Tagata o te Moana. 2014-04-19. 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 focus of relief efforts in Solomon Islands is now on trying to get people to return to their communities.

2. Relief efforts are underway in the Milne Bay province of Papua New Guinea after Cyclone Ita devastated its remote islands more than a week ago.

3. Following strong earthquakes in Bougainville last Friday the director of disaster and emergency services there [i.e. Franklin Lacey] says people need to help themselves.

4. The Fiji police say they are investigating the prime minister, Rear Admiral Frank Bainimarama, for being in breach of a regime decree and a law pertaining to the election.

5. A team of New Zealand researchers are investigating a possible link between gout and protection against malaria in Pacific communities.

6. Tuvalu's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Taukelina Finikaso, says the country risked isolating itself when the previous government set up diplomatic ties with Russia.

7. The Queen's Representative in the Cook Islands has dissolved parliament and called for a snap election in July.

8. The caretaker Premier of Niue [i.e. Toke Talagi] says he will introduce a number of policy reforms and put more money into tourism to develop the island if re-elected for another term.

9. There are strong disagreements in New Caledonia over who should be allowed to vote in next month's provincial election.