CoveragePost
September 5, 2025
By Margot Staunton, RNZ Pacific senior journalist Bougainvilleans went to the polls today, keen to elect a leader who will continue their fight for independence. “There’s a mood of excitement among the people here,” said Electoral Commissioner Desmond Tsianai. “It is important that this election is successful and credible, because we want legitimate leaders in ... <a title="‘We want legitimate leaders’: Bougainvilleans head to the polls amid push for independence" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/09/05/we-want-legitimate-leaders-bougainvilleans-head-to-the-polls-amid-push-for-independence/" aria-label="Read more about ‘We want legitimate leaders’: Bougainvilleans head to the polls amid push for independence">Read more</a>
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
August 16, 2025
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist Elizabeth Tako Palin is one of five women contesting the Bougainville North women’s reserved seat next month. It was previously held by Amanda Masono, who has chosen to contest the open Atolls seat, which was once held by her father. The autonomous Papua New Guinea region is holding ... <a title="‘I believe I can’: Elizabeth Palin runs for Bougainville North women’s seat" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/16/i-believe-i-can-elizabeth-palin-runs-for-bougainville-north-womens-seat/" aria-label="Read more about ‘I believe I can’: Elizabeth Palin runs for Bougainville North women’s seat">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 27, 2025
INTERVIEW: By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist One of the first women to hold an open seat in Bougainville, Theonila Roka Matbob, is confident she can win again. Bougainville goes to the polls in the first week of September, and Roka Matbob aims to hold on to her Ioro seat in central Bougainville, where ... <a title="Bougainville woman Cabinet minister battling nine men to hold her seat" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/07/27/bougainville-woman-cabinet-minister-battling-nine-men-to-hold-her-seat/" aria-label="Read more about Bougainville woman Cabinet minister battling nine men to hold her seat">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
July 16, 2025
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist More than 400 candidates have put their hands up to contest the Bougainville general election in September, hoping to enter Parliament. Incumbent President Ishmael Toroama is among the 404 people lining up to win a seat. Bougainville is involved in the process of achieving independence from Papua New ... <a title="Bougainville election: More than 400 candidates vie for parliament" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/07/16/bougainville-election-more-than-400-candidates-vie-for-parliament/" aria-label="Read more about Bougainville election: More than 400 candidates vie for parliament">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 8, 2025
RNZ Pacific The Bougainville election process begins today with the issuance of the writs yesterday. Nominations open Tuesday, July 8, and close on Thursday, July 10. Voting is scheduled for one week starting on September 2, allowing seven weeks of campaigning. Candidates will be vying for a total of 46 seats, with the autonomous Parliament ... <a title="Bougainville election process begins as writs issued for September poll" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/07/08/bougainville-election-process-begins-as-writs-issued-for-september-poll/" aria-label="Read more about Bougainville election process begins as writs issued for September poll">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 22, 2025
By Leah Lowonbu, Stefan Armbruster and Harlyne Joku of BenarNews The Pacific’s peak diplomatic bodies have signalled they are ready to engage with Papua New Guinea’s Autonomous Government of Bougainville as mediation begins on the delayed ratification of its successful 2019 independence referendum. PNG and Bougainville’s leaders met in the capital Port Moresby this week ... <a title="Top Pacific diplomats ready for direct talks on Bougainville independence" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/03/22/top-pacific-diplomats-ready-for-direct-talks-on-bougainville-independence/" aria-label="Read more about Top Pacific diplomats ready for direct talks on Bougainville independence">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
September 24, 2020
By Romulus Masiu in Port Moresby Full independence will be top of the agenda pledges Ishmael Toroama, the newly elected president for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. Straight after his declaration yesterday at Hutjena in Bougainville, President-elect Toroama, a former rebel commander during the Bougainville civil war of the late 1980s, said he was looking ... <a title="Toroama declares independence top of agenda, offers ‘olive branch’ to rivals" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/09/24/toroama-declares-independence-top-of-agenda-offers-olive-branch-to-rivals/" aria-label="Read more about Toroama declares independence top of agenda, offers ‘olive branch’ to rivals">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
September 24, 2020
By The National A father-daughter team will join the Autonomous Bougainville Government House of Representatives after winning their seats in the recent election. Raymond Masono retained his seat as the Atolls MP while daughter Amanda Masono Getsi was declared the winner of the North Region Women’s Representative seat. She told The National she was overwhelmed ... <a title="Father, daughter team win seats in Bougainville general election" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/09/24/father-daughter-team-win-seats-in-bougainville-general-election/" aria-label="Read more about Father, daughter team win seats in Bougainville general election">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
September 23, 2020
ANALYSIS: By Keith Jackson Ishmael Toroama built his reputation as a bold fighter and later a commander in the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) in its struggle to close the Panguna copper and gold mine and gain independence for Bougainville from Papua New Guinea in the 10-year civil war of the 1990s. Later, in 2001, he ... <a title="Bougainville president-elect Ishmael Toroama – rebel, peacemaker, farmer" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2020/09/23/bougainville-president-elect-ishmael-toroama-rebel-peacemaker-farmer/" aria-label="Read more about Bougainville president-elect Ishmael Toroama – rebel, peacemaker, farmer">Read more</a>
