July 2009

Pacific Year of climate change

Updated 31/07/2009 08:25:24

Each week we speak with a specialist from the Secretariat of the South Pacific Regional Environment Program, SPREP.

New Cook Islands foreign minister appointed

Updated 31/07/2009 08:25:24

Cook Islands government has moved quickly to appoint a new foreign minister after sacking Wilkie Rassmussen earlier this week.

Special - UN climate change envoy speaks out

Updated 31/07/2009 08:25:24

The head of the United Nations' climate agency says it won't matter if Australia turns up at global climate talks in Denmark later this year without a carbon emissions trading scheme in place.

Jellyfish blooms threaten fish stocks

Updated 31/07/2009 08:25:19

Jellyfish populations in oceans across the world have been exploding, fuelled by pollution, overfishing and perhaps, climate change.

Pacific islands' climate concerns are iIn Australia's interest.

Updated 31/07/2009 16:49:15

The head of the United Nations' Climate agency says it's in Australia's geo-political interest that the global climate talks in Denmark address the concerns of Pacific island countries.

Scientists developed first genetically-modified strain of malaria

Updated 31/07/2009 16:49:14

Australian scientists have developed the world's first genetically-modified strain of malaria...

Maori leader calls for Maori to respect pakeha burial customs

Updated 31/07/2009 16:49:15

A family dispute over the burial of a Maori man in New Zealand has sparked a debate over what happens when Maori and European customs clash.

PNG takes new direction in fight against Aids

Updated 31/07/2009 16:49:15

The Papua New Guinea National Aids Council says it's taking a new direction in its fight against the HIV and Aids epidemic in the country.

Tongan/English handbook on democracy to be distributed next month

Updated 31/07/2009 16:49:14

A group of university staff and students from New Zealand will visit Tonga in August to distribute a booklet outlining basic democratic concepts.

PINA secretariat set to stay in Fiji

Updated 30/07/2009 07:48:31

The Pacific's main media representative has decided not to shift its secretariat out of military-ruled Fiji.

Solomons experiments with teak plantations

Updated 30/07/2009 07:48:27

Logging practices in Solomon Islands have reduced the supply of timber from natural forests, jeopardising the backbone of the country's economy.

Solomons man held over fire at oil palm company HQ

Updated 30/07/2009 07:48:30

Solomon Islands police are investigating the destruction of the PNG-operated Guadalcanal Palm Oil company.

PNG faces tough battle to secure 2015 Pacific Games

Updated 30/07/2009 07:48:30

Our regular guest Syd Yates, CEO of Kina Securities in Papua New Guinea, joins Pacific Beat for a look at the week in business and finance.

Samoa school shutdown likely to continue

Updated 30/07/2009 07:48:30

A week-long closure of government schools in Samoa is under way to help contain the spread of swine flu.

Cooks PM under pressure after foreign minister's exit

Updated 30/07/2009 07:48:31

The departure of the foreign minister comes at delicate time for the Cook Islands prime minister, with a meeting of caucus due.

Cooks foreign minister sacked

Updated 30/07/2009 07:48:31

Cook Islands Foreign Minister Wilkie Rasmussen has been dismissed by the Prime Minister Jim Marurai for disloyalty.

Australian foreign aid to Pacific 'wasted' on consultants

Updated 30/07/2009 07:48:30

The spotlight is again on foreign aid from Australia after comments by East Timor's president Jose Ramos Horta that foreign aid was being spent on East Timor but not in East Timor.

PNG resources boom prompts call for national trust fund

Updated 30/07/2009 07:48:30

Papua New Guinea's economy has seen plenty of highs and lows over the years.

New twist in Vanuatu vs New Caledonia islands dispute

Updated 30/07/2009 15:58:36

A diplomatic standoff between France and Vanuatu over the ownership of the two tiny uninhabited islands Matthew and Hunter has erupted again.

Call for repatriation of Solomons conflict remains

Updated 30/07/2009 15:58:37

The premier of Solomon Islands' Guadalcanal Province says the remains of people killed during the five years of ethnic conflict in the country must be handed back to their relatives.

NZ referendum to decide child discipline law

Updated 30/07/2009 15:58:37

New Zealanders are about to vote on Friday on whether or not parents have the right to physically discipline their kids.

New Caledonian MP outlines hopes for French Pacific meet

Updated 30/07/2009 15:58:37

Tomorrow, leaders from the South Pacific region are meeting in New Caledonia to discuss security, the economy, social development as well as climate change.

Major Solomons investor threatens pull-out after fire

Updated 30/07/2009 15:58:37

One of Solomon Islands' biggest foreign investor in recent years, the PNG-operated Guadalcanal Plains Palm Oil Limited, is considering pulling out of the country.

Fiji attorney-general lays-out president succession plan

Updated 30/07/2009 15:58:37

Who will succeed Ratu Josefa Iloilo as Fiji's president has become the most contemplated question of the week.

Parliament adjournment could spark PNG contitutional crisis

Updated 30/07/2009 15:58:37

There are fears the adjournment of Papua New Guinea's parliament could create a constitutional crisis for the country.

Samoa deputy PM accused of dividing regional trade bloc

Updated 30/07/2009 15:58:37

A leading Pacific NGO says Australia and New Zealand are continuing to use bullying tactics in trade negotiations, and accuses Samoa's Deputy Prime Minister, Misa Telefoni, of working with them to create a split among Pacific Island nations.

Overseas students demand changes in Australian policy

Updated 29/07/2009 08:36:58

The reputation of Australia's overseas education sector has suffered another blow with the abrupt closure of a private college in Sydney.

Vanuatu growth rates shows Pacific can do well

Updated 29/07/2009 08:37:04

There's a bright spot in some of the economic gloom around the Pacific at the moment -- Vanuatu.

Pacific Games venue selection well under way

Updated 29/07/2009 08:37:04

Three countries are vying for the right to host the Pacific Games in 2015...and the selection process is well under way.

Palau president calls for small state unity at Pacific Forum

Updated 29/07/2009 08:37:04

The threat posed by climate change to the smaller Pacific states will be high on the agenda when the leaders of the region sit down for next week's Pacific Islands Forum being held in Australia.

NZ Climate Change modelling criticised

Updated 29/07/2009 08:37:04

New Zealand's newly-released economic modelling on the cost of cutting its Greenhouse gas emissions has been criticised for not taking into account all the potential changes likely to occur.

Questions over the future of PINA

Updated 29/07/2009 08:37:05

The Pacific Media Forum is gaining prominence in the region, and members are attending this week's Pacific Islands News Association Conference in Vanuatu.

Uncertainty clouds importance, role of Fiji head of state

Updated 29/07/2009 08:37:05

The resignation of Fiji's President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, means a transition process in now under way.

