PINA

The ninth meeting of the Pacific Islands Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (PILNA) Steering Committee has endorsed a new interactive reporting technique proposed by the Pacific Community’s (SPC) Educational Quality and Assessment Programme (EQAP). PILNA, being the region’s largest assessment, focusses on the literacy and numeracy proficiency skills of Year 4 and Year 6 students. These are required skills that children...

The Auckland-based Blues survived a red card and a fraught period around half-time when they almost gave up a 19-point lead before beating Moana Pasifika 32-19 in a rescheduled Super Rugby Pacific match. All Blacks prop Nepo Laulala was sent off with the Blues leading 24-12 in the 58th minute on Tuesday for a shoulder charge which made contact with...

The blows keep coming for gritty, gallant Moana Pasifika as they continue to prove their worth as a new addition to the Super Rugby Pacific landscape. Moana Pasifika coach Aaron Mauger revealed after Tuesday’s meritorious 32-19 defeat to the Blues in their catchup clash at Mount Smart Stadium that they had to deal with another Covid outbreak and a team...

The Fijian Drua is getting better in Super Rugby Pacific according to Waratahs Assistant Coach Pauli Taumoepeau. Taumoepeau says it’s scary to play the Drua this week compared to six weeks ago. He says they’ll have to expect the Fijian to be more physical and fitter on Friday. “It’s been awesome to watch them play, someone said the Drua are awesome to...

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said the backlash to his country's security negotiations with China was “very insulting", in his first comments on a security treaty he said was being finalised. Sogavare told his parliament on Tuesday a leaked security document with China was a draft and he would not give details on the content of the deal. “We are...

Fiji and New Zealand have entered a new era of bilateral relations with the signing of an expanded statement of partnership called the Duavata Partnership. Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta signed the Duavata Partnership Tuesday in Fiji's capital, Suva. The agreement has been described as a landmark achievement in the advancement of Fiji...

New Zealand soldiers and police officers will remain in the Solomon Islands as the Foreign Minister warns China's proposed security pact with the Pacific island nation risks "destabilising" the region. Nanaia Mahuta today announced the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and police deployed in the Solomon Islands following the civil unrest in the capital Honiara in late 2021 will continue. It...

Beijing has issued a fierce rebuttal to concerns expressed by New Zealand and Australia over its draft security arrangement with the Solomon Islands. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin called some of the reaction from some leaders condescending and “privileged”, and that the people of the Solomon Islands are in favour of the agreement, that could see China establish a...

Defence Minister Peeni Henare says he was caught “off guard” by revelations Solomon Islands and China were forging a security agreement, as neither New Zealand nor Australian intelligence anticipated the move. Henare met Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton while in Australia on Friday, as reports emerged the tiny Pacific nation was preparing to sign a security agreement with China that...

An anti-corruption group in Solomon Islands says the government's move to sign a security agreement with China is just another controversial policy decision it has made in recent years. The Pacific country has drawn criticism from Australia and New Zealand after a draft copy of the security agreement being brokered with China was leaked. Transparency Solomon Islands chief executive in Honiara...