NZ intercepts US$315m worth of cocaine floating in Pacific Ocean
New Zealand authorities have found a record-breaking amount of cocaine floating in Pacific waters, which they say was bound for Australia and would have been enough to supply the country for a year. The 3.2-tonne haul
Samoa’s RSE Scheme resumes with 1,200 workers this month
Samoa Cabinet has endorsed new policy guidelines for the Recognised Seasonal Employment (RSE) scheme and 1,200 workers will depart to work in New Zealand and Australia at the end of this month. The New Samoa National
Vineyard manager worried about PNG workers’ pay, jury hears
Pay and visa details that weren’t adding up got a vineyard manager worried about a group of Papua New Guinea workers. The Hawke’s Bay vineyard thought it was getting Recognised Seasonal Employer workers from a
Fiji cabinet wrap: Kiribati relations, MSG sports, NZ defence cooperation and local elections
Bilateral relations with Kiribati was one of the key issues discussed by Fiji cabinet ministers in their meeting this week, including deeper cooperation on fisheries. Fiji Prime Minister noted: “Kiribati is also
Women’s World Cup targets over 100K fans for opening match
The first match to take place in Australia of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 will be an even bigger celebration, with co-host country Australia now facing the Republic of Ireland at the tournament’s largest venue,
Defence visit shows importance of stability to our neighbours: Fiji PM
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says the visit of Australia and New Zealand’s Chiefs of Defence to Fiji last week shows the importance those nations place on stability in Fiji. The Chiefs of Defence of Australia and
New Zealand hit by flash floods, landslides and death toll rises to four
Heavy rainfall hit New Zealand’s north island again on Sunday, causing landslides, flash floods and knocking out roads, with the death toll rising to four after a person who had been missing was confirmed dead.
Results are in for the 2023 Tokelau national election
The Government of Tokelau has declared the results of the 2023 national general elections. Voting took place on all three atolls, and also in the Apia office of the administration on January 23. Vote counting was
Ardern farewells supporters on final day as Aotearoa’s PM
Jacinda Ardern has bid an emotional farewell on her last day as prime minister, speaking of the kindness and empathy New Zealanders have shown her, but saying she is ready to be a sister and a mother. Days after
Jacinda Ardern announces resignation as prime minister
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern today has announced her resignation stating she will not be seeking re-election this year and her last day as prime minister is February 7. Ardern said she reflected over the
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series returns to New Zealand
The world’s best men’s and women’s rugby sevens players will return to action in New Zealand for the first time in 1,091 days following a three-year absence as the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023 continues in
‘Every election is important’: Tokelau prepares to hit the polls
For the first time in Tokelau’s history, all three atolls will take part in the same electoral process. Voting for the 2023 general election is on January 26. “Every election is important. It is important we
Two Kiribati fishermen successfully rescued at sea
The Royal New Zealand Air Force has successfully located two Kiribati fishermen who had been missing at sea for six days. The two men, according to a brief statement, were found in their dinghy shortly after arriving in
Over half-a-million tickets sold for FIFA Women’s World Cup
As preparations for the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand reach their final stages, FIFA has announced that more than 500,000 tickets have already been sold — but don’t fear, more are on
Napier fishing fleet giant off to Kiribati
The biggest trawler fishing out of Napier for most of the last two decades has been sold to a partnership between the government of Kiribati and Auckland business interests. The sale was confirmed to Hawke’s Bay Today
Samoa and NZ reign in South Africa 7s
After three days of HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series action in Cape Town, Samoa’s men and New Zealand’s women ended the event – and 2022 – in style. Samoa’s men put in a brilliant performance to defeat
Wellington happy to help Cook Islands join UN
The New Zealand government says the country will offer assistance if the Cook Islands bids to join the United Nations. Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has previously said his country could pursue UN membership to
First refugees from offshore camps arrive in New Zealand
The first refugees to come to New Zealand after spending years in offshore Australian detention camps have arrived. The group landed in Auckland on Tuesday afternoon, with the Government confirming the first six
Kiribati: Moaniba becomes acting Chief Justice
The separation of powers crisis in Kiribati escalated on Friday, with the Pacific country’s attorney general, Tetiro Semilota Moaniba, appointed acting chief justice. Semilota was sworn in on Friday afternoon at a
Collective action is necessary for Pacific security: Sovaleni
Tonga Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni welcomed Tuesday, senior defence delegates from the region to discuss Pacific security challenges and build collective Pacific responses. Attending the 7th South
Australia, NZ ministers visiting Pacific neighbours this week
It has been another big week for high level visits from Australia and New Zealand into the region, with PNG, Nauru, Marshall Islands and Cook Islands all receiving ministerial-level visits. Australia’s deputy Prime
Over 200 stranded pilot whales die on Pacific island
New Zealand’s conservation office on Tuesday said all 240 pilot whales stranded on the remote Pitt Island have died, just days after 215 whales died on a beach on nearby Chatham Island. Dave Lundquist, marine
Three more NZ judges to face tribunal in Kiribati
Kiribati will put another three New Zealand judges before a tribunal for misconduct, as New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta warns of “constitutional issues” in the Pacific nation. The Kiribati government has
