CoveragePost
April 9, 2026
By Johnny Blades, RNZ Pacific bulletin editor Papua New Guinea’s Defence Minister Dr Billy Joseph has stepped aside to allow investigations into allegations he interfered with army recruitment. Prime Minister James Marape said he would assume the defence portfolio while an independent probe into PNG Defence Force recruitment irregularities proceeded. A media release from Marape ... <a title="PNG defence minister steps aside amid army recruitment controversy" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/04/09/png-defence-minister-steps-aside-amid-army-recruitment-controversy/" aria-label="Read more about PNG defence minister steps aside amid army recruitment controversy">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 6, 2026
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk A rift within French Polynesia’s ruling party Tavini Huiraatira deepened during Easter weekend with a mass resignation from a group of 14 members. The resignation was tendered by a group of young members of the local Territorial Assembly. In their resignation letter, the members of the ... <a title="Mass Easter resignations within Tahiti’s pro-independence ruling party" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/04/06/mass-easter-resignations-within-tahitis-pro-independence-ruling-party/" aria-label="Read more about Mass Easter resignations within Tahiti’s pro-independence ruling party">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 6, 2026
RNZ Pacific Reports from West Papua say as many as five people have been shot dead in Dogiyai regency in an alleged retaliatory attack after a policeman was killed. A joint police and military operation was launched in the regency in Indonesia’s Central Papua province to respond to the killing, by apparent stabbing, of a ... <a title="At least five Papuans reported dead as violence explodes in Dogiyai" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/04/06/at-least-five-papuans-reported-dead-as-violence-explodes-in-dogiyai/" aria-label="Read more about At least five Papuans reported dead as violence explodes in Dogiyai">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 4, 2026
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk A Constitutional Reform Bill dedicated to New Caledonia was rejected on Thursday by the French National Assembly (Lower House) without debate, by a gathering of opposition parties by a score of 190 to 107. The rejection came in the form of the endorsement of a preliminary ... <a title="French National Assembly rejects New Caledonia’s constitutional reform" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/04/04/french-national-assembly-rejects-new-caledonias-constitutional-reform/" aria-label="Read more about French National Assembly rejects New Caledonia’s constitutional reform">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 2, 2026
By Lillian Hanly, RNZ News political reporter New Zealand has joined Australia, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom in expressing “deep concern” about an Israeli bill expanding the death penalty for Palestinians. Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters posted on social media last night, indicating New Zealand had joined the other nations, and emphasising the ... <a title="NZ, allies express ‘deep concern’ about Israeli death penalty bill for Palestinians" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/04/02/nz-allies-express-deep-concern-about-israeli-death-penalty-bill-for-palestinians/" aria-label="Read more about NZ, allies express ‘deep concern’ about Israeli death penalty bill for Palestinians">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 2, 2026
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Thousands took to the streets of the capital Nouméa on Tuesday — hours ahead of a scheduled French Parliament debate in the National Assembly in Paris to discuss the French Pacific territory’s political future. An estimated 2500 came in support of local Association Un Coeur, une ... <a title="Thousands take to Nouméa streets ahead of French Parliament debate on New Caledonia" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/04/02/thousands-take-to-noumea-streets-ahead-of-french-parliament-debate-on-new-caledonia/" aria-label="Read more about Thousands take to Nouméa streets ahead of French Parliament debate on New Caledonia">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 31, 2026
By Pokere Paewai, RNZ Māori issues reporter New Zealand’s national Māori radio network, Te Whakaruruhau o Ngā Reo Irirangi Māori o Aotearoa, is considering litigation over a potential loss of government funding which it says threatens the survivability of iwi radio stations. Chairperson Peter-Lucas Jones (Ngāti Kahu, Te Rārawa, Ngāi Takoto, Te Aupōuri) — who ... <a title="Māori radio network says funding cuts threaten survival of iwi stations" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/31/maori-radio-network-says-funding-cuts-threaten-survival-of-iwi-stations/" aria-label="Read more about Māori radio network says funding cuts threaten survival of iwi stations">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 31, 2026
By Margot Staunton, RNZ Pacific senior journalist Fiji’s Health Minister Dr Ratu Antonio Lalabalavu has defended the government’s handling of the country’s HIV crisis. HIV is surging in Fiji with at least 9000 people — or nearly one percent of the population — reported to be now infected. There are concerns that the real figure ... <a title="‘We’re doing something about it’ – Fiji’s health minister defends HIV response" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/31/were-doing-something-about-it-fijis-health-minister-defends-hiv-response/" aria-label="Read more about ‘We’re doing something about it’ – Fiji’s health minister defends HIV response">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 30, 2026
RNZ Pacific Former Fijian President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau died on Thursday, aged 84. Ratu Epeli, a chief and former Fiji military commander, served as president from 2009 to 2015. He also served as Speaker of Parliament from 2019 to 2022. Local media reported Ratu Epeli died at the Suva Private Hospital after being admitted earlier ... <a title="Fiji’s former President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau dies at 84" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/30/fijis-former-president-ratu-epeli-nailatikau-dies-at-84/" aria-label="Read more about Fiji’s former President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau dies at 84">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 29, 2026
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific Desk New Caledonia’s domestic airline Air Calédonie filed for bankruptcy on Friday, following almost a month of blockades by customers in the French Pacific territory’s outer islands. The protest movement had been initiated by groups of angry outer islands customers who intended to oppose the company’s decision ... <a title="New Caledonia’s domestic airline AirCal files for bankruptcy" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/29/new-caledonias-domestic-airline-aircal-files-for-bankruptcy/" aria-label="Read more about New Caledonia’s domestic airline AirCal files for bankruptcy">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 27, 2026
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk A rift within French Polynesia’s ruling Tavini Huiraatira party has widened this week, pitting the leadership “old guard” against a younger generation embodied by the territory’s President, Moetai Brotherson. The main reason for the rift is the outcome of the recent French municipal elections, especially in ... <a title="Rift widens within French Polynesia’s ruling party following municipal election losses" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/27/rift-widens-within-french-polynesias-ruling-party-following-municipal-election-losses/" aria-label="Read more about Rift widens within French Polynesia’s ruling party following municipal election losses">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 26, 2026
RNZ Pacific Tributes are pouring in from across the region for “fearless” and “formidable” Vanuatu journalist Dan McGarry, who died on Wednesday. McGarry, 62, fell ill after a trip to Papua New Guinea earlier this month, from where he had to be evacuated to Brisbane to undergo a heart bypass. But he faced complications during ... <a title="‘He will never be replaced’ – tributes flow for ‘fearless’ Vanuatu journalist Dan McGarry" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/26/he-will-never-be-replaced-tributes-flow-for-fearless-vanuatu-journalist-dan-mcgarry/" aria-label="Read more about ‘He will never be replaced’ – tributes flow for ‘fearless’ Vanuatu journalist Dan McGarry">Read more</a>
