Tagata o te Moana

A weekly Pacific magazine programme featuring New Zealand and regional Pacific news, issues, information and music.

Presented by RNZ Pacific

On air:

Saturdays at 5.30pm on RNZ National

An illustrated motif representing people from the Pacific gathered around a sun.

Follow this podcast

RSS

Get this podcast straight from the source in the free RNZ app: Apple App Store or Google Play

Tagata o te Moana for 13 December 2025

Coming up on Tagata o te Moana: One of the conjoined twins from Papua New Guinea dies. Marshallese advocates in Arkansas say their community has been rocked by immigration enforcement. Pacific families urged to be vigilant against measles. All that and more stories of the week from RNZ Pacific.
Demonstrating the ramped up focus on deportations under the Trump administration, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement used a military plane for the first time ever in June to deliver 18 Marshallese deported from the US to Majuro. Photo: Office of National Security, Marshall Islands.

Tagata o te Moana for 29 November 2025

Coming up on Tagata o Te Moana: Political jostling in Vanuatu amid a disputed leadership challenge. Fossil fuels a glaring omission at this years COP. Solomon Islands language and culture celebrated in Aoteroa. All that and more stories from the week at RNZ Pacific.
This photo taken on June 22, 2023 shows a general view Vanuatu's parliament in Port Vila. Arab oil states are using their vast wealth to build influence across the far-flung South Pacific, experts have told AFP, tearing a page straight out of China's "Belt and Road" playbook. One of the most conspicuous examples sits smack in the middle of Vanuatu's leafy capital Port Vila, where a UAE-funded solar farm keeps the lights on inside the country's parliament. (Photo by Ben BOHANE / AFP) / TO GO WITH AFP STORY: Vanuatu-Pacific-climate-environment-diplomacy, FOCUS by Steven TRASK

Tagata o te Moana for 15 November 2025

Coming up in Tagata o te Moana: The world's biggest climate talks are underway in Belem, Brazil. A French Polynesian anti-nuclear activist and politician is shocked at reports US President Donald Trump wants nuclear weapons testing to resume. Tongan's go to the polls this week to elect their next parliament. All that and more stories of the week from RNZ Pacific.
France's President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech during the General Plenary of Leaders in the framework of the COP30 UN Climate Change Conference in Belem, Para State, Brazil, on November 6, 2025. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP)

Tagata o te Moana for 8 November 2025

Coming up in Tagata o te Moana: Pacific leaders in Brazil for COP30. Palau's President wants the Pacific to be the first renewable energy region in the world. And parents of conjoined twins in PNG launch global appeal to separate and save their sons. All that and more stories from RNZ Pacific.
View of the logo of COP30 UN Climate Change Conference, in Belem, Para state, Brazil, taken on November 6, 2025. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP)

Tagata o Te Moana for 1 November 2025

Coming up in Tagata o te Moana this week: A recent report finds Pacific countries are at risk of becoming "narco-states". Health experts warn Fiji's HIV crisis could spread across the Pacific. And the US government shutdown affects its Pacific territories. All that and more stories from RNZ Pacific.
he second narco sub found in Solomon Islands waters was discovered by a local MP.  (Supplied: Ben Maenu'u)

Tagata o te Moana for 25 October 2025

Coming up in Tagata o te Moana this week: The Solomon Islands government considers establishing its own defence force. Advocates for West Papuan independence claim 15 civilians have been killed by Indonesia's military. All that and more stories of the week from RNZ Pacific.
A member of the Police Response Team in Solomon Islands on patrol during the election of the prime minister in Honiara. 24 April 2019

Tagata o te Moana for 18 October 2025

In Tagata o te Moana this week: Why the Kiribati women's minister has made a u-turn on special seats for women in parliament. There's a weed and rat boom in parts of the Pacific thanks to climate change. Also Pacific artists shine on the hit TV show, The Voice Australia. All that and more stories of the week from RNZ Pacific.
Maneaba ni Maungatabu (Kiribati Parliament)

Tagata o te Moana for 11 October 2025

In Tagata o te Moana this week: A Kiribati community leader backs Amnesty International's call for a New Zealand climate visa. Fiji chiefs urged to take a hard line on abusers. Also, Cook Islands music and culture on display in Aotearoa. All that and more stories of the week from RNZ Pacific.
Immigration New Zealand

Tagata o te Moana for 4 October 2025

In Tagata o te Moana this week: A former military chief in Papua New Guinea says the country's a geopolitical pawn. Are Pacific leaders voting against a two state solution in Gaza undermining the principal of self-determination? And Samoa's government appears to be out of money. All that and more stories of the week from RNZ Pacific.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and PNG Prime Minister James Marape.

Tagata o te Moana for 27 September 2025

In Tagata o te Moana this week: Pacific leaders at the UN summit call for renewed global commitment to climate action. New Caledonia marks 172 years since its colonisation by France. And communities affected by the Manawanui disaster are still seeking compensation almost a year now since the sinking of the New Zealand Navy vessel. All that and more stories of the week from RNZ Pacific.
A delegate from Kiribati in a meeting during the third day of the general debate of the General Assembly's eightieth session.