Fiji begins search for new president

Updated 29/07/2009 08:37:05

A prominent Fijian political figure and trade unionist predicts coup leader Frank Bainimarama will be "groping" to find a new president from the "chiefly" community that will have the respect of the people.

PNG government survives opposition no confidence push

Updated 29/07/2009 08:37:05

The government of Papua New Guinea has been parading its numbers in parliament to prove that it's not vulnerable to a vote of no confidence.

Humans cause of latest great extinction event

Updated 29/07/2009 17:28:30

Many scientists believe we are now living in the midst of another big extinction event, although this time the cause of the mass die-off is easier to identify - humans.

Peak Pacific media association on wane: Editor

Updated 29/07/2009 17:28:30

The fate of the Pacific Islands News Association Secretariat is to be decided at Wednesday's annual general meeting, currently underway in Vanuatu.

Disgust as Fiji censor fronts media freedom panel

Updated 29/07/2009 17:28:30

Some delegates at the Pacific Islands News Association conference in Vanuatu have questioned why a military censor from Fiji was allowed to appear on a panel dealing with media freedom in the region.

PNG parliament in recess as no-confidence left hanging

Updated 29/07/2009 17:28:30

There were rowdy scenes in the Papua New Guinea parliament this afternoon as the government and the opposition continue their increasingly bitter fight over yesterday's no-confidence fizzer.

World's first climate refugees describe challenges

Updated 29/07/2009 17:28:30

The Carteret Islanders of Papua New Guinea are among the world's first environmental refugees, with locals already relocating due to the impacts of climate change.

Fiji media curbs restrict dialogue on women's issues

Updated 28/07/2009 08:40:29

Discussion of women's issues has been restricted by the military's curbs on the media in Fiji.

Fiji censor prompts PINA walkout

Updated 28/07/2009 08:40:29

The editor-in-chief of the Fiji Times has walked out of the Pacific Islands News Association conference in Vanuatu in protest at having to share a panel with the Fiji interim government's censor.

Police back big church gathering in Fiji

Updated 28/07/2009 08:40:29

An inter-denominational church gathering will begin in Fiji on Wednesday -- backed by the police.

Australia confident of Pacific Forum unity over Fiji

Updated 28/07/2009 08:40:29

Australia is hosting next week's summit of Pacific island leaders, and Fiji is again likely to be the subject of much discussion.

Cook Islands hands down big spending budget

Updated 28/07/2009 08:40:29

A new budget has been handed down in Cook Islands.

Hawaii threatened by meat-munching wasps

Updated 28/07/2009 08:40:26

It is the stuff of Hollywood horror movies.

Australia cops flak from Pacific for climate neglect

Updated 28/07/2009 17:23:36

The Australian government has rejected criticism that it's doing too little on climate change in the Pacific, pointing to its international and regional efforts since coming to office almost two years ago.

Tales of climate change already effecting Tokelau, Kiribati

Updated 28/07/2009 17:23:36

A new report by a pair of NGOs says that Australia and New Zealand need to stop being part of the problem, and start being part of the solution for Pacific Islanders whose lives are already being impacted by climate change.

Fiji newspaperman storms out of media conference

Updated 28/07/2009 17:23:36

Representatives of media organisations from throughout the Pacific are meeting in Vanuatu and discussing how they might support their colleagues in Fiji who are suffering under tight military censorship.

No-confidence no-show for PNG parliamentary vote

Updated 28/07/2009 17:23:37

Papua New Guinea's opposition believed it had the numbers to topple the government of Sir Michael Somare with a vote of no-confidence early Tuesday - as things turned out though, not enough members turned up to parliament for the vote.

Outcry in Solomons over MP terminal grants

Updated 28/07/2009 17:23:37

In Solomon Islands there's been public outcry over the Parliamentary Entitlements Commission's decision to award members of parliament huge increases in allowances and so-called 'terminal grants'.

Fiji President Ratu Josefa Iloilo to retire

Updated 28/07/2009 17:23:37

Fiji's interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, has announced the retirement of the country's head of state, President Ratu Josefa Iloilo.

Ancient species found beneath Antarctic ice

Updated 28/07/2009 17:23:32

Australian scientists have uncovered a diverse and abundant seabed community in the darkest depths of Antarctic waters.

Avalanche engulfs tourists in New Zealand

Updated 27/07/2009 09:50:07

In New Zealand, adventure sports have claimed the life of an Australian tourist, buried in an avalanche while heli-skiing.

Researchers throw new light on what drives extreme sports

Updated 27/07/2009 09:50:07

Jumping off the top of a mountain in a suit fitted with wings might sound like a death wish to most.

PINA summit gets under way in Port Vila

Updated 27/07/2009 09:50:07

The Pacific Islands News Association conference is under way in Vanuatu, with media freedom and Fiji high on the agenda of discussions.

Australia under pump to boost climate change aid

Updated 27/07/2009 09:50:07

There's pressure on the Australian government to substantially upgrade it's help for Pacific states in the face of climate change, with the issue set to be a major one for the looming Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting.

Fiji watcher defends Commonwealth role

Updated 27/07/2009 09:50:07

The Commonwealth's role over Fiji has been defended by a long-time watcher of that country's politics.

Fiji govt outlines constitutional changes

Updated 27/07/2009 09:50:07

Fiji can expect a new look parliament after the 2014 elections, according to recent announcements by the country's military leader.

The undercutting of Fiji's traditional chiefs

Updated 27/07/2009 09:50:07

A prominent regional specialist says the traditional role of chiefs in Fijian society is on the wane.

Guam residents focus on health care reform

Updated 27/07/2009 09:50:07

A number of families in Guam who can't afford health insurance are anxiously waiting to see if a universal healthcare bill will pass through the Legislature.

Concern over the US military's Guam build up

Updated 27/07/2009 09:50:07

A retired US army Colonel and diplomat has told Guam residents she's concerned about the planned American military buildup.

Fiji netballers getting into gear for next comp

Updated 27/07/2009 09:50:04

Fiji's netballers prepare for international youth games, and Pacific mini-games in Cook Islands.

Pacific climate dangers losing out to resource stampede

Updated 27/07/2009 17:02:19

Climate change is looming as a key issue for next week's Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting, and a former senior Fijian public service says the Pacific's been forgotten in the climate change debate.

Australia targets Guam military, families for nip-tuck

Updated 27/07/2009 17:02:19

For some time now, many Westerners have opted to combine cheaper surgery overseas with a holiday in places such as Thailand and to a lesser extent, Singapore.

IFC considers investment in Solomons Gold Ridge mine

Updated 27/07/2009 17:02:20

The International Finance Corporation is considering a major investment in the Gold Ridge mine in Solomon Islands.

Former Fiji Methodist President wants conference cancelled

Updated 27/07/2009 17:02:20

A former President of the Fiji Methodist Church has called for the controversial church conference next month to be cancelled to save the country from further unrest.

