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Members of the Maori community and their supporters take part in a protest march in Wellington on Tuesday. More than 35,000 demonstrators poured into the harbourside, police said. Photo: AFP
New Zealand

Tens of thousands of Maori, supporters march on New Zealand’s parliament

Protesters oppose a bill drafted by a minor coalition party that aims to redefine a founding treaty of the country dating back to 1840.

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Palau

Palau seeks US missile system citing ‘direct threat’ from China ICBM test

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Diplomacy

‘Why would you do that?’: Palau accuses China of ‘uninvited’ maritime intrusions

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New Zealand

‘It was wrong’: New Zealand apologises to 200,000 victims of state, church abuse

Those exposed to ‘unimaginable’ abuse in state, foster and faith-based care over a 70-year period were disproportionately Maori.

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New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon embraces an abuse survivor following his “formal and unreserved” apology in parliament on Tuesday. Photo: Stuff via AP
Australia

As Chinese banks circle, Australia pushes ANZ to stay in Pacific island nations

For years, Western banks have been closing branches throughout the South Pacific. State-owned Bank of China has shown it’s eager to step in.

History

Commonwealth leaders: ‘time has come’ for slavery reparations discussion

Leaders said it was time to discuss whether Britain should commit to reparations for its role in the transatlantic slave trade.

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Kiribati

‘Not welcome’: China ally Kiribati criticises Chinese ICBM test

China conducted a rare launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile with a dummy warhead that landed in the Pacific Ocean late last month.

Kiribati’s President Taneti Maamau (left) walks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcome ceremony in Beijing in 2020. Photo: AP
New Zealand

Fuel spill ‘highly probable’ after New Zealand navy ship sinks off Samoa

The ship, which was surveying a reef, is considered lost. The incident has sparked worries about the state of New Zealand’s ageing military hardware.

Samoa

75 on board New Zealand Navy ship safe after it sinks off Samoa

The vessel was carrying out a reef survey near the southern coast of Upolu when it ran aground.

Indonesia

New Zealand pilot freed in Indonesia after 19-month hostage ordeal

Phillip Mehrtens was working for an Indonesian airline when he was taken by rebels in Papua last year.

New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens was released from captivity by rebels in Indonesia’s restive region of Papua and was in good health despite the 19-month-long ordeal. Photo: AFP
Pacific Islands Forum

Opinion | Why we must follow Pacific Islands’ lead on climate change

Pacific Islands nations show how cooperation can transcend national boundaries to address common challenges effectively. They need support.

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High tides crash ashore in Funafuti, Tuvalu, on February 11. Tuvalu and other low-lying Pacific Island nations face a growing threat of inundation as climate change drives rising sea levels and more intense natural disasters. Photo: Tuvalu Meteorological Service / Reuters
US-China relations

US official defends mix of diplomacy and competition with China in Indo-Pacific

Daniel Kritenbrink of State Department says dealing with Beijing in the region requires ‘intense’ statecraft and communications.

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War and conflict

‘Situation dire’: Papua New Guinea violence leaves up to 50 people dead

The fighting, which began days ago, has forced the nearby New Porgera gold mine to halt operations, and the government has declared an emergency.

China-Australia relations

China’s police chief urges ‘new chapter’ of Pacific Island security cooperation

The comments come after Australia – Beijing’s rival in a region it is eager to court – secures support for major Pacific policing initiative.

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China is willing to create a “more professional” law enforcement team to achieve “lasting security” in the Pacific Islands, says Chinese Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong. Photo: Weibo
Singapore

Pope Francis lands in Singapore for final stop on 12-day Asia-Pacific tour

He has defied doubts about his health during a journey that has taken him from a Jakarta grand mosque to a remote jungle of Papua New Guinea.

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People line the road to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis in Singapore. Photo: Reuters
Australia

Papua New Guinea PM Marape bullish in face of fresh political peril

It marks the fifth challenge to Marape’s leadership over a Pacific nation wracked by violence, instability – and a geopolitical tug of war.

King Charles III

Cancer-stricken King Charles to visit Australia and Samoa in test of stamina

The British monarch is slowly returning to public duties, and the decision to take such a long journey will be seen as a sign of his recovery.

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US-China relations

US, Britain stress unity towards China as new strategic dialogue opens in London

Top diplomats tout allies’ strengthening ties and ‘indispensable’ partnership as Washington vies to blunt Beijing’s Indo-Pacific influence.

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy attend a press conference as part of a strategic dialogue in London on Tuesday. Photo: EPA-EFE
US-China relations

‘China week’ at US House puts biotech firms, Hong Kong offices in cross hairs

Most of the scheduled 28 items have bipartisan support and follow efforts to tackle national and economic security threats posed by Beijing.

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Health & Fitness

Breast cancer rises among Asian-American, Pacific Islander women

The reasons are unclear, say experts, but ‘one of the hypotheses we’re exploring is the role of stress’.

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Papua New Guinea

Pope calls for PNG to ‘end’ tribal violence, urges fair share of its resources

In a keynote speech, the pope called for an end to tribal violence while insisting the people benefit from the country’s resource boom.

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Pope Francis gives a speech in front of diplomats and dignitaries including the Governor General of Papua New Guinea Bob Dadae. Photo: EPA-EFE
Taiwan

No 2 Taiwan official visiting US for 2 weeks seeks ‘better understanding’

Speculation about how much Washington trusts island’s new leader looms over tour by Democratic Progressive Party’s secretary general.

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Lin Yu-chang, the No 2 official in Taipei’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party led by William Lai Ching-te, speaks at the Global Taiwan Institute in Washington on Tuesday. Photo: SCMP
New Zealand

Kindred spirits: the Maori-Chinese New Zealanders navigating their dual heritage

Maori and Chinese immigrants have both been margin­alised by the ‘white nation’ – but some are transcending societal boundaries and uniting their distinct cultures

China-New Zealand relations

New Zealand spy report calls China ‘a complex intelligence concern’

The country’s intelligence services highlighted a ‘small number of illiberal foreign states’ that engage in foreign interference against New Zealand.

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United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Pope heads to Southeast Asia in ambitious trip

Pope Francis’ visit aims to cement the Catholic Church’s position in the region and comes despite his growing health problems.

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Pope Francis will visit four countries in Southeast Asia starting next week. Photo: Reuters
US-China relations

As No 2 US envoy ends Pacific tour, Beijing scores a diplomatic win on Taiwan

After Beijing envoy demands ‘correction’, Pacific Islands Forum scraps Taiwan reference from its annual summit’s final communique.

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US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell (left) attends a ceremony in Port Vila, Vanuatu, on Thursday to repatriate sacred human relics seized in New York by the FBI in 2016. Campbell also attended the opening of America’s new embassy in the Pacific nation. Photo: Reuters
Australia

China ally Solomon Islands wary of Australia-brokered Pacific police deal

Foreign Minister Peter Agovaka expressed concern over the initiative, saying it ‘imposes conditions on our own domestic security’.

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Australia

Australia urged to cut fossil fuels as Pacific backs landmark policing plan

Activists say better leadership must come from Australia, accused of ‘climate fraud’ over its continued expansion of gas and coal projects.

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Pacific nations
Pacific nations
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Pacific nations. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
last updated:
24 August, 2024
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