New Zealand

Locals want the practice banned due to environmental concerns, but experts hold mixed views on whether the structures are harming the ecosystem.

Despite recent diplomatic strains among Pacific nations, the Pacific Islands Forum secretary general says unity and collaboration are key to addressing the region's shared vulnerabilities.

"There's a lot of different aspects of technology, and there's a lot of creative technology as well. And for us, Maori and Pasifika, our brain leads more to the creative side."

The eight-year-old explosives detector has been sniffing out crime in the region as part of New Zealand Police Pacific Detector Dog Programme.

But a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Aotearoa "is committed to doing its bit to help the Pacific meet its development needs".

Despite these challenges, new funding for Pasifika Wardens and educational services offer some reprieve amid a fiscal reshaping that prioritises efficiency and targeted investment.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis will deliver her second Budget on Thursday. She said it will be "about prioritising your taxpayer money carefully". Audio

Feature - "I've always been aspirational for others. We, Pacific people, have been brought up that we are the people of the 'we' and not the 'me'".

They have shared a mix of views, from cautious support to concern, and even strong opposition. Audio

Advocates say hard times for the community are only getting harder as Pasifika families, "who suffer the most" are "struggling to make ends meet".

Vibes Kava, co-founded by a Kiwi-American of Samoan descent, has found itself at the heart of a cultural debate, with critics raising concerns about appropriation.

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers visited his counterparts in the two island nations last week to discuss drug trafficking, customs, intelligence sharing, and corruption.

Labour slams the government over "shameful" figures showing Pacific joblessness climbing sharply.

The Deputy Prime Minsiter said the goal was to listen and learn, and to demonstrate NZ's support for the continuation of dialogue on New Caledonia's institutional future.

A Ministry of Froeign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said, "Any future climate finance commitment beyond 2025 is yet to be determined by the government." Audio

With concerns over Washington's retreat from the region, geopolitics and security experts say Winston Peters is signalling to the United States "to remain invested in the Pacific". Audio

The New Zealand Foreign Minister, who is on his second-leg of a three-country Pacific mission, is advocating for "quiet, not megaphone diplomacy".

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, who is currently in Tonga, says government wants to make it easier for Pacific people, but he expects all visitors to follow the rules.

Peters is visiting Tonga, Hawai'i and Vanuatu as part of his weeklong trip to the region.

Community leaders are working to establish stronger connections between Pacific communities and the Auckland Museum, facilitating engagement with their cultural heritage.