Tagata o te Moana

Talofa lava! This week on Tagata o te Moana: There are calls in Tonga for a rethink of the Sabbath Observance Laws; Tinian Island, in the Northern Marianas, was a pivotal site for US Forces in WW2 and there is now a US military resurgence there; In Papua New Guinea women continue to face hardship in maternity hospitals, where giving birth on the floors is not uncommon; The former Fiji attorney general Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum attacks the current government and we hear from a Bougainvillean carver who has been in New Zealand for the past month, showing his skills and learning from local artists.

Halo oketa! First up this week on Tagata o te Moana: What's behind the growing assertiveness by the Bougainville Government; A report details systemic issues in the Solomon Islands election process; And why are turtles washing up malnourished in the Cook Islands? All that and more stories from the week on RNZ Pacific.

Kia orana, This week on Tagata o te Moana: A foreign policy expert says Trump's domestic policies are affecting US competition with China in the Pacific. New Zealand announces more recovery assistance for quake stricken Vanuatu. And Tokelau turtle hatchlings Popo and Uto have now tripled in size.

This week on Tagata o te Moana: Pacific nations are disappointed and are trying to wrap their head around US tariffs; The ADB says economic growth in the Pacific is projected to moderate to 3.9 per cent in 2025 and 3.6 per cent in 2026; Bougainville, which is seeking independence, continues to face trauma that can be traced back to the eight years of civil war from 1989; A National Geographic rapid assessment expedition has found Tokelau's coral reefs appear to be recovering following coral bleaching.

Halo oketa wantok! First up this week on Tagata o te Moana: Tonga shaken awake by massive earthquake, Samoa declares a state of emergency to try and address crippling power outages and Tuvalu receives a new state of the art passenger and cargo vessel! All that and more stories from the week on RNZ Pacific.

This week on Tagata o te Moana, French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls returns to New Caledonia; the Australian government looks to fill some of the gaps left by USaid in the Pacific; the widow of the former Green Party MP Fa'anana Efeso Collins calls for an inquiry into his death; deep sea mining company denies branding accusation; Samoan tech expert Namulau'ulu Nu'uali'i Eteroa Lafaele named Young New Zealander of the Year.

This week on Tagata o Te Moana with Don Wiseman: There will be more talks between the leaders of Bougainville and Papua New Guinea to try and resolve an impasse blocking the province's referendum on independence being tabled in parliament, we also hear from the newly installed Ulu of Tokelau and other fascinating and important stories from the wider Pacific.

Halo oketa! This week on Tagata o te Moana: The dangers of not providing enough police to regions in PNG, A Bougainville leaders group say they want to be independent by September 2027, Deep sea mining campaigners in the Cooks are accused of using charity to win people over and Tokelau prepares to celebrate a century of its relationship with New Zealand. All that and more stories from the week on RNZ Pacific.

Halo oketa wantok! This week on Tagata o te Mona: Samoan PM survives second vote of no confidence, Cook Islands considers becoming a Christian nation, we talk to a Kanak academic about possible political futures for New Caledonia and the Rainbow Warrior will return to the Marshall Islands to mark the 40th anniversary of Operation Exodus. All that and more stories from the week on RNZ Pacific.

Halo oketa wantok! This week on Tagata o te Moana: The prime ministers of Samoa and the Cook Islands both defeat votes of no confidence in their respective parliaments. We speak with a meteorologist about the three cyclones that formed in the Pacific. And a mural honoring the late Fa'anana Efeso Collins was unveiled in Manukau this week. All that and more of this week's stories from RNZ Pacific.

Kia orana! First up on Tagata o te Moana week Cook Islanders express their feelings over the Mark Brown spat with Winston Peters, New Caledonia readies to speak about a replacement for the Noumea Accord, Fiji police try to counter the illicit drug trade and we hear from Norfolk Islanders seeking self government. All that and more stories from the week on RNZ Pacific.

Kia ora! This week on Tagata o te Moana: The Cook Islands versus Wellington, Vanuatu has a new leader, a Pacific beauty pageant judge is accused of fiddling the votes and a Fiji MP shrouded in controversy after her private naked video was leaked could end up in court. All this and more stories from the week on RNZ Pacific.

Kia orana! This week in Tagata o te moana: The Cook lslands spat with New Zealand, Tonga's new leader is left with little time to make his mark, Kiribati rebuts criticism from New Zealand and the Finance Minister of Fiji is calling for a de-colonising of aid. All this and more great stories from the week on RNZ Pacific.

Kia Orana! This week in Tagata o te Moana a new government is on the way in Vanuatu. The US President Donald Trump's immediate impact on Pacific aid. A Kiribati MP has a different view on Winston Peter's cancelled visit and the King of Tonga seems to have got his way in the formation of the new government. All this and more of the best stories of the week from RNZ Pacific.