CoveragePost
November 19, 2025
Pacific Media Watch Regional student journalists at the University of the South Pacific have condemned the Samoan Prime Minister’s ban on the Samoa Observer newspaper, branding it as a “deliberate and systemic attempt to restrict public scrutiny”. The Journalism Students’ Association (JSA) at USP said in a statement today it was “deeplyconcerned” about Samoan Prime ... <a title="Regional Pacific student journalists condemn Samoa PM’s ban as ‘deeply troubling’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/19/regional-pacific-student-journalists-condemn-samoa-pms-ban-as-deeply-troubling/" aria-label="Read more about Regional Pacific student journalists condemn Samoa PM’s ban as ‘deeply troubling’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 19, 2025
By Kaya Selby, RNZ Pacific journalist The editor of Samoa’s only daily newspaper barred on Monday from accessing the Prime Minister’s press conferences says media freedom in Samoa is under attack. Samoan Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt “temporarily” banned the Samoa Observer from engagements with him and his ministers. In a statement, La’aulialemalietoa said ... <a title="Samoa editor says media freedom under attack in response to PM’s ban" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/19/samoa-editor-says-media-freedom-under-attack-in-response-to-pms-ban/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa editor says media freedom under attack in response to PM’s ban">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 18, 2025
EDITORIAL: By the Samoa Observer They say the march toward authoritarian rule begins with one simple act: taking control of the narrative and silencing the independent press. Yesterday, Samoa witnessed a step in that direction. Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt, elected by the people to serve them, has already moved to weaken one of democracy’s ... <a title="Samoa Observer: The PM’s wish and our promise" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/18/samoa-observer-the-pms-wish-and-our-promise/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa Observer: The PM’s wish and our promise">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 18, 2025
By Renate Rivers of PMN News Samoa’s Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt has banned the country’s only daily newspaper, the Samoa Observer, from all ministerial press conferences. The move has raised serious concerns among industry stakeholders about media freedom as he faces growing political and legal pressure. La’aulialemalietoa announced the ban on Monday at ... <a title="Samoan PM bans nation’s only newspaper from government access" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/18/samoan-pm-bans-nations-only-newspaper-from-government-access/" aria-label="Read more about Samoan PM bans nation’s only newspaper from government access">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 17, 2025
RNZ Pacific Samoan Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt has returned home after an eight-week absence for medical treatment in New Zealand. La’aulialemalietoa departed Apia for Auckland on a private jet just days after being sworn in as Samoa’s eighth prime minister on September 16. The Samoan government had previously said he was expected to return ... <a title="Samoan PM back home as journalist alleges assault outside his residence" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/17/samoan-pm-back-home-as-journalist-alleges-assault-outside-his-residence/" aria-label="Read more about Samoan PM back home as journalist alleges assault outside his residence">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
October 29, 2025
Asia Pacific Report A former National MP has launched a petition calling for “equality and respect” in New Zealand’s immigration visa treatment of Pacific Islanders, saying “many are shocked when they learn the truth”. In a full page advertisement in The New Zealand Herald newspaper today, Anae Arthur Anae condemned the New Zealand government’s visa ... <a title="Former MP Anae calls for ‘Pacific justice’ over immigration in petition" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/10/29/former-mp-anae-calls-for-pacific-justice-over-immigration-in-petition/" aria-label="Read more about Former MP Anae calls for ‘Pacific justice’ over immigration in petition">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
October 28, 2025
By Coco Lance, RNZ Pacific digital journalist The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned Aotearoa New Zealand to urgently close the “alarming” gaps in measles immunisation, particularly among Māori and Pacific communities. A WHO review last year found measles vaccination rates were at their lowest since 2012, and said the country was at risk of ... <a title="‘Alarming gaps’ – WHO warns NZ to urgently close measles vaccination gap among Māori and Pacific communities" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/10/28/alarming-gaps-who-warns-nz-to-urgently-close-measles-vaccination-gap-among-maori-and-pacific-communities/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Alarming gaps’ – WHO warns NZ to urgently close measles vaccination gap among Māori and Pacific communities">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
October 25, 2025
SPECIAL REPORT: By Te Aniwaniwa Paterson of Te Ao Māori News Māori and Pasifika leaders are leading climate adaptation, guided by ancestral knowledge and Indigenous principles to build resilience and shape global solutions. Last week, they played a key role in launching a new Indigenous climate adaptation network at a wānanga ahead of Adaptation Futures ... <a title="‘Oceania voices’ – Indigenous climate adaptation network launches in Ōtautahi" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/10/25/oceania-voices-indigenous-climate-adaptation-network-launches-in-otautahi/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Oceania voices’ – Indigenous climate adaptation network launches in Ōtautahi">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
October 19, 2025
By Teuila Fuatai, RNZ Pacific senior journalist, and Susana Suisuiki, RNZ Pacific Waves host The future of the Manawanui wreckage and potential compensation payments remain a major talking point in Samoa. The Royal New Zealand Navy vessel ran aground on a reef off the south coast of Upolu in October last year and sank. New ... <a title="‘We’re eating tinned fish’ – Samoa villagers plead for Manawanui wreckage compensation" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/10/19/were-eating-tinned-fish-samoa-villagers-plead-for-manawanui-wreckage-compensation/" aria-label="Read more about ‘We’re eating tinned fish’ – Samoa villagers plead for Manawanui wreckage compensation">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 31, 2025
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific presenter/bulletin editor, and Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai, RNZ Pacific journalist in Apia, Samoa A former New Zealand politician says there is a sense of relief in Samoa following snap general election day. Aupito William Sio is in Samoa to vote and support the communities he has responsibilities for as a chief. Aupito, ... <a title="‘Huge relief’ in Samoa post snap general election, says Aupito" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/31/huge-relief-in-samoa-post-snap-general-election-says-aupito/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Huge relief’ in Samoa post snap general election, says Aupito">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 30, 2025
By Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai, RNZ Pacific journalist in Apia, Samoa Samoa’s electoral commissioner Toleafoa Tuiafelolo Alexander Stanley told the media the official count kicks off on Monday then next Friday is when official results are expected. The election, described as the most unpredictable in Samoa’s history, had no clear favourite going in given the governing party ... <a title="Samoa snap election: No results just yet, says electoral commissioner" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/30/samoa-snap-election-no-results-just-yet-says-electoral-commissioner/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa snap election: No results just yet, says electoral commissioner">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 29, 2025
Voting commenced in Samoa’s general election today, with more than 100,000 eligible voters heading to the polls to decide the country’s next government. A total of 187 candidates will contest 50 seats in Parliament, representing six political parties and 46 independents. The governing FAST Party leads the field with 58 candidates, followed closely by the ... <a title="Polls open in Samoa’s 2025 general election with one seat declared" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/29/polls-open-in-samoas-2025-general-election-with-one-seat-declared/" aria-label="Read more about Polls open in Samoa’s 2025 general election with one seat declared">Read more</a>
