Johnny Blades

The Vanautu government has today signed a contract with Fulton Hogan to carry out emergency repairs to the runway at Port Vila's Bauerfield Airport. Audio

Pacific Island governments involved in talks with New Zealand over new submarine cable links appear mainly unconcerned about their communications being further tapped. Audio

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is assisting Papua New Guinea to register all West Papuan refugees in the country. Audio

More than half of the over 900 asylum seekers - who fled from places such as Iran, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka - have now had their refugee status confirmed by PNG Immigration. Audio

Refugee advocates and a local MP have disputed the Papua New Guinea government's claims about resettlement of refugees held on Manus Island. Audio

Vanuatu has a new prime minister. Charlot Salwai was elected yesterday at the first sitting of Vanuatu's new parliament following last month's snap poll. RNZ International's Johnny Blades has more on… Audio

Vanuatu elects a new prime minister as the parliament meets for the first time since last month's snap electon. Audio

The latest Pacific regional news. Audio

Papua New Guinea's Catholic Health Services is facing difficulty in accessing drugs to cope with serious TB and malaria problems in Western Province as the government cuts funding. Audio

The MP for Manus Open in Papua New Guinea, Ronnie Knight, has warned of growing social problems around the presence of refugees in the community as questions remain over where they will be re-settled… Audio

Papua New Guinea's government is reviewing asylum claims by over 1,000 West Papuans and beginning a registration of all West Papuans living in PNG, many of whom have been there for decades without… Audio

The author of 'Inside the Crocodile: The Papua New Guinea journals', a book about her time working in development in PNG, says the one-size-fits-all approach must be dispensed with in the country. Audio

An agreement to look to form a coalition government has been signed by most of Vanuatu's leading political groups, comprising around 36 of the 52 MPs elected in last month's snap election, but the… Audio

Suspension of Fiji party prompts complaints of excessive force; Vanuatu coalition government-in waiting forms; Niue broadcaster defends programming quality; Australia's highest court throws out a case… Audio

An agreement has been signed by over two thirds of the Vanuatu's 52 MPs, or 36 members, to commit to forming a new coalition government. Audio

Paris meeting to prepare New Caledonia independence vote; VSA and Pacific regional body, the SPC, come together; Pacific and Maori health issues highlighted by NZ-long ride; Radio Norfolk is told stop… Audio

Emergency rehab on the cards for Vanuatu airport as then tourism industry takes stock of another blow; A New Zealand company owed about $US 390,000 by the Papua New Guinea government; Plans move… Audio

There are hopes that Vanuatu's elected representatives can put politics aside and sign off on an urgent upgrade of the country's main international airport runway. Audio

Final results from Vanuatu's snap election have been released by the country's Electoral Commission, confirming the make-up of another fragmented parliament. Audio

Papua New Guinea's Environment Ministry is pushing efforts to phase in biodegradable plastic bags. Audio