Stories by Caleb Fotheringham

The 15-year-old's family is now preparing to repatriate his body back to their home in Hastings, but they have only managed to fund half the amount needed for repatriation.

The El Niño weather pattern was supposed to result in a high number of cyclones in the South Pacific, but there were only seven. Audio

Reverend Aneterea Sa'u, who was part of the Samoan community contingent in Parliament on Wednesday, says elders still alive who the bill affects deserve the opportunity to become NZ citizens. Audio

Broadband satellite service provider Starlink is now being used in the Pacific but not always legally, for now. Audio

The study found MPAs are economically beneficial to both fishing and tourism as Palau plans to shrink its marine sanctuary in bid to improve commercial fisheries revenue. Audio

Last week, the International Maritime Organisation member states met in London to figure out the mechanisms of doing so.

"History has shown that the naysayers were wrong and the end of the world was not gooing to happen when we legalise cannabis," Senator Will Parkinson says. Audio

The newly appointed chairperson of the National Pacific Health Senate Fatu Fono Ola says he doesn't have the same concerns over the New Zealand government as the previous chair. Audio

Recognised seasonal employment workers are being "subjected to flagrant breaches of their minimum entitlements", NZ Council of Trade Unions acting president says. Audio

The Cook Islands High Court has found that the country's immigration law that offers preferential treatment to New Zealand citizens over those from other nations is "invalid".

Gates open Saturday morning at Hagley Park for the most recognised Pacific festival in the South Island, with 27 schools and hundreds of people expected to attend the event.

The union members of the regional university overwhelmingly voted in favour of strike action on 6 March and Fiji's employment ministry has confirmed they have the mandate to take industrial action.

Surveillance and better vaccine coverage is needed to prevent another measles outbreak in the Pacific, the World Health Organisation's Western Pacific regional director says. Audio

Staff union general-secretary Rosalia Fatiaki says "we are going round and round" over "numerous unresolved issues" and its time for the vice-chancellor to front up to their concerns.

A turtle tour operator in the Cook Islands says another accident, like a drowning, is bound to happen in the stretch of water where tours take place in Rarotoga. Audio

Economic growth in the Pacific is predicted to lag behind other emerging markets following the post-Covid boom caused by borders reopening.

Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority head says the minerals programme is being led by Cook Islanders, which is different to outsiders moving into the Pacific.

The Ocean Foundation's report says there is high uncertainty around prices for metals and the circular economy could make deep sea mining unnecessary.

The safety standards are part of a memorandum of understanding with Cook Islands Tourism which requires tour operators to have one guide for every four guests in the water.

Three organisations and three individuals were given awards by the Pacific Youth Leadership and Transformation organisation for their service during the Covid-19 pandemic. Audio

China is knocking in the North Pacific as the United States are slow to pass a major strategic agreement. Audio

Eight small island developing states have submitted a groundbreaking proposal to the UN's shipping regulator proposing a US$150 per tonne greenhouse gas emissions levy for the shipping industry. Audio

Tropical Cyclone Osai is the second cyclone in a week passing the Cook Islands, while there is an orange alert for parts of French Polynesia due to cyclone Nat.

Tropical Cyclone Nat is passing through the Cook Islands with strong winds and heavy swell warnings in place for the southern group of islands.

Tropical depression (TD06F) has been upgraded to category 1 Tropical Cyclone Nat near the Cook Islands.