PINA

New Zealand will assist the Fijian Government in developing a maritime security strategy. Fijian Minister for Defence Inia Seruiratu said the purpose of the strategy is to drive the development of a more effective maritime security sector that responds with the right mix of interventions. Seruiratu said the strategy will ensure that the country has a maritime sector that is able...

Two Pacific Defence Ministers are calling on Russia to immediately ceasefire against Ukrainian people. New Zealand Minister for Defence Peeni Henare said they are trying to get for an opportunity for him to speak to the Australian Minister for Defence Peter Dutton. Henare said the meeting with Dutton is to see how the New Zealand Government could provide further assistance to...

Samoa’s nationwide lockdown will be extended for another two weeks while the Ministry of Health (MOH) implements the vaccination roll out for children as well as adults who are not inoculated. Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa revealed the extension of the Level 3 lockdown in a special announcement on Tuesday indicating that there will be two days in the two-week...

Police in French Polynesia have seized almost US$50 million worth of methamphetamine on a cruise ship from the United States. A 27-year-old Tahitian passenger has been arrested after the discovery of 21 kilogrammes of the drug in his luggage. The authorities say the man had wanted to offload a suitcase when the ship, the MS Zuiderdam was in port in Uturoa...

By Thomas Heaton The proposal for a new marine sanctuary in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is facing significant pushback over fears it will clamp down on fishing. Proponents say government leaders and a federal advisory group are muddying their message with misinformation about what an added layer of protections for CNMI’s...

The Fiji Pearls were outmuscled 68-54 by Tonga in their second game of the PacificAus Netball Series in Sydney Tuesday. The win pushes Tonga, the 2019 Pacific Games Netball silver medalists on top of the standing. The Pearls trailed throughout the entire match, and were let down by multiple infringements that allowed Tonga to execute their game-plan and structure. Fiji was hindered...

Leadership plays the most critical role in any rugby team, especially for the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua. These are the words of Flying Fijians Head Coach Vern Cotter when asked about the team’s progression in Super Rugby Pacific. Cotter said the Drua has improved over five games but there are bits and pieces that still need work. He said the Drua is...

Samoa's weightlifting team is ready to compete in the Commonwealth Games later this year in Birmingham, United Kingdom with their coach confident of their medal potential. The SWF President and Coach Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork made the announcement in an interview with the Samoa Observer on Tuesday, saying the "dream team" is ready as they have qualified six weightlifters for Birmingham. “The...

The Division of Customs and Biosecurity on Saturday seized 4.9 pounds of crystal methamphetamine with a street value of US$700,000 at the post office in Chalan Kanoa, the largest drug haul in the CNMI in five years. The Superior Court on Monday imposed a US$1 million cash bail on 48-year-old Yuzhu Zhang who, authorities said, attempted to smuggle the illegal...

The visit to Fiji by New Zealand’s Minister for Defence Peeni Henare has reaffirmed the shared commitment to improving regional security. This was highlighted by Fiji’s Minister for Defence Inia Seruiratu after holding a bilateral meeting with his New Zealand counterpart. Seruiratu said human assistance and disaster relief are key components of the discussions that took place, adding that the defence...