SEVEN months after becoming the first Tongan to be inducted into New Zealand Music’s Hall of Fame, Wilfred Jeffs, who went by the stage name Bill Sevesi, passed away, aged 92,,on April 23. When the news trickled out via social media, New Zealanders and Pacific islanders both mourned and celebrated…

WITH the Papua New Guinea Supreme Court ruling that the Manus Island refugee processing centre is illegal, Australia may be forced to look to other Pacific islands to house 800-odd residents. Australia’s detention facility on Nauru has proven to be difficult at the best of times with claims of human…

REGIONAL tourism operators will gather on Australia’s Gold Coast this month to showcase the best there is to offer in the Pacific. The event offers opportunities for more than 80 hotel operators, airlines, national tourism organisations, travel companies and support services. Organisers expect that at least 80 – and possibly…

PACIFIC ISLAND PLAYERS underpaid and overworked PHYSICALLY powerful young men have become Polynesia’s highest profile export. In a bittersweet trade, youngsters who dreamed of playing professional American football risk neurological damage, while international rugby prospects are blighted by allegations of exploitation. Figures from the International Rugby Players’ Association show that…

WITH a month to go before regional governments sign a broad trade agreement with Australia and New Zealand, there are niggling doubts over whether every country will support the deal. Fiji and Papua New Guinea have signalled their reluctance to PACER Plus in its current draft form while smaller nations…