Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
New Zealand/Pacific
Air New Zealand’s CEO Nikhil Ravishankar says the airline is not looking at cutting flight routes to the Pacific “at this stage”.
However, Ravishankar said Air NZ intends to combine flights when they are not full in order to save on fuel.
He said this would be most likely between August and October, when demand is relatively low.
Ravishankar told RNZ’s Nine to Noon that they are working hard to maintain all services altogether.
He added he has been in regular contact with Samoan officials to assure them they intend to stay connected.
Vanuatu
Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Jotham Napat says the rebuild of Air Vanuatu is progressing, following the airline’s collapse in 2024.
The national carrier went into liquidation due to heavy debt, aircraft and maintenance issues, high costs, and financial strain worsened by Covid-19 and natural disasters.
Napat told parliament aviation remains a strategic priority, with reforms like the Open Sky policy helping restore connectivity.
No timeline has been set for the airline’s full return.
Fiji/Kiribati
Fiji and Kiribati have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on sandfish aquaculture cooperation.
Fiji’s Fisheries Ministry Alitia Bainivalu said the highly valuable sea cucumber species is at the centre of the initiative designed to balance livelihood development with strict environmental stewardship.
The agreement was signed by Bainivalu and her Kiribati counterpart Ribanataake Tiwau.
Fiji
A High Court judge in Fiji says the sexual abuse of children by other children is on the rise in the country.
The Fiji Sun reported that Justice Lee James Burney made the comment while sentencing a juvenile convicted of raping a five year old.
The juvenile was sentenced to attend a 12-month community-based corrections programme.
Justice Burney stressed that correcting behaviour and avoiding reoffending was more important than punishment.
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands lawyer Gabriel Suri has accepted the post of the country’s Attorney-General.
Suri told SIBC the appointment still awaits formal approval – saying under the law, the Judicial and legal Service Commission makes the appointment based on the advice of the prime minister.
The SIBC reported Suri played a key legal role for the former New Coalition, now the current administration, during legal battles against the previous government.
He previously served as Attorney-General under former Prime Minister Derek Sikua in 2008.
Samoa
Samoa’s government says it is still conducting checks before a 10 million tala (NZ$6m) compensation is released.
The compensation is from the New Zealand government after its vessel, the HMNZS Manawanui, sank off the south coast of Upolu after hitting a reef.
Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Polataivao Schmidt asked the people of Safata affected by the sinking of the ship to remain patient, the Samoa Observer reported.
Laauli said cabinet had already made an official decision on the compensation, but the process had to be completed properly before payments could be made.
He asked for patience while officials verify the accounts and documents submitted.
Pacific
The Western Pacific branch of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has signed an agreement with the Borrow Foundation to strengthen support for oral health.
The Borrow Foundation is a charity based in the UK supporting global oral health initiatives, especially for children.
The WHO said oral diseases, from caries to cancer, remain the most common non-communicable diseases in the Western Pacific Region, affecting nearly 960 million people.
The collaboration will work on prevention, as well as integrating essential oral health care into primary health care and universal health coverage.
Australia/Tonga
Australia will give AU$10 million to Tonga to support civil society groups.
It is the latest funding of a five-year programme called the Tala Kei Kapa initiative, designed to strengthen disaster preparedness, response, and recovery systems across Tonga.
Recipients include the Tonga Leiti Association, Tonga Red Cross Society, Tonga National Youth Congress, and Live & Learn.
The programme has previously funded climate adaptation work and renewable energy.
