Non-government organisations are frustrated with the Cook Islands government seabed mineral consultations that are being held in New Zealand, calling for a 10-year moratorium to allow for independent research and capacity building within the Cook Islands.
The University of the South Pacific Students’ Association (USPSA) from 14 campuses spanning 12 member countries convened in Rarotonga yesterday representing the voice of 14,000 students.
TONGA – A Tongan businessman is angry local authorities have extended a curfew around the capital of Nuku‘alofa.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – When the Papua New Guinea team marches into the stadium at the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony in Australia in April, there will be one notable absentee – the track queen of the Pacific, Toea Wisil.
Wellingtonians are keen to see more tunnels in the city and light rail introduced to make the journey between Ngauranga and the airport and hospital easier. Feedback on the Let’s Get Wellington Moving initiative has been put together in a report.
Ground up insects, animal bile and bit of bones – also known as E numbers 120, 1000 and 542 – are just some of the ingredients vegans are constantly checking food labels for.
Striking workers have forced Lyttelton Port to close and will cause serious supply shortages, the port company says.
School students whose petition led to a national day of commemoration for the New Zealand wars are now asking for a public holiday to mark the occasion. At the weekend, Nga Puhi hosted the first major commemorations of the New Zealand wars, or Te Putake o Te Riri, in Northland.
NEW ZEALAND – World champion and award-winning shearer John Kirkpatrick is worried about the future of shearing as both a profession and as a sport.
NEW ZEALAND – More school counsellors, compulsory Te Reo Maori classes and cleaner bathrooms are a few of many changes New Zealand school students want for the education system.
NEW ZEALAND – The campaign director behind the recent success of New Zealand Labour is facing calls to resign after he failed to tell the police, parents or the prime minister about the alleged sexual assault of four teenagers at a summer camp held by the party.
SAMOA – Samoa’s Pacific Oil has just secured a joint venture with a large US multinational company, Dr. Bronners, to supply coconut oil for its Pacific soap products.
TONGA – A month after Cyclone Gita hit Tonga, police there are continuing to enforce a curfew around the capital of Nuku‘alofa.
TONGA – Tonga’s Prime Minister and two members of his cabinet have met the Attorney General in an effort to ease apparent tensions between the government and the legal advisor’s office.
NORFOLK ISLANDS – Aninternational human rights lawyer has launched a legal challenge with the United Nations on behalf of Norfolk Islanders, alleging the Australian government has placed islander’s culture and language at risk by revoking their right to self-govern.
PACIFIC – The rapid depletion of coral reefs could prove more damaging for small islands than sea level rise, according to recently published research. Coral reefs provide an important barrier for coastlines, creating friction that slows down and dissipates the energy of waves rushing in off the ocean.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – As authorities in Papua New Guinea start to get a clearer picture of the scale of the destruction caused by February’s magnitude-7.5 earthquake, there have been growing calls for the government to order a formal inquiry into what caused the quake.
VANUATU – Disaster authorities in Vanuatu say prioritising which communities to give aid to is proving a challenge after Cyclone Hola.
TONGA – Arrests made by Tonga police and the resignation of a cabinet minister have shaken up politics in Tonga.
The number of female jockeys in New Zealand is steadily rising, and expected to soon overtake the number of male jockeys.
NEW ZEALAND – Five people have been arrested and hundreds and thousands of dollars in assets seized in a drug bust in Wellington.
The Commerce Commission has refused another company takeover deal, this time with TradeMe.