Tagata o te Moana. 2015-06-27. 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 Melanesian Spearhead Group has knocked back West Papua's bid to become a full member of the group, while elevating Indonesia's status.

2. Nauru says the arrest of three opposition MPs has nothing to do with them speaking out against the government.

3. Australia's government is copping heated criticism in its haste to pass legislation about offshore processing of asylum seekers.

4. Cook Islands Grey Power says members are willing to be sent to jail to shame the government for making them pay taxes on their pensions.

5. The low numbers of women police officers in the Pacific, was a key issue at a regional police conference in Auckland this week.

6. A coalition of civil societies is calling for a stronger voice from the Pacific Islands Forum in the struggle against climate change.

7. Palau's President [i.e. Tommy Remengesau] has defended his country's policy of burning foreign vessels caught illegally fishing in its waters.

8. Preparations are well underway in Tonga for the King's coronation celebrations which start this weekend.