Australian TV current affairs program grills Fiji leader

Updated 27/07/2009 17:02:20

The region's largest meeting of the year, the Pacific Islands Forum, kicks-off next week in Cairns and will be without official representation from Fiji or its interim prime minister and coup leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

Fiji NGO chief defends interim government dialogue

Updated 27/07/2009 17:02:20

Reverend Akuila Yabaki, head of the pro-democracy non-government organisation the Citizens Constitutional Forum recently gave a speech at the University of Queensland, outlining what he thinks is the best way to get Fiji back on track.

Palau President calls for Fiji compromise

Updated 27/07/2009 17:02:20

Fiji may not be represented at next week's Pacific Islands Forum in the northern Australian city of Cairns, but it's certain that Frank Bainimarama's military-led regime won't be very far from the leaders' minds.

Mourning for Kiribati ferry tragedy missing presumed dead

Updated 27/07/2009 17:02:20

Kiribati Maritime Police say the 18 people listed as missing following the catamaran tragedy three weeks ago are now presumed dead.

Former NZ PM breezy in New York interview

Updated 27/07/2009 17:02:18

Former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark, now holds a very senior position with the United Nations in New York.

Islands struggle to dispose of solid waste

Updated 24/07/2009 08:29:06

The remoteness and size of many Pacific islands makes it difficult for solid waste to be easily removed or buried - as is the way in many other nations on earth.

First medallion awarded to PNG Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel

Updated 24/07/2009 08:29:06

It has taken more than sixty years, but yesterday the first medallion was awarded to a Papua New Guinea's Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel in recognition of his heroism in helping Australian soldiers during World War Two.

Indigenous Australians housing money squandered

Updated 24/07/2009 08:29:06

The question of how Australia addresses Indigenous disadvantage is again in the headlines with news that a big government fund for new housing has not produced a single dwelling.

Carbon emissions target well below needs: Scientist

Updated 24/07/2009 08:29:06

Despite urgent global warming warnings, there is little hope that December's Copenhagen climate change meeting will secure an international agreement.

Call for Pacific Islands Forum to act on climate change

Updated 24/07/2009 08:29:06

Oxfam and Greenpeace have launched the final phase of their push to get the Pacific Islands Forum to endorse strong action on climate change.

Balibo film spurs talk of repatriating journalists' ashes

Updated 24/07/2009 08:29:06

More than 30 years after five Australian-based newsmen were killed in East Timor, Shirley Shackleton - the widow of the late Channel Seven reporter Greg Shackelton - says it's time for her husband's remains to be brought home.

Immunity withdrawn from former French Polynesian leader

Updated 24/07/2009 08:29:06

In an unusual move, the French Senate has removed former president Gaston Flosse's parliamentary immunity.

FSM president calls for continued Fiji dialogue

Updated 24/07/2009 08:29:07

The President of the Federated States of Micronesia has cautioned against the Pacific Islands Forum from being too hard on Fiji.

Aboriginal remains welcomed home

Updated 24/07/2009 17:28:12

Representatives from two Australian Aboriginal communities have welcomed home the century-old remains of their ancestors.

East Timor's president dismisses 'failing state' tag

Updated 24/07/2009 17:28:12

East Timor's president says modern, democratic Indonesia still has a long way to go to bring to justice those that have perpetrated violence against the East Timorese, as well as in areas such as Aceh and Papua.

Sea temperature hits record monthly high

Updated 24/07/2009 17:28:12

The surface temperature of oceans across the world has reached a record high for the month of June and scientists say climate change is to blame.

The key role of the church in the Pacific

Updated 24/07/2009 17:28:12

Fijian consultant, Emele Duituturaga, has used a visit to Australia to call on Pacific governments to recognise that the church represents the majority in the Pacific.

Fiji confrontation a 'dangerous nightmare'

Updated 24/07/2009 17:28:12

A prominent Fiji observer has warned that the confrontation between church and state in the country is extremely dangerous.

Australia condemns Fiji arrests

Updated 24/07/2009 17:28:12

Australia says the recent arrests in Fiji are another regrettable step back for democracy and human rights in the country.

Fijian chief's lawyer says charges will be defended

Updated 24/07/2009 17:28:13

Legal proceedings against a Fijian Paramount Chief over a banned church conference have been deferred for 21 days.

NZ murder prompts calls to drop 'provocation' defence

Updated 23/07/2009 08:50:11

A newly completed court case has found a New Zealand university tutor guilty of murdering his ex-girlfriend who was a student at his school.

Link between TV sport and HIV spread in PNG

Updated 23/07/2009 08:50:10

Papua New Guinea's Business Coalition Against HIV/AIDS believes televised sporting events could be a link to the spread of the virus.

New Guinea Energy snares major partner

Updated 23/07/2009 08:50:11

New Guinea Energy has struck an agreement with an unnamed major multinational oil company to fund a siesmic and drilling program near the Indonesian border of Papua New Guinea.

Family of murdered Vanuatu man takes retribution

Updated 23/07/2009 08:50:11

Police on Santo in Vanuatu have agreed to relocate 60 families for their own safety after a Santo man was killed at the weekend.

Swine flu spreads quickly through island community

Updated 23/07/2009 08:50:11

The Mayor of Palm Island off Australia's north-eastern coast is worried swine flu will ravage the community and has likened its living conditions to the poorer areas of Mexico.

Fiji leaders 'indifferent' to foreign opinion: Academic

Updated 23/07/2009 08:50:11

Fiji's interim government's detention of leading community and church figures shows the coup leaders are indifferent to possible international condemnation.

Catholics show support for detained Fiji Methodists

Updated 23/07/2009 08:50:11

While Fiji's Methodist Church has been the main target of this particular crackdown, other denominations have been largely quiet, but yesterday evening the Catholic Womens League showed their support and organised a vigil for the incarcerated.

Fiji leader responds to detention of church leaders

Updated 23/07/2009 08:50:11

Commodore Frank Bainimarama has confirmed unapologetically on Fiji radio that the military is holding several key members of the influential Methodist Church, as well as one of the country's paramount chiefs.

Australian population rockets towards 22m

Updated 23/07/2009 08:50:09

Australia's population is set to hit 22 million before the end of the year -- 40 years earlier than expected.

Hawaii to get world's biggest telescope

Updated 23/07/2009 18:13:49

Hawaii has been chosen as the site for the world's biggest telescope.

Worrying new HIV figures emerge in PNG

Updated 23/07/2009 18:13:49

New statistics show the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Papua New Guinea could be getting much worse.

Australian Uniting Church sends representative to Fiji

Updated 23/07/2009 18:13:49

Fiji's Methodist Church says it's received a lot of support from churches around the world in the wake of the detention of senior members of the church leadership by the army.

