Tagata o te Moana for 10 August 2019

New Zealand medical researchers say thousands of Pacific people are dying from a lack of cancer treatment; Papua New Guinea's West New Britain province is facing a stern test of its ability to cope with disaster after the latest eruption of Mt Ulawun; Samoa's nurses association says the country's health system has better monitoring systems in place after the deaths of two vaccinated infants; it can be a tiring and disheartening job for the representatives of small Pacific island nations who must battle bigger countries with more resources during international talks on climate change; better education about Blackbirding in Solomon Islands could help to heal pain the practice caused that's still felt today, an academic says; the Bougainville Referendum Commission says the six week delay in the holding of the vote on independence from Papua New Guinea, will ensure a better roll; the annual Cook Islands Language Week is underway with New Zealanders of Cook Islands heritage urged to speak the language to keep it alive.