Monthly Archives: October 2021
NZ reports 60 new community covid cases – three positives ‘escape’ MIQ
RNZ News
New Zealand today reported a drop by a third in the number of new community cases of covid-19 to 60 after a record...
Backes rejects delaying New Caledonia independence referendum
RNZ Pacific
A leading anti-independence politician in New Caledonia, Sonia Backes, has rejected calls for the referendum on independence from France to be postponed, saying...
Perceptions over NZ’s public interest journalism project – saint or sinner?
SPECIAL REPORT: By Sri Krishnamurthi for Asia-Pacific Report
“Public interest journalism plays a crucial role in promoting the quality of public life, protecting individuals from...
‘Covid-19 is on the doorstep of your houses,’ warns Henare – cases hit...
RNZ News
New Zealand's Associate Health Minister Peeni Henare today thanked all Māori providers, iwi, hapū, practitioners, vaccinators and district health board (DHB) staff for...
Sharp rise in Papuan mass arrests during military operations, says ICP
Asia Pacific Report newsdesk
The International Coalition for Papua (ICP) says there has been an increase in the number of arbitrary arrests in its latest...
Pacific Forum welcomes NZ climate aid boost, urges collective action
By Johnny Blades, RNZ Pacific journalist
The head of the Pacific Islands Forum says New Zealand's climate aid boost augurs well heading into COP26, and...
Risk of ‘unequal outbreak’ hurting Māori, Pasifika, says top NZ epidemiologist
RNZ News
Epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker says his biggest concern is that the spread of the delta variant of covid-19 in New Zealand is an...
Aftershocks of covid-19 threaten to undo gains across Pacific, says report
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific deputy news editor
Experts are warning that development gains across the Pacific region over the past 10 years could be...
‘Ground Zero’ in Goroka where the gloom of death hangs in the air
SPECIAL REPORT: By Gorethy Kenneth of the PNG Post-Courier in Goroka, Papua New Guinea
The flowers outside the building are in full bloom -- green,...
Super Saturday vaccine dose numbers rise to 130,002 – 51 new covid cases
RNZ News
The number of covid-19 vaccinations given out during New Zealand's Super Saturday event yesterday has just ticked over the 130,000 mark.
In a statement...
PNG and Fiji were both facing covid catastrophes. Why has one vaccine rollout surged...
ANALYSIS: By Ian Kemish, The University of Queensland
Things were looking very bad three months ago for both Papua New Guinea and Fiji. The two...
Only half of PNG’s MPs vaccinated against covid, reveals Post-Courier
PNG Post-Courier
Half of Papua New Guinea’s parliamentarians are still not vaccinated despite widespread calls from the government, the business community, churches and civil society...
Super Saturday Vaxathon tops 129,000 jabs – 41 new NZ community cases
RNZ News
Aotearoa New Zealand easily eclipsed the government's "Super Saturday" day-long goal of 100,000 vaccine doses today, with 129,519 doses given out by 8pm...
120 extra vaccination sites to open for NZ’s ‘Super Saturday’ covid event
Asia Pacific Report newsdesk
More than 120 extra vaccination sites will be open for New Zealand's 'Super Saturday' event tomorrow, with the Ministry of Health...
Māori health plea for NZ covid level 4 ‘circuit breaker’ ban – 65 new...
RNZ News
National Māori Pandemic Group Te Rōpū Whakakaupapa Urutā co-leader Dr Papaarangi Reid has supported a return to a level 4 lockdown over the...
Critics warn Indonesian military link in food estates threatens Papua violations
By Arjuna Pademme in Jayapura
Advocates warn that the the involvement of the Indonesian military (TNI) in a food estate programme initiated by the government...
Jokowi breaks ground on Freeport Indonesia’s $3b gold smelter
By Lenny Tristia Tambun and Novy Lumanauw in Gresik, East Java
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has laid the foundation stone for a giant smelter belonging...
Māori health coalition urges return to NZ’s covid-19 elimination strategy
By Jamie Tahana, RNZ Pacific journalist
A coalition of Māori health organisations in Auckland is urging the New Zealand government to return to a covid-19...
All of PNG’s 252 covid virus deaths ‘unvaccinated’, says health minister
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby
All 252 people reported to have died in Papua New Guinea from the covid-19 pandemic have been unvaccinated, says...
‘Race against time’ over NZ’s covid outbreak as expert slams rulebreakers
RNZ News
The plan for New Zealanders with covid-19 to isolate at home suggests the government believes the spread is wider than had been thought,...
Outrage as Australia walks away from PNG refugee responsibilities
RNZ Pacific
The Refugee Action Coalition has called Australia's apparent attempt to walk away from its responsibilities for the refugees it dumped in Papua New...
Six million vaccine doses given in NZ as officials report 55 new covid cases
RNZ News
More than 6 million vaccine doses have now been given in New Zealand, with the vast majority of those who have caught covid-19...