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
January 19, 2026
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Talks on New Caledonia’s political future have been underway in Paris after French President Emmanuel Macron launched a fresh roundtable on Friday, despite the absence of one of the French territory’s largest pro-independence group, the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS). During a first meeting ... <a title="Pro-France MPs confront Macron over New Caledonia at future talks" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/19/pro-france-mps-confront-macron-over-new-caledonia-at-future-talks/" aria-label="Read more about Pro-France MPs confront Macron over New Caledonia at future talks">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 16, 2026
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk New Caledonia’s pro-independence Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) has put in a late request to join talks on the territory’s future remotely. The meeting, convened by French President Emmanuel Macron, is calling all politicians from the French Pacific territory back to the negotiating table. ... <a title="FLNKS sends in late request to join Paris talks on New Caledonia remotely" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/16/flnks-sends-in-late-request-to-join-paris-talks-on-new-caledonia-remotely/" aria-label="Read more about FLNKS sends in late request to join Paris talks on New Caledonia remotely">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 15, 2026
By Kaya Selby, RNZ Pacific journalist Just over a week after the United States announced its withdrawal from the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) — China has stepped in to fill the funding gap. President Donald Trump included the scientific organisation among a list of others that US government officials were ordered to withdraw from. ... <a title="China matches US contribution to Pacific environmental body a week after Trump pulls out" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/15/china-matches-us-contribution-to-pacific-environmental-body-a-week-after-trump-pulls-out/" aria-label="Read more about China matches US contribution to Pacific environmental body a week after Trump pulls out">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 14, 2026
The Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), one of the main components in New Caledonia’s pro-independence Kanak movement, has confirmed it will not take part in a new round of talks in Paris this week called by French President Emmanuel Macron. In mid-December 2025, Macron invited New Caledonia’s politicians back to the negotiating table ... <a title="FLNKS boycotts Macron-convened Paris talks over future this week" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/14/flnks-boycotts-macron-convened-paris-talks-over-future-this-week/" aria-label="Read more about FLNKS boycotts Macron-convened Paris talks over future this week">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 12, 2026
Indonesia needs a fundamental shift in perspective: seeing Papuans not as a problem to be managed, but as equal partners and full subjects of their own destiny within the Republic, writes Laurens Ikinia. COMMENTARY: By Laurens Ikinia in Jakarta The island of Papua is a land of profound paradox. Beneath its ancient, cathedral-like forests and ... <a title="Papua in the Pacific mirror: A path to recognition and reconciliation" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/12/papua-in-the-pacific-mirror-a-path-to-recognition-and-reconciliation/" aria-label="Read more about Papua in the Pacific mirror: A path to recognition and reconciliation">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 12, 2026
By Mark Rabago, RNZ Pacific Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas correspondent Leaders in the Northern Marianas have warned that a deepening economic crisis in the US territory could begin to undermine civilian systems that support America’s long-term strategic presence in the Indo-Pacific. In joint letters sent to US President Donald Trump and Admiral Samuel Paparo, ... <a title="CNMI leaders warn economic slide could affect US strategic presence in Pacific" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/12/cnmi-leaders-warn-economic-slide-could-affect-us-strategic-presence-in-pacific/" aria-label="Read more about CNMI leaders warn economic slide could affect US strategic presence in Pacific">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 11, 2026
By Pretoria Gordon, RNZ News journalist A former head of the United Nations Development Programme is concerned that US President Donald Trump may set a precedent for other countries. The President has signed a memorandum ordering the withdrawal of the United States from 66 international organisations. These include the Framework Convention on Climate Change, the ... <a title="Clark condemns US withdrawal as ‘assault on international system of cooperation’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/11/clark-condemns-us-withdrawal-as-assault-on-international-system-of-cooperation/" aria-label="Read more about Clark condemns US withdrawal as ‘assault on international system of cooperation’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 8, 2026
By Jake Johnson US President Donald Trump has claimed that Venezuela’s interim leadership will turn over to the United States as many as 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to be sold at market price, part of a broader, unlawful administration effort to seize the South American nation’s natural resources. Trump, who authorised the illegal ... <a title="‘Straight-up piracy and extortion’: Trump says he will control money from sale of Venezuelan oil" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/08/straight-up-piracy-and-extortion-trump-says-he-will-control-money-from-sale-of-venezuelan-oil/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Straight-up piracy and extortion’: Trump says he will control money from sale of Venezuelan oil">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 7, 2026
ANALYSIS: By Bryce Edwards When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, New Zealand responded with unusual speed. Sanctions followed. Condemnations were issued. The language was unambiguous. We were told this was about defending the “rules-based international order” — a phrase our politicians have grown remarkably fond of. Winston Peters has deployed it frequently in his time ... <a title="Bryce Edwards: NZ’s craven stance on the US invasion of Venezuela" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/07/bryce-edwards-nzs-craven-stance-on-the-us-invasion-of-venezuela/" aria-label="Read more about Bryce Edwards: NZ’s craven stance on the US invasion of Venezuela">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 7, 2026
SPECIAL REPORT: By Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent Papua New Guinea’s largest resource development has reached a milestone more than a decade in the making. The PNG Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Project has fully retired its bank-financed project debt, closing one of the most complex financing arrangements in the country’s economic history. The debt, ... <a title="Papua New Guinea fully retires debt for Liquefied Natural Gas project" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/07/papua-new-guinea-fully-retires-debt-for-liquefied-natural-gas-project/" aria-label="Read more about Papua New Guinea fully retires debt for Liquefied Natural Gas project">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 6, 2026
By Monika Singh of Wansolwara News Pacific media are facing one of their most challenging reporting environments in their history, marked by governance issues, political instability, geopolitical pressures and escalating climate threats, while simultaneously grappling with declining revenue streams and threats to their financial survival. This is highlighted in the inaugural edition of the Pacific ... <a title="New journal warns Pacific media near breaking point amid revenue collapse and political pressure" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/06/new-journal-warns-pacific-media-near-breaking-point-amid-revenue-collapse-and-political-pressure/" aria-label="Read more about New journal warns Pacific media near breaking point amid revenue collapse and political pressure">Read more</a>