Johnny Blades
Dateline Pacific morning edition for 16 August 2017
Australia signals closer engagement with Pacific; PNG encouraged to end dependence on gas, oil and gold; Guam's governor Eddie Calvo says his island is prepared for the worst as a war of words… Audio
Twenty dead in Papua New Guinea amid election bloodbath
After more fighting in Wabag at the weekend, at least twenty people are confirmed to have died in election-related violence since vote counting began last month Papua New Guinea's Enga province. RNZ… Audio
Twenty dead in PNG as election-linked bloodbath continues
Following more fighting in the town of Wabag at the weekend, at least twenty people are confirmed to have died in election-related violence since vote counting began last month in Papua New Guinea's… Audio
Dateline Pacific morning edition for 11 August 2017
Lawyer says Australia government to blame for latest refugee death on Manus; a Guam mayor says people on the island have put their faith in God and the US military to protect them North Korean missile… Audio
Nights' Overseas - The Pacific
RNZI senior journalist Johnny Blades on our adjacent neighbours, the nations within the Pacific Ocean. Audio
Pressure on PNG PM again over fraud case
Pressure is back on Papua New Guinea's prime minister to clear his name in relation to a fraud case, after the National Court dismissed a challenge to the legality of an arrest warrant issued him… Audio
Legacy of lawlessness lingers from PNG election
Lawlessness related to Papua New Guinea's election continues to fester, with more deadly violence in the Highlands region. Audio
Challenging times ahead, says PNG's new Treasurer
Papua New Guinea's new Treasurer Charles Abel admits some changes in government direction are necessary to manage an economy under huge strain, after Treasury this week released its Mid-year Economic… Audio
PNG election seen as marred by bad practice
Papua New Guinea's Registrar of Political Parties and Candidates says there are many questions over the conduct of the election which he says was marred by numerous bad practices. Audio
Dateline Pacific morning edition for 2 August 2017
Sale of exotic timber in US helps drive illegal forestry in PNG; Solomons ombudsman expecting more complaints under new law; The EU and the Pacific discusss replacing the Cotonou Agreement; A… Audio
Sale of exotic timber in US linked to illegal forestry in PNG
The sale of exotic wood products in US stores is helping to drive the illegal harvesting of native forest in Papua New Guinea. The NGO Global Witness has tracked the supply chain of timber from PNG… Audio
PNG political landscape still fluid as crucial vote approaches
As Papua New Guinea's lengthy election draws to a close, it's still not clear if results in all seats will be finalised by the time parliament sits this week. Meanwhile, lobbying among MPs over the… Audio
Winner declared in chaotic PNG election
Papua New Guinea's governor general has asked the incumbent prime minister Peter O'Neill to form a government, despite the fact that by Friday, votes had not been tallied in 23 electorates. RNZ… Audio
Unrest and farce as PNG election draws to a close
Unrest and farce are the order of the day as Papua New Guinea's troubled national election draws to a close.The political landscape is explosive ahead of next week's scheduled sitting of a new… Audio
Gazelle MP-elect wants to focus on his people
The new MP-elect in Papua New Guinea's Gazelle Open electorate says it is his priority to create opportunities for his constituents and to improve their lives, something he says the previous member… Audio
Dateline Pacific evening edition for 26 July 2017
PNG police stretched to cope with Highlands election crises; PNG election a major disruption to school in the Highlands; UN accuses Canberra of reneging on offshore detention deal; Vanuatu ministries… Audio
PNG police stretched to cope with Highlands election crises
Tasked with providing security in a lengthy, testy general election, Papua New Guinea's police force is being put to the test in the Highlands region. Audio
Deadly violence in PNG highlights election flaws
While votes are still being counted in Papua New Guinea, violence has again erupted, this time with supporters of rival candidates using high-powered weapons, resulting in four deaths in Enga… Audio
Deadly violence in Wabag highlights PNG election flaws
Papua New Guinea police have confirmed that four people died in election-related violence early on Saturday in the capital of Enga province. Audio
