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
October 8, 2025
By Margot Staunton, RNZ Pacific Bougainville’s re-elected President Ishmael Toroama has announced a caretaker government following a formal swearing-in ceremony on Monday in the capital Buka. The former Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) commander won more than 90,000 votes in a landslide victory after the election on September 5-6. The interim Bougainville Executive Council (BEC) will ... <a title="Bougainville president sworn in after landslide re-election, names caretaker government" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/10/08/bougainville-president-sworn-in-after-landslide-re-election-names-caretaker-government/" aria-label="Read more about Bougainville president sworn in after landslide re-election, names caretaker government">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
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
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 13, 2025
RNZ Pacific The Department of Justice and Legal Services in Bougainville is aiming to craft a government policy to deal with violence related to sorcery accusations. The Post-Courier reports that a forum, which wrapped up on Wednesday, aimed to dissect the roots of sorcery/witchcraft beliefs and the severe violence stemming from accusations. An initial forum ... <a title="Bougainville legal dept looking towards sorcery violence policy" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/06/13/bougainville-legal-dept-looking-towards-sorcery-violence-policy/" aria-label="Read more about Bougainville legal dept looking towards sorcery violence policy">Read more</a>
