Johnny Blades
PNG's embattled PM buys himself time to consolidate
Papua New Guinea's prime minister Peter O'Neill has used his mastery of parliamentary proceedings to frustrate the opposition's attempts to remove him. Bolstered by recent defections from government… Audio
PNG's prime minister under growing pressure to resign
The Papua New Guinea prime minister Peter O'Neill is under growing pressure to resign. Over the weekend, about two dozen MPs who've recently quit Mr O'Neill's People's National Congress party merged… Audio
Tagata o te Moana for 4 May 2019
Arrests of unionists in Fiji; NZ's Samoan community falls victim to scam; Jail sentence for Polish man in Papua decried by advocates; Papua New Guinea's prime minister battling increasing odds for… Audio
PNG politics fluid amid govt resignations
Papua New Guinea politics is going through one of its spells of fluidity ahead of a planned vote of no-confidence against Prime Minister Peter O'Neill. Audio
Dateline Pacific for 2 May 2019
Fiji union leader arrested ahead of planned nationwide protests; NZ Aus trade unions stand with Fiji workers; NZ's Samoan community falls victim to scam; Organ harvesting kidnappers in PNG 'highly… Audio
Leading West Papuan advocate of Indonesian rule dies
A former West Papuan independence campaigner who became an Indonesian government supporter, Franzalbert Joku, has died in Jayapura. Mr Joku, who controversially advocated autonomy for Papua within… Audio
Pressure growing on PNG govt amid more resignations
Papua New Guinea's prime minister Peter O'Neill is battling increasing odds for political survival after a series of resignations from his government. The departure of five MPs from Mr O'Neill's party… Audio
Interview with West Papuan leader Franzalbert Joku
A former West Papuan independence campaigner who became an Indonesian government supporter, Franzalbert Joku, speaks to Johnny Blades. Audio
Pressure growing on PNG govt amid more resignations
Papua New Guinea's prime minister Peter O'Neill is playing down the significance of a spate of resignations from his People's National Congress party. The resignation of five MPs from his People's… Audio
Dateline Pacific for 29 April 2019
Banishments still handed out under Samoa's village council system; Pacific Military women connect in Fiji; Niue Arts and Culture festival has an emphasis on the language; American Samoa officials call… Audio
Pangu Pati disarray surfaces amid cracks in PNG's government
Major strains are again surfacing within Papua New Guinea's oldest political party, the Pangu Pati. The party's leader, Finance Minister Sam Basil, was recently expelled from the party by its… Audio
Dateline Pacific for 25/26 April 2019
Solomons high court to rule on validity of PM Sogavare's nomination; Candidates line up for New Caledonia polls; Social media campaign launched to counter mis-information about vaccines; Research in… Audio
Research in NZ digs up illuminating taro find
New research has found that Taro was one of the first main crops which Maori produced after settling in New Zealand. The research was conducted by palynologist Matthew Prebble of the Australian… Audio
Tagata O Te Moana for Saturday 20 April
Another minster resigns from the PNG government; Search for dead in PNG Highlands landslide continues; Solomons poised for election of new PM; Veteran Norfolk tent protestor happy to keep going; PNG's… Audio
Dateline Pacific for 19 April 2019
PNG Attorney-General resigns over governance concerns; Solomons poised for election of new PM; Is Amelia Earhart's plane in the waters of Bougainville?; Plea for camps to go after former Nauru Pres… Audio
PNG Attorney-General resigns over governance concerns
The Papua New Guinea MP, Davis Steven, has resigned as justice minister and attorney-general, saying the country has to seriously rethink how it goes about government business. Audio
Solomons poised for election of new PM
Manasseh Sogavare and Matthew Wale are the official candidates nominated to contest the Solomon Islands prime ministerial election next week. Audio
Dateline Pacific for 18 April 2019
Search for dead in PNG Highlands landslide continues; Economist says PNG growth spurt down to quake bounce; No plans to review Coca Cola sponsorship of athletics event in Fiji; Desperate shortage of… Audio
