Tagata o te Moana. 2014-12-20. 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. A visit by New Zealand's defence minister [i.e. Gerry Brownlee] to Fiji signals the thawing of an icy relationship between the two countries following the 2006 coup.

2. Australia's government has announced that it will cut more than three billion dollars from its foreign aid budget, in addition to cuts made earlier this year.

3. Papua New Guinea's former Attorney General [i.e. Kerenga Kua] says between 50 to 100 corruption-related cases are at risk of collapsing if the anti-corruption unit, Task Force Sweep closes.

4. The controversial sacking of two senior staff from Fiji TV has caused an uproar in Fiji and across the Pacific.

5. The New Zealand government says the Indonesian Government needs to thoroughly investigate the shooting death of five school students.

6. Samoa's Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, has told women thinking of running for parliament they should not neglect their families.

7. South Pacific cocoa farmers will soon be introduced to the world of artisan chocolate making, bringing the chance of significantly higher returns.