In Tagata o te Moana this week: It's been a busy week at the Pacific Islands Forum in Solomon Islands, we take a look at some of the highlights from Honiara. Also Pacific media want answers from Australia after being denied access to an Albanese press conference. And we speak to Leaupepe Ross Taylor who is going into bat for Samoa.

This week on Tagata o te Moana: FAST party wins Samoa's snap general election; Bougainvillieans hit the polls; It's Pacific Islands Forum leaders week; New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters is on the show; France voices 'frustration' over donor exclusion from PIF Leaders' Summit in Honiara; Pacific leaders are expected to reaffirm their recognition of Indonesia's sovereignty over West Papua at PIFLM; A small Maori community is celebrating a huge win against 80 years of sand mining on their coastline; Hundreds of Pacific delegates at Turangawaewae Marae in Ngaruawahia, paying tribute to Maori monarch Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po.

In Tagata o te Moana this week: Samoa's snap election, the latest from our reporter on the ground; Bougainville's incumbent-President relaxed ahead of this Thursdays election; Also, controversy over a childrens book in Cook Islands and Fiji's kava shortage all that and more stories of the week from RNZ Pacific.

This week on Tagata o te Moana: dengue continues its march in Samoa. The King of Tonga is undoing democratic reforms. Vanuatu's security and economic deal with Australia is closer. Also today Pacific heart health, outside nations told not to meddle in the Pacific. Also Pacific youth on security, Bougainville's election and mining the Cook Islands sea floor.

On Tagata o te Moana this week: New Zealand hosts independence talks between Bougainville and Papua New Guinea. The Samoa Electoral Commission is preparing for an August election. And there's a lot at stake for the World's oceans as leaders, civil society groups, scientists and businesses gather in France.

On Tagata o te moana this week: Politically it is unsettled in parts of the region, while the Pacific is also trying to cope with dengue outbreaks. The continuing washup involving the Manawanui and next week academics in Auckland look at the links between health and climate.

This week on Tagata o te Moana: No solution yet to New Caledonia's political impasse. Polio is again on the rise in Papua New Guinea. The New Zealand Budget delivers substantial cuts to the Ministry of Pacific Peoples and work is underway to improve the response to ciguatera poisoning.

On Tagata o te Moana this week: Reports of some of the worst violence in 60 years in West Papua. Will former Fiji Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama, be allowed to stand in the next election? An Auckland kava business celebrates its achievements but finds itself embroiled in a culture argument. And a Samoan legend of New Zealand politics and education steps away.