CoveragePost
February 21, 2026
RNZ Pacific Palau’s Supreme Court has denied an application by the Senate for a stay order on the government’s plan to take third country nationals deported from the United States. President Surangel Whipps’ has agreed for Palau to take up to 75 people, with the US to give Palau US$7.5 million in development funds. However, ... <a title="Palau court denies Senate bid to stop US deportee deal" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/21/palau-court-denies-senate-bid-to-stop-us-deportee-deal/" aria-label="Read more about Palau court denies Senate bid to stop US deportee deal">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 20, 2026
By Margot Staunton, RNZ Pacific senior journalist Fiji’s former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and ex-police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho are out on bail after appearing in court, charged with inciting mutiny. The pair appeared for a first call before the Suva Magistrates Court yesterday and were granted bail under strict conditions. Magistrate Yogesh Prasad also issued ... <a title="Former Fiji prime minister and ex-police commissioner on bail in inciting mutiny case" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/20/former-fiji-prime-minister-and-ex-police-commissioner-on-bail-in-inciting-mutiny-case/" aria-label="Read more about Former Fiji prime minister and ex-police commissioner on bail in inciting mutiny case">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 19, 2026
By Craig McCulloch, RNZ News deputy political editor Winston Peters has been accused of “pure racism” in Parliament by Labour leader Chris Hipkins, who has called out National ministers for failing to combat or challenge it. The Greens say Peters is scapegoating migrants, while ACT’s David Seymour — his own Cabinet colleague — says Peters ... <a title="Labour’s Chris Hipkins accuses Winston Peters of ‘pure racism’ in Parliament" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/19/labours-chris-hipkins-accuses-winston-peters-of-pure-racism-in-parliament/" aria-label="Read more about Labour’s Chris Hipkins accuses Winston Peters of ‘pure racism’ in Parliament">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor Fiji President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu has urged legislators not to sow seeds of “fear and division” as the country moves towards a general election later this year. Speaking at the opening of the fourth and final session of Parliament before the polls, Ratu Naiqama called on political leaders and ... <a title="Fiji’s president warns against sowing ‘seeds of fear’ ahead of elections" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/fijis-president-warns-against-sowing-seeds-of-fear-ahead-of-elections/" aria-label="Read more about Fiji’s president warns against sowing ‘seeds of fear’ ahead of elections">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 18, 2026
By Kaya Selby, RNZ Pacific journalist Papua New Guinea is under a close watch for money laundering, running a risk of being abandoned by global investors. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has placed PNG on its “grey list” due to “strategic deficiencies” in government oversight. The grey-list means that watchdog officials are monitoring closely, ... <a title="PNG one step away from blacklist, warns global money laundering watchdog" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/18/png-one-step-away-from-blacklist-warns-global-money-laundering-watchdog/" aria-label="Read more about PNG one step away from blacklist, warns global money laundering watchdog">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 17, 2026
RNZ Pacific The Indonesian government has dismissed a claim that its military has been bombing villages in West Papua. The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) claims a makeshift refugee camp in Puncak regency was bombed, and that many villagers have been displaced. ULMWP president Benny Wenda said the Air Force had “relentlessly attacked ... <a title="Confusion over West Papua bombing, displacement claims" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/17/confusion-over-west-papua-bombing-displacement-claims/" aria-label="Read more about Confusion over West Papua bombing, displacement claims">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 11, 2026
RNZ Pacific The United States has designated two high-profile public office holders from Palau and the Marshall Islands for “significant corruption”, the US Department of State says. Palau’s Senate president Hokkons Baules has been designated “for his involvement in significant corruption on behalf of China-based actors,” while the former mayor of the Kili/Bikini/Ejit community in ... <a title="US designates two Micronesian leaders over corruption allegations" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/11/us-designates-two-micronesian-leaders-over-corruption-allegations/" aria-label="Read more about US designates two Micronesian leaders over corruption allegations">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 9, 2026
By Mark Rabago, RNZ Pacific Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas correspondent More than 11,000 km separate the Northern Mariana Islands from Gaza and Israel. But the conflict has landed sharply on Saipan after the vandalism of a “Free Palestine” mural has sparked community anger, an arrest, and a wider debate over free speech, protest, and ... <a title="Outcry on Saipan after ‘Free Palestine’ mural vandalised – arrest made" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/09/outcry-on-saipan-after-free-palestine-mural-vandalised-arrest-made/" aria-label="Read more about Outcry on Saipan after ‘Free Palestine’ mural vandalised – arrest made">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 6, 2026
By Layla Bailey-McDowell, RNZ Māori news journalist Climate change has been a key focus for iwi leaders gathering at Waitangi this week, as coastal communities across New Zealand’s North Island recover from recent severe weather events. The National Iwi Chairs Forum, representing more than 70 iwi, has been meeting to set priorities for the year ... <a title="Climate change a priority for NZ’s iwi leaders at Waitangi" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/06/climate-change-a-priority-for-nzs-iwi-leaders-at-waitangi/" aria-label="Read more about Climate change a priority for NZ’s iwi leaders at Waitangi">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 6, 2026
RNZ Pacific The Green Party is celebrating the decision to decline plans to mine the Taranaki seabed. In a draft decision on Thursday, the fast-track approvals panel declined Trans-Tasman Resources’ (TTR) bid to mine 50 million tonnes of seabed a year for 30 years in the South Taranaki Bight. The panel found there would be ... <a title="Green Party celebrates decision to decline ‘dead end’ Taranaki seabed mining" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/06/green-party-celebrates-decision-to-decline-dead-end-taranaki-seabed-mining/" aria-label="Read more about Green Party celebrates decision to decline ‘dead end’ Taranaki seabed mining">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 6, 2026
By Russell Palmer, RNZ News political reporter New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon faced sustained heckling and had to fend off questions about a revived Treaty Principles Bill as he returned to Waitangi this year. ACT leader David Seymour predictably attracted his own jeers, and NZ First’s Winston Peters focused on a return serve. The ... <a title="Speeches, celebrations and heckling – what happened at Waitangi" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/06/speeches-celebrations-and-heckling-what-happened-at-waitangi/" aria-label="Read more about Speeches, celebrations and heckling – what happened at Waitangi">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 5, 2026
By Coco Lance, RNZ Pacific digital journalist As Waitangi Day commemorations continue drawing people from across Aotearoa and around the world to the Bay of Islands, Te Tii Marae has become a gathering point for Indigenous ocean leadership from across the Pacific. Taiātea: Gathering of the Oceans held its public forum yesterday, uniting more than ... <a title="Indigenous and Pacific leaders unite at Waitangi with shared messages on ocean conservation" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/05/indigenous-and-pacific-leaders-unite-at-waitangi-with-shared-messages-on-ocean-conservation/" aria-label="Read more about Indigenous and Pacific leaders unite at Waitangi with shared messages on ocean conservation">Read more</a>
