Regional
Apia, SAMOA — In his first post-election interview with Radio 2AP this week Prime Minister Tuila’epa Dr. Sa’ilele Malielegaoi revealed the possibilities to determine the next government to lead the country for the next five years.
Mindful of the pending petition before the Courts challenging the...
Wellington, NEW ZEALAND — The jail term given to a man convicted of slavery and trafficking has been called manifestly inadequate.
Hastings-based Samoan chief Joseph Auga Matamata was last year given 11 years in prison for bringing 13 Samoans to New Zealand and exploiting them for more than two...
Apia, SAMOA — It will now be Wednesday next week before the Samoa Supreme Court considers the legality of the appointment of a 6th woman MP to parliament.
This comes as two parties, tied at 26 seats each, battle to become the new Samoa government.
The Supreme Court today dismissed a request from...
Apia, SAMOA — The next step in attempting to resolve the political stalemate in Samoa is expected to occur today in court.
The new FAST party, which has the same number of seats as the caretaker HRPP party, at 26, is seeking to have the Supreme Court overturn the appointment of a sixth woman to...
Apia, SAMOA — The repatriation flight that was to bring in 100 Samoans from the United States this week has been cancelled.
The Chairman of the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), Agafili Shem Leo has confirmed the flight has been cancelled as the Fiji Airways that was to fly the...
Majuro, MARSHALL ISLANDS — The Marshall Islands has issued a plea for help and a call to action at the US Leaders Summit on Climate Change.
Addressing the virtual meeting on Friday, President David Kabua laid out the existential threat facing his country and the Pacific.
Kabua is the lone Pacific...
Apia, SAMOA — Earlier this week RNZ Pacific carried a viewpoint on the political stalemate in Samoa from law lecturer at Auckland University, Fuimaono Dylan Asafo.
Fuimaono has since had a re-think on that piece and has now submitted a different view.
I now offer a newly revised legal view on the...
Hagåtña, GUAM — Federal officials did not consult Guam and other territories before designating shallow nearshore areas of Pacific islands as critical coral habits, and now senators are asking that the move be halted until they can have input.
In November, the National Marine Fisheries Service...
Apia, SAMOA — The lawyers for the FAST Party in Samoa have been forced to withdraw a Supreme Court challenge after discovering they had the wrong information.
They had wanted the rival HRPP winning candidate in the Fa'asaleleaga 5 constituency, Peseta Vaifou Tevagaena, declared ineligible to sit in...
Majuro, MARSHALL ISLANDS — The Marshall Islands says it will ensure the Pacific voices are heard at today's US Leaders Summit on Climate Change.
The Marshalls is the only Pacific nation invited to US President Joe Biden's summit table.
President David Kabua, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda...


![Joseph Matamata appearing via videolink at the Court of Appeal in Wellington on 28 April 2021. [photo: RNZ / Hamish Cardwell] Joseph Matamata appearing via videolink](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/matamata_via_videolink_at_court_web.jpg?itok=nTPrVU-A)
![The court case will decide if Human Rights Protection Party caretaker Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi remains in power or will be replaced by Fiame Naomi Mataafa and her FAST Party. [photo: RNZ Pacific / Tipi Autagavaia] Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and Fiame Naomi Mataafa](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/tui_n_fiame_web.jpg?itok=q21ttg_Q)
![Meanwhile Samoa's Chief Justice, Satiu Simativa Perese, is trying to reassure the country of the independence of the judiciary as the country tries to resolve the political statemate. [photo: via RNZ Pacific] Samoa's Chief Justice, Satiu Simativa Perese](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/samoa_chief_justice_satiu_simativa_perese.jpeg?itok=CafDjaYn)
![One of the repatriation flights arriving at Faleolo International Airport. [Talamua file photo] Earlier repat flight arriving at Faleolo International Airport.](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/repatriation-aircraft-samoa.jpeg?itok=OMyem1U0)


![Guam Senators rise for the national anthem during regular session this past Friday. [photo: via Pacific Daily News] Guam Senate in session](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/guam_legislature.jpeg?itok=h1RYX9fq)
![Samoa's caretaker Prime Minister Tuilaepa Salele Malielegaoi talking to the media yesterday. [Image: Talamua Online] Tuilaepa talking with reporters earlier this week](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/samoa-media-conference-talamua-680wide.png?itok=MOKSZ1w9)
![Flooding caused by huge spring tides which Marshall Islands officials have blamed on climate change. That no other Pacific Islands representatives were among the leaders invited by Biden has raised eyebrows in the region, particularly with the Marshalls no longer a member of the Pacific Islands Forum following its decision to withdraw from the regional body after the outcome of the recent election of the secretary-general position. [photo: AFP via RNZ Pacific] Tide waters flooding in Marshall Islands](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/marshall_tides_web.jpg?itok=Z4JTrTqo)