CoveragePost
May 6, 2026
RNZ Pacific A female journalist in Tonga has been threatened at gunpoint following the broadcast of a news story about an Australian criminal deportee serving a life sentence in Tonga for methamphetamine importation. The incident, in which an unknown individual threatened the journalist at the Kele’a Publications office in Nuku’alofa 12 days ago — 23 ... <a title="Tongan police investigate journalist threatened at gunpoint after gang-related report" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/06/tongan-police-investigate-journalist-threatened-at-gunpoint-after-gang-related-report/" aria-label="Read more about Tongan police investigate journalist threatened at gunpoint after gang-related report">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 4, 2026
RNZ Pacific Fiji has recorded the biggest improvement in the Pacific in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, rising to 24th out of 180 countries. The index has been compiled and published by global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) since 2002. Papua New Guinea moved up slightly on the index to 73rd. But Samoa ... <a title="Fiji climbs to 24th in World Press Freedom Index, biggest gain in the Pacific" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/04/fiji-climbs-to-24th-in-world-press-freedom-index-biggest-gain-in-the-pacific/" aria-label="Read more about Fiji climbs to 24th in World Press Freedom Index, biggest gain in the Pacific">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 3, 2026
RNZ News – The Global Sumud Flotilla is demanding the New Zealand government intervene to uphold international law, after being intercepted by Israel. It said 22 boats carrying aid for Gaza were illegally intercepted in international waters near the Greek island of Crete. New Zealanders Jerome (Jay) O’Connor, Mousa Taher, Julien Blondel, and Sean Janssen ... <a title="Global Sumud Flotilla calls on NZ govt to intervene after Israeli interception" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/05/03/global-sumud-flotilla-calls-on-nz-govt-to-intervene-after-israeli-interception/" aria-label="Read more about Global Sumud Flotilla calls on NZ govt to intervene after Israeli interception">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 29, 2026
By Christina Persico, RNZ Pacific bulletin editor A woman whose great-grandparents — all eight of them — were Girmitiya labourers has put their stories into her debut novel. The result is Banjara, a novel partly based on what she found, which is told through the eyes of two women more than 100 years apart. Author, ... <a title="Girmitiya ancestry the inspiration behind Fiji writer’s debut novel" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/04/29/girmitiya-ancestry-the-inspiration-behind-fiji-writers-debut-novel/" aria-label="Read more about Girmitiya ancestry the inspiration behind Fiji writer’s debut novel">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 28, 2026
RNZ Pacific The Fiji Prime Minister has thrown his government’s support behind a controversial waste-to-energy project at Vuda Point in the country’s Western Division despite “a delay”. The multi-million-dollar “Fiji Energy from Waste Project”, backed by Australian billionaire Ian Malouf and Fiji-born businessman Robert Cromb’s company The Next Generation (TNG) Fiji, has been making headlines ... <a title="Fiji PM Rabuka gives govt support for controversial waste-to-energy project" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/04/28/fiji-pm-rabuka-gives-govt-support-for-controversial-waste-to-energy-project/" aria-label="Read more about Fiji PM Rabuka gives govt support for controversial waste-to-energy project">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 27, 2026
By Johnny Blades, RNZ Pacific bulletin editor A Papua New Guinea National Court ruling to overturn a ban on Starlink has been widely welcomed, fresh off the back of a natural disaster which highlighted the need for low-orbit satellite services in the country. Last December, the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA) announced that ... <a title="Starlink set to return to PNG after court quashes ban, clearing path" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/04/27/starlink-set-to-return-to-png-after-court-quashes-ban-clearing-path/" aria-label="Read more about Starlink set to return to PNG after court quashes ban, clearing path">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 25, 2026
By Coco Lance, RNZ Pacific digital journalist For the first time in history, the Goldman Environmental Prize — often dubbed the “Green Nobel” — has been awarded entirely to women. Since 1990, the prize has recognised ordinary people taking on extraordinary environmental battles. The six winners this year are Theonila Roka Matbob (Bougainville), Yuvelis Morales ... <a title="Bougainville advocate among all-women lineup winning Goldman Environmental prize" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/04/25/bougainville-advocate-among-all-women-lineup-winning-goldman-environmental-prize/" aria-label="Read more about Bougainville advocate among all-women lineup winning Goldman Environmental prize">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 23, 2026
By Margot Staunton, RNZ Pacific senior journalist Jone Vakarisi was heard screaming and begging before he was “brutalised to death” in Fiji military custody last week, according to his sister. Melehola Tagaga told RNZ Pacific Waves that the well-known drug pusher was asked if he was planning a coup, before the military arrested him at ... <a title="‘His life mattered’: Family of man who died in Fiji military custody says he begged for his life" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/04/23/his-life-mattered-family-of-man-who-died-in-fiji-military-custody-says-he-begged-for-his-life/" aria-label="Read more about ‘His life mattered’: Family of man who died in Fiji military custody says he begged for his life">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 22, 2026
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor A coalition of political parties opposing the Solomon Islands prime minister has accused government lobbyists of trying to woo its MPs with “huge money” bribes to “buy political allegiance”. It comes amid an ongoing court wrangle over parliamentary moves to oust Jeremiah Manele. The opposition grouping, which claims to ... <a title="Solomon Islands opposition alleges ‘millions’ offered by govt lobbyists to buy back power" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/04/22/solomon-islands-opposition-alleges-millions-offered-by-govt-lobbyists-to-buy-back-power/" aria-label="Read more about Solomon Islands opposition alleges ‘millions’ offered by govt lobbyists to buy back power">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 21, 2026
RNZ Pacific Indonesia’s National Commission on Human Rights says it is investigating deaths of a dozen West Papuans in a military operation. The commission, known as Komnas HAM, says the incident took place last Tuesday in Kembru District in Puncak regency of Central Papua Komnas HAM said 12 civilians, including women and children, died as ... <a title="Indonesia’s human rights body to investigate deaths of 12 Papuans in military operation" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/04/21/indonesias-human-rights-body-to-investigate-deaths-of-12-papuans-in-military-operation/" aria-label="Read more about Indonesia’s human rights body to investigate deaths of 12 Papuans in military operation">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 21, 2026
By Margot Staunton, RNZ Pacific senior journalist The Fiji Police Force has launched a murder investigation following the death of wellknown drug pusher Jone Vakarisi, who died in military custody on Thursday. Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro told RNZ Pacific that “investigators are gathering intelligence to establish the facts and circumstances surrounding the victim’s death”. “The ... <a title="Fiji police confirm murder probe launched into death of man in military custody" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/04/21/fiji-police-confirm-murder-probe-launched-into-death-of-man-in-military-custody/" aria-label="Read more about Fiji police confirm murder probe launched into death of man in military custody">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 20, 2026
RNZ Pacific The Fiji military has found itself at the centre of a national firestorm following the death of a wellknown drug peddler, Jone Vakarisi, in army custody last Thursday. Conflicting reports have emerged over the weekend regarding the death of Vakarisi, who was reportedly linked to major criminal networks. News of his death broke ... <a title="Fiji military faces questions after death of Jone Vakarisi in custody" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/04/20/fiji-military-faces-questions-after-death-of-jone-vakarisi-in-custody/" aria-label="Read more about Fiji military faces questions after death of Jone Vakarisi in custody">Read more</a>
