Regional
Future of Tonga's air service in doubt
Monday 11 May 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
TONGA – Prime Minister Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa said asking whether the Tongan government was going to start its own airline was the wrong question.
Surge in poverty as jobs disappear across Samoa
Friday 8 May 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
A crisis is escalating in Samoa as the tourism industry, the mainstay of the nation’s economy, disintegrates under the weight of the coronavirus pandemic.
Curfew ruled illegal
Friday 8 May 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
FRENCH POLYNESIA – The curfew imposed in French Polynesia over the Covid-19 outbreak has been lifted with immediate effect after the administrative court in Papeete ruled it was illegal.
It's all about the bubble
Friday 8 May 2020 | Written by Gray Clapham | Published in Small World
Australia and New Zealand should plan to expand the trans-Tasman bubble to the Pacific Islands.
Oil producer seeks expansion into the Pacific
Friday 8 May 2020 | Written by Gray Clapham | Published in Small World
A New Zealand coconut and avocado oil producer, who is promising Pacific farmers much higher returns than they currently get for coconuts, hopes to start operating in Fiji within months.
Solo sailor stranded by the virus
Thursday 7 May 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
FIJI – A Singaporean man has been rescued after being stranded in the Pacific for three months and being turned away from three countries due to the coronavirus crisis.
Region lets out breath as virus appears contained
Thursday 7 May 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
With infection rates slowing throughout the Pacific islands as well as in Australia and New Zealand, talk has begun to turn to exit strategies as the Covid-19 pandemic emergency winds down in the region.
Niue travel restrictions extended
Wednesday 6 May 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
Niue has extended its travel restrictions until the end of August, RNZ reports.
Lockdown sees upsurge of violence
Wednesday 6 May 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
FIJI – The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre has warned of a spike in domestic violence during the enforced Covid-19 lockdown and curfew in the country.
Letter to court ignored
Wednesday 6 May 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
SAMOA – A Supreme Court judge in Samoa has ruled that one of the accused in an alleged plot to assassinate the prime minister be freed on bail.
Covid-19 crisis 'used as a facade to control media'
Wednesday 6 May 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
Pacific governments are being accused of using the coronavirus emergency as a cover to control the press.
First Pacific counsel to International Criminal Court
Wednesday 6 May 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
FIJI – Fijian lawyer Ana Tuiketei Bolabiu (pictured) has become the first Pacific counsel on a global roster working for the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague.
Fiji hard hit by dengue
Tuesday 5 May 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
Fiji – Fiji’s government says there are more than 700 cases of dengue in the country and most of them have been found in the northern and central divisions.
Hawai'i touts itself as 'safest place on Earth'
Tuesday 5 May 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
Hawai‘i’s idea of marketing itself as the “Safest Place on Earth” in the aftermath of the Covid-19 crisis is being met with some scepticism locally.
Samoa PM blasted for disrespect
Monday 4 May 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
Samoa’s former Head of State has criticised statements made by the prime minister as being rude and ridiculing of the framers of the country’s Constitution, RNZP has reported.
Broken system braces for worst
Monday 4 May 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
Papua New Guinea – The prospect of the spread of coronavirus in a country with just 500 doctors and around 5000 hospital beds and which struggles to deal with even routine illnesses has terrified the public, The Guardian reported.
Upskilling Pacific communities for resilience
Monday 4 May 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
Fiji - How do you upskill Pacific communities to take care of themselves during extreme weather events? And how do you get them to harness their traditional knowledge and skills in adapting to climate change?
Virus could see PNG become a failed state
Monday 4 May 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
The impact of coronavirus could see the Pacific’s biggest and most populous nation become a failed state, Papua New Guinea, the ABC has reported.
Air New Zealand signs Government deal to take cargo to the world
Saturday 2 May 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
Air New Zealand Cargo is entering a partnership with the Government to ensure critical cargo transport lines are maintained.
Islands want piece of trans-Tasman bubble
Saturday 2 May 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
As Australia and New Zealand look ahead to loosening their borders with each other in the wake of the Covid-19 emergency, there is increasing pressure to allow Pacific Islands to join a proposed “trans-Tasman bubble”.
