Dateline Pacific for 6 December 2019

A national shutdown has been under way in Samoa so as to achieve the best possible reach with the government's mass immunisation programme; In New Zealand, leaders from Dunedin's Samoan community have met with management of the local paper to express the hurt and harm caused by a cartoon making light of the Samoa measles epidemic; As Samoa struggles to get on top of its measles outbreak, the threat is rising around the Pacific; Polling has completed in Bougainville's non-binding independence referendum, with the vote count to begin this weekend. What comes next is not all clear, but Bougainvilleans are relishing an opportunity to take ownership of their future after years of turmoil, and; Awareness of the situation in West Papua and solidarity with its people seem to be stronger in New Zealand's Pacific communities than others.