Tagata o te Moana for 20 September 2025

In Tagata o te Moana this week: Fiji's prime minister cops flak for opening Embassy in Jerusalem. Papua New Guinea celebrates 50 years of independence and Tonga is gearing up for a general election. Also a refugee advocate in Australia says Nauru's citizenship by investment scheme is a national pariah. Samoa elects a new prime minister and we take a closer look a new exhibition celebrating Pasifika art and culture in Auckland.
Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially inaugurated Fiji’s resident embassy in Jerusalem. 17 September 2025

Tagata o te Moana for 13 September 2025

In Tagata o te Moana this week: It's been a busy week at the Pacific Islands Forum in Solomon Islands, we take a look at some of the highlights from Honiara. Also Pacific media want answers from Australia after being denied access to an Albanese press conference. And we speak to Leaupepe Ross Taylor who is going into bat for Samoa.
Pacific leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum 2025.

Tagata o te Moana for 6 September 2025

This week on Tagata o te Moana: FAST party wins Samoa's snap general election; Bougainvillieans hit the polls; It's Pacific Islands Forum leaders week; New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters is on the show; France voices 'frustration' over donor exclusion from PIF Leaders' Summit in Honiara; Pacific leaders are expected to reaffirm their recognition of Indonesia's sovereignty over West Papua at PIFLM; A small Maori community is celebrating a huge win against 80 years of sand mining on their coastline; Hundreds of Pacific delegates at Turangawaewae Marae in Ngaruawahia, paying tribute to Maori monarch Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po.
FAST Party Leader Laʻaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt, Samoa election 2025

Tagata o te Moana for 30 August 2025

In Tagata o te Moana this week: Samoa's snap election, the latest from our reporter on the ground; Bougainville's incumbent-President relaxed ahead of this Thursdays election; Also, controversy over a childrens book in Cook Islands and Fiji's kava shortage all that and more stories of the week from RNZ Pacific.
Counting centre for Samoa's snap general election

Tagata o te Moana 16 August 2025

This week on Tagata o te Moana: dengue continues its march in Samoa. The King of Tonga is undoing democratic reforms. Vanuatu's security and economic deal with Australia is closer. Also today Pacific heart health, outside nations told not to meddle in the Pacific. Also Pacific youth on security, Bougainville's election and mining the Cook Islands sea floor.
King Tupou VI inspects the guard of honour during his official state visit to Fiji in July 2025.

Other podcasts
like this one

More podcasts with similar themes or ideas that you might enjoy.

  • Sketch-style white line drawing of New Zealand’s Beehive parliamentary building on a dark background, with the words ‘Politics NZ’ in white text above.

    Politics NZ

    Stay in the know. All of RNZ's politics podcasts in one place.

  • Podcast title 'Here Now' in front of a colourful background with overlaid shapes. A map of New Zealand is also overlaid over the coloured shapes.

    Here Now

    What do 27% of NZers all have in common? They were born overseas.

  • An abstract heart constructed from shapes similar to rural fields seen in aerial photography sits behind the text 'Country Life'.

    Country Life

    Head out to the farms & back roads to hear the stories of rural New Zealand.

  • A grey and blue hypnotising illustration on the background with a large title saying "Mediawatch" and words "weekly since 2001" above the title.

    Mediawatch

    A critical look at the New Zealand media.

  • A stylised photograph of a paua shell mimicking the image of 'earth' with the podcast title 'our changing world' on top.

    Our Changing World

    Stories of NZ science and nature from out in the field and inside the labs.

  • Test reads "The detail" where the dot on the "I" is highlighted.

    The Detail

    The big news explained, by the country's best journalists and experts.

  • Cover image in deep blue and periwinkle tones featuring the text 'Short Story Stack' in bold white serif font, with 'Audiobook Collection' in smaller text above. Stylized vertical book spines line the right side of the image.

    Short Story Stack

    A stack of short stories by independent and published writers from all over NZ.

  • Cover image in teal and seafoam green tones featuring the text 'The Playhouse' in bold black serif font, with 'Audio Collection' in smaller uppercase text above. Stylized vertical book spines in varying green hues line the right edge of the image.

    The Play House

    Listen here for RNZ's collection of plays, dramas and comedies

  • Hand-drawn doodles on a light background. The title is written in a blue, playful font in the center. Around the title are various doodles, including children, a house, a kiwi bird, and an elderly couple. There is also a red heart, a blue car, and stars scattered around the cover.

    It Takes A Village

    Practical, expert advice on how to tackle the challenges of modern parenting.

  • An illustrated motif representing people from the Pacific gathered around a sun sits behind a photographic portrait of Susana Suisuiki.

    Pacific Waves

    Delving deeper into the major Pacific stories each week

  • Podcast Title 'The House' set in a bold font on an outside wall, with a image of the parliament house seen through a window

    The House

    Legislation, issues and insights from Parliament.