More Top Stories
Cook Islands has its first mosque
14 November 2024
CI Muslim opens up about her faith and journey
16 November 2024
RAC to address mosque legality
19 November 2024
I don’t expect much change: PM Brown on US Elections
6 November 2024
Fifth weekly Sydney flight to Rarotonga announced
23 October 2024
CIIC directors seek $350,000 in damages over defamatory claims
21 October 2024
Man found guilty of rape, burglary
24 September 2024
Tenants face water bill burden
8 October 2024
Concerns over Minister’s role in inmate work releases: PAC
5 October 2024
Tourism contribution set to surpass half-billion dollar mark
25 September 2024
Parliament’s 12 sitting days sufficient for business: Clerk
24 September 2024
Parliament Clerk sparks outrage over deep sea mining statement
23 September 2024
Parliament’s 12 sitting days sufficient for business: Clerk
24 September 2024
Tapaitau and Charlie-Puna released to ‘family jobs’
21 September 2024
Police apprehend four juveniles in connection with motorcycle thefts
23 September 2024
Deep sea dilemma: Cook Islanders weigh the cost of mineral riches
21 September 2024
Anxiety on the rise: Cook Islands faces mental health challenge
7 September 2024
Cook Islands deep sea mining poll sparks controversy
7 September 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
Rising seas, rising costs: Climate impacts on Cook Islands economy
2 September 2024
Inflation eases but concerns remain
31 August 2024
Prime Minister defends $659,000 MPs travel bill
23 August 2024
Taxpayers foot $659,000 bill for MPs travel and allowance
22 August 2024
Corruption report exposes ‘bribe and sexual favours’
17 January 2023
PM Brown eager to hand over Forum chair role to Tonga
13 August 2024
ICI explains road works delay in front of old Sheraton site
10 August 2024
Diaspora dismayed over lack of Te Maeva Nui livestream
8 August 2024
Everyone is a winner, says Culture
7 August 2024
Local women outshine global peers in business leadership
8 August 2024
Housing crisis hits tourism industry
27 July 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
Challenging ‘rape culture’
8 July 2024
Pacific
Roadshow not consultation
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.
USP Student body represents 14,000 students
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.
Domestic violence action plan
PACIFIC – Studies are to be undertaken in several Pacific island countries to measure the economic cost of domestic violence as part of a Commonwealth-wide project.
Inland naval base purchase probed
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has announced an administrative inquiry will investigate a scandal over the relocation of Port Moresby’s naval base.
Police taught about human rights
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – A new human rights training programme for police in Papua New Guinea is to emphasise the ethical responsibilities of police officers during this year’s general election.
Finlayson seeks advice on deradicalisation
New Zealand has sought advice on deradicalisation from the Malaysian Government, whose anti-terror programmes have been praised as world-leading.
Third of Kiwis deported from Australia reoffend
Almost a third of Kiwis deported from Australia in the last two years have reoffended, according to police figures.
Parihaka rejects Crown cash
Parihaka, the village at the centre of non-violent resistance to land confiscations in Taranaki during the 1870s, has rejected the cash on offer as part of a deal with the Crown.
Chief proclaims autonomy
VANUATU – A Vanuatu chief, who gained notoriety by appearing in court to face criminal charges while wearing traditional dress, claims to have set up an autonomous town at his home base in East Pentecost.
Fiji Sevens to focus on discipline in Vegas
FIJI – The Fiji sevens team have spent the past few weeks coming to terms with rugby’s new tackle laws, in an effort to keep their players on the field.
Resources must benefit the people
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – PNG’s Opposition Leader Don Polye is calling for the petroleum and energy sector to ensure resource owners’ get greater benefits.
Opeloge may get monetary reward
SAMOA – Pressure is mounting on the Samoa government to do more to recognise Ele Opeloge’s achievement of winning the country’s first ever Olympic medal.
Manus medical clinic may shut down
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – The medical clinic at Australia’s detention centre on Manus Island may be shut down because its operator did not comply with medical registration laws
NFL sued over player's death
AMERICAN SAMOA – The widow of former American football player, who was born in American Samoa, has brought a wrongful death suit against the National Football League and the manufacturer of football helmets.
Palau's tourism dilemma relevant to other islands
PALAU – The Asian Development Bank says Palau is facing urgent infrastructure and environmental challenges due to its booming tourism industry.
Movie a major tourism advertisement for Tanna
VANUATU – The South Pacific Tourism Organisation is urging tourism operators in Vanuatu to take advantage of international publicity around the film Tanna.
Islanders helping to rebuild Christchurch
NEW ZEALAND – Six years after Christchurch’s destructive 6.3 magnitude earthquake the rebuild programme is now being used to provide training for workers from the Pacific.
Vanuatu gets tough on sex crimes
VANUATU – The Vanuatu government has amended its criminal code to toughened up on punishments fora variety of sex and violence crimes.
Anti-logging protesters arrested
SOLOMON ISLANDS – The police in Solomon Islands have arrested more than 60 people involved in a logging dispute in Western Province.
Independence ultimate goal
French Polynesia – French Polynesia’s pro-independence leader Oscar Temaru says strong support for his presidential bid would give him a mandate to make a declaration of sovereignty.
Manus Island murderer on the run
Papua New Guinea – Police in Papua New Guinea are appealing for help to capture one of the escaped killers of Iranian asylum seeker Reza Barati.
All issues are relevant to people with disabilities
SAMOA – The Pacific Disability Forum is meeting in Samoa this week to focus on building a more inclusive and equitable Pacific for people with disabilities. Representatives from 19 Pacific countries and territories are attending the five-day conference in Apia. The forum’s chief executive officer, Setareki Macanawai, told Radio New Zealand’s Dateline Pacific what issues the conference is expected to cover. “For example, education, talking about employment, violence against women with disabilities, talk about disaster, about climate change, the whole works. “It is a diverse range of topics. We’re looking at equity, we’re looking at inclusion for people with disabilities. It is our dream, in terms of living side by side, with our brothers and sisters and family members in individual countries and territories.” DATELINE PACIFIC: How well is the Pacific region doing on disability issues at the moment? “ We have governments developing disability policies but we also need, hence the theme of this conference, to ensure that the mainstream society – policies, budgets, frameworks – are including people with disabilities and their rights and aspirations. “So, I think there’s still a way to go but countries in the Pacific, most of them have already signed disability treaties, which is a good sign. The next step is implementation, monitoring and then reporting.” DATELINE PACIFIC: You mentioned climate change. How does that relate to disability issues or how could it relate in the future? “Good question. Everything relates to people with disabilities. At the end of the day, people with disabilities are human beings just like anyone else. “So whatever’s affecting the human being, the person, is affecting a person with a disability. “So climate change – our governments, our civil societies, our region are grappling with an issue – when you talk about relocating a village that’s close to a coastal area because of the rising sea level, there will be people with disabilities in that village. “In the relocation of that village, how can we accommodate the accessibility needs of that person with a disability? When you’re building a new home? when you’re setting up a new village? Climate change affects people with disabilities and I think sometimes we forget.” - Dateline Pacific