Fiji chief issues appeal for support via You Tube video

Updated 23/07/2009 18:13:49

Supporters of the detained paramount chief of Rewa, Ro Teimumu Kepa, have used the internet to distribute an appeal for support.

Regional concern mounts over Fiji

Updated 23/07/2009 18:13:50

The situation in Fiji is generating mounting unease in the region.

Former Fiji military officer warns of crisis between army, police

Updated 23/07/2009 18:13:50

A former commander of Fiji's land forces, Jone Baledrokadroka, says the detention of the paramount chief and church leaders will have ramifications throughout the military and police.

Fiji Methodists defiant despite wave of detentions

Updated 23/07/2009 18:13:50

Fiji's Methodist Church remains defiant over its decision to press ahead with its annual conference, despite the recent wave of arrests.

Fiji paramount chief, opposition party secretary freed by military

Updated 23/07/2009 18:13:49

In Fiji, several key opposition and church figures picked up in sweep by the security forces have now been released.

Struggling Australian charities brace for harder times

Updated 23/07/2009 18:13:48

A new report reveals two thirds of Australian charities have experienced a drop in donations over the past six months.

China's Pacific aid revealed

Updated 22/07/2009 08:05:37

Chinese aid to the region is short-term and erratic, and the secrecy with which it is conducted obstructs development outcomes and breeds suspicion.

HIV positive perspective at Pacific Youth Festival

Updated 22/07/2009 08:05:44

The recent UNESCO-backed youth festival in Fiji attracted it's fair shair of controversy with a number of speakers and papers banned by military government censors.

Journos converge on Vanuatu for PINA conference

Updated 22/07/2009 08:05:44

Every two years, many of the bosses of the Pacific media and quite a number of their foot soldiers, the journalists, gather together in one part of the Pacific for the Pacific Islands News Association Conference - PINA.

Far away, volatile quake zone dangerous to Pacific

Updated 22/07/2009 08:05:44

The potential for a huge Pacific Ocean tsunami on the West Coast of America may be greater than previously thought, according to a new study of geological evidence along the Gulf of Alaska coast.

Kiribati draws crowd to best eclipse spot on planet

Updated 22/07/2009 08:05:44

Kiribati is cashing in on today's full solar eclipse, with Marakei and Butaritari islands in the Gilbert Group the best spots in the world to view it.

ETimor Ombudsman recommends Justice Minister prosecution

Updated 22/07/2009 08:05:44

East Timor's Ombudsman is calling for the country's Minister of Justice to be prosecuted following allegations of corruption.

Concerns Solomons forgiveness law may harm relations

Updated 22/07/2009 08:05:44

A leading community organisation in Solomon Islands fears that the proposed 'Forgiveness Bill' may in fact set the healing process back.

New Zealand to bridge the wage gap between Australia, NZ

Updated 22/07/2009 17:33:25

Australians are on average about a third richer than New Zealanders, which seems a bit unfair to some at least, seeing Kiwis work more hours than Australians.

'Shadow watchers' flock to Kiribati to view total eclipse

Updated 22/07/2009 17:33:25

Hundreds of millions of people across Asia and the Pacific have been witnessing Wednesday's full solar eclipse.

Key regional PNG hospital back in service

Updated 22/07/2009 17:33:25

Services at the Goroka Hospital in Papua New Guinea's highlands are back to normal on Wednesday after staff had refused for several days to do anything apart from emergency care in retaliation to a series of violent attacks on staff.

Fiji's deposed PM forbidden to travel overseas

Updated 22/07/2009 17:33:25

Fiji's deposed Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase says he'll reluctantly accept a High Court ruling, refusing him permission to leave the country.

Former NZ Methodist leader condemns Fiji church detentions

Updated 22/07/2009 17:33:25

A former President of the Methodist Church in New Zealand has called on all Christian denominations to support Fiji's Methodist Church over the latest detention of four senior church leaders, as well as other prominent figures in Fiji.

Ugly mood among Fijians over detentions of church leaders

Updated 22/07/2009 17:33:25

As a result of the latest arrests and the continuing crackdown freedom of speech in Fiji, many ordinary people are reluctant to talk openly.

Former Fiji church head says church brought arrests on itself

Updated 22/07/2009 17:33:25

Fiji's military-led government has confirmed it's holding several key members of the influential Methodist church, as well as one of the country's paramount chiefs.

Debate over climbing Australia's big red rock

Updated 22/07/2009 17:33:24

There is a controversial new push in Australia to stop tourists from climbing one of world's tourist icons, Uluru, the giant rock in central Australia.

Crisis centre backs rise in Fiji marriage age

Updated 21/07/2009 08:29:21

The Fifth Pacific Regional Meeting on Violence Against Women has wound up in Suva, Fiji, as the incidence of domestive violence continues to rise right across the Pacific.

Claims military influencing EPA review of Guam build-up

Updated 21/07/2009 08:29:22

Criticisms are beginning to surface over the military buildup on Guam.

Media association answers to mass-resignation in Vanuatu

Updated 21/07/2009 08:29:22

Exectives of the Media Association of Vanuatu have responded as unfounded allegations that it caused the resignation of a number of journalists.

NZ, Australian aid groups push remittance costs down

Updated 21/07/2009 08:29:22

Pacific Islanders working in New Zealand and Australia will now spend less to send money home with NZAID and AUSAID launching the sendmoneypacific website.

Venerable Commonwealth NGO says parent failed Fiji

Updated 21/07/2009 08:29:22

One of the world's oldest and largest non-government organisations with links to the Commonwealth believes the 53-member body has 'dropped the ball on Fiji'.

Samoa ditches Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance

Updated 21/07/2009 08:29:22

Tonga's Rugby Union has announced it's sticking firm with the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, despite Samoa's decision to quit.

PNG rights groups condemn use of death penalty

Updated 21/07/2009 08:29:22

Human rights groups are calling on the Papua New Guinea government to abolish the death penalty.

Former Fiji commissioner in running to be Australia's top cop

Updated 21/07/2009 17:48:37

Australian police officer and former Fiji police commissioner Andrew Hughes is among the front runners to become Australia's next top cop, according to newspaper reports.

Bougainville authorities warn over fake money

Updated 21/07/2009 17:48:37

Papua New Guinea's most notorious alleged con man Noah Musingku, is reported to have promised duped investors he will repay them with his own money...literally.

Marshalls college wins accreditation battle

Updated 21/07/2009 17:48:37

The College of the Marshall Islands has won a lengthy battle to secure its US accreditation.

Tuvalu targets 100 percent renewable energy by 2020

Updated 21/07/2009 17:48:37

The small Pacific Island nation of Tuvalu aims to become a 100 percent renewable energy user by 2020.

Tuna fishing ban looms

Updated 21/07/2009 17:48:37

A strict two-month ban on tuna fishing will begin on August the 1st, and will apply to purse seine operators who fish in international waters.

