Stories by Lydia Lewis

An all-female film crew is about to launch Still Here, a documentary series intended as a love letter to the central Auckland Pasifika community.

A quarantine-free travel bubble between Aotearoa and Niue is finally open, after more than two years without tourists. Audio

Niue is the latest Pacific Island to open to New Zealand tourists after more than two years of being shut due to the pandemic.

Nauru President Lionel Aingimea is encouraging residents to mask up, social distance and stay home to stop the spread of Covid-19.

The Prime Minister of Samoa has confirmed her government is looking at halting the open recruitment process for RSE workers. Audio

Samoa's Prime Minister has paid a visit to Samoan seasonal workers in Hawke's Bay.

The first meeting between Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa's and NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern identified urgent climate action as the top priority for the region. Audio

A New Zealand school's adoption of a Pacific garment is being described as a step in the right direction but more needs to be done to lift students up.

Oceania Rugby has announced two competitions to be held in Auckland ahead of the Commonwealth Games. Audio

The Cook Islands 2022 Budget, called 'Keeping the Faith', includes a boost to the pension and minimum wage.

Public and community-run cemeteries around the country are struggling to recruit staff and volunteers.

Minister of Building and Construction Poto Williams is supporting calls for mental health initiatives to be written into government construction contracts.

An Auckland couple want mental health support written into government construction contracts to protect workers who hit the wall. Audio

A frontline mental health worker is warning the country's mental health crisis will get worse unless district health boards make a new pay offer. Audio

Niue's quarantine free travel bubble with Aotearoa and the resumption of weekly passenger flights starts on June 27.

New Zealand's first qualified Pacific Island funeral director is calling for better cultural understanding if pandemic restrictions are ever re-imposed. Audio

The Cook Islands needs more direct flights to restart the tourism industry and hundreds more workers but New Zealand's travel requirements are slowing the process to bring in more workers.

Pacific health leaders are standing firm on their challenge to Aotearoa's new health authority to ensure it is not a one-size-fits-all system. Audio

A call for serious investment into Pacific health services and housing has been echoed by an epidemiologist.

The annual Polyfest cultural competition is underway. Audio

New Covid-19 cases detected at Niue's border

For 15-year-old Auckland student Sally Toloa, Polyfest, the biggest Pacific cultural competition in the world, is much more than a dance competition.

The world's biggest Pacific dance festival is getting ready to take the stage in Auckland next week - but for the first time the show will go on without any crowds.

The global rugby community has farewelled rugby great Va'aiga Tuigamala at the weekend and is preparing to farewell legendary Blues winger Joeli Vidiri.

A total of 30 fishing boats, eight tractors and essential food has been gifted to Tonga by prominent New Zealand businessman Graeme Hart.