CoveragePost
August 27, 2025
By Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai, RZ Pacific reporter in Apia, Samoa Pre-polling has kicked off in Samoa today, with around 1700 people expected to cast their votes ahead of Friday’s polling day. At the Tuana’imato Sports Complex in the capital, Apia, the atmosphere was upbeat as special voters began arriving. Special voters include those from Savai’i, the ... <a title="Samoa general election: Pre-polling kicks off" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/27/samoa-general-election-pre-polling-kicks-off/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa general election: Pre-polling kicks off">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 25, 2025
COMMENTARY: By Asofou So’o Although seven political parties have officially registered to contest Samoa’s general election this Friday, three have been politically visible through their campaign activities and are likely to share among them the biggest slice of the Parliament’s 51 seats. The question on everyone’s lips is: which one of them will win enough ... <a title="Gearing up for the 2025 Samoan general election – three-way split?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/25/gearing-up-for-the-2025-samoan-general-election-three-way-split/" aria-label="Read more about Gearing up for the 2025 Samoan general election – three-way split?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 1, 2025
By Torika Tokalau, Local Democracy Reporter The sisters running Auckland’s first authentic Polynesian show for tourists say it’s not just for visitors, but also to help uplift Pacific people. Louisa Tipene Opetaia and Ama Mosese’s Glorious Tours was pooled as one of 10 new “Treasures of Tāmaki Makaurau”: a go-to guide by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited ... <a title="‘Glorious’ sisters showcase Auckland’s Polynesian experiences for tourists" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/01/glorious-sisters-showcase-aucklands-polynesian-experiences-for-tourists/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Glorious’ sisters showcase Auckland’s Polynesian experiences for tourists">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 16, 2025
RNZ Pacific A renowned Samoan fashion designer was fatally shot at the “No Kings” protest in Salt Lake City on Saturday, the Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD) has confirmed. Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, known as Afa Ah Loo, an “innocent bystander” at the protest, died despite efforts by paramedics to save his life, police ... <a title="Samoan fashion designer fatally shot at Salt Lake City ‘no kings’ protest" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/06/16/samoan-fashion-designer-fatally-shot-at-salt-lake-city-no-kings-protest/" aria-label="Read more about Samoan fashion designer fatally shot at Salt Lake City ‘no kings’ protest">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 3, 2025
RNZ Pacific Samoa’s Parliament has been formally dissolved, and an early election is set to take place within three months. After months of political instability and two motions of no confidence, Prime Minister Fiāme Naomi Mata’afa said she would call for the dissolution of Parliament if cabinet did not support her government’s budget. MPs from ... <a title="Samoa parliament formally dissolved after months of uncertainty" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/06/03/samoa-parliament-formally-dissolved-after-months-of-uncertainty/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa parliament formally dissolved after months of uncertainty">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 29, 2025
By Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai, RNZ Pacific journalist Its official. Samoa’s Parliament will be dissolved next week and the country will have an early return to the polls. The confirmation comes after a dramatic day in Parliament on Tuesday, which saw the government’s budget voted down at its first reading. In a live address today, Prime Minister ... <a title="Samoa parliament to be dissolved in June, election date to come" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/05/29/samoa-parliament-to-be-dissolved-in-june-election-date-to-come/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa parliament to be dissolved in June, election date to come">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 28, 2025
RNZ Pacific Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa has advised Samoa’s head of state that it is necessary to dissolve Parliament so the country can move to an election. This follows the bill for the budget not getting enough support for a first reading on yesterday, and Fiame announcing she would therefore seek an early election. ... <a title="Samoan PM Fiamē advises dissolution of parliament, calls for snap elections" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/05/28/samoan-pm-fiame-advises-dissolution-of-parliament-calls-for-snap-elections/" aria-label="Read more about Samoan PM Fiamē advises dissolution of parliament, calls for snap elections">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 25, 2025
A public health expert is urging anyone travelling to places in the Pacific with a current dengue fever outbreak to be vigilant and take sensible precautions — but stresses the chances of contracting the disease are low. On Friday, the Cook Islands declared an outbreak of the viral infection, which is spread by mosquitoes, in ... <a title="Pacific dengue cases surge but don’t cancel your holiday yet, says health expert" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/05/25/pacific-dengue-cases-surge-but-dont-cancel-your-holiday-yet-says-health-expert/" aria-label="Read more about Pacific dengue cases surge but don’t cancel your holiday yet, says health expert">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 23, 2025
Pacific Media Watch A punitive defamation charge filed against one of Samoa’s most experienced and trusted journalists last week has sparked a flurry of criticism over abuse of power and misuse of a law that has long been heavily criticised as outdated. Talamua Online senior journalist Lagi Keresoma, who is also president of the Journalists ... <a title="Punitive criminal libel charge against Samoan journalist draws flurry of criticism" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/05/23/punitive-criminal-libel-charge-against-samoan-journalist-draws-flurry-of-criticism/" aria-label="Read more about Punitive criminal libel charge against Samoan journalist draws flurry of criticism">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 22, 2025
Al Jazeera How global power struggles are impacting in local communities, culture and sovereignty in Kanaky, New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands and Samoa. In episode one, The Battlefield, tensions between the United States and China over the Pacific escalate, affecting the lives of Pacific Islanders. Key figures like former Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani and tour ... <a title="The West v China: Fight for the Pacific – Episode 1: The Battlefield" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/05/22/the-west-v-china-fight-for-the-pacific-episode-1-the-battlefield/" aria-label="Read more about The West v China: Fight for the Pacific – Episode 1: The Battlefield">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 19, 2025
By Gill Bonnett, RNZ immigration reporter This story discusses graphic details of slavery, sexual abuse and violence Pacific children as young as six are being adopted overseas and being made to work as house slaves, suffering threats, beatings and rape. Kris Teikamata — a social worker at a community agency — spoke about the harrowing ... <a title="Pacific children as young as 6 adopted, made to work as house slaves" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/05/19/pacific-children-as-young-as-6-adopted-made-to-work-as-house-slaves/" aria-label="Read more about Pacific children as young as 6 adopted, made to work as house slaves">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 19, 2025
Australia has launched the world’s first UN Police Peacekeeping Training course tailored specifically for the Pacific region. The five-week programme, hosted by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), is underway at the state-of-the-art Pacific Policing Development and Coordination Hub in Pinkenba, Brisbane. AFP said “a landmark step” was developed in partnership with the United Nations, and ... <a title="Australia launches ‘landmark’ UN police peacekeeping course for Pacific region" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/05/19/australia-launches-landmark-un-police-peacekeeping-course-for-pacific-region/" aria-label="Read more about Australia launches ‘landmark’ UN police peacekeeping course for Pacific region">Read more</a>