Australian church reacts to detention of Fiji Methodist leaders

Updated 21/07/2009 17:48:37

Pressure on Fiji's Methodist Church is causing concern to other religious organisations around the Pacific.

Fiji Methodist leader defiant over banned church conference

Updated 21/07/2009 17:48:37

Several key leaders of Fiji's influential Methodist Church have been detained for questioning by police.

Fiji names U21 netball squad for championships

Updated 20/07/2009 08:14:51

Melissa Walker is Fiji's national netball coach, and Geraldine Coutts is speaking to her about the Under-21s squad that she's named for the championships coming-up in the Cook Islands.

Culture shock's two way street

Updated 20/07/2009 08:14:51

As cheaper air travel and work opportunities grow throughout the world, the large-scale movement of people from one country to another is increasing.

New Zealand on alert for even bigger quakes

Updated 20/07/2009 08:14:51

The Shakey Isles just keep on shaking with the South Island of New Zealand rattled by more than eight sizeable aftershocks since Wednesday night's powerful earthquake which measured 7-point-8 on the Richter scale.

Hawaii aiming high in spaceport push

Updated 20/07/2009 08:14:51

The possibility of having a holiday to outer space took a step closer recently when Hawaii passed legislation allowing for a spaceport.

Man on moon remembered at Australia tracking stations

Updated 20/07/2009 08:14:51

Forty years ago Apollo 11 blasted off from the Kennedy space centre in Florida, on the start of its 384,000 kilometre journey to the moon.

Computer use can harm student scores, says US researcher

Updated 20/07/2009 17:48:12

With the One Laptop Per Child program gaining more and more adherents the Pacific and Australia's government making schoolchildren's access to computers a major policy platform, an American researcher has delivered a warning about relying too much on the machines.

Maori in NZ asked about design for their own flag

Updated 20/07/2009 17:48:12

Maori in New Zealand are being asked to debate the use of a specific flag to represent them.

PNG pension fund announces strong results

Updated 20/07/2009 17:48:13

Papua New Guinea's biggest pension fund, NASFUND, has again defied the Global Financial Crisis and announced strong growth in its half-yearly results for 2009.

Forty years since man first walked on the moon

Updated 20/07/2009 17:48:13

As the world prepares to mark the 40th anniversary of man's first steps on the moon, some of the astronauts who took part in that mission have called on the United States to expand its horizons for the future of its space program.

PNG police deny direct link between recent killings and NRL

Updated 20/07/2009 17:48:13

Papua New Guinea Police have disputed local media reports of people being killed in PNG over Australia's State of Origin matches.

Party hopping and opposition in Samoa

Updated 20/07/2009 17:48:13

Samoa's ruling Human Rights Protection party has enjoyed nearly 30 years of being in power.

Hope fades for further survivors of Kiribati ferry disaster

Updated 20/07/2009 17:48:13

Search and rescue authorities in Kiribati have all but abandoned any hope of finding further survivors of an inter-island wooden outrigger that capsized a week ago.

PNG player dons Wallaby jersey

Updated 20/07/2009 17:48:11

The sporting rivalry between Australia and New Zealand is long standing and deep.

NZ degree provides Pacific journalism boost

Updated 17/07/2009 07:50:26

A new Pacific media course has opened for enrolments at the Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand.

Environmental message delivered at Pacific Youth Festival

Updated 17/07/2009 07:50:26

The Pacific Youth Festival is underway in Fiji, and one of the delegates representing the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme is Seema Deo.

Dire situation for Northern Marianas retirement fund

Updated 17/07/2009 07:50:26

The government of the Northern Marianas may have to hold a referendum as part of its attempts to meet a serious funding shortfall for the islands' retirement fund.

PNG creates two new highlands provinces

Updated 17/07/2009 07:50:26

The Papua New Guinea parliament has approved the creation of two new provinces in the country's populous highlands region.

Fiji's Methodists hope for last-minute permission

Updated 17/07/2009 07:50:26

The saga of the on-again off-again annual meeting of the Fiji Methodist church is still a bit of a mystery.

Population explosion on PNG's Islands of Love

Updated 17/07/2009 07:50:25

They're known as the 'Islands of Love', but it seems there's been a bit too much loving on the Trobriand Islands in Papua New Guinea.

Sogavare criticises Samoa's PM of being irresponsible

Updated 17/07/2009 17:17:25

The Solomon Islands Opposition Leader, Manasseh Sogavare has criticised Samoa's Prime Minister of making irresponsible comments in the media about Fiji.

Vanuatu journalists association in turmoil

Updated 17/07/2009 17:17:25

The organisation representing journalists in Vanuatu is in turmoil, only a week before the country hosts ther annual conference of the Pacific islands News Association, PINA.

U-N group warns AIDS funding is drying up in the Pacific

Updated 17/07/2009 17:17:25

The United Nations is warning that millions of people could suffer as funding for H-I-V treatment and prevention programs dries up due to the global economic slowdown.

PNG teachers in fight against HIV/Aids

Updated 17/07/2009 17:17:25

The Papua New Guinea Teachers Association is moving to play a more proactive role in the fight against HIV/Aids and other sexually transmitted infections in the country.

Micronesian leaders say their nations will be drowning

Updated 17/07/2009 17:17:25

Leaders of the Micronesian states say their nations will be 'drowning' if the developed nations don't reduce greenhouse emission levels.

Jakarta bombing has regional security implications

Updated 17/07/2009 17:17:26

As you heard in the news, coordinated bomb attacks have hit two luxury hotels in the Indonesian capital Jakarta.

Three Pacific nations on World Bank climate risk list

Updated 16/07/2009 08:32:06

In recent times, climate change has dominated the agenda of the region's political get togethers - the number one issue for leaders attending the 11th Micronesian Chief Executive Summit in Marshall Islands.

Solomons Islands caucus drops women reserved seats

Updated 16/07/2009 08:32:06

Women in the Solomon Islands will not have any seats set aside for them in next year's general elections for the national parliament .

Fears damage from large NZ quake to appear throughout day

Updated 16/07/2009 08:32:06

A tsunami warning was issued last night after a very shallow and powerful earthquake struck New Zealand's south island.

Budget date set, but no detail yet for Cook Islands

Updated 16/07/2009 08:32:06

The handing down of Cook Islands' budget was deferred again this week until the 24th of July, with Cabinet needing more time to discuss the content.

Business social club develops young PNG entrepreneurs

Updated 16/07/2009 08:32:04

The Badili Club is a networking association of professionals in Papua New Guinea between the ages of 25 to 45, and who are middle-to-senior managers in their respective organisations.

WHO says Pacific people prone to swine flu complications

Updated 16/07/2009 17:14:18

The World Health Organisation is reported as saying many people in the Pacific region have are at high risk from swine flu complications.

