Regional
Police getting prepared for PNG's national elections
Wednesday 22 March 2017 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Papua New Guinea’s police commissioner says provincial and divisional police commanders will have support from the national headquarters in managing potential hot-spots during the elections.
Vanuatu kava growers chase the US dollar
Wednesday 22 March 2017 | Published in Regional
VANUATU – Kava growers in Vanuatu are working hard to produce more noble varieties of kava for a fast growing market in America.
Food queue barriers amount to torture
Wednesday 22 March 2017 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Amnesty International says a barrier installed at Manus Island’s detention centre in Papua New Guinea could be tantamount to torture if it is making it difficult for detainees to access food.
Fiji looks to Singapore
Wednesday 22 March 2017 | Published in Regional
FIJI – The Fiji government is looking to Singapore for ideas on how to better improve its urban planning blueprint.
MP's parole bids rejected
Wednesday 22 March 2017 | Published in Regional
VANUATU – One of 14 former Vanuatu MPs jailed for corruption says his application for parole on medical grounds has been rejected four times.
Temaru has no regrets
Wednesday 22 March 2017 | Published in Regional
FRENCH POLYNESIA – An advisor of French Polynesia’s pro-independence leader Oscar Temaru says he has no regrets about the failed campaign to get him to stand in the French presidential election.
Papua's MSG inclusion talks 'fruitful'
Wednesday 22 March 2017 | Published in Regional
WEST PAPUA – The Melanesian Spearhead Group chairman Manasseh Sogavare says his talks in Papua New Guinea were fruitful, with West Papua membership and labour mobility issues covered.
Officials check out Tonga stadium
Wednesday 22 March 2017 | Published in Regional
TONGA – A delegation from World Rugby is visiting Tonga this week and will assess the state of Teufaiva National Stadium.
Nauru deports security officers
Wednesday 22 March 2017 | Published in Regional
NAURU – The Nauruan government has detained two Wilson Security officers who were employed at the Australian-run centre on the island.
Tongan teachers still hitting students
Wednesday 22 March 2017 | Published in Regional
TONGA – A children’s advocacy group in Tonga says there needs to be more training for teachers about appropriate disciplinary techniques after an 11-year-old student was severely beaten and hospitalised.
Verbal abuse started brawl
Tuesday 21 March 2017 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – A refugee on Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island says the fight that broke out between detainees and guards in one of the detention centre’s mess halls was sparked by verbal abuse from security personnel. The detainees objected to a barrier erected around the serving area which they say caused them to queue for up to an hour to receive their meals.
New Zealand cities going underwater
Tuesday 21 March 2017 | Published in Regional
New Zealand cities including Christchurch and Wellington could be inundated by global warming-induced rising sea levels, according to data from a National Geographic documentary.
Low expectations for small town kids
Tuesday 21 March 2017 | Published in Regional
The head girl of a Kaikohe college says a local approach is needed to tackle destructive youth behaviour in her home town.
Poll shows preference for Chinese
Tuesday 21 March 2017 | Published in Regional
A group representing Maori economic interests is concerned about a poll showing a preference for schoolchildren to learn Chinese.
Labour's Maori MPs to go 'electorate only'
Tuesday 21 March 2017 | Published in Regional
In a surprise move Labour’s Maori seat MPs have opted to stand as electorate MPs only, and not go on the party list.
Caution on use of Maori words
Tuesday 21 March 2017 | Published in Regional
Iwi leaders have raised concerns about the risks of using Māori words in legislation without proper context.
Tonga appoints first ombudsman
Tuesday 21 March 2017 | Published in Regional
TONGA – Tonga can finally say it has an Ombudsman after years of legislative preparation.
Resettlement deal appears underway
Tuesday 21 March 2017 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Officials from the US Department of Homeland Security are set to begin fingerprinting refugees on Manus Island and Nauru in preparation for resettlement in America under the US-Australia refugee deal.
Students living in tents as rental crises deepens
Friday 17 March 2017 | Published in Regional
A graduate student spent a night sheltering in Victoria University's library with her partner, amid reports of students couch-surfing, sleeping on floors and living in tents while they struggle to find homes.
Govt hit by backlash on CYF breach
Friday 17 March 2017 | Published in Regional
A Child, Youth and Family privacy breach is being brandished as proof the government cannot be trusted with people's private information.