PNG Police to ensure safe release of hostages
Papua New Guinea security personnel are authorised to use the full force of the law to secure the people being held in Bosavi, Nipa-Kutubu, Southern Highlands Province, by an armed criminal gang since Sunday, February
Oceania bishops’ assembly spotlights climate crisis
When dozens of Catholic bishops from Oceania gathered in Suva, Fiji, earlier this month, plans to hold a prayer service next to the ocean were derailed by stormy weather, offering a natural illustration of how the very
Ship insurers accused of enabling fishing vessels to ‘go dark’
When it comes to illegal fishing, London’s ancient business of ship insurance may not get much attention. But according to a new complaint, the UK capital’s insurance industry is partly to blame when fishing vessels
Guam, CNMI residents advised to stay vigilant on missile tests
While giving reassurance that North Korea’s latest round of ballistic missile tests posed no immediate threat to Guam and the Northern Marianas, federal and local homeland security officials advised local residents to
Australia scales up security cooperation with Kiribati
Australian foreign minister Penny Wong has announced Australia will rapidly scale up security and development cooperation with the sprawling Pacific Island nation of Kiribati as the federal government tries to ensure
PNG fuel crisis ‘restored temporarily’
The fuel crisis in Papua New Guinea has been restored temporarily after acting Prime Minister John Rosso successfully mediated in a meeting Monday between the Bank of PNG and Puma Energy. Rosso said that the Central
Japan insists release of Fukushima ‘treated’ water is safe
Almost 12 years have passed since the strongest earthquake in Japan’s recorded history resulted in a tsunami that killed more than 18,000 people along its north-east coast. As the country prepares to mark the March 11
Ownership of Vailima back in local hands
Samoa Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa has applauded the patriotic initiative to return the Vailima beer brand to Samoa owned and managed by Samoans without any strings attached. Acknowledging the agreement
Tuna cannery still in the pipeline in Vanuatu
The outgoing Director General (DG) of Vanuatu’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Biosecurity (MALFFB), Moses Amos, has confirmed that the management of Sino-Van plans to set up a small
Pacific workers housed at church soon to have accommodation
More than 400 workers from the Pacific evacuated to a Napier church should be able to return to more permanent accommodation in the next few days. Workers from Samoa, Fiji, Tuvalu and Solomon Islands had stayed at The
PNG Government seeks solutions to fuel crisis
Papua New Guinea acting Prime Minister John Rosso has assured Papua New Guineans, residents and businesses that a short term arrangement has been reached between Bank of Papua New Guinea (BPNG) and PUMA to continue
Fijian Drua confirm signing of Eroni Sau
The Fijian Drua have confirmed the signing of cult hero and damaging winger Eroni Sau. He returns to the Drua after playing a key role in their NRC title campaign in 2018. The 33-year-old will join the Drua this week
PNG Chamber concerned about foreign exchange saga
Papua New Guinea’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry is concerned about the ongoing foreign currency constraint saga. Chamber president Ian Tarutia said a consistent supply of fuel and associated products were
Fiji joins Cyclone Gabrielle recovery efforts
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said New Zealand has accepted international help from multiple countries to support its cyclone recovery efforts, announcing that Fiji will be lending a hand in the coming days.
New Zealand Deputy PM to join Pacific leaders’ special retreat
New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs Carmel Sepuloni will travel to Fiji for the Pacific Islands Forum Special Leaders’ retreat this week. It will be her first opportunity in
Australian government publicise problems with Pacific patrol boats
The Australian government decided to publicly release information about problems with Pacific patrol boats despite a warning from defence officials that this could harm important regional relationships. In previously
Bainimarama suspended from Fiji parliament for 3 years
Fiji’s Opposition leader and former Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama, has been suspended from parliament for three years, effective immediately. After a long day of parliamentary debate, 27 MPs voted in favor of the
The silent fight for equality in rugby: Sereima Leweniqila
While we hear a lot of lip service given to equality for women in sport, especially in rugby, what is it really like for women in the game? Fiji’s Sereima Leweniqila is a former Fijiana captain, Fijiana Drua captain
We hope to co-host 3rd India Pacific Cooperation Forum: Jaishankar
India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Thursday said India hopes to co-host the third summit of the Forum for India Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) in the coming months. “We hope to
U.S. Coast Guard moving cutter to Pacific as regional missions expand
Driven by greater demand for its partnerships and presence in the Indo-Pacific region, the U.S. Coast Guard is growing its operational presence in the vast region that’s unsettled by continuing incursions from
Award-winning play takes NZ Fringe on Pacific waka voyage
Award-winning theatre show My Grandfather is a Canoe is about to take NZ Fringe audiences on a voyage around the Pacific. On stage at the Hannah Playhouse on February 24-26, the show won five awards at the Dunedin and
‘We must act now’: NZ Minister of Climate Change
New Zealand’s climate change minister has made a furious speech excoriating parliament for lost decades of “bickering” over the climate crisis, as Cyclone Gabrielle devastates the country. “As I stand here
Australia announces 3,000 visas for Pacific workers
A new visa will allow up to 3,000 people from the Pacific region to migrate to Australia as permanent residents each year, under a scheme modelled on a New Zealand immigration programme. The Pacific Engagement Visa has