Author: TMC Palau

What started as a one-night-cultural showcase for seven local schools has grown into one of the Hutt Valley’s biggest celebrations of Pacific and Māori culture.Founded in 2012 by Koraunui School teacher Luana Leulua’i, HuttFest was created to give young people a platform to proudly share their culture, without the pressures of competition.Hundreds of students formed 87 groups that took to the stage at Lower Hutt’s Walter Nash Centre over five days – continuing Luana’s vision of celebrating identity, community and belonging through performance.For many of the young people taking part, HuttFest is all about taking the chance to connect with…

[Photo: FILE] Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands and Pacific Islands Forum chair Matthew Wale has urged Pacific leaders to take ownership of the region’s future amidst growing challenges such as climate change and regional security. “We must always remind ourselves that our development agenda must remain one that is conceived, driven, and owned by the Pacific. Our partners should help us realise and complement our ambitions, not define nor shape them for us.” He says the focus is on ensuring that the Blue Pacific remains an ocean and a region of peace, stability, and mutual respect The Prime Minister…

[Photo: FILE] The 2026–2027 National Budget must strike a careful balance between growing the economy and protecting struggling households, according to Senior Lecturer in Economics at the University of the South Pacific, Dr. Janesh Sami. Speaking at the post-Budget Forum, Dr. Sami says Fiji is facing one of its most difficult economic environments in years, with slower economic growth, high inflation, rising public debt and continued global uncertainty. He adds the forecast for 2026 has been revised down from 3 per cent to 1.5 per cent, while inflation is expected to remain above 6 per cent, creating a challenging environment…

[Source: Reuters] In Russia’s grain belt, farmers fret they will not be able to harvest their crops as a fuel crisis sparked ​by Ukraine’s drone attacks on oil refineries and depots disrupts daily life. As Kyiv tries to pressure Moscow into ‌making peace with strikes on the country’s energy infrastructure, the resulting damage has squeezed oil-rich Russia’s fuel supplies, leading to restrictions in most regions and growing public disquiet. This has pushed drivers to crowd-source maps and trade tips about which stations have fuel and shorter lines. The shortage has also frayed ​tempers, with drivers shown in footage on social…

Having researched data available will assist Pacific Island nations manage their ocean resources, prepare well for natural hazards and ensure the right decisions are made.That’s the verdict of three Pasifika students who spent 26 days on board the research vessel RV Tangaroa, in a joint partnership project between the Earth Sciences New Zealand (formerly NIWA) and the Pacific Community (SPC).The RV Tangaroa is New Zealand’s only ice-strengthened, deep-water research ship and serves as a floating lab. It maps the seabed, studies marine life, and conducts climate research across the Pacific and Antarctica.In the past 26 days, Ueakeia Tofinga of Kiribati,…

[Source: File] Former Fiji Rugby Union chief executive officer, Rovereto Nayacalevu, has been appointed as the new Fiji Sports Council chairperson. The appointment by the Minister for Youth and Sports, Jese Saukuru, takes immediate effect. Saukuru says the decision has been supported by the Prime Minister. Nayacalevu will lead a new Board as well which includes Peter Mazey as deputy chair, Ana Tuiketei, Della Shaw Elder,Anabel Ali,Dr Ilimotama Cawi,Eroni Tawayaga,,Vuli Tukana,Vilash Chand, and Abhyas Chand.Article continues after advertisement The new Board will serve for the next years according to Saukuru. He says the previous Board concluded on 30 June. On…

[Photo: FILE] The Electoral Commission has rejected a request by former Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem for the establishment of an Independent Investigation Committee into the conduct of four Fijian Elections Office officials. In a statement, the Commission Chair, Usaia Ratuvili, says they had considered Saneem’s request but determined that establishing such a committee falls outside its constitutional mandate. The Commission also noted that it is aware of the findings of the Chief Justice in Criminal Case in which Saneem and former Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum were acquitted on 26 June 2026. It stated that disciplinary matters relating to the Supervisor…

[Photo: FILE] The Government has ruled out increasing the guaranteed cane price to $110 per tonne, saying the move would place further pressure on public finances. Minister for Sugar Tomasi Tunabuna says while he understands the challenges farmers are facing with rising production costs, increasing the guaranteed price is not financially sustainable at this stage. According to the Minister, the Government already provides significant support to farmers through fuel assistance, fertilizer subsidies, cane access road funding, and other industry programmes. “With the current world market price, the government will be paying more than $40 million as top-up alone. If they…

Twenty-year-old Sam Tuitupou Jnr is one player that ‘Ikale Tahi head coach Tevita Tuifu’a is keeping an eye on, as the Tongan national rugby team head into the new World Rugby Nations Cup competition.Tuitupou Jnr is one of the promising young players in the current squad, now in Denver in the USA, preparing for their first game against Zimbabwe on Sunday morning, New Zealand time.He first caught the eyes of assistant coach Nili latu last year and played for his country of origin at last year’s Pacific Nations Cup, while playing in North Harbour.This year he made his debut in…

[File Photo] The Republic of Fiji Military Forces has made an unprecedented call for constitutional reforms to remove protections that have shielded past unconstitutional actions from accountability. While making submission to the Constitutional Review Commission, Commander Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai says the military is voluntarily stepping away from legal protections that have covered the institution for decades, arguing that Fiji cannot achieve lasting stability without truth and accountability. The RFMF called for the dismantling of what it described as a “culture of impunity” and urged reforms to ensure the law applies equally to everyone, regardless of rank or position.…