Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.

Wrestler Palacios gives NMI first medal; 6 swimmers reach finals
(Northern Marianas Sports Association) — Team Marianas got off to a good start on the opening day of competitions in the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau, as NMI swimmers and wrestlers advanced to the medal round of their respective events Monday...

Letter: New Zealand aid
Dear Editor, There is a claim by some doing the rounds, that New Zealand’s economy is struggling, and the aid freeze is just a convenient excuse to pull back funding. TBH (to be honest) think it through, that’s highly unlikely, budgeted foreign...

Guam: Forever a Colony?
What’s taking so long? It’s been close to 500 years that Guam has been flying a foreign flag, and still there’s been no serious effort to shake loose and walk its own path. Decolonization peaked years ago - soon after World War II when long-time...

My Perspective: Should NZ start treating Pacific nations like partners and not dependents?
One of the big headlines last week was that New Zealand was pausing over $18 million in development assistance planned for the Cook Islands' 2025-2026 financial year. Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says New Zealand's decision to pause...

PACIFIC JOURNOS MEET CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL, PRAISE CHINA
Beijing, China – SIX Pacific Islands journalists met with the Director of the Pacific Island Division, Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs of the Chinese Ministry on Foreign Affairs, Gu Xinqiang in Beijing and exchanged views within...
Pacific news in brief for 27 June
USP Photo: Facebook / USP Papua New Guinea - education The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape has announced that PNG students at the University of the South Pacific (USP) campuses will receive govenment financial support. He also said...

ADB’s Director General for Pacific in Honiara
Director General (DG) of the Pacific Department within the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) is on a five-day visit to the Solomons. Emma Veve who was appointed to the position in late February 2025 arrived in Honiara on Monday and has been visiting...

Mission Critical: Korea bets US$84m on ocean mining
Just as the sector is facing mounting regulatory headwinds and environmental opposition, perhaps the most significant endorsement yet of deep sea mining's commercial viability has been inked as Seoul-based Korea Zinc announced a strategic US$85.2...

Majestic fusion of Pacific dance, couture takes centre stage
The Māngere Arts Centre will come to life this weekend with an exhilarating fusion of Pacific dance and fashion in a show called ARIKI. ARIKI is the latest edition of annual events presented by Auckland-based Pacific collectives - the traditional...

Parliament news
Opposition Member of Parliament Teariki Heather. LOSIRENE LACANIVALU / 25061851 Opposition Member of Parliament Teariki Heather has raised concerns about the funding allocated to families for funeral assistance. Heather said a lot of Cook...

Lynk Global’s SPAC merger on the rocks
TAMPA, Fla. — Slam Corp, the shell company founded by former MLB player Alex Rodriguez, is suing Lynk Global to stop the direct-to-smartphone satellite operator from walking away from their long-delayed merger. Investors in Rodriguez’s special...

Parvati Shallow Compares Her Past Marriage to Childhood Cult in New Book
Parvati Shallow was learning survival skills long before she just stepped on the Cook Islands for her first appearance on Survivor in 2006. In her new memoir, Nice Girls Don’t Win, Shallow — who would go on to play Survivor four more times...

Pacific Islands News Roundup – June 20 – June 26, 2025
Editor’s Note: We are undergoing a web host migration process and may need to make necessary modifications to our format and frequency over the next several weeks. Thank you in advance for your understanding. Political Leadership and Regionalism,...

China’s Xi tells NZ’s Luxon ‘no conflicts of interest’
BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday that Beijing had “no fundamental conflicts of interest” with New Zealand, as he welcomed Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on an official visit. Luxon’s trip comes at a time of tension with New...

NZ citizenship – right or privilege?Land, legacy and the futureNZ citizenship – right or privilege?
Master of International Development student Sieni Tiraa. Massey University/25062611 For Master of International Development student Sieni Tiraa, land is more than a resource, it’s about belonging, history and responsibility. Her research at Te...

Maori language at the heart of learning in Mauke’s only school
Apii Mauke, the only school on the island, is ensuring its students stay grounded in their identity and culture through the use of Maori language as the primary medium of instruction TALAIA MIKA/25061810/25061812 While the national spotlight...

Five Big Things That Happened Today: Thursday, June 19
NZ pauses funding to Cook Islands, Luxon leaves Shanghai for Beijing to meet Chinese Premier, and how to look after your car in winter. 1 NZ pauses nearly $20m in funding to Cook Islands after China dealings A spokesperson for Foreign Minister...
NZ’s furious act towards tiny island nation
New Zealand’s government halted aid to close partner the Cook Islands on Thursday because of a row over agreements the Pacific island nation struck with China. New Zealand “paused” the payments and would not resume them until the Cook Islands took...

New Zealand halts money to a Pacific nation over its China ties
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand has halted millions of dollars in funding to the Cook Islands over the “breadth and content” of agreements the smaller Pacific nation made with China, officials from the New Zealand Foreign Minister’s...

Letter: NZ pauses funding support
Dear Editor, Aotearoa has closed the coin purse where Cook Islands politicians have had such free access for decades that they are no different than spoiled children when Mum and Dad finally reach the same point where misdeeds mean a cut in...