Tagata o te Moana. 2013-12-14. 17:30-18:00.

A weekly wrap-up of news, issues and current affairs from the Pacific. The programme is broadcast nationwide every Saturday evening on Radio New Zealand National and is produced by the newsroom of Radio New Zealand International. The following rundown is supplied from the broadcaster’s news system:

1. The East Sepik Council of Women says people in Wewak want the Papua New Guinea police commissioner to come into the town and flush out the bad elements in the local police force.

2. Papua New Guinea's government appears set on ridding the country of sorcery beliefs in a bid to prevent the violence with which they've become synonymous.

3. French Polynesia's pro-independence party says it is unacceptable for France to ignore the United Nations stance on the territory's decolonisation.

4. While there is a widespread outcry at the destruction of cultural artefacts at the Papua New Guinea Parliament buildings, the Speaker, Theo Zurenuoc, is continuing to have the pieces removed.

5. For the first time, American Samoa has banned the removal of sea cucumbers after fisheries officials reported reefs being stripped bare of the species.

6. While Australia and Niue consider the feasibility of the island hosting Canberra's asylum seekers, opposition to the idea is mounting.

7. The United Nations Environment Programme says the Pacific region is leading the world in efforts to phase out of ozone depleting refrigerants.