CoveragePost
August 31, 2025
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist The dominant issue going into the next election in Bougainville next week is not much different from the last election five years ago. The autonomous Papua New Guinea region goes to the polls on September 4. In 2020, there were strong expectations Bougainville would soon be independent, given ... <a title="Bougainville 2025 election: What’s at stake?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/31/bougainville-2025-election-whats-at-stake/" aria-label="Read more about Bougainville 2025 election: What’s at stake?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 27, 2025
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist The President of Bougainville, Ishmael Toroama, says he is not feeling the pressure as he seeks a second five-year term in office. Bougainville goes to the polls next Thursday, September 4, with 404 candidates vying for 46 seats in the Parliament of the autonomous Papua New Guinea region. ... <a title="Bougainville’s President Ishmael Toroama candid and relaxed a week out from polling" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/27/bougainvilles-president-ishmael-toroama-candid-and-relaxed-a-week-out-from-polling/" aria-label="Read more about Bougainville’s President Ishmael Toroama candid and relaxed a week out from polling">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 23, 2025
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist A longtime Bougainville politician, Joe Lera, wants to see widespread changes in the way the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) is run. The Papua New Guinea region, which is seeking independence from Port Moresby, is holding elections in the first week of September. Seven candidates are running for president, ... <a title="Veteran Bougainville politician wants new approach to independence and development" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/07/23/veteran-bougainville-politician-wants-new-approach-to-independence-and-development/" aria-label="Read more about Veteran Bougainville politician wants new approach to independence and development">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 22, 2025
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist In recent weeks, Bougainville has taken the initiative, boldly stating that it expects to be independent by 1 September 2027. It also expects the PNG Parliament to quickly ratify the 2019 referendum, in which an overwhelming majority of Bougainvilleans supported independence. In a third move, it established a ... <a title="Bougainville takes the initiative in mediation over independence" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/04/22/bougainville-takes-the-initiative-in-mediation-over-independence/" aria-label="Read more about Bougainville takes the initiative in mediation over independence">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 24, 2024
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist Papua New Guinea and Bougainville appear no closer to the tabling in the National Parliament of the referendum on independence. The non-binding referendum, conducted in 2019, as required by the Bougainville Peace Agreement of 2001, resulted in 97.8 percent of voters supporting independence for a region torn apart ... <a title="Bougainville threat to bypass PNG Parliament in independence standoff" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/03/24/bougainville-threat-to-bypass-png-parliament-in-independence-standoff/" aria-label="Read more about Bougainville threat to bypass PNG Parliament in independence standoff">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 14, 2024
RNZ Pacific Two years after beginning consultations, the Bougainville Constitutional Planning Commission has released its first draft of a home grown constitution. Bougainville expects to become independent of Papua New Guinea within three years and writing a constitution is a key part of that process. The draft constitution is the result of 40 commissioners travelling ... <a title="Bougainville has first draft of new home grown constitution" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/03/14/bougainville-has-first-draft-of-new-home-grown-constitution/" aria-label="Read more about Bougainville has first draft of new home grown constitution">Read more</a>