Tagata o te Moana

A special edition of Tagata o te Moana taking stock of the damage in Fiji caused by Tropical Cyclone Yasa; Much of Samoa is cleaning up after days of intense rainfall caused widespread flooding; PNG prime ministers survives leadership challenge; Pacific leaders call out Australia's lack of ambition over urgent climate action; Six line up to chase Bougainville regional seat in PNG parliament; Pacific digestive health training continues despite Covid-19 restrictions; Solomons appoints first woman to lead Pacific Games organising committee.

A leadership showdown is looming in Papua New Guinea with the opposition calling for the PM's resignation;Fiji opposition still reeling from Rabuka's sudden exit from parliament;Tonga is also experiencing some political strife with a no confidence motion in the offing;Australia's high court overules the government's attempt to limit refugees access to the court system;West Papua independence movement is being tested from within;Tuna stocks in the Eastern Pacific are facing an unprecedented threat from unregulated fishing;The black sand beaches of PNG's Madang province are being eyed by a foreign mining company and locals are not happy;The first group of repatriated Tokelauns are looking forward to being released from quarantine on Xmas Day.

Ava ceremony offers glimpse at aspirations of NZ's Pasifika MPs; A call for Pasifika victims of abuse to seek Royal Commission of Inquiry; Several of the Pacific region still contending with concerning covid-19 figures; UN disturbed by violence in West Papua; NZ opens up pathway for trial shipments of Tongan watermelon; Cook Islanders walk around Rarotonga to promote healthy lifestyle; PNG Supreme Court to decide on political standoff; Lack of awareness, stigma hinder HIV fight in Pacific; Pacific peoples urged to take ownership of new data hub.

Scramble for covid vaccine access - how will Pacific countries fare?; Samoa registers a covid-19 case while Guam's high number of infections continues to rise; Isolated Pitcairn not immune from Covid effect; PNG political wrestle thrust into uncertainty as MPs test positive; Staff suspended amid claims of child abuse at prominent Fiji school; RSE workers will be guaranteed a living wage in new border exemption; Pasifika and Maori falling through gaps in NZ Basketball; Virtural Museum aims to spotlight the heritage of the Pacific.

PNG public urged not to get caught up in political crisis; Solomon Islands government moves to suspend Facebook; Samoa sends Covid-19 test samples to New Zealand for final confirmation;Pacific people missing out on life-saving treatments because of border closures;Challenges for Fiji military women highlighted amid push to increase representation;Vale nickel plant sale prompts New Caledonia-wide demonstrations;The Tonga's government has introduced new legislation it says aims to tackle online abuse; A push to have donors send more responsible aid to the Pacific; Fijian Drua look to sail into Super Rugby.

Pacific policing under scrutiny; Education shortfalls blamed for PNG's sorcery-related killings; Pacifica in US continue to suffer badly from Covid; Pasifika community dominate NZMA Manukau graduation;New research focuses on pandemic experiences of Samoan women;Call for change to way NZ administers foreign aid; Pacific disability collective urging for a Ministry for Disabled Peoples;PNG company plans to export chocolate to the world.

Tahiti desperate to avoid lockdown as Covid-19 numbers mushroom; Moana Pasifika, Fiji on course to join Super Rugby in 2022 but another Pacific bid threatens legal action; The Cook Islands prime minister denied his country is gambling by opening up for deep sea mining exploration; US-affiliated Pacificn territories go the polls; New study finds bilingual Pacific mothers less likely to have mental disorders; Mahuta-Aupito to front for Pacific in NZ foreign affairs; Bougainville Panguna human rights breakthrough; Family at forefront for Pacific boxers in 'Fight of the Century'.

Covid-19 death toll rises in French Polynesia; A New Zealand memorial service has been held for Former Cook islands prime minister and doctor, Joe Williams; New Pasifika MPs in NZ's ruling party hit parliament; Pacific countries in new trade deal to set up implementation unit; Tokelauan community in NZ works to keep language alive; Family at forefront for Pacific boxers in 'Fight of the Century'; Pacific nations at forefront of anti-nuclear breakthrough; Tonga's Justice Minister unmoved by criticism of amendment.

Pacific community leaders share their aspirations for the NZ government post-election results; PNG corrections working to prevent deadly prison breaks; A constitutional change in Tonga raises some questions;Marshall Islands slams Chinese 'bullies' at Taiwan event in Fiji; PNG called on to change course away from extractive industries;Prioritising child nutrition crucial to Pacific health and development goals; Cook Islands govt pledges support for national games.

More Solomon Islanders contract Covid-19; Covid-19 outbreak getting 'out of hand' in French Polynesia; Sexual exploitation of children rife in Fiji: reports; Pacific Island culture gains ground during Bledisloe Cup; Call for Pasifika health boost in NZ; Fiji's coups under scrutiny amid independence milestone; The race to be the new Pacific Forum head.

Talks are about to get underway on the next steps for New Caledonia, after last week's second independence referendum as part of the Noumea Accord.

New Caledonia again votes on independence from France;Palau threatens to leave Forum over ciompetition for secretary general's post; Cooks leader steps aside - eyes new goals; SODELPA targets unity as taskforce set up to resolve party conflicts; Environmentalists and coal developer in PNG at loggerheads;Indonesia lashes out at Vanuatu over West Papua at the UN; Bougainville welcome for Rio Tinto willingness to talk.

Bougainville freedom fighter reaches democratic pinnacle; Vanuatu considers new passport for 'honorary' citizens; Improvements in Pasifika mental health space but more needed;China's grants to Solomons could signal change in aid approach - academic; Call for Pacific island states to secure the region's maritime boundaries;Pasifika communities in small town New Zealand want a greater voice; Covid-19 shows the way for Pacific Super Rugby - Wadan Narsey.

A scathing report into the New Zealand government's handling of last year's measles outbreak in Auckland; Efforts to arrest the Covid-19 pandemic in the Marshall Islands community in a hard-hit part of the US appear to be working; Vanuatu's controversial passport sale scheme comes under pressure; Ahead of New Zealand's election, Pacific climate warriors turn to rallying turnout; And, are eligibility rules holding back Pacific netball teams?

Samoa's Deputy Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mataafa has resigned from Cabinet; Pacific health leaders warn Covid-19 frontliners are risking life and limb on the job; Life with covid-19 in the community in French Polynesia; Tongan communities in NZ acknowledge language theme during Covid-19; Pasifika opera singers take up training with the New York Met; Rising seas destroy houses on PNG's south coast; NZ aid urged to de-emphasize scholarships in education programme.