Regional
Apia, SAMOA — Samoa’s government has issued a public health notice urging people to get a booster vaccination against COVID-19, as New Zealand experiences its fifth wave of the virus.
In a notice signed by the country’s director of general health, Dr Aiono Alec Ekeroma, Samoa’s Ministry of Health...
Apia, SAMOA — Tiapapata teenager Aniva Clarke was the recipient of the Pacific Emerging Leadership Award at New Zealand’s Sunpix Pacific Peoples Awards last Friday night.
The award recognized the 17-year-old’s work as a Pacific environmental and child rights advocate and making meaningful change...
Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS — The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting opening ceremony erupted with song, dance and the fierce drumming performances involving hundreds of Cook Island children on Monday local time.
The green carpet made of woven coconut leaves was rolled out for Pacific leaders...
Hamilton, NEW ZEALAND — Faith Vui remembers driving a golf cart for her dad in Apia when she was a kid, so it was fitting that he was by her side when she took out the New Zealand Women's Amateur Championship on the weekend.
Vui became the first Samoan to claim the title after winning the 36-hole...
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Pasifika Excellence Mural Project is a response to the findings from the Kāpasa Fetu’u Community Needs Assessment that was conducted in 2022 by The Samoan Community Development Centre (SCDC) and their Pasifika Urban Roots collaborative partners.
When asked by Samoa...
Auckland, NEW ZEALAND — As we celebrate 'Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani 2023, one content creator is aiming to preserve the language and culture through food videos on TikTok showcasing Cook Islands cuisine.
Hailing from the islands of Rarotonga, Mangaia and Manihiki, Auckland-based creator...
Nuku'alofa, TONGA — New research has found the eruption of Tonga's Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano in 2022 shot out an unprecedented amount of water vapor into the sky.
The vapor reached heights of up to 55 kilometres (about 34 miles) and depleted 5 percent of the ozone layer over the tropical...
Apia, SAMOA — A Samoan seasonal worker is warning others to be wise on the job and not fall into infidelity.
A 37-year-old father of two from Poutasi, Taavao Lefua Taavao, joined the Falealili Seasonal Work Programme under the Recognised Seasonal Employers scheme in New Zealand in 2017.
The Samoa...
Apia, SAMOA — The last group of 16 Samoan adults and a year-old toddler have returned home safely after a frightening experience in Israel as they went through bomb shelters and were told to hide minutes before departure at the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.
They landed at the Faleolo...
Apia, SAMOA — Locally-owned airline Talofa Airways has announced the resumption of direct flights from Samoa to Vava'u in Tonga with the service to start on 14 November 2023.
There will be two weekly flights on Tuesdays and Fridays from Tonga to Pago Pago in American Samoa and from Tonga to Faleolo...