Results for Pacific Islands

New Zealand will fully reopen its border by the end of July, three months earlier than originally planned. Visitors from Pacific Islands Forum countries can apply for visas starting on Monday, 16 May.

NIWA and The Nippon Foundation are undertaking a mission to discover the undersea impacts of the recent Tongan volcanic eruption. NIWA scientists are sailing to Tonga to survey the ocean around the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai (HT–HH) volcano and surrounding regions.

Transnational crime — specifically drug production and trafficking — is one of the most serious security issues facing the Pacific Islands region, warns a new Lowy Institute Analysis, released last night. Author, Jose Sousa-Santos says deportation policies of Australia, New Zealand, and the United States are exacerbating the problem. He dedicated his research paper to the late Ned Cook, a Salvation Army drugs counsellor, who was killed in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, in 2020.

The impact of the tsunami and volcanic eruption on 'Atata and surrounding islands is most visible from the air. “The wave must have been huge,” said Royal Australian Navy Chaplain Simote Finau, who went ashore with around 30 Australians from the Operation Tonga Assist taskforce, after the locals had evacuated. New photos taken for damage surveys they conducted were released on Friday.

Aotearoa New Zealand is donating an additional 9,300 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to Tonga, and $3 million in humanitarian funding. A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules has departed Base Auckland Whenuapai earlier today, Feb. 5, carrying the vaccines, rapid antigen tests, and equipment to support re-establishing the electrical network.

A possibility that Tonga’s shellfish, Kaloa’a, and reef fish may be contaminated and inedible following the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption has been a major concern for the CEO for the Ministry of Fisheries, Dr Tu’ikolongahau Halafihi.

Earlier this month, an underwater volcanic eruption near the Pacific Island nation of Tonga unleashed a sonic boom heard thousands of miles away, The explosion generated was really massive. The pressure wave from this has been recorded all around the world. The devastating wave and toxic ash from the eruption will have long-term impacts on life for residents of Tonga. By Ed Fletcher.

Fiji is experiencing a resurgence in COVID-19 cases with 580 new cases over two days January 2-3. Fiji's Ministry of Health and Medical Services confirmed community transmission of both the Omicron and Delta variants of the virus in the country. “As with previous variants, unvaccinated people are at higher risk of severe disease,” stated Fiji's Health Ministry. Fiji has recorded a total of 702 deaths from COVID-19. By Eleanor Gee.

Manu Hausia (28) has pleaded guilty to four charges, including attempted murder at the High Court in Christchurch. He is remanded in custody to be sentenced in February 2022. Hausia, in New Zealand on an interim visitor visa, admitted his brutal assault on a solo mum, committed on September 2.