French Polynesia records more Covid-19 cases
Another 48 Covid-19 cases have been recorded in French Polynesia in the last 24-hour reporting period.
The number of active cases is now 147, which means a doubling in two weeks.
The pandemic had eased a month ago and is far weaker than at the outbreak's peak last year.
The health authorities say there are no Covid-19 patients in the hospital.
The death toll of the pandemic is 649, with most fatalities registered during last year's outbreak with the Delta variant.
Vaccinations have continued and more than 81 percent of those 12 years and older have had two jabs.
Covid-19 cases at Niue's border now ten
The number of active Covid-19 cases at the border in Niue has hit ten.
It follows the arrival of the first quarantine free flight from New Zealand last week.
The government says so far all of the people who have tested positive for the virus were on the flight.
Premier Dalton Tagelagi is a close contact of one of the passengers and is in isolation at home.
Niue remains at Alert Level Yellow as there is no community transmission.
The government asks anyone with Covid-19 symptoms to get tested.
French Polynesian unions challenge new employment law
Eight unions in French Polynesia say they lodged a challenge to the new local employment law in France's highest administrative court.
In a statement, they object to a provision approved in April allowing the local public service to hire French public servants already in Tahiti.
The government argued that these individuals have often been seconded for a long time and should be integrated.
However, the unions say this prevents locals from attaining these positions and stops young well-educated French Polynesians from returning home.
The unions also say the government sets a poor example to the private sector in terms of hiring locals.
Wallis and Futuna athletes stuck in New Caledonia
A dozen team members from Wallis and Futuna are stuck in New Caledonia after testing positive for Covid-19 on their return trip from the Pacific Mini-Games in the Northern Marianas.
After testing positive on departure from Saipan a week ago, the 12 were made to sit at the back of the chartered airliner, which also carried the New Caledonian and Vanuatu delegations to Noumea.
According to media reports, accommodation had been arranged on arrival.
To enter Wallis and Futuna, travellers must provide a negative test result, which meant the infected have been made to wait for the final leg of their journey.
Wallis and Futuna eased its restrictions last month but still has a three-day isolation regime for arriving passengers, which is expected to be lifted in a week.
About a third of the population is fully vaccinated.
New health system will provide better services - especially for Pasifika' according to Aupito
New Zealand's new health agency named 'Health New Zealand' says it will focus on improving health outcomes for those who are shut out of getting the services they need.
Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Officially launched on Friday, Health New Zealand replaces the country's 20 district health boards.
The Minister for Pacific Peoples and Associate Minister of Health Aupito William Sio said the new health system will provide better services - especially for Pasifika peoples.
"Our Pacific communities have long experienced unacceptably poor health outcomes, racism in the health system, fewer years of life expectancy, preventable deaths and illnesses, today I'm looking forward to a health system where Pacific families can get better healthcare closer to home," Aupito said.
Confirmation Samoa's Vailima national beer is shifting overseas upsets locals
Local production of Samoa's national beer, Vailima, will soon come to end with its owners confirming reports that operations will be relocated to Fiji.
It comes after 42 years of local production, and the news has sparked a social media backlash.
Local beer distributor and owner of the Y-Not Bar in Apia, Jay Schuster, blames foreign ownership for the relocation.
"It's sad but it was always going to happen. The managers that were there weren't local.
They weren't passionate about our people. They weren't really passionate about making it work. It's sad to see it go. I hope the locals or the Government will step in somehow. I don't know how that would happen but if there's a way of keeping that brand in Samoa that would be great."
Manu Samoa defeats Australia A
Manu Samoa defeats Australia A by 31 points to 26 in the opener of the Pacific Nations Cup at the ANZ Stadium in Suva, Fiji.
Manu Samoa entered the game as underdogs, having fielded a team with twelve uncapped players.
The close encounter ended in full time with a tie-breaking intercept try by debutant Manu Samoa winger Nigel Ah Wong.
Ah Wong, who plays club rugby in Japan, scored two of Samoa's five tries in an impressive display.
Many Samoa now leads the tournament table, having picked up a bonus point.
Cook Islander is hoping to become Wellington City Council's second-ever Pacific councillor
Cook Islander Luana Scowcroft is hoping to become the Wellington City Council's second-ever Pacific councillor at this year's local body elections.
The first Pasifika Councillor in Wellington, to date, is Tala Cleverly who was elected in 1979.
Mrs Cleverly was also the first Pasifika person elected to local government anywhere in Aotearoa.
Ms Scowcroft said the increase of Pasifika standing for local elections across New Zealand is a positive step.
"I think we're going through a Pacific wave at the moment, which is amazing with Efeso Collins running for Auckland mayor but the only instance of a Pasifika councillor in Wellington is one - one woman, so I thought, you know what, I'll take this into my own hands and I'll throw my hat into the ring," she said.