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 Australian government has passed a law which criminalises whistleblowers who speak out against the conditions of the offshore detention centres on Nauru and Manus Island.
2. Fiji is deliberating on what rules should be in place on the use of the new flag, once it is adopted later this year.
3. More than two months after Cyclone Pam, Vanuatu's main hospital is still struggling to cope with increased referrals from outer islands where 80 percent of health aid posts were destroyed or damaged.
4. The Bougainville election is drawing to a close with the last of the votes finalised being finalised over weekend and many of the old faces are returning.
5. Australia has backtracked on its plans to open a foreign mission in Bougainville.
6. A Cook Islands counselling centre [i.e.Punanga Tauturu group] says it hopes to empower victims of domestic violence, by giving them access to free legal advice.
7. An academic [i.e. Professor Jon Fraenkel] from the Victoria University of Wellington says Solomon Islands is leaning towards preferential voting as a replacement for its first-past-the-post system.
8. Niue could become a global bee sanctuary if the plans of two businessmen [Richard Duncan and Andy Cory] succeed.
9. Pacific Island countries remain hopeful that any future FIFA President will continue to support the smaller nations in world football, following the shock resignation of Sepp Blatter.