An early morning sports news update.

People could be asked to pay more towards their care costs as they get older, as the aged care system deals with growing demand. An advisory group tasked to consider the aged care sector is sounding the alarm, saying the system is "at a turning point" and "major systemic reform must start now".

Catch up with the latest headlines from around the world with RNZ's Alice Wilkins.

On Friday the government announced plans to allow councils to claw back more costs from developers announced plans to allow councils to claw back more costs from developers relating to fast-tracked projects. That came as Queenstown Mayor John Glover and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown joined forces to express their concerns about ratepayers bearing the cost of developments. If all consented, projects currently being considered for fast track would add 11,000 homes to the Queenstown area.

Seabed expert urges Pacific countries to prepare for the potential arrival of birdflu. Samoa's historic Manu'a islands face deep-sea mining proposal. Two new reports show illegal round log exports are still ongoing in Papua New Guinea. Louise Murphy and Soane Taungalu were among the speakers at the opening service for Tongan Language Week in Wellington on Sunday.

An adviser on seabirds in New Zealand says Pacific countries and territories should prepare for H5 bird flu.

Through the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the US government is proposing to lease up to 33 million acres of deep ocean around American Samoa for mineral exploration.

Two new reports show illegal round log exports are still ongoing in Papua New Guinea.

The latest RNZ Pacific news and sport.

For some New Zealand-born Tongans, being unable to speak their heritage language can leave them feeling disconnected from their culture.