Pacific Water, Wastewater conference in Honiara next month

The 9th Pacific Water and Wastewater Ministers Forum and 16th Pacific Water and Wastewater Association (PWWA) Conference and Expo (PWWC25) will be staged in Honiara next month. The Solomon Islands Government, through the Ministry of Mines, Energy...

BUSINESS FEATURE | Putin’s invite shakes Indo-Pacific prospects

IN a stunning diplomatic oddity, Tonga’s former Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni secretly invited Russian president Vladimir Putin as a “special guest” to the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum in Nuku’alofa in 2024.The unprecedented move, revealed through...

Paddle-out group protests deep-sea mining

1/2 Swipe or click to see more MARCO GARCIA / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER People prepared to paddle out Sunday at Ala Moana Regional Park in protest of deep-sea mining. 2/2 Swipe or click to see more MARCO GARCIA / SPECIAL TO THE...

Te Ipukarea Society: Seeking new insights on seabirds we rarely see

The Cook Islands was represented by Kas Silk from National Environment Service, Brennan Panzerella from Muri Environment Care and Alanna Smith from Te Ipukarea Society, sponsored by the Australian Seabird Group, who promote seabird research and...

Baltic security: Keeping an eye on the Kremlin

Russia looks to be preparing major NATO provocations, including hybrid attacks and military buildup near Nordic borders, and may test Article 5. Lithuanian soldiers stand with drones during the NATO Quadriga military exercise, in Pabrade,...

Solomon Islands to host 9th Pacific Water and Wastewater Conference in August

HONIARA, 28 July 2025 – The Solomon Islands Government, through the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification (MMERE), is proud to announce that it will host the 9th Pacific Water and Wastewater Ministers Forum and 16th Pacific Water and...

Matariki mā Puanga: Will deep sea mining cost us the moana?

Waitā, the Matariki star that connects us to the ocean and all marine life, reminds us of our deep relationship with Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa. As Matariki rises, Te Ao Māori News examines a modern threat facing our moana: deep-sea mining. The deep...

Meet the Cast of 'Washington Black'

Hulu's new miniseries Washington Black is a must-watch for anyone who loves period dramas but is looking for a new take on the genre. (Or if you need your Sterling K. Brown fix while waiting for Paradise season 2.) Adapted from Esi Edugyan's...

Te Ipukarea Society: Why defend the deep now?

Today’s event in this global Defend the Deep call to action features Tumu the pink Octopus. Join Te Ipukarea Society this afternoon and get a photo with him. TIS/25071834 TODAY, join us at Aroʻa Beach (next to The Rarotongan and opposite Kaena...

Outstanding contributions to the College recognised with President’s Service Medal

The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College) awarded four College Fellows with a President’s Service Medal at its annual Fellowship and Awards ceremony in Ōtautahi Christchurch on Saturday evening (26 July). The President’s...

Te Ipukarea Society: Local author celebrates World Book Day

As the world prepares to celebrate World Book Day on April 23, local personality, June Hosking, marks the occasion with two new children's books dedicated to the Cook Islands' deep ocean, Moana-Nui-o-Kiva. June began this literary journey with her...

Four Confirmed Cases of Dengue Fever Reported in Rarotonga

Rarotonga, Cook Islands – Four cases of dengue fever have been confirmed in Rarotonga, following an initial report of one imported case earlier this month. Te Marae Ora (TMO) Secretary Bob Williams announced the news on Saturday, stressing that...

The ultimate guide to Paul Gauguin Cruises, the French Polynesia cruise specialist

Is a trip to the South Pacific on your bucket list? A voyage with Paul Gauguin Cruises might be the answer. The tiny cruise brand, which only operates one ship, is the longtime leader in sailings to the best-known islands of the South Pacific —...

A message from island leaders: protect the Pacific Ocean from deep-sea mining

The Pacific Ocean’s seabed is rich in critical metals such as cobalt and nickel. Yet deep-sea mining of these materials, which are used in many technologies, threatens the region. If mining goes ahead, irreversible environmental harm, risks to...

Five ways Pacific island nations are tackling climate change

Pacific island nation Vanuatu has triggered a landmark court ruling that has set out the big polluters' responsibilities when it comes to climate change. Hindered by their isolation and lack of economic clout, Pacific island nations have...

Meet the Marine Biologist Working to Protect Our Oceans from Deep-Sea Mining

The oceans need more care than they ever have before—and few people are taking on that job with more commitment than Diva Amon. A marine biologist at the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory at the University of California, Santa Barbara, (Marc and...

Pacific to elevate talks with Japan on nuke waste water discharge

Forum Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister says the Forum will elevate talks with Japan in regards to its nuclear waste water discharge into the Pacific Ocean. The decision was taken at the one-day Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting (FFMM) that was...

'Pacific solutions are indeed global solutions' - Pacific Ocean commissioner heading to summit

Photo: AFP / Christoph Gerigk / Biosphoto The third UN Ocean Conference kicks off on Monday in Nice, France. Leaders, civil society groups, scientists and businesses, including those from the Pacific region, are due to attend the week-long summit....

Australia and UK will deter China together, defence secretary says

The defence secretary vowed that Australia and the UK would fight together as the UK’s most potent warship joined the armed forces of 19 other nations in Australia at the weekend, in a demonstration of western firepower. John Healey who, with the...

Tonga princess calls for legal rights for whales

Photo: konart/123RF Tonga's Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Tukuʻaho is calling for whales to have legal rights. "The time has come to recognise whales not merely as resources but as sentient beings with inherent rights," Princess Angelika told the...