Regional
Tongan Lord's sentence suspended
Monday 27 April 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
TONGA – A former Tongan Prime Minister and current Noble MP has received a two year suspended sentence and a fine for passport, perjury and firearm offences.
More than 200 fly to Auckland from Apia
Monday 27 April 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
SAMOA – An Air New Zealand plane has repatriated 200 people from Apia to Auckland but did not take any passengers back to Samoa.
High Covid-19 rates for Pasifika in the US
Monday 27 April 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
PACIFIC – Pacific Islanders living in the United States have an infection rate two to three times the average in at least four American states, according to data released Sunday by the Pacific Islander Center of Primary Care Excellence, a California-based group.
Pro-China Kiribati president loses majority over switch from Taiwan
Monday 27 April 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
The Kiribati political party that switched recognition from Taiwan to China last year lost its majority in elections last week.
Mini Games postponed until 2022
Monday 27 April 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
NORTHERN MARIANAS – The upcoming Pacific Mini Games in the Northern Marianas are set to be postponed until May 2022 to avoid a clash with the Tokyo Olympics.
Covid cure rumours worry experts
Friday 24 April 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
UN warns of potentially disastrous impact of Covid-19 rumours in the Pacific.
Tahiti crime drops
Thursday 23 April 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
Figures released in French Polynesia say there has been a drop in crime, including reported domestic violence, during the lockdown following the Covid-19 outbreak last month, RNZ reports.
Holiday industry delivered another blow by Virgin Australia airline collapse
Thursday 23 April 2020 | Written by Gray Clapham | Published in Small World
The Pacific tourism industry will be seriously impacted with the collapse of Virgin Australia, the ABC has reported.
Former Fiji PM Qarase has died
Wednesday 22 April 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
FIJI – Laisenia Qarase, the sixth prime minister of Fiji who was installed by one coup and removed by another, died on Tuesday. He was 79.
MP arrested for speaking out on police brutality
Wednesday 22 April 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
FIJI – The president of a Fiji opposition party has been arrested, apparently in relation to posts he made on Facebook which raised concerns about police brutality.
Rugby boss resigns
Wednesday 22 April 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
UK newspaper publishes recordings of ‘rampant homophobia’ by Fiji union head.
Pacific Community: Threat to fisheries from Covid-19
Tuesday 21 April 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Small World
The Pacific Community, (SPC) says having decimated tourism, Covid-19 is also posing a threat to the region's fisheries, RNZ reports.
Pacific Covid-19 update
Tuesday 21 April 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
- Fiji has confirmed its 18th case of Covid-19. Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said the latest case is a 51-year-old woman from Ba who had returned from the United State on March 22.
Fijian man shot by police in Auckland
Tuesday 21 April 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
NEW ZEALAND – A Fijian man has been shot dead by police.
Resort owners left homeless
Monday 20 April 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
Only the concrete foundations and a few trees remain standing at Whitesands Beach Resort in Ha’utu, Tonga.
Growing push for repatriation of stranded French Polynesians
Friday 17 April 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Small World
There is a growing push for several hundred French Polynesian residents stranded abroad because of the Covid-19 outbreak to be repatriated, RNZ reports.
RNZAF Hercules to deliver aid to Fiji following cyclone
Friday 17 April 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
A Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130H Hercules aircraft will deliver tomorrow much-needed supplies to Fiji to help with relief efforts following Tropical Cyclone Harold.
Covid-19 Pacific update: Global push for trust
Friday 17 April 2020 | Written by Gray Clapham | Published in Small World
The head of a Covid-19 Pasifika advisory group wants to see a former New Zealand Prime Minister leading a global push to re-energise global trust and resourcing to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
Covid-19 cases increase in Fiji
Thursday 16 April 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Small World
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has declared Fiji’s second State of Natural Disaster after confirming the country’s 17th case of Covid-19.
Papua New Guinea confirms third Covid case
Thursday 16 April 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Small World
The office controlling Papua New Guinea's pandemic response went into lockdown today after the country's third confirmed Covid-19 case was announced.