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Tonga election: Polls open for voters to elect new parliament
There are 71 candidates vying for a seat in parliament, including eight women. Audio
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After 15 years of democracy, is Tonga turning back to its king?
9:58 am todayThursday's general election occurs less than a year after the former PM Hu'akavameiliku resigned in parliament, just minutes after a no-confidence motion…
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Pro-independence split widens, another party quits FLNKS
7:00 am todayAnother founding member of the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front has formally split from the indigenous pro-independence movement.
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Samoan journalist calls newspaper ban 'premature'
6 minutes agoAn executive member of the Journalists Association of Samoa says Prime Minister La'aulialemalietoa's decision to ban the Samoa Observer from press conferences… Audio
Pacific News headlines with summaries.
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Pasifika smoking rates halved, but still twice the national average
19 Nov 2025A health leader has labelled the latest Pasifika smoking rates "totally unacceptable", despite the New Zealand government celebrating them.
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Pacific news in briefs
6 minutes agoA round-up of news from around the region, including formal negotiations between Vanuatu and France on sovereignty over Umaenupne and Umaeneg islands.
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Non-profit calls for stronger action on illegal fishing and high seas transhipment
19 Nov 2025The Pew Charitable Trust believes the Pacific Tuna Commission needs to do more on port side measures in order to reduce illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the region.
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Pacific news in brief
19 Nov 2025A round-up of news from around the region, including Nauru's deputy minister for public health saying diabetes is a national crisis.
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Manu Samoa qualifies for 2027 Rugby World Cup
Samoa has claimed its ticket to Australia after a hard fought 13-13 draw against Belgium in Dubai.
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'Just want answers': Samoa editor responds as PM bans newspaper over coverage
The Samoa Observer editor says "we're not fighting the government" and "we're trying to do a job" to hold government to account. Audio
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Tonga prepares for polls amid fuel shortages in Nuku'alofa
A fuel shortage on the eve of the general election highlights a variety of challenges Tongans are juggling as they prepare to head to the polls.
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'We all have to do our bit': Ardern urges collective climate action
The former New Zealand prime minister, who is at COP30 in Belém, says every nation needs to do its bit when it comes to climate change. Audio
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Pasifika Sipoti in brief
A round-up of sports news from around the region, including Pacific teams rising up the international rugby league rankings.
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Moana Minerals backs five-year seabed exploration extension
18 Nov 2025The seabed mining company's comments follow the Cook Islands decision to extend the ongoing exploration period for a further five years, until 2032.
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Four decades on, Wa'a Hōkūle'a returns to Aotearoa
Forty years after the Hawaiian Wa'a Hōkūle'a's maiden voyage to Aotearoa sparked the renaissance/revival of Polynesian wayfinding, she is once again a classroom at sea.
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Samoan PM bans nation's only newspaper from govt access
The ban on Samoa Observer comes as La'aulialemalietoa faces legal pressure and growing questions over transparency after a heated confrontation with media at his home.
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Eli Katoa to miss NRL season after brain surgery
18 Nov 2025The Melbourne Storm star and former Warriors suffered his injury during Tonga's international against the Kiwis.
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Samoa ring changes for winner-take-all clash
Manu Samoa have made six changes to their lineup that beat Namibia ahead of Wednesday morning's winner-take-all Final Qualification Tournament clash against Belgium in Dubai.
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Fiji joins inter-hemisphere rugby tournament
Fiji Rugby says the new competition guarantees regular world-class test rugby. Audio
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Pacific news in brief for 18 November
18 Nov 2025A round-up of news from around the region, including a treaty between Tuvalu and Taiwan.
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Pasifika Sipoti in brief for 18 November
A round-up of sports news from around the region, including results from futsal and football.
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Moutchou ends New Caledonia visit: political announcements
17 Nov 2025Naïma Moutchou's visit also coincided with another formal announcement from one major "moderate" component of the pro-independence movement to officialise an already existing split with the FLNKS.
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Tonga election: Women 'bring different lived experiences'
The Women and Children's Crisis Centre in Tonga is calling for a stronger female voice in the kingdom's parliament, as only eight women are confirmed to contest the polls next week.
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NZ assures Niue relationship remains unaffected despite Cook Islands row
Niue signed a "Political Declaration" with Aotearoa after the prime ministers of the two nations met in Auckland on last week.
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Fiji issues landslide and flood warnings amid persistent rain
The National Disaster Risk Management Office is advising people to keep up-to-date with official weather reports and to avoid crossing flooded roads, crossings or walkways.
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Pacific news briefs
17 Nov 2025A round-up of news from around the region, including no-confidence motion filed against Vanuatu prime minister deemed not in order.
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Samoan PM back home as reporter alleges assault outside his residence
La'aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt has returned home after an eight-week absence for medical treatment in New Zealand.
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Queen Camilla becomes patron of Samoa Victim Support Group
The non-governmental organisation, which supports vulnerable women and children, said it is "deeply honoured" to receive the news from Buckingham Palace.
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