Vanuatu records another Covid death
A 21-year old woman from Shefa Province is the latest Covid-19 fatality in Vanuatu.
According to the Ministry of Health, the victim had a severe underlying health condition.
The total number of deaths linked to the pandemic is now 14.
11 deaths have been recorded in Shefa Province, where Port Vila is located, with three deaths in Sanma Province.
12 had had underlying health conditions, six were fully vaccinated and four were unvaccinated.
According to the MOH, the number of critically ill cases is expected to increase over the coming week due to the lag between the outbreak and severe cases emerging.
Samoan seasonal workers in Australia breach contract rules
More than 200 Samoan seasonal workers in Australia are returning home next week after breaching contract conditions while overseas.
Under the labour scheme, workers must be on their best behaviour while working overseas.
In the past Samoans on the New Zealand Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme have been expelled for reasons including theft, smoking marijuana and for extramarital affairs.
Minister for Commerce, Industry and Labour, Leatinu'u Wayne So'oialo, revealed in Parliament this week that some of the group who tried to obtain Australian visas, had extramarital affairs, were getting married or having children while on the work scheme.
Climate advocacy groups back Vanuatu bid
Thousands of climate advocacy groups from over 130 countries have formed a global alliance to support a Vanuatu government proposal seeking an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on climate change.
The Government plans to put the proposal to the UN General Assembly for a vote later this year.
Prime Minister Bob Loughman Photo: RNZ Pacific / Hilaire Bule
Prime Minister Bob Loughman said the Pacific can't survive if rich corporations and governments continue to put profits ahead of people and the planet.
Mr Loughman said science confirms that the time for empty promises and pledges has now passed.
"The climate crisis is a human rights crisis. Civil society and friends, this is not a crisis that I or my people will continue to accept; not before we have done everything within our powers to stop it. We, the smallest nations of the world do have power."
Over 15-hundred civil society groups are supporting Vanuatu's climate justice bid.
NZ govt launches anti-smoking service targeting Pasifika
A new anti-smoking service targeting Pasifika has been launched today in Hamilton by Associate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall and Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio.
The service provider, K'aute Pasifika Trust, is one of six Pasifika health providers receiving $NZ8 million in funds as a part of the Government's Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Action Plan.
Dr Verrall said the services have been established based on liaison with the Pasifika community.
"The feedback that we get from Pasifika communities is that taking an individualized approach for smoking services doesn't work for them, and that's why we have to change community norms alongside people who want to quit smoking, and that's the focus of these programmes."
Bougainville now has five female MPs
The autonomous Papua New Guinea region of Bougainville now has five women MPs - the most ever.
This follows the swearing-in of the MP for the Mahari constituency, Carol Poli.
The by-election followed the death of a long time MP John Tabinaman in November last year.
Schools, Churches, and Public Services to reopen in Tonga.
Tonga's Government has announced the re-opening of churches, schools, all businesses, and public services for the first time since the Kingdom entered lockdown on 1 February.
Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku made the announcement today at a press conference in Nuku'alofa, saying the easing of restrictions will take effect next week.
All civil servants can return to their offices, while schools are reopened only for forms 2, 5, 6, and 7 students.
Curfew times have been reduced from 9pm-5am to 11pm-5am. Quarantine times for flight arrivals have also been reduced from ten to seven days.
Bars, which have been closed since the Kingdom initiated a border closure in early 2020, are now being considered for reopening if they meet requirements set out by the Ministry of Health.
Public transportation such as buses will resume services, but all passengers are required to wear masks.
A public notice outlining a full list of regulations and restrictions is expected to be circulated to the media this evening.
Containers to help families in Tonga continue to flow in
Containers filled with donations, continue to flow into disaster-stricken Tonga, sent from its diaspora around the world.
This week a container of drums filled with non-perishable goods arrived at Nuku'alofa's port, from the Seattle Tongan Relief Committee in Washington State, America.
Secretary Toka Valu said his organisation has received extensive support, and they're aiming to maintain continuous aid to the Kingdom.
"Folks were reaching out and just providing 'hey, we have this, this and this, not sure if you have anything organised right not but we love to support what your doing.
There were a lot of lessons we learned along the way, but I think we have systems in place that I think...knowing this recovery is going to take years, it's not just a one time deal," Valu said.
