Regional
New claims of police brutality in Fiji
Thursday 22 February 2018 | Published in Regional
FIJI – New accusations of police brutality with claims of torture and rape have surfaced in Fiji.
Targets won't halt seas rising
Wednesday 21 February 2018 | Published in Regional
PACIFIC – New research shows targets set out in the Paris climate change agreement may not be enough to offset sea level rise in the next 300 years. The research, published this week in the journal Nature Communications, says the world will experience sea level rise of between 0.7 and 1.2 metres even if the targets are met.
New images reveal cyclone's wrath
Wednesday 21 February 2018 | Published in Regional
TONGA – New photographs taken just yesterday around the eastern area of Tonga’s main island of Tongatapu show extensive damage to homes, vegetation and schools caused by the category four Cyclone Gita.
Newborn baby deaths a 'serious concern'
Wednesday 21 February 2018 | Published in Regional
PACIFIC – UNICEF says the rate of newborn deaths in Kiribati, Papua New Guinea and the Federated States of Micronesia remains alarmingly high.
Refusing medical help
Wednesday 21 February 2018 | Published in Regional
NAURU – A female asylum seeker on Nauru with a life-threatening heart condition is refusing an offer to be transferred overseas for medical treatment, saying she will not go without her son.
Tongan schools in post-cyclone crisis
Tuesday 20 February 2018 | Published in Regional
TONGA – As Cyclone Gita roared across Tonga last week it destroyed government buildings, churches and private homes – it also smashed the island’s schools and has sabotaged the immediate education prospects of hundreds of Tongan children.
Communication before and during cyclone criticised
Tuesday 20 February 2018 | Published in Regional
SAMOA – Concerns are being raised in the two Samoas about the state of emergency communications and the lack of updates during Cyclone Gita.
Poor building standards exposed
Tuesday 20 February 2018 | Published in Regional
TONGA – Cyclone Gita’s trail of destruction has exposed poor building standards in Tonga
Where are missing observers?
Monday 19 February 2018 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Papua New Guinea’s government has been asked to investigate the disappearance of nationals aboard foreign fishing vessels in recent years.
Post-cyclone recovery continues
Monday 19 February 2018 | Published in Regional
TONGA – Tonga’s disaster authorities say good progress is being made getting emergency shelter out to the remote villages lashed by Cyclone Gita.
Cyclone alert in New Caledonia
Monday 19 February 2018 | Published in Regional
NEW CALEDONIA – A level 1 storm alert was issued for New Caledonia’s Isle of Pines yesterday as Tropical Cyclone Gita was forecast to pass tonight.
Parliament 'homeless'
Monday 19 February 2018 | Published in Regional
TONGA – As Tonga struggles to recover from Cyclone Gita, authorities are looking for somewhere to host the next Parliamentary sessions next month.
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.