Polyfest expands to two venues: A new era for Auckland schools cultural celebration

Organisers of one of the world's biggest secondary school cultural festivals have decided to split the event across two venues to accommodate its growth. The annual ASB Polyfest, held in south Auckland to celebrate Pacific culture, will be hosted...

2025 Pacific Championships: What will Tonga’s 21-man squad look like?

The 2025 Pacific Championships are approaching, and for the first time, Australia will not take part in the tournament. This will see New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga go head-to-head for bragging rights. Aiming to go one better than 2024 when they...

Japan overpower Tonga to reach Pacific Nations final

Japan drove past Tonga 62-24 in Utah yesterday, sealing a place in next weekend’s Pacific Nations Cup decider. Tonga impressed early, with Foto Lokotui crossing in the sixth minute and captain Ben Tameifuna adding a try from a tap penalty. Veikoso...

Fully funded internship awaits Pacific youth

A new internship programme is providing Pasifika youth in Aotearoa with the chance to participate in a fully funded, nine-week experience in Thailand, focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) learning and cultural...

Tonga to host SPC high level meetings in October

HRH Crown Prince Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala. Photo: SPC/Facebook. Tonga will host the next Pacific Community (SPC) Governing Meeting and 14th Ministerial Conference in Nuku’alofa, from 13-17 October. Welcoming SPC member countries ahead of the meeting,...

NCDC: Tinubu approves portfolios for EDs, as Buni appoints 10 perm secs

BY NGOZI NWANKWO President Bola Tinubu has approved portfolios for five executive directors on the board of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC). This was even as Yobe State Governor, Hon (Dr) Mai Mala Buni, has approved the appointment...

Ravouvou credits team, excited for PNC final

[Photo Credit: Supplied] FIJI Water Flying Fijians wing Kalaveti Ravouvou earned Player of the Match after his stunning hat-trick in their 63-10 semi-final win over Canada, which secured the side a spot in the Pacific Nations Cup final. Ravouvou...

PM Manele meets French envoy to Pacific

Port Moresby – Prime Minister Hon. Jeremiah Manele met with the French Ambassador to the Pacific and Permanent Representative to the Pacific Community, Her Excellency Ms. Veronique Roger-Lacan, for bilateral talks on the margins of regional...

Warriors NRL 2025: The season that the legend of Leka Halasima was established

It was a play so improbable, so unlikely and it sent the NRL world ‘Leka-crazy’ for the following 48 hours. In his first New Zealand interview of the season, Halasima admits it is still a special memory. “I don’t know [how it happened],” Halasima...

Pacific Islands Forum Leaders declare Ocean of Peace

Leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum declared the Blue Pacific Continent as an Ocean of Peace, in a ceremonial side event hosted by the Prime Minister of Fiji, Hon Sitiveni Rabuka on the margin of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meetings in...

Pacific Forum countries co-sign Pacific Resilience Facility Treaty 

Prime Minister Eke (middle) with other Pacific Island leaders at the 54th PIFLM. Photo: Supplied. Fifteen Pacific Islands Forum member countries in Solomon Islands last week co-signed an agreement to establish the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF)...

WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies enters into force; strong support for multilateralism

Monday, September 15th 2025 - 17:57 UTC The agreement prohibits government support to illegal fishing activities and over-exploitation of stocks, contributing to the protection of marine life. At a special General Council meeting on 15 September,...

Japan routs Tonga to reach Pacific Nations Cup rugby final

Seven players scored a try for Japan in an overwhelming 62-24 rout of Tonga on Sunday that advanced the Asian men's rugby side into the Pacific Nations Cup final. Tries by Amato Fakatava, Hayate Era, Warner Dearns, Dylan Riley, Shinobu Fujiwara,...

Japan rips Tonga to reach Pacific Nations Cup rugby final

Seven players scored a try for Japan in an overwhelming 62-24 rout of Tonga on Sunday that advanced the Asian men's rugby side into the Pacific Nations Cup final. Tries by Amato Fakatava, Hayate Era, Warner Dearns, Dylan Riley, Shinobu Fujiwara,...

Rubio Visits Israel in Wake of UN Vote for Palestinian State; Israeli Leaders Press to Annex Judea/Samaria

JERUSALEM, Israel – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Israel this weekend and has met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In the meantime, some Israeli leaders are calling for the government to declare sovereignty over...

Rugby: Japan beat Tonga 62-24 in Pacific Nations Cup semifinal

Japan prop Shuhei Takeuchi runs with the ball during a Pacific Nations Cup rugby semifinal against Tonga at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado, on Sept. 14, 2025. (Photo courtesy of JRFU)(Kyodo) TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan booked...

Pacific news in brief for 15 September

Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Fiji - bureau Four officers from Fiji's Counter Narcotic Bureau have been arrested for possession of illegal narcotics. As a result, the Fijian government is closing the bureau down entirely and returning all officers...

Prime Minister welcomes Duke of Edinburgh and Global Leaders at 50th Independence Gala

PRIME Minister James Marape hosted a 50th Independence Gala Dinner for the Duke of Edinburgh and all the important dignitaries that came to PNG today, yesterday and a few days ago to celebrate the country’s golden jubilee. Tonight, accompanying...

Women practice parliamentary debates in Tonga’s Legislative Assembly

Members of the 2025 Practice Parliament for Women with Speaker, Lord Fakafanua. Nuku'alofa, Tonga. 15 September 2025. Photo: Matangi Tonga. By Katalina Siasau Thirty women from across the country have taken their seats in Tonga’s Legislative...

South Africa ranks WORST in the world for maternity pay

South Africa has been ranked at the bottom of global maternity leave standards, offering no guaranteed paid maternity leave, according to the Global Maternity Leave Report 2025 released by UK-based firm Moorepay. The findings place South Africa...