Archive

RNZ Pacific

CoveragePost

Former NZ mayoral hopeful arrested at Venezuela solidarity protest

January 9, 2026

RNZ News Three people, including former Wellington mayoral hopeful Graham Bloxham, have been arrested at a Venezuela solidarity protest in New Zealand’s capital. Around 100 people were rallying against the US military action earlier this week outside New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) on Lambton Quay. During the event Bloxham, who was ... <a title="Former NZ mayoral hopeful arrested at Venezuela solidarity protest" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/09/former-nz-mayoral-hopeful-arrested-at-venezuela-solidarity-protest/" aria-label="Read more about Former NZ mayoral hopeful arrested at Venezuela solidarity protest">Read more</a>

CoveragePost

PNG’s lethal Tsak Valley raid and deeper crisis over guns, policing, trust in Enga

January 9, 2026

SPECIAL REPORT: By Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent A Papua New Guinea police operation in Tsak Valley, Enga Province, in the early hours of Friday, 2 January 2026 — which resulted in five deaths — has prompted calls for an independent investigation following sharply differing accounts of events from police and community sources, as ... <a title="PNG’s lethal Tsak Valley raid and deeper crisis over guns, policing, trust in Enga" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/09/pngs-lethal-tsak-valley-raid-and-deeper-crisis-over-guns-policing-trust-in-enga/" aria-label="Read more about PNG’s lethal Tsak Valley raid and deeper crisis over guns, policing, trust in Enga">Read more</a>

CoveragePost

‘An extraordinary, charismatic man’: Sir Tim Shadbolt dies at 78

January 8, 2026

New Zealand former Invercargill and Waitematā mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt died today. He was 78. Sir Tim, who was awarded the Knight Companion of New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2019 New Year’s Honours List, served eight terms as Invercargill Mayor between 1993 and 1995, and again between 1998-2022, and two terms as Waitematā ... <a title="‘An extraordinary, charismatic man’: Sir Tim Shadbolt dies at 78" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/08/an-extraordinary-charismatic-man-sir-tim-shadbolt-dies-at-78/" aria-label="Read more about ‘An extraordinary, charismatic man’: Sir Tim Shadbolt dies at 78">Read more</a>

CoveragePost

US attack on Venezuela ‘clearly illegal’ under UN charter, says former NZ prime minister Helen Clark

January 5, 2026

RNZ News There is no doubt that Donald Trump’s attack on Venezuela was illegal, former prime minister and UN leader Helen Clark says. Over the weekend, the US attacked the Venezuelan capital Caracas and captured the South American nation’s president and his wife, citing alleged drug offences. Nicolás Maduro is now being held in a ... <a title="US attack on Venezuela ‘clearly illegal’ under UN charter, says former NZ prime minister Helen Clark" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/01/05/us-attack-on-venezuela-clearly-illegal-under-un-charter-says-former-nz-prime-minister-helen-clark/" aria-label="Read more about US attack on Venezuela ‘clearly illegal’ under UN charter, says former NZ prime minister Helen Clark">Read more</a>

CoveragePost

Four Papuan activists jailed on treason charges – NZ advocate says ‘abuse of law’

December 1, 2025

By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific reporter Four Papuan political prisoners have been sentenced to seven months’ imprisonment on treason charges. But a West Papua independence advocate says Indonesia is using its law to silence opposition. In April this year, letters were delivered to government institutions in Sorong West Papua, asking for peaceful dialogue between Indonesia’s ... <a title="Four Papuan activists jailed on treason charges – NZ advocate says ‘abuse of law’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/12/01/four-papuan-activists-jailed-on-treason-charges-nz-advocate-says-abuse-of-law/" aria-label="Read more about Four Papuan activists jailed on treason charges – NZ advocate says ‘abuse of law’">Read more</a>

CoveragePost

Fiji PM Rabuka blames ‘insulated’ upbringing for racially motivated 1987 coups

November 29, 2025

RNZ Pacific Sitiveni Rabuka, the instigator of Fiji’s coup culture, took to the witness stand for the first time today — fronting the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in Suva. The TRC was set up by Rabuka’s coalition government with the aim of promoting truth-telling and reconciliation regarding political upheavals dating back to 1987. The ... <a title="Fiji PM Rabuka blames ‘insulated’ upbringing for racially motivated 1987 coups" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/29/fiji-pm-rabuka-blames-insulated-upbringing-for-racially-motivated-1987-coups/" aria-label="Read more about Fiji PM Rabuka blames ‘insulated’ upbringing for racially motivated 1987 coups">Read more</a>

