Dreaver, Barbara

Cook Islands PM mark Brown welcomes NZ Foreign Minister Winston Peters. (Image: MFAT)

China out, NZ back in as new deal struck with Cook Islands

Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the declaration signed today clarifies the relationship between NZ and the Cook Islands.

Thursday 8:32am

5:02

Relations between Mark Brown (left) and Winston Peters have become more cordial in recent weeks.

Is the big thaw in frosty ties between Cook Islands and NZ now underway?

Analysis: Foreign Minister Winston Peters is heading to the Cook Islands tomorrow in a move that signifies a further improvement in relations between the two countries.

Tue, Mar 31

Samoa's La'aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt and Christopher Luxon

Samoan PM says Luxon was hours away from cancelling chiefly title

Christopher Luxon will be feeling he’s dodged a bullet but it came close enough for him to feel the shifting of air as it shot past, writes 1News Pacific Correspondent Barbara Dreaver.

Tue, Mar 17

3:35

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon pictured in December 2025.

PM Luxon's office denies he asked for a Samoan matai title

Samoa’s Prime Minister claimed in a recent interview Luxon himself had asked for the title, and the request came via New Zealand’s High Commissioner.

Sat, Mar 14

Locked up, alone, fearing torture: Barbara Dreaver's terrifying night in Fiji

In this extract from her new memoir Be Brave, Barbara Dreaver recalls the night she was detained and locked up in Fiji.

Sun, Mar 8

5:55

China out, NZ back in as new deal struck with Cook Islands

Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the declaration signed today clarifies the relationship between NZ and the Cook Islands.

Thursday 8:32am

5:02

Is the big thaw in frosty ties between Cook Islands and NZ now underway?

Analysis: Foreign Minister Winston Peters is heading to the Cook Islands tomorrow in a move that signifies a further improvement in relations between the two countries.

Tue, Mar 31

Samoan PM says Luxon was hours away from cancelling chiefly title

Christopher Luxon will be feeling he’s dodged a bullet but it came close enough for him to feel the shifting of air as it shot past, writes 1News Pacific Correspondent Barbara Dreaver.

Tue, Mar 17

3:35

PM Luxon's office denies he asked for a Samoan matai title

Samoa’s Prime Minister claimed in a recent interview Luxon himself had asked for the title, and the request came via New Zealand’s High Commissioner.

Sat, Mar 14

Locked up, alone, fearing torture: Barbara Dreaver's terrifying night in Fiji

In this extract from her new memoir Be Brave, Barbara Dreaver recalls the night she was detained and locked up in Fiji.

Sun, Mar 8

5:55

The Tongan team is led by manager and Tonga Athletics Association secretary general Alifeleti Tuihalamaka.

First Polynesian track and field event in a decade held in Auckland

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade funded athletes from seven Pacific countries to participate with support from Athletics New Zealand.

Sat, Mar 7

2:43

Pests devastating parts of the Pacific are being turned back with help from New Zealand communities.

Pacific Island in battle to bring rare bird from brink of extinction

Feral cats, rats and invasive taro vine devastating parts of the Pacific are being pushed back with support from New Zealand communities in a bid to protect rare wildlife.

Wed, Mar 4

2:47

February 2026

Pacific transit of narcotics raises alarm after a massive shipment is seized

Four tonnes of cocaine, worth $1.5b on the street, was enroute to New Zealand when it was intercepted – enough to supply our current illicit appetite for nine years.

Thu, Feb 12

5:02

Ponzi scheme BG Wealth/DSJ Exchange promises big returns on investment

Tongan, NZ authorities team up to battle high-risk crypto scam

BG Wealth/DSJ Exchange, a Ponzi scheme promising 100% returns, is sweeping the kingdom and New Zealand.

Sun, Feb 8

2:39

January 2026

Barbara Dreaver: Peters' Pacific kiss-and-make-up trip vital as tensions rise

Peters' office said he is set to become the first foreign minister to visit all 17 other Pacific Island Forum member countries within a single Parliamentary term.

