Regional
Missile takes down drone
Thursday 16 March 2017 | Published in Regional
USA – A Patriot missile priced at about US$3 million was used to shoot down a small quadcopter drone, according to a US general.
Woken up by exploding headphones
Thursday 16 March 2017 | Published in Regional
AUSTRALIA – Australian authorities have warned about the dangers of using battery-powered devices on flights after a woman’s headphones caught fire.
Candidate under investigation
Thursday 16 March 2017 | Published in Regional
FRANCE – The right wing French presidential candidate François Fillon has been placed under formal investigation for misuse of public funds.
Trump tax return leaked
Thursday 16 March 2017 | Published in Regional
USA – US President Donald Trump paid $38 million in tax on more than $150 million income in 2005, a leaked partial tax return shows.
Capital city's water leaking
Wednesday 15 March 2017 | Published in Regional
NEW ZEALAND – Pipes in New Zealand’s capital are leaking a million litres of water a day as a result of the powerful November 2016 earthquake.
Blue boats plague territory
Wednesday 15 March 2017 | Published in Regional
NEW CALEDONIA – Maritime authorities in New Caledonia say 70 so-called “blue boats” from Vietnam have been identified fishing illegally for beche-de-mer in the past nine months.
Tonga considers deportation issues
Wednesday 15 March 2017 | Published in Regional
TONGA – Deportee reintegration is a major concern for Tonga this week as US officials arrived to take part in a three-day conference with the Tongan government and law enforcement officials in Nuku‘alofa.
Manus MP confused by 'closure'
Wednesday 15 March 2017 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – There is confusion on Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island after the Supreme Court this week determined that the regional processing centre for asylum seekers on the island had officially closed.
Grab Bags prove to be life saving
Wednesday 15 March 2017 | Published in Regional
TUVALU – The importance of small boat safety in the region is being reiterated by the Pacific Community after the successful rescue of two fishermen in Tuvalu.
Goff calls for flood inquiry
Tuesday 14 March 2017 | Published in Regional
An investigation will be carried out on the failed New Lynn culvert and the Ardmore treatment plant that is struggling to filter dirty flood waters.
It's all go for Polyfest 2017
Tuesday 14 March 2017 | Published in Regional
Polyfest 2017 is back and it's got all the students in South Auckland upbeat about it.
Sewer check reveals extent of meth issue
Tuesday 14 March 2017 | Published in Regional
More than half a kilogram of methamphetamine has been found on average each day in Auckland's sewers, new research says.
PM suddenly less keen on tax cuts
Tuesday 14 March 2017 | Published in Regional
After talking up the likelihood of tax cuts on Monday morning (NZ time), prime minister Bill English somewhat curbed his enthusiasm for them after a cabinet meeting.
Baby swallowed pen cap
Tuesday 14 March 2017 | Published in Regional
FIJI – A family in Fiji is mourning the death of their 10-month-old baby who died after choking on a highlighter pen cap.
Died while saving baby
Tuesday 14 March 2017 | Published in Regional
SAMOA – An accident at Puipa’a in Samoa on Saturday evening, involving a rental car and a bus, claimed the life of a man who died after saving the life of a baby.
Tonga asks for US$50m
Tuesday 14 March 2017 | Published in Regional
TONGA – Tonga’s government says it needs at least 50 million US dollars worth of climate funding to deal with issues like coastal erosion.
Refugee detention centre 'closed'
Tuesday 14 March 2017 | Published in Regional
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – The Manus Island refugee detention centre off the coast of northern Papua New Guinea has been offically “closed”, despite the fact that roughly 860 men remain in it.
Samoans should 'stick to bingo'
Tuesday 14 March 2017 | Published in Regional
SAMOA – A bid to allow Samoans to access casinos in the country has been rejected by the country’s prime minister.
'Life and death' situation
Monday 13 March 2017 | Published in Regional
AMERICAN SAMOA – Medical sector workers in American Samoa says there is an urgent life and death situation with the hospital relying on a single paediatrician.
Quake-hit road repairs on schedule, says agency
Monday 13 March 2017 | Published in Regional
Work to repair quake-damaged State Highway 1 north of Kaikoura is on schedule, the NZ Transport Agency says - but some locals say they have doubts.