Pacific Review

Pacific Review episodes:

• 06.14.2024

  Fiji patrol boat runs aground on its maiden voyage just months after it was donated by Australia

  A multi-million dollar patrol boat donated by Australia has run aground on its very first mission in Fiji. 

  
• 06.07.2024

  New Australian visa opening the door to permanent residency for 3000 Pacific Islanders per year

  One of Australia's biggest diplomatic efforts to forge closer relations with the Pacific has started with a new engagement visa offering permanent residency to 3000 Pacific Islanders per year.

  
• 05.31.2024

  Papua New Guinea counts cost of Enga landslide as aid flows in

  Papua New Guinea counts the cost of a devastating landslide in Enga Province, as humanitarian partners rush aid into the area.

  
• 05.24.2024

  France's President lands in the Pacific to deal with a rioting colony

  French President Emmanuel Macron has met with New Caledonia's leaders in a bid to restore law and order and end rioting in the territory. 

  
• 05.17.2024

  French reinforcements land in New Caledonia after days of rioting and looting

  Up to a thousand French security personnel have been deployed to New Caledonia as the territory is placed under a state of emergency following days of rioting and looting.

  
• 05.10.2024

  Hundreds stranded as Vanuatu's national carrier goes into liquidation

  Vanuatu's national carrier Air Vanuatu has gone into liquidation with dozens of flights cancelled and hundreds of passengers stranded.

  
• 05.03.2024

  Solomon Islands elects new prime minister, as Manasseh Sogavare makes way for new leadership

  Manasseh Sogavare has stepped aside as Solomon Islands MP's vote in former diplomat Jeremiah Manele as the country's new prime minister.

  
• 04.26.2024

  PNG and Australia's prime minister walk the Kokoda Track to mark ANZAC day

  The prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand marched a 16km trek along the Kokoda Trail to commemorate ANZAC day. 

  
• 04.19.2024

  Pacific Review

  A roundup of major stories from across the region and the people involved and affected by them.

  
• 04.12.2024

  Pacific Review

  A roundup of major stories from across the region and the people involved and affected by them.

  
• 04.05.2024

  Papua New Guinea counts down to its all important census

  It's a few years late but the Government of Papua New Guinea has officially launched the country's biggest population survey.

  
• 03.29.2024

  Magnitude seven quake destroys homes in PNG region hit by floods

  Up to a thousand homes have been destroyed after a magnitude seven earthquake struck the Sepik region, already feeling the effects of major flooding.

  
• 03.22.2024

  Election campaigning heats up as Solomons PM praises China and slams democracy

  Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has slammed the democratic system and has praised China as a model of development. 

  
• 03.15.2024

  High Court finds Fiji's former prime minister guilty of perverting the course of justice

  Frank Bainimarama the one-time military strongman and former leader of Fiji has been found guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice by the country's high court.

  
• 03.08.2024

  Tuvalu's new PM seeking clarity on security terms used in Australian treaty

  A group of indigenous people are calling for Australian citizenship as they wait for the government to approve visas for their family members.

  
• 03.01.2024

  Tuvalu's new prime minister signals a potential review of Australian security treaty

  Tuvalu's new prime minister has signalled that a landmark security treaty with Australia could be up for revision.

  
• 02.23.2024

  PNG's internal security under the microscope following highlands massacre

  Papua New Guinea's police and security forces have come under the microscope after 49 people were slaughtered during tribal fighting in the highlands.

  
• 02.16.2024

  No confidence motion against PNG's Marape stalls in parliament

  A no-confidence motion against Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister has been delayed by a typo in a key document. 

  
• 02.09.2024

  PNG PM makes historical address in Canberra as he prepares for a political fight back home

  Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape has made history by becoming the first Pacific leader to address Australia's parliament but back home a political fight is brewing. 

  
• 02.02.2024

  Palau's president rejects allegations of collusion between his government and a prominent NGO

  Palau's President denies reports that fishing rights have been awarded to a US conservation group in return for backing plans to reduce the country's marine reserve.

  
• 01.26.2024

  Boy killed as wild weather lashes PNG's north eastern islands

  On this week's program: In PNG a young boy has drowned during coastal flooding that's devastated islands in the country's far northeast; a lack of rain in parts of the Cook Islands is prompting calls for people to conserve water...

  
• 01.19.2024

  Port Moresby businesses pick up the pieces after January 10 riots

  On this week's program: Port Moresby businesses and residents pick up the pieces after the January 10 riots; the CEO of retailer Brian Bell says the company is fortunate despite the loss of its massive warehouse in Port Moresby; surprise...

  
• 01.12.2024

  Port Moresby burns as pay protest sparks widespread rioting and looting

  It's been a dark week in Papua New Guinea after violent rioting in Port Moresby spread to other parts of the country. A state of emergency is now in force after 15 people were killed and shops and businesses looted...

  
• 01.05.2024

  Prominent Pacific politician Hilda Heine wins presidency in close Marshall Islands vote

  Prominent Pacific politician Hilda Heine is back as the leader of the Marshall Islands after winning a dramatic presidential vote.

  
• 12.29.2023

  2023 in review: From an interstellar asteroid to Vanuatu's three prime ministers, the Pacific's stories of the year

  It was a big year for news with the Pacific Games, security treaties with world powers and Vanuatu's three prime ministers among key Pacific news events in 2023.

  
• 12.22.2023

  Pacific workers affected by Queensland floods, urge families back home to be patient

  Pacific seasonal workers in Far North Queensland are asking their families to be patient... as major flooding impacts their ability to send money home. 

