Pacific

Prolonged drought impacting food, water across Micronesia

Extreme droughts in the Western Pacific region are expected to persist over the next three months.

Solomon Islands PM retains seat, vote counting continues

Solomon Islands’ pro-China Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has retained his seat in the national election, according to local media reports, but it will take days to know if his party has won enough support to form the next government.

MP Utikere: A privilege to serve his community

The visiting New Zealand Parliamentary delegation includes a Cook Islander who is making his first ‘official’ visit to his homeland.

Local MPs discuss challenges with NZ Speaker Parliamentary delegation

Cook Islands parliamentarians engaged in open discussions with Aotearoa New Zealand’s Speaker of the House of Representatives Gerry Brownlee and his delegation at Parliament House yesterday morning.

New Caledonian pro-independence activist issues dire warning to France

A pro-independence activist in New Caledonia is warning France to immediately halt planned constitution amendments or face "war".

Regulator defends Starlink users

Cook Islands telecommunications regulator head Bernard Hill said regional regulators who are banning the use of Starlink might have an “overinflated view” of their importance.

Teen pregnancy is high in Pacific countries, so what are the options for young mums?

Leading the way for women in the Pacific

Maria Ioane-Matua share her journey from a young Customs Officer to becoming the first female Chief of Customs for the Cook Islands Customs Service.

Kiribati judge hopes to finally have day in court

An expatriate judge in Kiribati hopes he will get a chance to make his case on Tuesday over his controversial suspension three years ago.

Aussie nursing students get a tropical dose of healthcare

Eight University of South Australia Bachelor of Nursing third-year students are visiting Rarotonga for a two-week study programme, immersing themselves in a different culture, a different health setting, and acquiring unique experiences.

Tabuya calls on party to ‘stand for fairness’ after being stripped of deputy leadership

Fiji's Minister for Women and Children Lynda Tabuya is calling on The People's Alliance Party to "stand for fairness and justice" after it stripped her of her deputy leadership following allegations of a sex and drug scandal. The People's Alliance Party (PAP) announced earlier this week that Ms Tabuya had been removed over the allegations, which date back to August last year.

Electoral Amendment Bill: Samoa will not be governed by outsiders

Samoa’s Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries La'auli Leuatea Schmidt says the country would not be ruled by outsiders, should a change to the electoral act go through.

Leader was an ‘extraordinary man’, widow says at funeral

The late Green Party MP Fa'anānā Efeso Collins has been remembered by his widow as an "extraordinary man" at a service in South Auckland.

NZ Minister sets ‘long-term’ house price target of 3 to 5 times household incomes

The new housing minister has set a target of having homes costing just three to five times household incomes - well below what they are now in most of New Zealand.

Parliament of Western Australia tours Te Kukupa II

The Parliament of Western Australia delegation visiting Rarotonga were delighted to take a tour on Te Kukupa II yesterday morning before leaving the island in the afternoon.

Western Australia gifts symbolic tables to Cook Islands Parliament

The two “Table of the House” tables gifted by the Parliament of Western Australia (WA) were officially handed over to Cook Islands Parliament yesterday morning.

$16.5 million grant boosts Cook Islands’ climate resilience efforts

A grant of $16.5 million is on its way to help the Cook Islands respond to climate change, announced New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters who visited Rarotonga yesterday.

New Zealand Ministers touch down in Rarotonga for 24-hour visit

New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters arrived in the Cook Islands last night after a day in Tonga.

New Zealand Ministers reaffirm Cook Islands connection

New Zealands Foreign Minister Winston Peters, and Health Minister and Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti are reaffirming the importance of New Zealand’s connections to the Pacific.