Papua New Guinea’s Cabinet met today to discuss the formal state funeral programme for former Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare who passed away at the age of 84…
Author: Pasifika Wire
Funding to Improve Digital Inclusion for Ethnic Communities
Funding is now open to to improve digital inclusion of Aotearoa New Zealand’s ethnic communities. The Fund aims to ensure ethnic communities can fully participate in Aotearoa New Zealand by…
Labour Party Candidate Wins Auckland Local Body By-Election
Papaliitele Lafulafu Peo has been elected onto the Mangere-Otahuhu Local Body by-election for the Auckland City Council with 5,203 votes. Papaliitele replaces Dr. Anae Neru Leavasa who resigned from the…
New Zealand Starts COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout
The first batch of COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered today to New Zealand border workers. Yesterday, 29 vaccinators in Auckland completed a week of preparations, receiving the first COVID-19 vaccines. Director-General…
Federated States of Micronesia Begins Formal Withdrawal from Pacific Islands Forum
The President of the Federated States of Micronesia, David Panuelo has sent a formal notice to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat denouncing the Agreement Establishing the Pacific Islands Forum, beginning…
Veteran Journalist says Impact on Pacific of Facebook Restrictions of Australian News Unclear
A well known journalist and author, who has reported extensively on the Pacific region for more than 30 years, says he is still trying to figure out how the Facebook…
Auckland to Move to Level 2 Rest of the Country to Level 1
Auckland is to move to COVID Alert Level 2 as of midnight tonight and the rest of the country will move to Level 1. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director…
Auckland to Move to Alert Level 3, Rest of Country Level 2 For Three Days
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the Director-General of Health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield have addressed media this evening with the latest details on today’s three positive community cases. Dr. Bloomfield says the…
Tupu Tai Pasifika Intern says Diverse Perspectives Needed in Public Service and Policy
Listen to the podcast highlights on YouTube Or listen to the full podcast on Spotify Main Article A graduate of the Tupu Tai Pasifika Public Policy Summer Internship programme…
Dunedin Pasifika Peoples Celebrate Inaugural Moana Nui Fesitval
Pasifika culture, dance, traditions, food, and crafts will proudly be on display tomorrow in Dunedin for the inaugural Moana Nui Festival. Moana Nui Festival event project coordinator Stacy Kokaua says…
Inaugural Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Becomes Independent Crown Entity.
Minister of Health Andrew Little has congratulated the inaugural Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission and its board as the Commission marks becoming an independent Crown entity. Minister Little says it…
New Zealand Cabinet Confirms Approval of COVID-19 Vaccine
Minister for COVID-19 Response Chris Hipkins says Cabinet has confirmed formal Government approval for use of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. This follows the provisional approval by Medsafe announced last week.…
Chair of Pacific Islands Forum Examines Implications of Micronesian Countries Withdrawal
The Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, says he is saddened by the recent decision of the Micronesian Presidents’ Summit to initiate their withdrawal from the Pacific Islands Forum family.…
Another Former Pullman Hotel Managed Isolation Guest Tests Positive for COVID-19
The Ministry of Health confirmed in a media release today that an individual who was a guest at the managed isolation facility at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland, and has been…
Aotearoa New Zealand’s Role in the Pacific Part of Draft Education Curriculum
Aotearoa New Zealand’s role in the Pacific, Colonisation of and immigration to Aotearoa New Zealand, including the New Zealand Wars are two of seven themes that are up for public discussion. Public…
Former Cook Islands PM Henry Puna new Secretary General Pacific Islands Forum
Pacific Islands Forum Leaders concluded their Special Leaders Retreat overnight and have announced former Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna as the incoming Secretary General. The appointment also signals the end of the tenure of the incumbent Secretary…
NZ Foreign Affairs Ministers Attend Virtual Pacific Islands Forum Special Leaders Retreat
Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta and Associate Minister Aupito William Sio attended the virtual Pacific Islands Forum Special Leaders Retreat from Waitangi today. During the retreat Pacific Leaders focused…
Invercargill Lawyer Michael Mika Appointed District Court Judge
Invercargill based lawyer Michael Mika is one of seven new District Court judges appointed today by Attorney-General David Parker. Mr Parker says the appointees replace sitting Judges who have reached…
Hundreds of Ni-Vanuatu RSE Workers Arrive in New Zealand
New Zealand’s High Commissioner in Vanuatu Jonathan Schwass today welcomed the departure of more than 150 Ni-Vanuatu Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers to New Zealand for the 2021 season. In…
Medsafe Provisionally Approves Pfizer/BioNTech Vaccine for COVID-19
The medicines regulator Medsafe has provisionally approved the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine (Comirnaty) to be used in New Zealand following a robust assessment of the safety, effectiveness and quality of the vaccine.…