Stories by Lydia Lewis

A frontline mental health worker is warning the country's mental health crisis will get worse unless district health boards make a new pay offer. Audio

Niue's quarantine free travel bubble with Aotearoa and the resumption of weekly passenger flights starts on June 27.

New Zealand's first qualified Pacific Island funeral director is calling for better cultural understanding if pandemic restrictions are ever re-imposed. Audio

The Cook Islands needs more direct flights to restart the tourism industry and hundreds more workers but New Zealand's travel requirements are slowing the process to bring in more workers.

Pacific health leaders are standing firm on their challenge to Aotearoa's new health authority to ensure it is not a one-size-fits-all system. Audio

A call for serious investment into Pacific health services and housing has been echoed by an epidemiologist.

The annual Polyfest cultural competition is underway. Audio

New Covid-19 cases detected at Niue's border

For 15-year-old Auckland student Sally Toloa, Polyfest, the biggest Pacific cultural competition in the world, is much more than a dance competition.

The world's biggest Pacific dance festival is getting ready to take the stage in Auckland next week - but for the first time the show will go on without any crowds.

The global rugby community has farewelled rugby great Va'aiga Tuigamala at the weekend and is preparing to farewell legendary Blues winger Joeli Vidiri.

A total of 30 fishing boats, eight tractors and essential food has been gifted to Tonga by prominent New Zealand businessman Graeme Hart.

The parents of a young boy with rheumatic fever are urging adults, particularly in Pacific communities, to take sore throats and rashes in children seriously. Audio

RNZ Pacific reporter Lydia Lewis speaks with Tonga correspondent Kalafi Moala for the first time following the violent volcanic eruption and tsunami. He has told tales of survival and explains the…

The Cooks Islands is providing wrap-around support to the women detected as the first Covid-19 cases in Rarotonga.

Representatives from Pacific-focused health providers are not surprised that Pasifika people make about half of the cases in the latest Covid-19 outbreak.

The Northland Pasifika community in New Zealand is planning on sending three shipping containers to Tonga packed full of essential supplies before Christmas.

The unpacking of aid in Tonga has been made with easier with forklifts to help distribute much-needed supplies to families.

There are now 65 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Tonga as the Kingdom starts looking at rebuilding.

A massive aid effort for Tonga across New Zealand is picking up momentum.

The first shipment of aid sent to Tonga by New Zealand community members and businesses is finally being unpacked after completing mandatory quarantine on Tongatapu.

Tonga's new Prime Minister believes the "resilience" and "strength" of people will get the Kingdom through the impacts of the volcanic eruption, tsunami and now Covid-19.

Investigations are being conducted into the source of a Covid-19 outbreak in Tonga, according to the prime minister.

Three new covid-19 cases have been confirmed in Tonga bringing the total number to five.

The Aotearoa Tonga Relief Committee is grateful to volunteers who have put their heart into a community aid effort.