomfiji

Cook Islands Rugby Union president Moana Moeka'a was excited about the prospect of the country hosting an international match in Rarotonga again.

"The game against Tahiti is only three months off but it will come around quickly," he said.

"We need to work hard to ensure the success of this game as a Rugby World Cup qualification event and an international match against our closest neighbours."

"It's been a long time between drinks. The last time we played Tahiti in Rarotonga was in 2001 and before that in 1985 when Cook Islands hosted the Mini South Pacific Games," Moeka'a said.

The RWC Qualifying Match between Fiji & Cook Islands, 2014. Photo: Fiji Ministry of Information / Facebook

Papua New Guinea won the last Oceania Cup in 2015, which also featured American Samoa and Solomon Islands, but were a late withdrawal from this year's event.

Moana Moeka'a admitted it was easier playing a one-off game and said if the Cook Islands were not hosting the tournament they may have been forced to pull out too.

"People have got to realise that in Oceania there is a tyranny of distance and some teams that fly to some of the tournaments we hold around the Oceania region...a lot of teams have to catch two or three flights," he said.

"As opposed to places like Europe where you're travelling in a van and pass through two or three countries in the space of about six or seven hours so that's quite difficult.

"Teams find it difficult to find the money to travel and that's basically what happened this year, where initially only three countries put their hands up at the begining of this year and unfortunately PNG have had to withdraw."

Moana Moeka'a said 95 percent of funding for the Cook Islands Rugby Union comes from Rarotonga and the bulk of the team to play Tahiti will have to be local players due to the high cost of flying people in from overseas.

Link:

Sport: Cook Islands to host Tahiti in Oceania Rugby Cup - Radio New Zealand

Regional focus: Oceania

Cook Islands and Tahiti will enter the race to qualify for Rugby World Cup 2019 in August when they contest a one-off match in the Oceania Rugby Cup 2017.

The biennial Oceania Rugby Cup is the regions leading competition for performance and development unions, but this year the winner will progress to a play-off against the Asia Rugby Championship 2018 winner with the prize being a place in the RWC 2019 repechage tournament.

The winner of the four-team repechage will join defending champions New Zealand, South Africa, Italy and the Africa 1 qualifier in Pool B at RWC 2019.

VIEW THERWC 2019 QUALIFYING PROCESS >>

The significance of this tournament to the Oceania region cannot be understated in regards to the valuable competition and opportunities that it provides to the development and performance unions within the region, said Bruce Cook, World Rugbys Rugby Services Manager for Oceania.

It will the first time that the Cook Islands have hosted a Rugby World Cup qualifying event since 2008 when they faced Niue, and the 4 August showdown with Tahiti falls on the Constitution Day public holiday in the Cook Islands.

By that time, the Oceania 1 and Oceania 2 qualifiers will have been determined with Fiji, Samoa and Tonga to complete that process with the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup taking place from 1-15 July. The winner qualifies for RWC 2019 as Oceania 1 to join Australia, Wales, Georgia and Americas 2 in Pool D, and the runner-up as Oceania 2 alongside England, France, Argentina and Americas 1 in Pool C.

The game against Tahiti is only three months off but it will come around quickly. We need to work hard to ensure the success of this game as a RWC qualification event and an international match against our closest neighbours, said Cook Islands Rugby Union President Moana Moekaa. Its been a long time between drinks. The last time we played Tahiti in Rarotonga was in 2001 and before that in 1985 when Cook Islands hosted the Mini South Pacific Games.

Read more:

Cook Islands and Tahiti to meet in Raratonga - Rugby World Cup 2019 - Rugby World Cup 2019 (press release) (blog)

The new Samoa Under 20s rugby coach, Mahonri Schwalger, says the players now know what is required for them to be competitive against top level teams.

The Baby Manu were thrashed 43-20 by Australia and 80-23 by New Zealand at the Oceania Under 20 Championship, before finishing with a 10 point win against Pacific rivals Fiji earlier this month.

Mahonri Schwalger was a technical advisor with the team on the Gold Coast but has assumed head coaching duties for the Junior World Cup in Georgia, following the resignation of Junior Leota.