  
• 12.15.2023

  Bougainville's AG slams Australia for being cowardly over its approach to independence for the territory

  Bougainville's attorney-general has labelled the Australian government cowardly over its stance on the island's desire for independence from Papua New Guinea.

  
• 12.08.2023

  PNG and Australia sign security pact after months of delay

  Papua New Guinea has signed a  security deal with Australia after months of delay with a focus on ramping up PNG's police force.

  
• 12.01.2023

  Fiji's government calls for public consultation over growing internet pornography problem

  Fiji's government wants public consultation before putting in place regulations to deal with the growing problem of internet pornography.

  
• 11.24.2023

  Colourful celebrations as 24 nations mark Pacific Game's opening ceremony

  There was a sea of colour and plenty of dancing when the 17th Pacific Games opened in the Solomon Islands capital Honiara.

  
• 11.17.2023

  Solomon Islands prepares for the Pacific's biggest sporting event

  Australia's governor general will be there along with thousands of regional athletes for the Pacific Games in Solomon Islands.

  
• 11.10.2023

  Albanese jets in as Pacific leaders gather in Cook Islands for Forum meeting

  Pacific leaders have gathered in Rarotonga for the Forum Leaders meeting with Australia's Anthony Albanese flying in from China. Despite his long-haul journey, there are plenty of regional leaders who aren't flying in for this year's meeting.

  
• 11.03.2023

  Samoa struggles to deal with the devastating social impacts of an increase in methamphetamines use

  Pacific island nations have long been used by criminal organisations as a transhipment point to smuggle illicit drugs. But in Samoa, an increase in arrests involving methamphetamines suggests the country has also become a market for them as well. Police...

  
• 10.27.2023

  Out of season category five cyclone slams into Vanuatu destroying crops, homes and schools

  An out-of-season category-five cyclone has alarmed forecasters as it destroyed schools, homes and crops in Vanuatu.

  
• 10.20.2023

  Police worry about illegal arms as Tongans turn to guns in the face of rising crime

  Guns are rare in Tonga but thousands of weapons have been seized from illegal arms shipments as a worried public looks for protection.

  
• 10.13.2023

  Hundreds of Pacific pilgrims caught in deadly outbreak of violence in Israel

  Two hundred Fijians who were on a pilgrimage in Israel have returned home on a chartered flight. They were among the hundreds of Pacific Islanders who were in Israel during an attack by Hamas.

  
• 10.06.2023

  Families mourning loved ones over betel nut piracy attacks in Papua New Guinea

  A rise in piracy attacks on traders transporting betel nut to Papua New Guinea's mainland has been raised by authorities on Manus Island.

  
• 09.29.2023

  Solomon Islands PM blasts Joe Biden's Pacific leaders summit

  Solomon Islands Prime Minister has blasted the US for disrespecting Pacific leaders after he skipped Joe Biden's summit. Manasseh Sogavare said he didn't want to go to Washington DC to be "lectured" like school children.

  
• 09.22.2023

  Niue opens up its ocean to sponsors in a bid to save its marine life

  Niue has launched a new scheme to save its ocean by opening it up to sponsors who can help fund its upkeep.

  
• 09.15.2023

  Police outgunned: Dozens dead and thousands displaced as tribal violence intensifies in PNG's highlands

  A wave of tribal violence has left about 70 people dead with thousands displaced in Papua New Guinea's highlands region.

  
• 09.08.2023

  Vanuatu's new PM says security treaty with Australia unlikely to be ratified by parliament

  Vanuatu's new prime minister says a security treaty with Australia is unlikely to be ratified by parliament.

  
• 09.01.2023

  Samoa's prime minister raises concerns about the negative impact of Australia's labour scheme

  Samoa's Prime Minister has raised concerns about too many Pacific Islanders leaving to work in Australia and New Zealand, leading to local skills shortages.

  
• 08.25.2023

  Japan releases treated nuclear wastewater, as Pacific split over safety concerns

  Japan has started the slow release of treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean despite concerns raised by some Pacific countries.

  
• 08.18.2023

  Australian man to be extradited to Samoa over plot to assassinate former prime minister

  An Australian man could soon be extradited to Samoa over a plot to kill the country's former prime minister after his alleged accomplices were jailed in Apia.

  
• 08.11.2023

  US ramp up military presence on Guam but advocates warn of rising homelessness

  Advocates warn the increase of US military personnel on Guam is increasing the risk of homelessness amongst the local population.

  
• 08.04.2023

  Questions have been raised about the impartiality and credibility of one of Solomon Islands longest running newspapers

  Questions have been raised about the impartiality and credibility of one of Solomon Islands longest running newspapers after it was revealed the paper received funding from the Chinese government in return for favourable coverage.

  
• 07.28.2023

  Australian company exits PALM scheme over exploitation allegations

  A labour-hire company accused of exploiting and abusing Pacific seasonal workers has exited Australia's PALM

  
• 07.21.2023

  Thousands of former UN peacekeepers seeking compensation from Fiji military

  More than 3000 former soldiers are suing the Fijian military for alleged unpaid allowances while on peacekeeping missions in war zones across the world.

  
• 07.14.2023

  Scientists have collected fragments from the seafloor off Papua New Guinea that are believed to belong to the first interstellar object known to have entered the Earth's atmosphere but there are conce

  Authorities in Papua New Guinea say a group of scientists failed to obtain the necessary permit before collecting fragments from the seafloor they believe could be the first interstellar object known to have entered the Earth's atmosphere.

  
• 07.07.2023

  Women seek help in Fiji after being abandoned by spouses working as seasonal labourers in Australia.

  As more Pacific Islanders sign up to work in Australia experts are warning of the impact on those left behind. While many overseas workers send money back to their families, some women are being abandoned by their spouses. In Fiji,...