Fiji human rights activist to speak in Australia

Updated 16/07/2009 17:14:18

A prominent Fiji NGO activist is going to be delivering a speech about Fiji politics in Australia next week.

Last Australian WWII Victoria Cross holder laid to rest

Updated 16/07/2009 17:14:18

Authorities in Papua New Guinea are investigating reports that the remains of two World War Two-era Australian soldiers have been discovered.

Samoa's PM wants tougher action against Fiji

Updated 16/07/2009 17:14:17

Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi says further action against Fiji which could force a change in government should be considered.

Al Gore tells investors to act on climate change

Updated 16/07/2009 08:32:06

Former United States Vice President, Al Gore, has told a high-level international audience in Sydney that low-lying Pacific Islands will be the first nations affected by climate change.

East Timor PM defends role in 'Ricegate' scandal

Updated 16/07/2009 08:32:05

East Timor's prime minsiter, Xanana Gusmao, has defended his position over what now being called 'Ricegate' and says he welcomes an investiation by the country's anti-corruption commission.

US EPA orders Shell to clean up Guam site

Updated 16/07/2009 08:32:05

The US Environmental Protection Agency has ordered multinational oil company, Shell, to clean up its facility in Guam's west.

El Nino to raise winds in Pacific east

Updated 15/07/2009 11:01:11

Australia may be in the middle of a sustained drought, but experts tell us El Nino can cause a variety of weather conditions - from flooding to drought - in different parts of the world.

Samoan opposition party wants Speaker out

Updated 15/07/2009 11:23:11

Samoa's opposition Tautua Party has called on the Speaker of Parliament to quit.

Mobile phone banking has huge potential in Pacific say experts

Updated 15/07/2009 11:32:12

Money transferred using mobile phones and text messages, known as "mobile money", has the potential to boost economic activity in rural areas in the Pacific and to protect people's savings from criminals.

World-first as Australian town bans plastic bottles

Updated 15/07/2009 09:26:49

While movements to ban plastic bags are establishing themselves in various parts of the Pacific - including Hawaii and Fiji - one town in Australia is going even further.

French Polynesian coral shows adaption, not extinction

Updated 15/07/2009 09:26:49

A study of coral reefs off French Polynesia has found that some species are likely to survive climate change.

The colour and spectacle of NZ PM's Pacific trip

Updated 15/07/2009 09:26:49

Last week, Pacific Beat followed the New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key, on his short trip across the Pacific.

Swine flu spread 'unstoppable' says WHO

Updated 15/07/2009 09:26:49

Fiji health authorities on Tuesday confirmed eight new cases of swine flu, taking the number of affected people to 73.

Australian MP says China business-politics inseparable

Updated 15/07/2009 09:26:49

Many Pacific nations, like Australia, are now doing huge amounts of business with their vast northern neighbour, China.

Tokelau people fear using island boat service

Updated 15/07/2009 09:26:49

Tokelau is one of the hardest places to get to on earth - made up of three tiny tropical coral atolls, which are battered continuously by waves and wind whipping across the South Pacific.

Marshall Islands Governor to apply to development bank

Updated 15/07/2009 09:26:49

Marshall Islands is hosting the 11th Micronesian Chief Executive Summit, where Guam's Governor Felix Camacho says he'll recommend the Pacific Islands Development Bank include the Marshalls as a member.

MSG to carry Fiji voice at Cairns Forum: PNG PM Somare

Updated 15/07/2009 12:16:10

When Fiji abrogated the constitution on Good Friday this year, the Pacific Islands Forum's Biketawa Declaration ceased to apply to Fiji.

Mutant fish find to not reach dinnertime table

Updated 15/07/2009 09:26:46

Two- and three-headed fish embryos have been found at a hatchery in Australia's northern state of Queensland.

Glitch in plans to resettle Guantanamo detainees in Palau

Updated 15/07/2009 18:05:36

Palau's President is confident that the legal status of the Uighers formerly held at Guantanamo Bay and possibly headed for the island nation will be resolved.

Marshalls nuke test compo money runs out

Updated 15/07/2009 15:43:08

Marshall Islanders whose compensation for the effects of US atombic bomb tests in the 1950s and 60s has run out will have to go to Washington and bang a tin cup.

Samoan PM reacts to visa requirement changes for American Samoa

Updated 15/07/2009 18:01:26

Samoa's Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi , has accused American Samoan public servants of "duplicity" following the unexpected changes to entry visas between the island states.

French Polynesia nuke veterans snub France delegate

Updated 14/07/2009 15:15:37

France's delegate for nuclear safety has travelled to French Polynesia without meeting with victims of nuclear tests after a veteran's association decided to boycott his latest visit.

Fears mine in middle of Indonesia, Free Papua Movement clash

Updated 14/07/2009 07:53:29

There's been a third death at the controversial Freeport McMoran mine in the Indonesia province of Papua, and there are concerns that both Indonesian security forces and the Free Papua Movement could have been involved.

Fast lessons learned in China business arrest

Updated 14/07/2009 07:53:29

Australia's government continues to walk a fine diplomatic line over the detention of Australian citizen Stern Hu on espionage claims in China.

Pacific think tank calls for more international dialogue with Fiji

Updated 14/07/2009 15:15:37

A Vanuatu-based policy research organisation has called for more international dialogue with Fiji.

More extremes as El Nino emerges in Pacific Ocean

Updated 14/07/2009 07:53:29

Both Australian and American weather experts say El Nino's back, and it's likely to wreak havoc with climate patterns around the world.

PNG considers expanding military ties with China

Updated 14/07/2009 07:53:29

Papua New Guinea is looking to expand its military ties with China as part of the country's 'look north policy'.

Fiji women's fulltime workforce drops, self employment rises

Updated 14/07/2009 07:53:29

A recent report released by Fiji's Ministry for Women shows a decline in the number of women in the workforce.

Former US VP Gore backs carbon emissions trade

Updated 14/07/2009 07:53:29

Efforts by the Australian and New Zealand government to implement carbon emissions trading schemes have won support from global climate guru, Al Gore.

Microfinance more resilient than banks during GFC

Updated 14/07/2009 07:53:29

The Microfinance Pasifika conference, taking place in Fiji this week, has been told microfinance institutions are proving themselves more resilient than banks during the global financial crisis.

Fiji not allowed to attend Pacific Leaders Forum: Australia

Updated 13/07/2009 17:15:21

The Melanesian Spearhead Group has urged the Pacific Islands Forum to lift Fiji's suspension from the group.

Cook Islands Games organiser criticises continued budget delays

Updated 13/07/2009 17:15:20

In just a few weeks time Cook Islands will host the Netball Championships and later the Pacific Mini Games.

Guam joins US meeting on swine flu spread

Updated 13/07/2009 07:50:45

Japan has agreed with the United States to offer 336 million US dollars this year for the planned transfer of US Marines from Okinawa to Guam by 2014.

