CoveragePost
January 20, 2026
ANALYSIS: By Anna Kapil and Stephen Howes It is well known that the people of Bougainville want independence. In the 2019 referendum, 98.3 percent of them voted for it. And in 2025, Ishmael Touroma, a strong advocate of independence, was re-elected to the position of President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, further confirmation of ... <a title="Most UPNG students don’t want independence for Bougainville, new survey shows" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/20/most-upng-students-dont-want-independence-for-bougainville-new-survey-shows/" aria-label="Read more about Most UPNG students don’t want independence for Bougainville, new survey shows">Read more</a>
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
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
June 28, 2025
RNZ Pacific The leaders of Bougainville and Papua New Guinea have signed a deal that may bring the autonomous region’s quest for independence closer. Called “Melanesian Agreement”, the deal was developed earlier this month in 10 days of discussion at the New Zealand army base at Burnham, near Christchurch. Both governments have agreed that the ... <a title="Talks result in PNG and Bougainville signing ‘Melanesian Agreement’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/06/28/talks-result-in-png-and-bougainville-signing-melanesian-agreement/" aria-label="Read more about Talks result in PNG and Bougainville signing ‘Melanesian Agreement’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 12, 2025
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist Reports in Papua New Guinea say the governments of Bougainville and PNG have agreed to table the 2019 independence referendum results in Parliament. While discussions are ongoing, some degree of consensus has been reached during the talks, being held at Burnham Military Camp, just outside of Christchurch in ... <a title="Progress reported out of Bougainville independence talks at Burnham" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/06/12/progress-reported-out-of-bougainville-independence-talks-at-burnham/" aria-label="Read more about Progress reported out of Bougainville independence talks at Burnham">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 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
March 21, 2025
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist The parties involved in talks aimed at resolving an impasse over Bougainville’s push for independence are planning to meet several more times before a deadline in June. The leaders of Papua New Guinea and Bougainville have been meeting all week in Port Moresby, with former New Zealand Governor-General ... <a title="PNG and Bougainville to hold more talks on independence issue" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/03/21/png-and-bougainville-to-hold-more-talks-on-independence-issue/" aria-label="Read more about PNG and Bougainville to hold more talks on independence issue">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
October 13, 2024
By Harry Pearl of BenarNews An initial hearing of a class action against mining giant Rio Tinto over the toxic legacy of the Panguna copper mine on the autonomous island of Bougainville has been held in Papua New Guinea. The lawsuit against Rio Tinto and its subsidiary Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) is seeking compensation, expected ... <a title="Rio Tinto class action begins over ‘toxic’ Bougainville mine disaster" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/10/13/rio-tinto-class-action-begins-over-toxic-bougainville-mine-disaster/" aria-label="Read more about Rio Tinto class action begins over ‘toxic’ Bougainville mine disaster">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 2, 2024
INVESTIGATIVE REPORT: By Aubrey Belford of the OCCRP High in the forested mountains of Papua New Guinea’s Bougainville Island lies an abandoned, kilometer-wide crater cut deep into the earth. Formerly one of the world’s largest gold and copper mines, the open pit now serves as an unsightly monument to the environmental and social chaos that ... <a title="Lawsuit promises justice for Rio Tinto’s mining disaster in Bougainville – but some say it’s a cash grab" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/08/02/lawsuit-promises-justice-for-rio-tintos-mining-disaster-in-bougainville-but-some-say-its-a-cash-grab/" aria-label="Read more about Lawsuit promises justice for Rio Tinto’s mining disaster in Bougainville – but some say it’s a cash grab">Read more</a>