The Samoa Under 20s struggled against Australia and New Zealand recently. Photo: Oceania Rugby / Sportography

He said the regional tournament was a big learning curve.

"The boys (have) seen the level they should be and especially playing really top nations (at) Under 20s - teams like New Zealand and Australia," he said.

"They learned a lot about the intensity and the accuracy how these guys play and you can tell the calibre of players that New Zealand have and the pool of players they have to choose from and they still have Super Rugby players joining the team later on in the the World Cup."

"There's a lot of things we learned about the accuracy these two teams show in the whole tournament and the way they attack and the way they defend.

"The boys see the level and the speed of the game they need to be (at)."

Samoa taking on New Zealand at the Oceania Under 20 Championship. Photo: Oceania Rugby/Sportography

Samoa are back in the World Rugby Under 20 Championship after winning last year's second tier Under 20 Trophy.

They will meet Australia again in the pool phase in Tbilisi and Schwalger was confident the Baby Manu will prove themselves competitive.

"If we had Australia in the last game (at the Oceania tournament) we would probably given them a good go because we sort of came right at the last game," he said.

"I'm not saying because Fiji is a second tier nation (at Under 20 level) - but it's just the more time that these guys have and the more belief they have is a lot better.

"I'm pretty happy the way they performed in the short period of time they had together."

Former Manu Samoa captain Mahonri Schwalger taking a scrum session at the Rugby Academy of Samoa. Photo: Rugby Academy Samoa

Mahonri Schwalger said it had been a busy period back in Samoa before the team flies out to Georgia.

"I'm trying to make sure I prepare these guys the best way they can be for the World Cup: mentally as well as physically," he said.

"A lot of training. (We've) got to make sure we get these guys to believe in themselves so the plan for the last two weeks has been intense, we've been through a lot.

"My job right now is to give them the best support and make sure we get them in the right structure to play against teams like England and Australia (and Wales in pool play)."

Excerpt from:

Sport: Oceania champs a big learning curve for Samoa Under 20s - Radio New Zealand

From yoga to Pilates, more than two dozen professionally led wellness classes are now offered, at no charge, aboard Oceania Cruises ships.

The program supplements offerings like Canyon Ranch Spa Cuisine at breakfast, lunch and dinner, the line's recently introduced vegan menus and exclusive destination experiences offered on Wellness Tours Inspired by Canyon Ranch.

The classes embody the holistic approach to wellness that Canyon Ranch exemplifies, according to Kathleen Shea, chief marketing officer, Canyon Ranch.

They range from sunrise stretch and relax and sunrise yoga on deck to indoor cycling, or more comprehensive programs such as boot camp, full body strength training and core conditioning.

The stretch and relax class, for example, lasts 25 minutes, while full-body strength training is a 45-minute workout using dumbbells.

Some of the other offerings are total tubes, which works on full body strength with the help of elastic stretch tubes, mat Pilates, introduction to yoga, awesome legs, stronger legs, awesome abs and fit ball workout. One class, sole energizer, even focuses on the feet.

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Oceania Cruises introduces wide array of free wellness classes - Seatrade Cruise News

Digital News Asia

Samsung Southeast Asia & Oceania, iflix team up to enhance TV viewing experience Digital News Asia IFLIX, a Subscription Video on Demand (SVoD) service for emerging markets, on May 16 announced its collaboration with Samsung Electronics Southeast Asia and Oceania to bring greater value to Samsung Smart TV users. With this collaboration, Samsung ... and more »

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Samsung Southeast Asia & Oceania, iflix team up to enhance TV viewing experience - Digital News Asia

Details May 14, 2017

Oceania Cruises has launched a new set of wellness options across its six-ship fleet.

Oceania Cruises now offers the most extensive and comprehensive wellness program at sea, said Bob Binder, president and CEO of Oceania Cruises. Just as weve done with the Canyon Ranch Spa Cuisine at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and our recently-introduced vegan menus, to the one-of-a-kind destination experiences offered on our Wellness Tours Inspired by Canyon Ranch, Oceania Cruises and Canyon Ranch have established a new benchmark for excellence in the field of wellness.

