NRL glory to Pacific pride

FRESH off his NRL premiership triumph with the Brisbane Broncos, Brendan Piakura is trading club colours for national pride as he suits up for the Cook Islands in their Pacific Bowl Championship opener against Fiji Bati tomorrow at the Santos...

The Pacific’s Rugby League revolution

A RECENT edition of this column commented on the festival of rugby league that is taking place in the sport this autumn, and looked ahead to the keenly anticipated return of the Ashes series between England and Australia, which begins with the...

NRL stars embrace their island heritage as Pacific Championships loom

Stacey Jones has hailed the new-found strength of the island nations as the third edition of the Pacific Championships emerges as a fascinating forerunner to next year's Rugby League World Cup in Australia and Papua New Guinea. For the first time...

New Zealand seeks U.S help to protect Pacific from China over rare minerals, fisheries

WELLINGTON (AP)— New Zealand’s defence minister warned in an interview that small countries in the South Pacific face growing pressure from great power competition for their rare minerals and fisheries wealth, and that more action was needed from...

How to watch Pacific Championships 2025 in Australia

The Pacific Championships are back. In its fourth iteration, the tournament will be without reigning champions - Australia - who will be on tour in England for the Ashes series. In their place, Toa Samoa have been elevated into the Pacific Cup...

Where to buy tickets for the 2025 Pacific Championships

The Pacific Championships are back in 2025. Seven nations will compete for four pieces of silverware across the men's and women's tournaments. Sporting News breaks down where you can buy tickets for every game of the 2025 Pacific Championships....

Public consultation: Proposed data collection approach and content for the census

Stats NZ is seeking feedback on the information to be collected for the next census. About this consultation This consultation shares our current thinking for the next census and invites your feedback on the proposed data collection approach and...

The 2025 Pacific Championships are here. What time is kick-off? How can I tune in?

In the men's Championships, New Zealand, Samoa, and Tonga will battle it out for the Pacific Cup, while the Cook Islands, Fiji and Papua New Guinea will contest the Pacific Bowl. The women's competition will see Australia, Samoa, and New Zealand...

BSP announces $USD203 million third quarter revenue

PACIFIC nations have covered more than 30 million square kilometres of ocean in a regional effort to detect and deter illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. Over a three-week period from October 13-31, Operation Kurukuru inspected 126...

Pacific rivalries

WITH just 10 days to go before the opening round of the Pacific Championships at the Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby, the PNG Kumuls and Orchids lineups remain unknown. Fiji (men and women), Cook Islands (men and women), and Tonga...

Hōkūleʻa crew members gear up to sail to New Zealand after delays

Crew members of Leg 15 are flying to the Cook Islands to pick up the Polynesian voyaging canoes Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia. The canoes left off in Rarotonga after uncertain weather postponed their Moananuiākea voyage. Initially the crew was supposed...

Solomon Islanders Call for Sustainable, Community-Driven Tourism

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), in partnership with Tourism Solomons (TSO) and Solomon Islands Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT), has released the results of the 2024 Community Attitude Survey (CAS)—the first nationwide study of its...

Pacific atoll nations receive NZD13m boost for critical water security

Representatives from seven Pacific atoll nations gathered in Nadi, Fiji, this June with an urgent message. Rising seas and prolonged droughts are pushing their communities toward a water crisis that threatens tens of thousands of lives. These...

Timor-Leste Community Voices Highlight Tourism’s Promise and Challenges

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), in collaboration with Timor-Leste’s Ministry of Tourism and Environment (MTA), released the findings of the 2024–2025 Community Attitudes Survey (CAS)—Timor-Leste’s first comprehensive national study on...

Which 57 countries can Indian passport holders travel visa-free to in 2025?

India has dropped to the 85th position in the 2025 Henley Passport Index, giving Indian passport holders visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 57 countries. This marks a decline of five spots from last year, when Indians could travel to 62...

Voyaging canoes Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia set to depart on next leg of voyage in Pacific

Hōkūleʻan and Hikianalia departure from Bora Bora earlier this year. PC: Polynesian Voyaging Society / Michael Wilson As part of the Moananuiākea Voyage, the Polynesian Voyaging Society reports that voyaging canoes Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia will...

 Pacific Islands Forum’s exclusion of great powers and its consequences

Pacific island leaders gather in Honiara, Solomon Islands for the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leadership Meeting in September. Photo courtesy of the FSM government These Islands By Robert Underwood In the prelude to the September 2025 Pacific...

Kativerata focused on ruck defence ahead of Pacific Bowl

Fiji Bati head coach Wise Kativerata [Source: FNRL/Facebook] With attacking talent spread across the park, Vodafone Fiji Bati head coach Wise Kativerata is turning his attention to where it matters most, the ruck. The mentor wants his side to...

When is the best time to visit New Zealand?

Journeying to Aotearoa (New Zealand's Māori language name) is a good choice any time of the year – but your experience will vary depending on what season you choose to visit. During summer, you can enjoy a southern hemisphere adventure by hiking...

NZ official says Pacific threatened

New Zealand Minister for Defence Judith Collins yesterday warned in an interview that small countries in the South Pacific face growing pressure from great-power competition for their rare minerals and fisheries wealth, and that more action was...