Regional
Ban overturned but too late for Games
Friday 6 April 2018 | Published in Regional
SAMOA – Samoan weightlifter Iuniarra Sipaia has been cleared of any wrongdoing after mistakenly taking a banned substance.
Homeless children live in toilets
Friday 6 April 2018 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Urban migration is leading to an increase in the number of homeless children in Papua New Guinea capital.
China diplomats accused of squatting
Friday 6 April 2018 | Published in Regional
FRENCH POLYNESIA – China’s diplomats in French Polynesia are accused of illegally occupying premises in Tahiti.
Water needed in cyclone hit West
Thursday 5 April 2018 | Published in Regional
FIJI – There is an acute and widespread need for water in Fiji’s west following the weekend’s dousing by Cyclone Josie.
Tragic tales emerge from Fiji's floods
Thursday 5 April 2018 | Published in Regional
FIJI – The death toll in Fiji now stands at five as survivors relate their stories of loved ones who were swept away by raging floodwaters during Cyclone Josie on Sunday.
Road repairs to cost millions
Wednesday 4 April 2018 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – The earthquake repair bill for roads in Papua New Guinea’s Enga, Southern Highlands and Hela provinces is expected to be more than US$12 million, according to PNG’s Works Secretary David Wereh.
Islands are in 'fight for survival'
Wednesday 4 April 2018 | Published in Regional
FIJI – Fiji’s prime minister has said the Pacific island nation is in “a fight for survival” as climate change brings “almost constant” deadly cyclones to Pacific islands.
2018 Pacific Music Awards finalists named
Tuesday 3 April 2018 | Published in Regional
NEW ZEALAND – Newcomers and previous winners have been announced as finalists for the 2018 Pacific Music Awards.
Magic performance by Naked Samoans
Tuesday 3 April 2018 | Published in Regional
NEW ZEALAND – The magic of storytelling Pacific Island-style has seen audiences return in droves to see a popular Pacific comedy group for performances at this month’s Auckland Arts Festival.
Nauru scraps court of appeal
Tuesday 3 April 2018 | Published in Regional
NAURU – It has been revealed that Nauru’s government has secretly scrapped its links to the High Court of Australia which served as Nauru’s court of appeal – impacting on the rights of asylum seekers to challenge the refusal of refugee status.
Cyclone kills at least five in Fiji
Tuesday 3 April 2018 | Published in Regional
FIJI – Tropical Cyclone Josie has caused severe flooding in parts of Fiji, with four people reported dead and one missing.
Every official wants to be the 'king'
Sunday 1 April 2018 | Published in Regional
TONGA – It seems that ministers of the Tonga government and their officials are all following their own logic, writes a commentator on the Matangi Tonga news site.
Minister stands by girls sports ban
Sunday 1 April 2018 | Published in Regional
TONGA – A woman boxer will be Tonga’s flag bearer at the XXI Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia next week.
Deforestation reveals Amazon culture
Sunday 1 April 2018 | Published in Regional
Once people thought the Amazon was a near-uninhabited rainforest before the Europeans turned up, but researchers say they have found new evidence that it was in fact a hive of human culture and home to millions of people.
Light pollution damaging Earth
Sunday 1 April 2018 | Published in Regional
Earth’s nights are getting brighter, and that has scientists concerned.
Helmet rules change 'ridiculous'
Thursday 29 March 2018 | Published in Regional
NEW ZEALAND – A Timaru woman says calls to change compulsory helmet rules are ridiculous, after a helmet saved her husband’s life.
Health system facing crisis
Thursday 29 March 2018 | Published in Regional
NEW ZEALAND – The New Zealand health system is facing a funding shortfall so bad that three DHBs are likely to need at least $4.3 billion in capital expenditure alone.
Dunedin rolls out the 'Ed carpet'
Thursday 29 March 2018 | Published in Regional
NEW ZEALAND – Ed Sheeran’s tour in Dunedin this week has been called the city’s biggest event ever, and is hoped to bring its biggest economic windfall since the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Budget restraints hid hospital rot
Wednesday 28 March 2018 | Published in Regional
NEW ZEALAND – Counties Manukau DHB was reluctant to ask the previous National-led government for funding to fix mouldy, rotting and unstable buildings because of pressure from ministers to stay in surplus, its acting CEO says.
Lawyer sues for damages
Wednesday 28 March 2018 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – The controversial Papua New Guinea lawyer Paul Paraka has launched legal action seeking damages for the long-running probe into state payments to his law firm.