Pacific Beat

New coronavirus restrictions covering mine sites in Papua New Guinea have caught the resources sector by surprise though major miners say they are unlikely to impact operations.

On the program: Australian researchers invent makeshift ventilators for Pacific region in case of a wider coronavirus outbreak and while Cyclone Harold caused mass devastation in Vanuatu, it also uncovered a treasure trove of WWII relics that military historians say gives more insight into the daily lives of US Service personnel deployed to the Pacific.

The Papua New Guinea Government and miner Barrick Niugini are due back in court tomorrow as they try to resolve the dispute over the Porgera gold mine. But as the negotiations are likely to have been carried out this week, the PNG Government announced new coronavirus restrictions that affect the country's mining operations, including at Porgera.

Australia's coronavirus lockdown has meant many creatives working in the arts industry have lost their jobs. But it's also given people like Australian-Samoan Tommy Misa the time to develop new projects, such as 'A Viral Series' - an online series that's described as a "coming of age story" and a "love letter" to the people of the Pacific, and was written, filmed and edited in Tommy's Sydney bedroom.

Australian university researchers invent "bare minimum" makeshift ventilators using common items amid concerns a coronavirus outbreak could overwhelm Pacific nations.

On the program: Shocking domestic violence statistics prompt a call for more action and with reports that thousands of pigs have already died in PNG from African Swine Fever, there is growing concern throughout the wider Pacific, including Australia.

Fiji authorities say domestic violence complaints have more than doubled for the months of March and April as a result of emergency measures that were put in place to stop the spread of COVID-19 including lockdowns in two cities.

On the program: There has been talk about a Trans-Tasman bubble which could possibly see travel re-open between New Zealand and Australia but what about the Pacific where COVID-19 numbers are also low and non-existent? And with cash scarce for many Pacific islanders as coronavirus restrictions have seen people lose their jobs, the traditional practice of bartering is making a distinctly modern comeback via the world of social media.

New Zealand's Prime Minister has declared that a trans-Tasman travel bubble would offer "huge advantages" as both countries intensify negotiations over possibly opening borders later this year. The idea has got people asking, what about Pacific countries, where COVID-19 cases are either very low or non-existent but they have also seen their dependent economies decimated as a result of border closures?

The Barter for Better Fiji Facebook page has become increasingly popular as cash has become scarce for Pacific Islanders amid the coronavirus emergency.