Sailors from Tahiti edged over Rarotonga, proving to be very competitive taking out first place in both the Lasers and the Optimist classes, winning the 2024 sailing challenge overall trophy.
Former Cook Islands prime minister and secretary-general of the Pacific Islands Forum, Henry Puna, has been confirmed as the first Cook Islander appointed to the East-West Center Board of Governors based in Honolulu, Hawaii.
FIJI – There is an acute and widespread need for water in Fiji’s west following the weekend’s dousing by Cyclone Josie.
FIJI – The death toll in Fiji now stands at five as survivors relate their stories of loved ones who were swept away by raging floodwaters during Cyclone Josie on Sunday.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – The earthquake repair bill for roads in Papua New Guinea’s Enga, Southern Highlands and Hela provinces is expected to be more than US$12 million, according to PNG’s Works Secretary David Wereh.
FIJI – Fiji’s prime minister has said the Pacific island nation is in “a fight for survival” as climate change brings “almost constant” deadly cyclones to Pacific islands.
NEW ZEALAND – Newcomers and previous winners have been announced as finalists for the 2018 Pacific Music Awards.
NEW ZEALAND – The magic of storytelling Pacific Island-style has seen audiences return in droves to see a popular Pacific comedy group for performances at this month’s Auckland Arts Festival.
NAURU – It has been revealed that Nauru’s government has secretly scrapped its links to the High Court of Australia which served as Nauru’s court of appeal – impacting on the rights of asylum seekers to challenge the refusal of refugee status.
FIJI – Tropical Cyclone Josie has caused severe flooding in parts of Fiji, with four people reported dead and one missing.
TONGA – It seems that ministers of the Tonga government and their officials are all following their own logic, writes a commentator on the Matangi Tonga news site.
TONGA – A woman boxer will be Tonga’s flag bearer at the XXI Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia next week.
Once people thought the Amazon was a near-uninhabited rainforest before the Europeans turned up, but researchers say they have found new evidence that it was in fact a hive of human culture and home to millions of people.
Earth’s nights are getting brighter, and that has scientists concerned.
NEW ZEALAND – A Timaru woman says calls to change compulsory helmet rules are ridiculous, after a helmet saved her husband’s life.
NEW ZEALAND – The New Zealand health system is facing a funding shortfall so bad that three DHBs are likely to need at least $4.3 billion in capital expenditure alone.
NEW ZEALAND – Ed Sheeran’s tour in Dunedin this week has been called the city’s biggest event ever, and is hoped to bring its biggest economic windfall since the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
NEW ZEALAND – Counties Manukau DHB was reluctant to ask the previous National-led government for funding to fix mouldy, rotting and unstable buildings because of pressure from ministers to stay in surplus, its acting CEO says.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – The controversial Papua New Guinea lawyer Paul Paraka has launched legal action seeking damages for the long-running probe into state payments to his law firm.
FIJI – Fijian opposition MP Mosese Bulitavu has lost his seat in parliament after being convicted on six year old sedition charges.
VANUATU – Residents on Ambae in Vanuatu are living in fear as their island’s volcano continues to belch fire and ash with the danger level of the Manaro Voui crater at level 3 – signifying an escalating eruption event.
TONGA – Tonga’s Education Minister remains adamant that girls should not play rugby or take part in boxing.