Johnny Blades
Dateline Pacific morning edition for 25 May 2016
Fiji cyclone victims in high spirits despite rebuild delays; 12th Festival of Pacific Arts underway in Guam; 400th anniversary of European contact with Tonga; And in sport a Vanuatu rower qualifies… Audio
Jakarta claims openness over West Papua
The Indonesian government denies suggestions that it is not open to regional and international communication regarding West Papua. Audio
Students wait on PM's response to calls for his resignation
Protesting students at the University of Papua New Guinea are today waiting on an official response from the Prime Minister to a petition calling for him to resign by 3:00pm this afternoon local time.
…Refugee on Manus accuses PNG and Australia of lying
Asylum seekers and refugees held on Papua New Guinea's Manus island have written to the country's chief justice and told him they are still being held against their will on the island despite a… Audio
Dateline Pacific morning edition for 19 May 2016
Divisive elements emerge in PNG university protest; To be or not to be "Fijian"'; An academic says Australia could do more on Nauru governance; Micronesian research looks at putting a stop to betel… Audio
Australia could do more on Nauru governance, says academic
Australia is partly to blame for enabling an authoritarian approach to government by the Baron Waqa-led administration on Nauru, according to an Australian academic. Audio
Proposed centre a chance to refocus Australia's Pacific links
The Papua New Guinea Association of Australia has proposed a Community Centre for Pacific Nations to be housed in the former Australian School of Pacific Administration buildings in Sydney. Audio
Dateline Pacific morning edition for 16 May 2016
Call for child psychologists in Fiji to deal with mounting abuse cases; Solomons PM urged to press on with anti-corruption bill; Racism claims over mis-pronunciation of Pasifika names in sport… Audio
MSG chairman takes firm stand on West Papua
The chairman of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, Manasseh Sogavare, says the regional body is pushing for an urgent intervention by the United Nations in West Papua. He made the statement while… Audio
PNG fraud squad under close watch by police hierarchy
Detectives working for Papua New Guinea's police fraud squad have been allowed access to their office and files again, but under tight conditions. Audio
West Papuan plight a humanitarian issue, says church leader
A church leader from Indonesia's Papua region who is in New Zealand raising awareness about conditions in his homeland says West Papua is a global humanitarian issue. Audio
Dateline Pacific morning edition for 12 May 2016
Manus Island detainees free to come and go from centre; Sport: Solomon Islands to host 2023 Pacific Games; Micronesian police attend desensitising workshop; A New Zealand group looks to improve… Audio
Overseas report from RNZI
RNZ International senior journalist Johnny Blades has the latest news from our Pacific neighbours – changes proposed for the Australian detention centre at Manus Island and drama on sleepy Norfolk… Audio
Dateline Pacific morning edition for 11 May 2016
Anonymous text service for PNG corruption proves effective; Former Cooks minister downplays Panama Papers importance; Norfolk protest going strong after two weeks; International pressure building on… Audio
International pressure building on Jakarta over Papua
The International Parliamentarians for West Papua has called for an internationally-supervised vote on independence in West Papua and is preparing to build pressure on Indonesia over the issue. Audio
PNG anti-corruption officer sees light at the end of the tunnel
A leading Papua New Guinea anti-corruption officer says he has faith in the judiciary to be able to rule fairly on myriad cases before the courts related to a major fraud case. Audio