Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.

Inaugural women in media conference concludes
BY INDY MAEALASIA The Pacific Region’s first ever Women in Media (WIM) Conference held in Suva, Fiji has recently concluded with female participants left empowered. Hosted by the Women in Media Fiji, on June 17-18, the conference has brought...

Pacific leaders call for peace amid Middle East tensions as Melanesia eyes regional solidarity
Pacific leaders have voiced their worries about the ongoing political unrest around the world, especially the conflicts involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. The concerns were shared during a meeting of the Melanesian Spearhead Group...
BEN MORGAN: Iran. A win for the US?
Holy shit look at what NZDF could have been like: Detail structure and equipment for a NZ Defence Force in 2030 if military spending had been constant at 5% GDP since 2015 ChatGPT said: If New Zealand had maintained military spending at 5% of GDP...

Fiji and Japan sign agreement on project for improving cyber security capability in the Pacific
Fiji and Japan sign agreement on project for improving cyber security capability in the Pacific Permanent Secretary of Policing Berenado Daveta and JICA Fiji Office Resident Representative Satoshi Wakasugi signed an agreement on the record of...

‘The Pacific Islands!’ Dahlia Malaeulu’s favourite place to read
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits of Aotearoa writers, and guests. This week: Dahlia Malaeulu, publisher at the award-winning Mila’s Books, and author of Mataali’i, which is finalist for the...

NZ may help Pacific Islanders in the Middle East 'where feasible'
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A spokesperson for New Zealand's minister of foreign affairs says where feasible, they may assist Pacific Islanders in the Middle East. The Defense Force is sending a plane to the Middle East to assist any New...
New Zealand withdraws millions in aid from Cook Islands
New Zealand has abruptly halted nearly $NZ20 million ($US11 million) in funding to the Cook Islands in retaliation for a partnership agreement the tiny Pacific Island nation concluded with China in February without consulting Wellington. NZ...

NZ may help Pacific Islanders in the Middle East ‘where feasible’ says Peters spokesperson
A spokesperson for New Zealand’s minister of foreign affairs says where feasible, they may assist Pacific Islanders in the Middle East. The Defence Force is sending a plane to the Middle East to assist any New Zealanders stranded in Iran or...
Melanesian Spearhead Group discusses Middle East conflict - Marape
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape says the Middle East conflict was discussed at the recently-concluded Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) meeting, Photo: Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Facebook Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James...
NZ may help Pacific Islanders in the Middle East 'where feasible' says Peters spokesperson
A C-130J Hercules at Whenuapai RNZAF base. Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel A spokesperson for New Zealand's minister of foreign affairs says where feasible, they may assist Pacific Islanders in the Middle East. The Defence Force is sending a plane to the...

Māori Youth Story Earns Film Festival Recognition
Monday, 23 June 2025, 7:45 am Press Release: Puti Film An award-winning short film, honouring the resilience of Māori youth, has been named a finalist at the Whānau Mārama - New Zealand International Film Festival. Mia Van Oyen in the powerful...

Harmony at the International Day of Yoga celebration at USP Samoa
By Dwayne Mahimkar* Apia, Samoa – 23 June 2025 – Samoa is among the first in the world to celebrate the 11th International Day of Yoga, held at the USP Samoa campus in Alafua early Saturday morning. Around 30+ people partook in this year’s Yoga...
Cook Islands seeks to destabilise NZ on eve of China visit
NZ pauses nearly $20m in funding to Cook Islands after China agreements New Zealand has paused nearly $20 million in development assistance to the Cook Islands over its recent dealings with China. New Zealand raised concerns in February, after...

Pacific Islands Countries Push For Action at UN Ocean Conference
Last week, more than 60 world leaders convened in Nice, France, for the third – and the most-attended – United Nations Ocean Conference. There was cause for celebration: during the week-long conference, 19 countries ratified the Agreement on...

Unlocking Sustainable Finance, Key to Transition Pacific SIDS Economies
Apia, Samoa – 20 June 2025 – A timely policy dialogue held this week in Apia discussed ways to unlock sustainable finance solutions for Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS). This is recognition of the critical role sustainable finance...

Ex-NRL player Alfred Smalley says family threatened after shot on Warriors’ Taine Tuaupiki
Absolute dog shot here to the head of Taine Tuaupiki in NSW Cup. ZERO leeway for this in our game. 10 seconds to go in the match, down by 22 points, and you fly inside two of your own defenders to try and take a guys head off. Justifiably sent off...
New Zealand: Digital Innovation Powers Maritime Navigation
The New Zealand Government is making a significant move to modernise its maritime infrastructure through the largest upgrade to navigation services in more than 30 years. With NZ$ 28.6 million allocated in Budget 2025, this investment focuses on...

Regional collaboration enhances Lower Secondary Assessment tools
With the dawn of a new decade in 2020, Pacific assessment experts united to ensure that quality assessment papers are collaboratively created and based on statistical evidence. Since then, the Pacific Community (SPC) has played its custodian role...

‘It quickly becomes clear that things are not good. What follows is a blur of suppressed panic and a mad fumbled search of the boat…’
A terrifying medical episode in a remote anchorage tests liveaboards Miranda Baker and Elliot Russo – but reveals the strength of the cruising community Friday evening, 21 February, 2025, and we are anchored inside a reef lagoon in a remote part...

$18m cut to Cooks aid is ‘not about China’? I call BS
Analysis: Winston Peters has taken a leaf from Donald Trump’s playbook, with news he’s paused government-to-government development aid to our closest whānau in the Pacific. “We want an assurance that our special relationship remains special,” he...