New Caledonia town marks referendum's anniversary
The local administration in the New Caledonian town Canala stayed shut to mark the first anniversary of the last referendum on independence from France.
A year ago, more than 96 percent voted against full sovereignty but the pro-independence parties had advised their supporters to abstain, which lowered turnout to 43 percent.
The boycott was in protest at France's refusal to postpone the vote because of the impact of the pandemic on the indigenous Kanak people.
The town hall in Canala had a banner across its entrance, which said 'December 12 - a day of humiliation of the Kanak people'.
The main pro-independence parties will hold a congress in early 2023 to prepare for bilateral talks with the French government, in the hope of getting Paris to agree to a timetable to attain independence.
The anti-independence parties want Paris to enact the referendum result and draw up a statute for a New Caledonia within the French Republic.
Goa convicted for drink-driving
The leader of the pro-independence Caledonian Union Daniel Goa has been fined for drink-driving.
Head of the Caledonian Union, Daniel Goa Photo: AFP
In September, while driving in Pouembout he hit another car, but caused no injuries.
Goa then abused a policeman at the scene.
He was found to be three times over the legal limit.
In a procedure involving admission of guilt, Goa was given fines of $US2,300 and banned from driving for six months.
Vanuatu seeks to save its biodiversity
Vanuatu's environmental minister Ralph Regenvanu says more work needs to be done to tackle invasive species and sustain Vanuatu's natural habitats.
He said species are declining in numbers due to fishing and the clearing of bush to plant kava.
He said habitats had to be protected.
He told the Daily Post his country's biodiversity had been managed well through customary practices from generation to generation, but these practices were being lost.
Regenvanu also said participating in the COP15 UN Diversity Conference in Canada was an opportunity to find alternative sources of funding for further biodiversity action.
Tonga's travel boom
Tonga is experiencing record visitor numbers.
Typically the months of December to January are the busiest, and after two years of lockdown numbers have bounced back.
More Tongans live overseas than in Tonga, and many are expected to visit family over the holidays.
RNZ Pacific's correspondent in Tonga said despite recent rainy conditions, Nuku'alofa had been host to many visitors.
He said the cafes, restaurants, and shops were often packed with people, bringing a much needed boost to the economy.
There are flights from Auckland each day except Sunday, twice weekly from Fiji, once a week from Sydney.
Takeuchi honoured by FSM Congress
Honolulu-based writer-photographer Floyd Takeuchi has been honoured by the Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia.
Takeuchi chronicled the Micronesia region through photos, articles and books for decades.
In a resolution, the FSM Congress "expressed its sincere appreciation to Floyd K. Takeuchi for his long career in photography and journalism that focused on the Pacific and contributed to a greater positive understanding of the Federated States of Micronesia".
Takeuchi was born and raised in the capital of the Marshall Islands, Majuro, "giving him a life-long affinity for the Pacific and an unsurpassed understanding of the region where he has spent over 50 years as a photographer and journalist".
Fatal road incident in Samoa
Samoa's Ministry of Police and Prisons is investigating the death of a man early on Saturday after he was allegedly run over by a car in Savaii.
This was confirmed by Police Commissioner Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo in response to questions from Radio Polynesia.
He said the victim was suspected to be intoxicated and allegedly slept on the main road.
The Commissioner also confirmed the driver turned herself in to the police after the incident.
New Caledonian dugong faces extinction
The International Union for Conservation of Nature says the mammal is at risk because of a loss of seagrass on which dugongs depend for food.
It said this was the result of agricultural runoff, pollution from nickel mining and coastal development, and damage from anchors.
The classification as endangered is hoped to help advance conservation efforts.
The dugong is already considered extinct in China and in East Africa, it is critically endangered.
Pago Pago shark attack victim to be taken to US
The employer of a diver who was bitten by a shark in American Samoa is arranging to evacuate the man off island for further medical care.
The 43-year-old diver is in stable condition in hospital after he was bitten by the shark while working on a cable in Pago Pago harbour.
He is employed by Cruz Diving, a commercial diving company based in Seattle, Washington.
CEO Dave Cleary told KHJ News that they hoped to medivac the man to Seattle via Hawaii.
Acting Chief Medical officer at LBJ Hospital Dr Akapusi Ledua said the man had multiple extensive shark bites on his left leg with significant blood loss when he was brought to hospital.
Dr Ledua credits bystanders and workmates at StarKist for their quick and life saving interventions with whatever was available to control the bleeding.