Sat, Jan 17

Pacific Island nation offering the world the opportunity to sponsor the care of each square kilometre of its Marine Protected Area.

Niue earning millions from ocean sponsorship scheme

Pacific Island nation offers the world an opportunity to be a 'careholder' to each square kilometre of its Marine Protected Area.

Fri, Jan 9

3:11

Barbara Dreaver on her ultimate Pacific paradise and favourite NZ book of all time

TVNZ's Pacific Correspondent knows the islands from all angles, including their most idyllic.

Tue, Jan 6

December 2025

Proud dads: Sionetane Lea'aemanu, Mateni Lynch and Se'ula Aitu

'I'm answering the calls of broken men': Group helps tough guys become loving dads

Members of Fathers for Families say the group supports them until their behaviour – to their partners, their kids and themselves – starts to change.

December 28, 2025

3:02

November 2025

Confidential documents reveal Cooks government is continuing with plans to seize tainted cryptocurrency worldwide.

Fractured relationship between NZ-Cook Islands dealt another blow

Confidential documents leaked to 1News reveal the Cook Islands government was looking at new plans to seize tainted cryptocurrency worldwide.

November 12, 2025

2:55

Cook Islands PM Mark Brown, left, and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters.

New Zealand suspends nearly $30m in aid to Cook Islands

Months of talks to repair New Zealand’s relationship with its neighbour in the Pacific have failed.

November 9, 2025

5:22

Health officials asked why there was no measles vaccination drive amidst fears of up to 150 cases a week will hit the Pasifika community.

Pasifika health services scramble as measles cases rise

Real fears about the spread of measles in multigenerational living and at big community events – given it's so contagious.

November 1, 2025

3:08

September 2025

HIV, the 'explosive epidemic': Fiji suffers world's fastest spread

Pacific Correspondent Barbara Dreaver investigates the drug-fuelled increase in cases of HIV in Fiji, and what the country is doing to tackle the problem.

September 13, 2025

4:03

August 2025

Refuge for abused children overwhelmed as SVSG calls for land, funding, and government action to meet surging demand.

Samoa victim support group for children in growing crisis

Refuge for abused children overwhelmed – calls for land, funding, and the Samoan Government to help meet surging demand.

August 25, 2025

3:02

Tensions between China and Taiwan play out in the Pacific.

Barbara Dreaver: China casts shadow over Pacific foreign ministers' meeting

Analysis: 1News Pacific Correspondent Barbara Dreaver says the backdrop of China's role in the Pacific should focus the minds of the region's ministers meeting in Fiji today.

August 14, 2025

New Zealand Army Colonel Duncan George (left) said the event was "a huge effort" to coordinate and required a lot of planning.

PNG prepares to host armed forces for 50th independence celebration

New Zealand Army Colonel Duncan George who was embedded in Papua New Guinea said it was "a huge effort" to coordinate hosting the armed forces from 10 countries.

August 10, 2025

2:39

Two Tongan MPs suspended after fight in parliament

Other members tried to hold the struggling pair apart from each other.

August 8, 2025

0:45

July 2025

Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver reports on the detector dogs with targets on their backs.

Detection dogs frontline in Pacific to fight the tide of meth

The canine detectors worked in a perilous environment, as proven by the unsolved murder of New Zealand trained Eto in Fiji.

July 29, 2025

2:52

'Growing issue': Concerns for Samoa as meth spreads across Pacific

Samoa's caretaker Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa says she is worried about the expansion of meth.

July 27, 2025

4:50

Samoa prepares to go to the polls: 'Going to be an interesting election'

The country was plunged into turmoil at the last vote after the former government refused to concede power and triggered months of bitter court battles.

July 21, 2025

2:48

No senior NZ Govt officials to attend Cook Islands Constitution event

It shows a continuation of the serious rift between the two countries.

July 14, 2025

2:00