Pacific Waves

The Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) are seeking applications for a two million dollar Maori and Pacific youth mental health research. HRC's Chief Executive Kath McPherson says that Maori and Pacific people in Aotearoa have higher rates of mental health issues. The funding aims to release innovation that will really work for Maori and Pacific youth and their families.

New Zealand gets a new foreign minister this week after eight years of Murray McCully.

A seminar held at A.U.T (Auckland University of Technology) this week focused on tourism and development in the Pacific. This was led by NZ's ambassador for Pacific Economic Development Matua Shane Jones.

There are fears in Nauru that the Australian lawyers brought in to help 18 people facing charges over an anti-government protest two years ago, could be deported; Papua New Guinea media has this week reported on what it called the first cases of election-related violence ahead of the 2017 polls, yet police say they are well prepared for election period; artists in Niue are using their skills to help preserve Niue's culture and traditions which are under threat because of mass emigration; the deportation of the Manus Island asylum seeker, Azzam el Sheikh, is delayed; and Tahiti are expected to be among the top teams at the Beach Soccer World Cup in the Bahamas.

There are fears in Nauru that the Australian lawyers brought in to help 18 people facing charges over an anti-government protest two years ago, could be deported.

Papua New Guinea media has this week reported on what it called the first cases of election-related violence ahead of the 2017 polls, yet police say they are well prepared for election period.

Artists in Niue are using their skills to help preserve Niue's culture and traditions which are under threat because of mass emigration.

The deportation of the Manus Island asylum seeker, Azzam el Sheikh, is delayed; people in the Pacific are being advised to avoid certain fish after a study revealed high levels of mercury in hair samples; Papua New Guinea's Manus MP, Ronny Knight, says Australia's immigration minister, Peter Dutton, has tried to discredit him; the Samoa Observer newspaper is concerned about media freedom after a police raid and Tahiti are expected to be among the top teams at the Beach Soccer World Cup in the Bahamas.

The deportation of the Manus Island asylum seeker, Azzam el Sheikh, has been delayed after a Papua New Guinea doctor found he was not fit to fly.

Tahiti are expected to be among the top teams at the Beach Soccer World Cup in the Bahamas.