Australian oppn questions PNG carbon trade funding

Updated 13/07/2009 07:50:45

A member of Australia's Opposition says questions need to be asked over the effectiveness of Australia's financial assistance to Papua New Guinea for use in the Forest Carbon Partnership.

Australia lends support in Papua shooting investigation

Updated 13/07/2009 07:50:45

A second employee at the huge US Freeport mine in the Indonesian province of Papua was shot dead on Sunday - a day after an Australian worker was killed with military-issue weapons in an alleged planned ambush.

Payments suspended from Northern Mariana's Retirement Fund

Updated 13/07/2009 07:50:45

The Northern Mariana Islands Retirement Fund has moved to suspend payment of refunds to its members, after finding itself in severe financial difficulty.

NZ government honours foreshore deal with Maori Party

Updated 13/07/2009 07:50:45

The New Zealand government is reassuring non-Maori people that any changes to the ownership of the country's foreshore will not affect access to the beach.

Former Palau leader accused of concealing land transactions

Updated 13/07/2009 17:14:36

The former President of Palau, Tommy Remengesau Jr, is now facing 19 counts of violating the islands' code of ethics.

Peak Fiji youth group banned from Pacific fest

Updated 13/07/2009 17:14:36

Fiji's Young People's Concerned Network has been banned from participating at the Pacific Youth Festival which is getting underway in Suva.

Melanesian Spearhead Group stands by Fiji

Updated 13/07/2009 07:50:46

The Melanesian Spearhead Group has resolved to ask the Pacific Islands Forum to lift the ban on Fiji at the meeting in Cairns in August.

Auto expert warns oil will be unaffordable within years

Updated 13/07/2009 07:50:44

A leading Australian automotive engineering expert has warned the world could be facing an energy crunch to make the 1970's oil crises seem small time.

Tongan government hits back at pro-democracy complaint over NZ PM

Updated 10/07/2009 17:56:23

Tonga's government has hit back at the Kingdom's pro-democracy movement for complaining they did not meet with visiting New Zealand's Prime Minister, John Key.

Judge delays challenge to Samoa's drive side switch

Updated 10/07/2009 09:18:12

Opponents of the Samoan Prime Minister's multi-million dollar plans to switch the country from right-hand to left-hand drive have received a setback.

Hopes Cooks budget errors won't re-emerge Friday

Updated 10/07/2009 09:18:12

A lack of finance in the Cook Islands is still making it difficult for the organisers of the Pacific Mini Games, just two months out from the start of one of the biggest events on the regions sporting calendar.

Strike causes serious problems for PNG Gizo hospital

Updated 10/07/2009 09:18:12

The Medical Director of Solomon Islands' Western Province says the situation at the Gizo Provincial Hospital has become very serious because of a continuing strike by medical workers.

Marshall Islands welcomes Australia touring diplomat

Updated 10/07/2009 09:18:12

Australia's Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Duncan Kerr, is wrapping up the first part of an official visit to the Pacific.

Australia's Pacific diplomat says tour setting Forum agenda

Updated 10/07/2009 17:56:23

Australia's Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs is continuing to hold discussions throughout the Pacific about the Pacific Islands Forum agenda in August, climate change, and negotiations on the trade agreement for the region.

Leaders converge for Melanesian Spearhead Group meet

Updated 10/07/2009 09:18:13

Members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group are in Port Vila for today's special meeting to discuss the political situtation in Fiji.

Niue leader, chair of Pacific Island Forum, lambasts Fiji

Updated 10/07/2009 18:09:20

Niue's Premier has continued with the criticism levelled by other Pacific leaders condemning the military regime of Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

NZ, Niuean leaders air differences

Updated 10/07/2009 09:18:13

New Zealand's aid policy has been criticised by Nuie's Premier, Toke Talagi, during New Zealand Prime Minister John Key's flying visit to the island yesterday.

Grassroots environmentalism still called for in Pacific

Updated 10/07/2009 09:18:08

As the ill affects of rising sea level and climate change bite deep into Pacific communities, programs aimed at grassroot communities are becoming increasingly important.

MSG Special Retreat gets underway in Vanuatu

Updated 10/07/2009 16:30:29

The leaders of the Melanasian Spearhead Group are currently holding a special retreat in Vanuatu.

Tongan pro-democracy MPs upset at NZ PM snub

Updated 09/07/2009 13:48:47

Tonga's pro-democracy movement is upset that New Zealand prime minister John Key did not meet with them during his recent visit.

Inaugural PM speaks of Solomons' challenges on anniversary

Updated 09/07/2009 09:04:38

The father of Solomon Islands politics, Sir Peter Kenilore, says he has a lot of confidence in the future of the nation despite the recent ethnic conflict.

Nutrition experts combine in Pacific united front

Updated 09/07/2009 09:04:38

The 8th biennial meeting of Pacific Islands Health Ministers wraps up in Madang, Papua New Guinea, later today.

Australian minister confident MSG will stand behind Forum

Updated 09/07/2009 09:04:38

Australia's Government says it is confident Fiji's suspension from the Pacific Islands Forum will not be watered down by the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

Samoa PM calls for peaceful demonstrations in Fiji

Updated 09/07/2009 09:04:38

Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi faced the international media yesterday and gave his thoughts on Fiji, and how it's impacting his nation.

Northern Marianas govt buys time in US visa ruling

Updated 09/07/2009 09:04:39

The government of the Northern Marianas has succeeded in buying time before having to disclose documents showing how it plans to pay for a court case challenging the United States' plans to take over the islands' immigration system.

Emergency supplies reach PNG's Milne Bay needy

Updated 09/07/2009 09:04:39

Thousands of people in Papua New Guinea's Milne Bay Province have started receiving emergency relief supplies two weeks after the area was devastated by flooding and landslides.

Three women killed in sorcery-related attacks in PNG's Chimbu province

Updated 09/07/2009 15:19:40

The belief that unexplained deaths must be the result of sorcery is still widely held in Papua New Guinea, particularly in remote areas.

NZ Prime Minister meets King of Tonga

Updated 08/07/2009 17:13:38

It's almost a year since the King of Tonga, George Tupou V, held a lavish week-long party in the island nation to mark his ascendancy into the country's top job.

Fiji leadership strangles Law Society income

Updated 08/07/2009 08:48:40

Fiji's military led Government has further marginalised the Fiji Law Society, cutting off one of its sources of income.

Court rules against Hawaiian furlough

Updated 08/07/2009 17:13:38

Hawaiian Governor Linda Lingle's plans to force some state workers to take furlough, or leave, has had a sizeable setback.

Solomons' Western Province caretaker hoping to stay

Updated 08/07/2009 08:48:40

The caretaker Premier of Solomon Islands' Western Province, Alex Lokopio, says he wants to ensure the province becomes a state under a federal constitution if he's re-elected.

