The counting process for Solomon Islands' joint election is only just getting underway as the retrieval of ballot boxes from polling stations all across the country continues.

Live and Learn Tonga says more people are struggling and there was a need for assistance to be refocused to urban areas in the Kingdom.

Opinion - Restrengthening connections between Pacific tauiwi (settlers) and Māori is an important step towards transforming Aotearoa's constitution, to honour te Tiriti o Waitangi, Fuimaono Dylan Asafo says.

"We have been treating gender equality as a women's issue only for far too long," SPC principal strategic lead for Pacific women and girls, Mereseini Rakuita, says.

The 9th Our Oceans Conference in Greece brings together government delegations from around the world to discuss challenges affecting their countries, including efforts to mitigate climate change.

Fijian Drua coach Mick Byrne said the team will need to focus on their own game and do the basics right.

A round-up of news in brief from around the region, including New Zealand's Speaker of the House leading a delegation to the Cook Islands and Niue.

A Pasifika survivor of abuse in a faith-based institution in New Zealand is calling for a proper, "meaningful", in person apology from the Catholic Church to happen through formal redress.

After a relatively well organised and peaceful day of voting in Solomon Islands, the electoral commission is working with donor partners to safely transport ballot boxes from polling stations.

The government in the autonomous Papua New Guinea region of Bougainville is carrying out an engagement programme in the Panguna Mine-affected areas.

Opinion - World Rugby had basically laid the rule down for the Fiji Rugby Union - select Mick Byrne or else, writes Iliesa Tora.

A round-up of news in brief from around the region, including a Guam senator calling for routine testing of drinking water imported into the territory.

The soldiers will be joined by army personnel from Fiji, PNG, Australia, the US, the UK, Japan and New Caledonia to provide the Kingdom with aid to boost recovery from 2022 eruption and tsunami.

Polling stations closed at 4pm local time as more than 400,000 registered voters look to elect their national and provincial representatives for the next four years.

The polls opened at 7am and will close at 4pm. Over 400,000 Solomon Islanders are expected to exercise their democratic right and vote to elect their national and provincial representatives.

Byrne and current Fiji Warriors coach Senirusi Seruvakula were the shortlisted names.

The police say the death certificate cited cause of death of the 19-year-old victim as complications arising from a medical condition.

The Vatican's media team says Pope Francis will visit Papua New Guinea from 6-9 September.