Regional
Post-quake disease threat grows
Monday 19 March 2018 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – The official death toll following Papua New Guinea’s 7.5 magnitude earthquake has risen to 145 but still has further to climb, officials have said.
NZ to be more of a true partner to Pacific
Saturday 17 March 2018 | Published in Regional
PACIFIC – New Zealand’s Foreign Minister says the government is going to put its money where its mouth is in terms of aid to the Pacific.
CNMI launches canoe building programme
Saturday 17 March 2018 | Published in Regional
MARSHALL ISLANDS – The CNMI’s Department of Community and Cultural Affairs has launched its own traditional canoe programme but says it’s not competing with a private sector-driven programme to build 500 traditional canoes by 2030.
PM given suspended sentence
Saturday 17 March 2018 | Published in Regional
VANUATU – Vanuatu’s deputy prime minister, Joe Natuman, says he won’t be stepping aside immediately after being given a two-year suspended sentence.
Damage to infrastructure severe
Thursday 15 March 2018 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Damage assessment in Papua New Guinea’s earthquake-hit Southern Highlands province has confirmed widespread devastation to public infrastructure.
Curfew not helping recovery
Thursday 15 March 2018 | Published in Regional
TONGA – A Tongan businessman is angry local authorities have extended a curfew around the capital of Nuku‘alofa.
Sprinter to miss out on Games
Thursday 15 March 2018 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – When the Papua New Guinea team marches into the stadium at the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony in Australia in April, there will be one notable absentee – the track queen of the Pacific, Toea Wisil.
Transport upgrades backed
Wednesday 14 March 2018 | Published in Regional
Wellingtonians are keen to see more tunnels in the city and light rail introduced to make the journey between Ngauranga and the airport and hospital easier. Feedback on the Let’s Get Wellington Moving initiative has been put together in a report.
Vegans want approval tick
Wednesday 14 March 2018 | Published in Regional
Ground up insects, animal bile and bit of bones – also known as E numbers 120, 1000 and 542 – are just some of the ingredients vegans are constantly checking food labels for.
Strike forces port closure
Wednesday 14 March 2018 | Published in Regional
Striking workers have forced Lyttelton Port to close and will cause serious supply shortages, the port company says.
Call for NZ Wars holiday
Wednesday 14 March 2018 | Published in Regional
School students whose petition led to a national day of commemoration for the New Zealand wars are now asking for a public holiday to mark the occasion. At the weekend, Nga Puhi hosted the first major commemorations of the New Zealand wars, or Te Putake o Te Riri, in Northland.
Top shearer worries about future of the profession
Wednesday 14 March 2018 | Published in Regional
NEW ZEALAND – World champion and award-winning shearer John Kirkpatrick is worried about the future of shearing as both a profession and as a sport.
Students respond to education survey
Wednesday 14 March 2018 | Published in Regional
NEW ZEALAND – More school counsellors, compulsory Te Reo Maori classes and cleaner bathrooms are a few of many changes New Zealand school students want for the education system.
Labour rocked by youth camp assaults
Wednesday 14 March 2018 | Published in Regional
NEW ZEALAND – The campaign director behind the recent success of New Zealand Labour is facing calls to resign after he failed to tell the police, parents or the prime minister about the alleged sexual assault of four teenagers at a summer camp held by the party.
Coconut oil finds US market
Wednesday 14 March 2018 | Published in Regional
SAMOA – Samoa’s Pacific Oil has just secured a joint venture with a large US multinational company, Dr. Bronners, to supply coconut oil for its Pacific soap products.
Nuku'alofa curfew remains
Wednesday 14 March 2018 | Published in Regional
TONGA – A month after Cyclone Gita hit Tonga, police there are continuing to enforce a curfew around the capital of Nuku‘alofa.
Tonga's PM seeks way forward
Wednesday 14 March 2018 | Published in Regional
TONGA – Tonga’s Prime Minister and two members of his cabinet have met the Attorney General in an effort to ease apparent tensions between the government and the legal advisor’s office.
Norfolk launches UN challenge
Wednesday 14 March 2018 | Published in Regional
NORFOLK ISLANDS – Aninternational human rights lawyer has launched a legal challenge with the United Nations on behalf of Norfolk Islanders, alleging the Australian government has placed islander’s culture and language at risk by revoking their right to self-govern.
Barrier reefs under threat
Tuesday 13 March 2018 | Published in Regional
PACIFIC – The rapid depletion of coral reefs could prove more damaging for small islands than sea level rise, according to recently published research. Coral reefs provide an important barrier for coastlines, creating friction that slows down and dissipates the energy of waves rushing in off the ocean.
Inquiry into cause of quake urged
Tuesday 13 March 2018 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – As authorities in Papua New Guinea start to get a clearer picture of the scale of the destruction caused by February’s magnitude-7.5 earthquake, there have been growing calls for the government to order a formal inquiry into what caused the quake.