New Zealand - RSE workers
Photo: RNZ/ Anusha Bradley
New Zealand's Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment says it's managing incoming RSE workers on a flight-by-flight basis.
More than 3800 Pacific islanders employed through the scheme are based in Cyclone Gabrielle-impacted parts of Northland, the East Coast and Hawke's Bay.
The ministry's general manager of Refugee and Migrant Services, Fiona Whiteridge, said all are now safe and accounted for and there is plenty of work in the short term.
But for incoming RSE workers Whiteridge said safety is a priority concern.
Pacific - fishing
The New Zealand government is helping Pacific nations adapt their tuna fisheries amid the climate change crisis.
It is providing $US15.5 million for the Climate Science for Ensuring Pacific Tuna Access programme, to be administered by the Pacific Community.
Deputy Prime Minister, Carmel Sepuloni, said the impact of climate change on tuna is a regional concern and requires a collective and coordinated response.
She said this fund will provide critical support for Pacific countries to protect their economic futures.
Marianas - fishing/environment
A bill that will allow the use of gillnets in fishing on Saipan and the Northern Island of the Northern Marianas has been described as unsustainable.
A gillnet comprises vertical panels of netting, hanging from a line with regularly spaced floaters.
Division of Fish Wildlife director Manny Pangelinan has proposed amendments to the bill, including a minimum and maximum fine for offences committed.
The Mariana Islands Nature Alliance said this method of fishing is not sustainable, and coral and seagrass will be negatively affected.
Samoa - children's health
Samoa's Ministry of Health is calling on all parents with children under five to ensure that their child has been immunised for measles, mumps and rubella.
The Ministry said there are still a significant number of children under five who have not yet completed their scheduled immunisations, especially the MMR shot, mostly from the Apia and north-west areas.
In 2019, the measles epidemic killed 83 people in Samoa, mostly children.
The Ministry said this is especially important as measles has recently been reported in Auckland and in Australia.
New Caledonia - mining
The Kouaoua mining site of New Caledonia's SLN nickel company remains blockaded over its restructure.
Three of the four unions at the site have been on strike since last Wednesday, claiming there haven't been proper discussions about the proposed cut of 53 jobs.
Two weeks ago, SLN secured an $US43 million emergency loan from the French state to stave off insolvency, after using up a $600 million loan given in 2016.
SLN said the strike was outside any legal framework as all changes being put in place have been discussed in numerous meetings.
Samoa - by-election
The preliminary winner of the Vaimauga No. 3 by-election says he was surprised at his victory in a Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) stronghold.
According to preliminary count results, more than 2,700 votes were cast with the FAST party candidate Lautimuia Uelese Vaai gaining 1,425 to the HRPP's Samau Timani Samau's just over 1,000 votes.
The official results are expected to be announced today and if confirmed will see FAST secure 32 seats in the 51 seat parliament.
French Polynesia - politics
French Polynesia's recently formed 'A here ia Porinetia' party has presented its candidates for the territorial elections in April.
The party was formed a year ago and is led by Nicole Sanquer, who is a French Polynesian Assembly member and former member of the French National Assembly.
She has called for radical change in the system, proposing a two-term limit for elected officials to prevent people entering office for life.
The party also proposes reducing the number of seats in the assembly from 57 to 39.
Marianas - airlines
The Northern Marianas Government has pulled a lucrative contract from domestic airline, Marianas Southern Airways.
The $US8 million sole-source contract for interisland air services between Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and Guam was signed early last year by the previous administration.
Governor Arnold Palacios says the Marianas government doesn't have any money to pay the carrier.