CoveragePost

Tahiti landslide: no survivors – all 8 bodies retrieved

November 28, 2025

By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk French Polynesian authorities have retrieved a total of eight bodies that were buried following a major landslide on its main island of Tahiti. The disaster struck several houses in the town of Afaahiti-Taravao, southeast Tahiti, on Wednesday, about 5am local time (Thursday NZT). The final toll ... <a title="Tahiti landslide: no survivors – all 8 bodies retrieved" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/28/tahiti-landslide-no-survivors-all-8-bodies-retrieved/" aria-label="Read more about Tahiti landslide: no survivors – all 8 bodies retrieved">Read more</a>

CoveragePost

East Sepik Governor Bird slams Marape’s ‘risky’ 2026 Budget overspend

November 27, 2025

By Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent Papua New Guinea’s 2026 National Budget has drawn immediate opposition criticism from East Sepik Governor Allan Bird, who says the government continues to overspend, overestimate revenue, and deliver few tangible results for ordinary citizens. The K$30.9 billion (about NZ$12.8 billion) spending plan, unveiled earlier this week, has been ... <a title="East Sepik Governor Bird slams Marape’s ‘risky’ 2026 Budget overspend" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/27/east-sepik-governor-bird-slams-marapes-risky-2026-budget-overspend/" aria-label="Read more about East Sepik Governor Bird slams Marape’s ‘risky’ 2026 Budget overspend">Read more</a>

CoveragePost

Fiji MP: Violence against women and girls ‘permeates every dimension of society’

November 27, 2025

RNZ Pacific Fiji marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls  this week with the government saying the day is a reminder that for too many women and girls violence is a daily reality — not a headline or a statistic. The day also kicked off 16 days of activism ... <a title="Fiji MP: Violence against women and girls ‘permeates every dimension of society’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/27/fiji-mp-violence-against-women-and-girls-permeates-every-dimension-of-society/" aria-label="Read more about Fiji MP: Violence against women and girls ‘permeates every dimension of society’">Read more</a>

CoveragePost

COP30 ends with ‘extremely weak’ outcomes, says Pacific campaigner

November 25, 2025

By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist The United Nations climate conference in Brazil this month finished with an “extremely weak” outcome, according to one Pacific campaigner. Shiva Gounden, the head of Pacific at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said the multilateral process is currently being attacked, which is making it hard to reach a meaningful consensus on ... <a title="COP30 ends with ‘extremely weak’ outcomes, says Pacific campaigner" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/25/cop30-ends-with-extremely-weak-outcomes-says-pacific-campaigner/" aria-label="Read more about COP30 ends with ‘extremely weak’ outcomes, says Pacific campaigner">Read more</a>

CoveragePost

Potential Tonga PM candidate: ‘Low-hanging fruits available’ to improve people’s lives

November 24, 2025

By Teuila Fuatai, RNZ Pacific senior journalist As Tonga’s 26 newly elected representatives turn to choosing a prime minister among them, one potential candidate is identifying economic development and raising the standard of living as necessary priorities for the next government and its leader. Lord Fakafanua was re-elected as a nobles’ representative for Ha’apai in ... <a title="Potential Tonga PM candidate: ‘Low-hanging fruits available’ to improve people’s lives" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/24/potential-tonga-pm-candidate-low-hanging-fruits-available-to-improve-peoples-lives/" aria-label="Read more about Potential Tonga PM candidate: ‘Low-hanging fruits available’ to improve people’s lives">Read more</a>

CoveragePost

‘My mana reignited’: Attendees leave world’s largest Indigenous education conference feeling inspired

November 21, 2025

By Coco Lance, RNZ Pacific digital journalist As the world’s largest Indigenous education conference (WIPCE) closed last night in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, a shared sentiment emerged — despite arriving with different languages, lands, and traditions, attendees across the board felt the kotahitanga (unity). The gathering — held in partnership with mana whenua Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, ... <a title="‘My mana reignited’: Attendees leave world’s largest Indigenous education conference feeling inspired" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/21/my-mana-reignited-attendees-leave-worlds-largest-indigenous-education-conference-feeling-inspired/" aria-label="Read more about ‘My mana reignited’: Attendees leave world’s largest Indigenous education conference feeling inspired">Read more</a>