Regional
Cyclone was 'worst in living memory'
Thursday 15 February 2018 | Published in Regional
FIJI – A community leader on the Fiji island of Ono-i-lau says the damaging winds from yesterday’s cyclone Gita were the most frightening and dangerous on living memory on the island.
Tonga and Samoa face long recoveries
Thursday 15 February 2018 | Published in Regional
TONGA – Tonga could take six months or more to recover from what’s being called the worst storm there in 60 years, while nearly half of Fiji island’s residents are still in evacuation centres.
Move to get rid of Poverty
Wednesday 14 February 2018 | Published in Regional
NEW ZEALAND – Captain Cook saw nothing of value in Poverty Bay when he named it in 1769 – but 250 years later that could be about to change.
Collective arbitration urged
Wednesday 14 February 2018 | Published in Regional
FIJI – Pacific countries working together on international arbitration reform is the aim of discussions this week in Fiji.
UN concered at Fiji media curbs
Wednesday 14 February 2018 | Published in Regional
FIJI – The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights says the limits imposed on journalists in Fiji are “highly worrying.’’
Samoa needs building materials
Wednesday 14 February 2018 | Published in Regional
SAMOA – Families in Samoa who have had their houses severely affected by the flash floods says building materials is a huge demand post Cyclone Gita.
Neighbours responding with aid
Wednesday 14 February 2018 | Published in Regional
PACIFIC – Aid is on it way to Tonga. A RNZAF C130 Hercules aircraft carrying 12 tonnes of emergency relief supplies departed for Tonga yesterday.
Communications down in Lau islands
Wednesday 14 February 2018 | Published in Regional
FIJI – Fiji’s Red Cross has grave concerns for people on the Southern Lau islands of Ono-i-Lau and Vatoa, after communications went down.
Water, shelter and food main needs in Tonga
Wednesday 14 February 2018 | Published in Regional
TONGA – Disaster assessment teams in Tonga say water, shelter and food are the immediate needs for people still reeling from the destruction brought by Tropical Cyclone Gita.
Housing stocktake 'sobering'
Tuesday 13 February 2018 | Published in Regional
New Zealand’s Housing Minister Phil Twyford has released a “sobering” stocktake on housing which has found homelessness was worse than thought and there was a growing “floating” population of people in insecure housing.
Rain and more rain on the menu
Tuesday 13 February 2018 | Published in Regional
The New Zealand MetService issued a severe weather warning with heavy rain forecast in Northland at midday yesterday.
Tonga takes direct hit from cyclone
Tuesday 13 February 2018 | Published in Regional
TONGA – Tropical cyclone Gita hit Tonga overnight as a category four storm and the most intense to hit the country in 60 years.
Samoa assesses damage
Tuesday 13 February 2018 | Published in Regional
SAMOA – Some parts of Samoa are still under water following Tropical Cyclone Gita as emergency services struggle to clear roads and put back power on.
Ban could be the last straw
Monday 12 February 2018 | Published in Regional
HAWAI‘I – A bill to ban the sale and distribution of plastic straws in the US state of Hawaii is gathering support.
Plastic bottles scourge of the Pacific
Monday 12 February 2018 | Published in Regional
SAMOA – With a number of Pacific countries banning plastic bags in response to the pollution in the ocean, Samoa continues to face a dilemma on how to manage its waste.
Cyclone Gita churns through islands
Monday 12 February 2018 | Published in Regional
SAMOA – Samoa is in recovery mode after Cyclone Gita ravaged the island nation and now the storm system has Tonga in its sights.
Storm lashes islands
Monday 12 February 2018 | Published in Regional
SAMOA – Cyclone Gita is hitting Samoa and American Samoa with strong winds and torrential rains, and authorities are warning people to stay indoors.
Taufatofua takes his shirt of again
Monday 12 February 2018 | Published in Regional
TONGA – He did it again.
New Zealand to help Kiribati with marine safety
Monday 12 February 2018 | Published in Regional
KIRIBATI – New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is planning to look at wider distribution of emergency locator beacons in Kiribati in the wake of last month’s ferry disaster.
Judge orders medivac of refugee teen
Monday 12 February 2018 | Published in Regional
AUSTRALIA – Australia has been ordered to bring a young girl from the Nauru detention centre to Australia for urgent psychiatric treatment, with warnings she could take her own life without intervention.