Tania Nugent: China has an increasing presence and influence in the Pacific, investing in infrastructure, aid programs and sporting facilities. And now the Pacific is tapping into Chinese expertise with Chinese coaches to help boost athletes' performance.

Samantha Lockington - athlete: Mainly I'm a sprinter and that. This is going to be my first time doing heptathlon, yeah which is a good experience for me.

Tania Nugent: For 19 year old Samantha Lockington, it's a whole bundle of new experiences all rolled into one. She's representing the Cook Islands, host nation at the Pacific Mini Games, and competing in an event that's new to her. She's also being guided every step of the way by former a decathlon champion from China, Dong Xuezhi.

Samantha Lockington: He's really good and kind. Sometimes, just don't upset him - not coming to training and that.

George George - Cook Islands Chef de Mission: From now and when we went to the 2007 South Pacific Games in Samoa we saw how successful Samoa used the Chinese coaches and we were offered that by the Chinese government if we wanted to use the services of these coaches.These are top athletes in China who have turned to coaches so we are just happy to have them here with us.

Dong Xuezhi - Cook Islands coach: Before I came here I knew nothing about it. Comparing with the world level, Cook Islands sports is just at the beginning stage.

Tania Nugent: What sort of things have you learned from him?

Samantha Lockington: A lot of things, which we don't know anything about it.

Dong Xuezhi: We won't stay here for a long time so in that limited time we want to design some long term planning such as sports training. Cook Islands country is a new country, so I think a lot of the things in this country are still at starting point. As for the sports development, I think the structure for the Olympics is there. But they should improve their theoretical knowledge and their practical training system.

George George: From the Cook Islands, we'd like to see more athletics growing in the Cook Islands. Fiji's very successful in that area and we want to see Cook Islands be successful as well.

Tania Nugent: I think they're pretty lucky coaches to come and get to work in a beautiful paradise like the Cook Islands.

George George: Oh yes, they are enjoying themselves.

Watson Hu - translator: Until now, we have stayed here for more than one half a year. I like the place, especially I like the people because they are quite friendly,

George George: When we started off we just brought in three coaches and a translator. When they were supposed to go back and be relieved by other three coaches, the coaches didn't want to return back to China. So we had a little bit more than what we asked for, for the second lot. So we got six coaches here along with a translator.
Bearing in mind that was the hardest hurdle for us is the language barrier,

Watson Hu: When I meet my neighbours I always try my best to teach them some simple Chinese, such as zai jian [goodbye], nee hao [Hello, how are you?]. They are interested in these kind of Chinese expressions, they love to learn it. And you know I'm a language teacher, so I always go to the schools to observe their language teaching and also learn a lot of Maori dialect such as kia orana [hello].

Dong Xuezhi: To start with, I'm not used to the new environment. But after a while, I came to adapt myself to the new place. I feel the people here are very simple, honest and kind hearted. I feel the way to communicate with people is very similar. I feel the weather here is better. It's greener and enjoyable.

Samantha Lockington: I wish they could stay back and that, and train us more and that. Even though, just a little bit of English and that, I still understand them, especially with the sign language and that.

Tania Nugent: Can you say any words in the Cook Islands language?

Dong Xuezhi: Kia orana [hello].

Tania Nugent: Are you learning any Chinese?

Samantha Lockington: Just thank you, xie xie [thank you] that's it.