UN Development Program facing series of huge tasks

Updated 08/07/2009 08:48:40

The United Nations is gearing-up for some tough tasks - ensuring security for Afghanistan presidential elections, peacekeeping in Solomon Islands and overseeing Papua New Guinea's Bougainville.

Vanuatu, Fiji leaders meet on sidelines of MSG retreat

Updated 08/07/2009 08:48:40

Vanuatu's prime minister, Edward Natapei, has held closed door talks with Fiji's interim leader, Frank Bainimarama, in the capital, Port Vila.

NZ promises extra aid for Tonga

Updated 08/07/2009 08:48:41

New Zealand has pledged more aid money for Tonga, with the promise of two million dollars in extra assistance coming during a visit to the Kingdom by New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key.

Stalled budget forces broadcaster out of Cook Island Games

Updated 08/07/2009 17:54:24

Earlier this week, Pacific Beat looked into the increasingly fragile state of the Cook Islands Games budget as the funding for the event is still in limbo, and even the country's national budget has still not materialised.

US weighs-in on Fiji's return to democracy

Updated 08/07/2009 18:07:29

The United States Embassy in Suva, Fiji, has issued a press statement on behalf of its government reiterating its desire for Fiji to return to democracy as soon as possible.

Fair trade group alleges rushed Pacific deal

Updated 08/07/2009 08:48:39

Apparently all's fair in love and trade, as an opinion piece in Matagi Tonga suggests that deals signed at the recent round of PACER Plus trade talks in Samoa were rushed over lunch.

Bank closure in PNG Oro province threatens havoc

Updated 08/07/2009 17:13:55

The closure of the only bank in Papua New Guinea's Oro province has crippled the region.

MSG leaders to use special meeting to discuss trade and Fiji

Updated 08/07/2009 17:13:55

The exact agenda for the Melanesian Spearhead Group leaders meeting in Vanuatu on Friday is still unclear.

PNG MPs to hear arguments for women in parliament bill

Updated 08/07/2009 17:13:55

Dame Carol Kidu is preparing to deliver a speech on the importance of having women in Papau New Guinea's parliament.

Maori control of NZ beaches won't affect public access

Updated 08/07/2009 17:46:02

New Zealanders of all races will continue to have access to the country's beaches if the seabed and foreshore are defined as Maori customary land.

Australian-made campaign urges global action on poverty

Updated 07/07/2009 16:53:22

It's now estimated that one point 4-billion people worldwide are living on less than US$1 a day.

Parasite decimates PNG honey bee population

Updated 07/07/2009 08:29:28

Papua New Guinea's honey industry says production is beginning to decline after a parasite has affected the bee population.

Detail still vague on Fiji Women's Federation

Updated 07/07/2009 17:19:32

The issue of appropriate representation for women in Fiji was raised again this week with the announcement by the interim government that it is setting up a Women's Federation.

More Fiji brucellosis cases frighten dairy industry

Updated 07/07/2009 19:13:55

Fiji's Ministry of Agriculture says it has now detected bovine brucellosis in a farm in Tailevu South.

Former French Polynesia leader, associates under scrutiny

Updated 07/07/2009 17:19:32

The former French Polynesian President, Gaston Flosse, has once again found himself at the centre of a police investigation.

Australian kids encouraged into int'l development careers

Updated 07/07/2009 08:29:28

The International Women's Development Agency, or IWDA, is running a leadership course for young Australian girls in years 10 and 11 who might be interested in a career in international development in Asia and the Pacific.

Review says corruption still an issue in 2007 election

Updated 07/07/2009 15:59:41

A review of Papua New Guinea's last general election in 2007 has found it was an improvement on previous polls, but significant problems still remain.

Fijians unite to celebrate new Australian life

Updated 06/07/2009 07:51:39

There are plenty of countries around the world that suffer from internal racial tensions, and sometimes those conflicts continue into a third country.

PNG kickboxing legend The Headhunter tackles Hollywood

Updated 06/07/2009 07:51:39

One man has firmly planted Papua New Guinea's flag on the international sporting stage - Stanley 'The Headhunter' Nandex has bludgeoned his way to seven world kickboxing titles.

Defence forces unite in Pacific humanitarian mission

Updated 06/07/2009 07:51:39

The Australian Defence Force is taking part in a multi-national Pacific Partnership in the south-west Pacific.

Australia sets international student safety initiative

Updated 06/07/2009 07:51:39

In the wake of the well-publicised physical attacks on students in Australia, Federal and State Governments have agreed to develop an international student strategy.

World's largest oil firm funded climate sceptic talks

Updated 06/07/2009 07:51:39

The world's biggest oil company and a major player in the Papua New Guinea economy, Exxon Mobil, has been accused of giving hundreds of thousands of dollars to think-tanks that continue to question global warming.

Minister says Cook Islands Games organisers 'dysfunctional'

Updated 06/07/2009 07:51:39

The Pacific Mini Games are scheduled for the Cook Islands in September, and the man largely seen as responsible for ensuring the successful staging of the festival is confident that it will happen.

PNG, Solomons in talks over shared sea border

Updated 06/07/2009 16:47:06

Senior officials from Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands are encouraging their respective governments to ratify their common border treaties and agreements.

Children of overstayers in NZ missing out on schooling

Updated 06/07/2009 16:47:06

Several thousand Pacific Island children in New Zealand are missing out on education and health care because their parents are in the country illegally.

New Zealand dairy farmer discovers supernova

Updated 06/07/2009 16:47:06

A New Zealand dairy farmer is over the moon after discovering his first supernova.

Australia's Pacific secretary heads to north Pacific

Updated 06/07/2009 16:47:06

Australia's parliamentary secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Duncan Kerr, is about to head off an official visit of the region.

Solomons roundtable concerned for regional biodiversity

Updated 03/07/2009 08:18:02

The Solomons government is currently hosting a Pacific islands roundtable on nature conservation.

New HIV-AIDS centre opens in Fiji

Updated 03/07/2009 08:18:02

A research centre to help Pacific countries better respond to increasing rates of HIV and sexually transmitted infections has opened in Fiji.

Port Moresby housing price boom leaves locals homeless

Updated 03/07/2009 08:18:02

Many of us dream of owning our own home one day, but for many people in Papua New Guinea's capital just finding a place to rent is becoming just that - a dream.

More regional reaction not good for Fiji leader

Updated 03/07/2009 08:18:03

Leaders in Samoa and the Cook Islands have joined Australia and New Zealand in expressing concern about Fiji's latest roadmap for a return to democracy.

Cooks budget delay causing grief for Pacific Games

Updated 03/07/2009 08:18:03

There continues to be controversy over the Cook Islands' ability to run a successful Pacific Mini Games as the government continues to stall the release of its Games budget, and recent reports saying the roll-out of broadcasting rights have fallen over.

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