Pacific Islands

Some of the 73 passengers were able to post live feeds on social media about their plight.

All passengers on stranded Solomons boat rescued after engine failure

The vessel - MV Awka - was travelling between islands in the Temotu Province when it lost its main engine power with more than 70 passengers and crew on board.

Mon, Oct 12

The appeal tribunal acknowledged he could face challenges readjusting to Samoa, but said it was difficult to "reconcile the appellant's concern for his own future with the violent treatment he meted out to another person".

Immigration catches up with overstayer who lived under alias for 38 years

An overstayer who used a forged passport when he arrived 38 years ago and lived under a false identity has lost his attempt to appeal deportation.

Fri, Oct 9

Junior Amone named for Tonga as big halves call looms

Tonga have named a Rugby League World Cup squad that looks capable of challenging for the title when the tournament kicks off next week.

Tue, Oct 6

Samoa Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt.

Samoa PM apologises for Nazi gesture, saying 'Heil Hitler'

Laʻauli Leuatea Schmidt was filmed making the gesture at a family reunion in Samoa in July 2007.

Mon, Oct 5

Mothers and babies pay the price as Fiji's HIV emergency worsens

Pacific Correspondent Barbara Dreaver reports from Fiji on the devastating HIV crisis in the Pacific nation.

Thu, Oct 1

All passengers on stranded Solomons boat rescued after engine failure

The vessel - MV Awka - was travelling between islands in the Temotu Province when it lost its main engine power with more than 70 passengers and crew on board.

Mon, Oct 12

Immigration catches up with overstayer who lived under alias for 38 years

An overstayer who used a forged passport when he arrived 38 years ago and lived under a false identity has lost his attempt to appeal deportation.

Fri, Oct 9

Junior Amone named for Tonga as big halves call looms

Tonga have named a Rugby League World Cup squad that looks capable of challenging for the title when the tournament kicks off next week.

Tue, Oct 6

Samoa PM apologises for Nazi gesture, saying 'Heil Hitler'

Laʻauli Leuatea Schmidt was filmed making the gesture at a family reunion in Samoa in July 2007.

Mon, Oct 5

Mothers and babies pay the price as Fiji's HIV emergency worsens

Pacific Correspondent Barbara Dreaver reports from Fiji on the devastating HIV crisis in the Pacific nation.

Thu, Oct 1

Earlier this month, Fiji Police launched an investigation after seven out of the 39 cocaine bars went missing.

Six persons of interest identified over cocaine missing from Fiji court

The 39 cocaine bars, worth millions of dollars in street value, were stored in the Suva High Court exhibit room.

Wed, Sep 30

Fiji Health Minister Antonio Lalabalavu.

Fiji declares an HIV emergency and expands testing as cases surge

Fiji officials said 1 in every 60 adults in the country has HIV, compared to 1 in 167 five years ago.

Fri, Sep 18

One dead, over 30 missing after ferry sinks in Vanuatu

Search and rescue personnel are scouring the coastline in a desperate bid to find survivors following the inter-island ferry sinking.

Sun, Sep 13

Kiribati President Taneti Maamau (file image).

'Disappointing': Kiribati snubbed at Pacific Islands Forum closing

Kiribati has been snubbed at the Pacific Islands Forum closing in Palau, calling it "disappointing" – after also being absent during the Leaders Retreat.

Sat, Sep 5

Why Pacific Islands should seek collective security for the region

With growing rivalry between great powers in the Pacific, one expert says the Pacific Islands Forum is a chance to seek collective protection for the region’s small nations.

Thu, Sep 3

Initiatives include $60m for fuel security in the region and $17 million to combat illegal fishing.

US pours $257m into starching up strategic interest in the Pacific

US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau tells 1News "we would like to be part of the story of the future of this region".

Wed, Sep 2

The port will be at Penrhyn and will have strategic importance in the Pacific.

NZ and US to build major port on former military base in Cook Islands

The announcement comes after the Cook Islands made a previous arrangement with China without informing Wellington.

Tue, Sep 1

August 2026

Pacific leaders call for action as PIF attendance questioned

At least five Pacific leaders have pulled out of the annual Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meeting in Palau this week – with suggestions foreign interference is to blame for the non-attendance of some.

Mon, Aug 31

As leaders from around the region begin to gather in Palau for the annual Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), unease is building

Barbara Dreaver: Pacific Islands Forum is bracing for a fallout

Analysis: As leaders from around the region begin to gather in Palau for the annual Pacific Islands Forum, unease is building as further fractures in the group emerge.

Sat, Aug 29

Air New Zealand is among several airlines affected by Fiji's fuel shortage.

Air NZ among airlines hit by fuel shortage at Fiji's Nadi airport

At least one of the national carrier's flights to Nadi has been cancelled, with a spokesperson saying measures had been taken to manage fuel restrictions in the Pacific Island nation.

Fri, Aug 21

Ana Noovao in action for Auckland in 1992.

Former Silver Ferns captain Ana Noovao dies aged 58

Ana Noovao was described as an "exceptionally gifted midcourter, with superb vision and the power to lead".

Tue, Aug 11

Six people in a small boat have been rescued amid rough Fijian waters. (Source: NZDF)

Six missing in boat amid rough seas in Fiji rescued by RNZAF

The group had left Namuka Island for Fulaga in the Lau Group in a small boat on Thursday morning but failed to reach their destination.

Sat, Aug 8

Regional security treaty on the table after tense times in which China fired a ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean.

Divisions on China missile test threaten to destabilise Pacific Islands Forum

Deep divisions are threatening to destabilise the Pacific Islands Forum after foreign ministers walked away unable to come to any agreement on action against China’s ballistic missile test.

Fri, Aug 7

Analysis: Plenty at stake as Pacific foreign ministers meet

Foreign Minister Winston Peters leaves for Fiji today to meet with foreign ministers from around the Pacific. Pacific Correspondent Barbara Dreaver looks at what's on the table.

Thu, Aug 6

Luca Zylstra-Law (left) and Keanu Isaksson.

Two young NZ hikers airlifted from remote Solomon Islands ravine

Keanu Isaksson, 25, and Luca Zylstra-Law, 19, were stranded for days after torrential rain, flooding and landslides cut off their route from the Solomon Islands' highest peak.

Tue, Aug 4