Regional
Honolulu, HAWAII — About 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16, a car was stolen from the Aloha Gas station in Waianae. Witnesses say it was parked at the pump when a man jumped in the driver’s seat and took off.
And in the passenger’s seat: A baby in her car seat.
When the thief realized the baby was there,...
Auckland, NEW ZEALAND — New Zealand's Pasifika community has been living and working on the front line of the Covid-19 pandemic, since the coronavirus arrived a year ago.
On the 28th February 2020, New Zealand announced their first confirmed Covid-19 case reported to the Ministry of Health.
HOW...
Apia, SAMOA — Samoa has registered it’s first official Covid-19 positive case since the global pandemic emerged out of Wuhan China in late 2019.
The community remains covid free however, with the 16 year old in managed isolation since he arrived on a repatriation flight on the 12th of February...
Honolulu, HAWAII — The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council announces the following public meetings on fisheries management in offshore waters of Hawai‘i (HI), American Samoa (AS), Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and Pacific Remote Island Areas (PRIA)....
Nuku'alofa, TONGA — Tonga's Ministry of Health says it plans to vaccinate up to 70 percent of the population by the end of the year.
The COVAX facility, an initiative set up to provide equitable access to vaccines, has put Tonga on the tentative list to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine, which was...
Apia, SAMOA — In a press statement issued Saturday afternoon, Samoa’s Attorney General Savalenoa Mareva Betham Annandale clarifies provisions of the newly passed Lands and Titles Act 2020, stating, “the decision for both bestowal and removal of a matai remains with the family, as it should be”.
The...
Suva, FIJI — Fijian authorities have warned that illicit drugs more lethal than methamphetamine are being produced across the country.
The warning comes following discoveries of clandestine laboratories by police in the Western and Eastern divisions.
The head of the police drug unit, Assistant...
Auckland, NEW ZEALAND — The family of a Kiwi woman, who recently found out she was dying of cancer, say the process of trying to get her Samoan parents an emergency allocation in a managed isolation facility has been frustrating.
Tasi and Ioana Parker, New Zealand citizens who retired to Samoa...
Apia, SAMOA — Samoa's Ministry of Health is moving to ensure all nurses are ready to administer the Covid-19 vaccine when it arrives.
The Director General of Health said they want to make sure that every registered nurse is able to administer the vaccine to allow more people to be immunised.
Leausa...
Majuro, MARSHALL ISLANDS — The man at the center of Micronesia's departure from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) says the move puts them in a good position to help shape the architecture of a rejuvenated regional body.
Earlier this month the Marshall Islands' diplomat Gerald Zackios was passed-over...


![Lemalu said he was proud of the fact that they had been able to provide additional support to families who would not necessarily have access to those services due to barriers such as being registered with a specific clinic to be served. [Photo: Supplied/Pasifika Futures] Lemalu Silao Vaisola-Sefo](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/lemalu_2_web_copy.png?itok=4r7oA42D)
![In isolation at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital, Interim Chairman for National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) Agafili Tomaimano Shem Leo says the boy remains healthy and shows no symptoms of the virus. [SN file photo] Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/samoa_tupua_tamasese_meaole_hospital_at_motootua_4.jpg?itok=40E7taKV)
![Written comments on final action items on the 185th Council meeting agenda received by March 19, 2021, will be distributed to Council members prior to meeting. Direct comments to Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director, WPRFMC, and mail to 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, fax to (808) 522-8226 or email to info@wpcouncil.org. Written comments on all other agenda items may be submitted for the record by email throughout the duration of the meeting. [SN file photo] Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council logo](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/wpfmc_logo_21.png?itok=9rACIChl)
![Chief executive of Tonga's Ministry of health Dr Siale Akauola said Tonga would receive the AstraZeneca vaccine as it was easier to store and use. "This is a suitable vaccine for the context of Pacific Islands. The cold chain requirements are similar to what we are familiar with. .[photo: RNZ Pacific/Christine Rovoi] Chief executive of Tonga's Ministry of health Dr Siale Akauola](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/tonga_ceo_ministry_of_health_dr_siale_akauola.jpg?itok=oljxy8os)
![“Government DOES NOT play any role in the bestowment or removal of a matai title,” AG Savalenoa Mareva Betham Annandale said Saturday in a govt press release. [photo: Samoa govt Facebook page] Savalenoa Mareva Betham Annandale](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/samoa_ag_annendale.jpg?itok=_ykNWrYv)

![Samoan New Zealanders, Ioana and Tasi Parker, are desperate to fly to New Zealand to be with their dying daughter. [courtesy photo via Stuff NZ] Tasi and Ioana Parker with their dog](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/samoan_parents.jpg?itok=iIHrXcoA)
![Leausa Dr Take Naseri said Samoa would be administering the AstraZeneca vaccine which is more manageable under tropical weather conditions. The vaccine is produced in India and is one of two that have been given Emergency Use Listing by the World Health Organization. [SN file photo] Vials of Covid-19 vaccine](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/covid-19_vaccine_viles_5.png?itok=vzC23Bu8)
![Gerald Zackios, who was passed over recently in his bid to head the Pacific Island Forum. He is shown here with supporter Marshall Islands president David Kabua. The perceived snub angered Micronesian leaders who had been clear in the lead-up to the decision that they believed it was the northern Pacific's turn for the top job. [photo: Giff Johnson / RNZ Pacific] Gerald Zackios and David Kabua](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/pacific_regionalism.jpg?itok=Xtsww8VM)