Regional
DNA study sheds light on Pacific settlement
Monday 5 March 2018 | Published in Regional
PACIFIC – A study of ancient DNA has shed light on the epic journeys that led to the settlement of the Pacific by humans.
Minister arrested for fraud
Monday 5 March 2018 | Published in Regional
TONGA – Tonga’s Minister of Internal Affairs, ‘Akosita Lavulavu, and her husband, former cabinet minister ‘Etuate Lavulavu, were arrested on Saturday on fraud related charges.
Tens of thousands in need of aid
Monday 5 March 2018 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Tens of thousands of people in Papua New Guinea are in urgent need of supplies after last Monday’s powerful earthquake, aid agencies say.
Ardern team embarks on 'Pacific reset'
Monday 5 March 2018 | Published in Regional
PACIFIC – The New Zealand government has kicked off what it calls the “Pacific reset”, with Jacinda Ardern beginning her first trip to the region as Prime Minister.
Law schools cut ties with firm
Friday 2 March 2018 | Published in Regional
All six of the New Zealand’s university law schools have cut ties with law firm Russell McVeagh.
Fruit pickers need better pay
Friday 2 March 2018 | Published in Regional
Fruit growers will have to pay pickers more if they want to entice more workers into jobs, the Immigration Minister says.
Building industry gridlocked
Friday 2 March 2018 | Published in Regional
A building industry leader says Auckland’s gridlock has doubled delivery costs and some fed-up truck drivers have quit their jobs.
Californian instinctively drove on wrong side of road
Friday 2 March 2018 | Published in Regional
NEW ZEALAND – A Californian on holiday in New Zealand caused a head-on crash, injuring her partner and another driver, after instinctively driving on the right-hand side of the road.
Polytech education sector in financial difficulty
Friday 2 March 2018 | Published in Regional
NEW ZEALAND – Polytechnic mergers are not being ruled out as the sector tries to find a way to survive mounting financial pressures.
Kiwi teenager tried to kill the queen
Friday 2 March 2018 | Published in Regional
NEW ZEALAND – A mentally deranged teenager tried to kill Queen Elizabeth during a royal visit visit to New Zealand in 1981, declassified official documents have confirmed.
New Zealand 'resets' Pacific strategy
Friday 2 March 2018 | Published in Regional
NEW ZEALAND – Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has promised to increase New Zealand’s development spending in the Pacific as part of a regional “reset”.
Death toll could be in hundreds
Friday 2 March 2018 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – There is still no official death toll from Papua New Guinea’s 7.5 magnitude earthquake, but as accounts of the damage start to filter through fears are growing that it could be hundreds of dead rather than dozens.
Who gets to decide if Bridges is 'Maori enough?'
Thursday 1 March 2018 | Published in Regional
NEW ZEALAND – The National Party has elected its first Maori leader, Simon Bridges. And to make it even more significant, deputy leader Paula Bennett is also Maori.
National selects first Maori leader
Thursday 1 March 2018 | Published in Regional
NEW ZEALAND – Simon Bridges says he hopes Maori can be proud the National Party has elected their first Maori leader.
Still struggling after cyclone
Thursday 1 March 2018 | Published in Regional
TONGA – Two weeks after the category four cyclone scored a direct hit on the capital Nuku’alofa and the main island of Tongatapu, up to 50,000 people are still without power and a consistent supply of clean drinking water.
'Significant damage' after earthquake
Thursday 1 March 2018 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Reports of significant and widespread damage are slowly emerging from earthquake-hit central Papua New Guinea.
Months to reopen hill route
Wednesday 28 February 2018 | Published in Regional
It could take months before the Takaka Hill Road resumes normal service, the Transport Agency says.
Peak track under scrutiny
Wednesday 28 February 2018 | Published in Regional
Planning rules that allowed a controversial track to be built up the side of Te Mata Peak without notified consent will be scrutinised by Hastings District Council’s Maori committee this week.
Golfer killed by errant ball
Wednesday 28 February 2018 | Published in Regional
A man has died days after being hit on the head by a golf ball.
State Highway One through Kaikoura closed again
Wednesday 28 February 2018 | Published in Regional
NEW ZEALAND – State Highway One through Kaikoura is likely to remain closed until the end of the week.