Pacific Waves

A Pacific climate change advocate is hoping this year's COP will bring real change following global recognition of challenges facing the region.

Thousands of Fijians are celebrating culture and heritage for Fijian Language Week or Macawa ni vosa vakaviti in Aotearoa New Zealand this week. Audio

The New Zealand foreign minister says while a number of Pacific leaders see climate change as a security threat, the most important issue facing their countries is development. Audio

However, the New Zealand government says the changes are designed to make the system fairer. Audio

The Samoan PM says his leg was injured in preparations for the 29 August polls, and the "trip for treatment was long overdue". Audio

The New Zealand foreign minister says Pacific Islands Forum members may have opted to hold this week's leaders' meeting in another country if they'd known Honiara was banning outside partners.

A new deal paving the way for the potential resettlement of hundreds of non-citizens from Australia to Nauru is being criticised by refugee advocates. Audio

Richard Chambers says he understands the difficulties law enforcement in Pacific Island nations faced regarding criminal deportees from New Zealand. Audio

A children's charity advocating to raise the marriage age from 15 to 18 in the Solomon Islands says it is a children's rights issue. Audio

Tongan Language Week is being celebrated in Aotearoa this week under the theme, 'Our language is a vital strand of our Tongan culture'. Audio

A geopolitics expert says there is "nothing stopping" China from attending Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting side events if dialogue partners are blocked from the event. Audio

A Pacific advocate for youth homelessness says the country must address poverty and systemic inequities to fix the housing affordability crisis.

A former Tonga rugby captain says it's unlikely Super Rugby contracts explicitly state New Zealand-based Pasefika players can't play for their home nations.

That's according to the just-released Stats NZ quarterly labour market figures. Audio

A transnational crime expert says New Zealand and Australia's status as the "cash cows" of the Pacific methamphetamine market is a driving factor in the drug crisis facing the region.

Pacific Conference of Churches secretary-geeneral says the landmark climate ruling from the world's top court is a significant win, but much more work is needed. Audio

Foreign Minister Winston Peters has rejected the idea that the Cook Islands had effectively described New Zealand as a third party in its agreement with China.

Dengue cases in the Pacific are at their highest since 2016, with nearly 19,000 people affected, the World Health Organisation says. Audio

A geopolitics analyst says New Zealand joining AUKUS would further intensify geopolitical tensions, which the Pacific region does not need. Audio