This new program on board Oceania Cruises empowers our guests to experience the holistic approach to wellness that Canyon Ranch exemplifies, and showcases our commitment to integrated wellness on the high seas, said Kathleen Shea, chief marketing officer, Canyon Ranch.

In addition to the complimentary use of the gym and fitness facilities in the Canyon Ranch SpaClub, Oceania is now making its fitness and wellness classes complimentary.

There are more than two dozen classes offered, all with professional instruction.

Dedicated wellness devotees and newcomers alike will discover an astounding array of healthy-living choices to enhance their vacation experience, added Binder. We are bringing a unique combination of rejuvenation, personal discovery, and indulgence to our guests as they travel to the most exotic locales around the globe.

See more here:

Oceania Cruises Introduces Revamped Wellness Program At Sea - Cruise Industry News

Updated May 10, 2017 18:45:42

The Wallabies have received a decent draw for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, set to meet Wales, Georgia and two qualifiers in Pool D.

The Aussies are a 'Band One' team and drew the lowest-ranked 'Band Two' side in Wales, with Georgia ranked second-last in Band Three.

Australia and Wales met in the group stage of the 2015 tournament, with the Wallabies winning 15-6 in London.

They ultimately fell just short in 2015, losing to the All Blacks in the final of the eighth edition, hosted by England.

The Wallabies will also be hoping they can fair better than those who advanced from Pool D in 2015, when Ireland and Argentina progressed and were both summarily thumped in the quarter-finals by Argentina and New Zealand from Pool C.

The 2019 tournament will mark the first time it has been hosted in Asia, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said at the draw he was excited to be a part of bringing the pinnacle of the sport to the continent.

"This is even more of a thrill than when I played Super Mario at the Rio Olympics," Mr Abe said, referring to his star turn at the 2016 Games' closing ceremony.

The 2019 World Cup kicks off on September 20 and wraps up on November 2.

Topics: rugby-union-world-cup, rugby-union, sport, japan, australia

First posted May 10, 2017 18:36:27

Link:

Rugby World Cup: Wallabies to meet Wales, Georgia, Oceania and America qualifiers at 2019 tournament - ABC Online

Tahiti have been described as an "inspiration" despite coming up short against Brazil in the Beach Soccer World Cup final.

The Tiki Toa were outclassed 6-0 in yesterday's championship decider in the Bahamas, matching their runners-up finish from two years ago.

Brazil proved too strong for Tahiti in the World Cup final. Photo: Twitter/FIFA

Oceania Football Beach Soccer Development Officer Paul Toohey said despite falling just short of glory, the Tiki Toa continue to lead the way for the rest of Oceania.

"Look at some of the other powerhouse countries they played: Japan and they played the European champions (Poland) and Paraguay," he said.

"So sometimes a cliche to talk about punching above your weight, because I know they've put a lot of effort and resources into really being a strong beach soccer team but it's fantastic.

"Then of course the semi final was a story in itself against Iran - a really gruelling penalty shootout where nobody seemed like they wanted to win it - to get to the final.

"I wonder if it took its toll in the end? I'm not sure really because the guys they're used to playing games every second day so I think they can be very proud of their efforts."

Paul Toohey said beach soccer is continuing to grow in Oceania, especially in the likes of New Caledonia and Tonga.

Tahiti during the 2013 World Cup in Papeete. Photo: beachsoccer.com

He hoped Tahiti's success on the world stage will help to inspire the rest of the region to give the sport a go.

"I think we can look to how they've gone about it and they've actually achieved it and in a short period of time, over the last ten years," he said.

"To think that they finished fourth (at the 2013 World Cup) and then two second places i think really shows the countries of Oceania.

"Particularly because, if we're looking at the beach and the environment, many of the countries have environments that are conducive to playing beach soccer.

"So I really hope that that's something that we can all look at and say that we want to do it too and some of the other countries will want to get more and more involved in beach soccer in the future."

Original post:

Sport: Tahiti's Tiki Toa an 'inspiration' to rest of Oceania - Radio New Zealand