Regional
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.
60 Minutes interview leaves bad taste
Wednesday 28 February 2018 | Published in Regional
NEW ZEALAND – New Zealanders have criticised an interview with their prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, as “creepy” and “sexist”.
Mould problem at Nauro RPC of 'epic proportions'
Wednesday 28 February 2018 | Published in Regional
NAURU – A microbiologist contracted to assess the mould in the Nauru immigration centre says the contamination was “of epic proportions” and presented a serious health hazard to those in the camp.
Aftershocks continue to shake central PNG
Wednesday 28 February 2018 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – People in central Papua New Guinea remain on edge with more than 20 powerful aftershocks rattling the region since Monday’s magnitude-7.5 earthquake.
Much of PNG isolated after quake
Wednesday 28 February 2018 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – More than 30 people are believed to have been killed and whole villages buried by landslides in Papua New Guinea’s Southern Highlands after a 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck yesterday.
Mayor wants more from Australia
Wednesday 28 February 2018 | Published in Regional
PNG – The acting mayor of Lorengau says Australia should do more for the Manus Island town that’s hosting refugees it has detained in Papua New Guinea.
Refugees told to 'return with dignity'
Wednesday 28 February 2018 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Refugees in Port Moresby have been told to voluntarily return to Manus Island with dignity – or be “compelled” to go back.
Valls favours staying French
Monday 26 February 2018 | Published in Regional
NEW CALEDONIA – A former French prime minister Manuel Valls says the French government should say before New Caledonia’s referendum what its preferred outcome is. Valls, who was in Noumea last week as the head of a French National Assembly delegation, was speaking at a public debate.
Corrupt officials making Tonga dysfunctional
Monday 26 February 2018 | Published in Regional
TONGA – Some senior government officials in Tonga have abused foreign-funded projects, Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has claimed.
Mould-infested tents a health hazard
Monday 26 February 2018 | Published in Regional
NAURU – Four years after the Australian government was repeatedly warned the mould growing throughout Nauru’s regional processing centres was making people sick, refugee families, including young children, are still being forced to live under rotting canvas in Nauru.
More refugees sent back
Monday 26 February 2018 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Thirteen more refugees detained in Papua New Guinea by Australia have been returned to Manus Island from Port Moresby.
Case dropped against unionist
Monday 26 February 2018 | Published in Regional
fiji – A prominent trade unionist in Fiji said he’s not surprised the public prosecutor has decided not to push ahead with charges against him. Felix Anthony, who is the head of the Trade Unions Congress, was arrested at the end of January over comments he made in support of striking airport workers in Nadi.