Pacific Waves

A local charity helping flood-struck families in Fiji says there's a lot of fear about another cyclone heading towards the country. Cyclone Keni is expected to be closest to Fiji about midday tomorrow, on the tail of a week of rain and Cyclone Josie the previous weekend. Sashi Kiran of the organisation FRIEND told Sally Round people are so engrossed coping with the floodwaters, the impending cyclone is just another worry.

Steven Kari has won the Pacific's first gold medal of the Commonwealth Games with a record-breaking lift on the Gold Coast. The Papua New Guinean set a new Commonwealth and Games record in the clean and jerk as he defended the men's 94kg weightlifting title in a dramatic finish. Vinnie Wylie was there.

Fight to ban child brides in American Samoa not over despite senate setback; Bougainville rebel to support weapons disposal; Hawaii considers regulation on pesticide usage; A young Samoan makes an historic trip to the Kermadecs; And, revival of traditional Tongan tapa making celebrated in New Zealand.

The fight to ban child brides in American Samoa is not over.

Bougainville's Minister for Peace Agreement Implementation says he has made significant breakthroughs in a visit to the isolated south of the main island.

Unitl quite recently the unruly south was rarely visited by leaders from Buka, but Albert Punghau last week went there to meet a former rebel commander, Damien Koike, and hopefully Noal Musingku who has for many years run a money scam called U-Vistract.

Mr Koike has not been a supporter of the peace agreement, and had been involved in criminal activities in the past, but Mr Punghau says the Bougainville government needs his help preparing for next June's independence referendum.

He told Don Wiseman they got his backing, particularly on weapons disposal.

A proposed bill in the US state of Hawaii will prohibit the use of a neurotoxin called chlorpyrifos and impose a buffer zone when pesticides are sprayed near schools.

The president of Hawaii's Alliance for Progressive Action, Gary Hooser, says the bill is currently before the state house and if approved will go to the Senate.

Mr Hooser told Sara Vui-Talitu that after trying for five years to better regulate pesticide use, he's optimistic it will pass.

A 17-year-old Samoan has made history by being the first Pacific islander to take part in the Young Blake Expedition to the Kermadec Islands, a trip he says sparked a passion to influence and affect change around the world.

The revival of traditional Tongan tapa making in rural Vava'u is being celebrated in New Zealand.

A mother and daughter team have been on a mission to rekindle the tradition back in the islands and have produced pieces for a public exhibition.

Sara Vui-Talitu reports.

Nauru Govt accused of using judiciary to persecute opponents; World Vision assists with water sanitation in quake-hit PNG; Sport: PNG's Morea Baru disappointed by Comm Games silver; China refuses to vacate Tahiti rental house; The man leading a New Zealand commission of inquiry into the abuse of people while in state care wants to hear from this country's Pacific Islands and Maori communities.

A former justice minister in Nauru says the government is using the judicial system to try and persecute its political opponents.