A ni-Vanuatu banana picker in Australia has been acquitted of murder after sawing off a grandfather's foot in exchange for NZ$6000.

In March, the District Court in Apia cleared Prime Minister Laauli of criminal charges stemming from a probe into an unsolved, fatal hit and run in 2021.

New Zealand is playing a key role in integrating Pacific defence forces, but concerns linger about the regional social licence.

It comes after the Nauru government issued a directive to all government officials and public bodies to avoid using terminology or symbols inconsistent with the One China Principle.

But the West Papua National Liberation Army, which claimed responsibility for the killings, says the victims were Indonesian military intelligence officers.

With two more rounds to go in the regular season, the Fijian Drua are currently ninth, while Moana Pasifika are languishing at the bottom of the competition's points table.

Vanuatu's climate change minister says the overwhelming support at the UN General Assembly confirms that no state is above its obligations to protect people and the planet.

Niue's 20-member Assembly is elected every three years, made up of 14 village representatives and six common roll MPs elected across the island.

But the French parliament's Lower House also refused to include their "spouses", just like the Senate did two days earlier.

Fijians have not voted in local government elections for more than two decades.

The wide-ranging cabinet directive to all government officials and bodies includes a crackdown on Taiwan terminology as well as using Taiwan symbols and flags.

A Samoan-Chinese-Pākēhā author says his new fantasy book provides a type of character he didn't have as a 10-year-old in love with reading.

A New Zealand scientist has just completed a mission to the French Pacific territory to help local authorities fight against the invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle.

Saipan's Chamber of Commerce is warning the near-doubling of the Fuel Adjustment Charge could ripple through the economy and force some businesses to scale back operations.

The volcano's activity has been described as rare and unusual, and coastal communities living around PNG's Bismarck Sea have been advised to be on heightened alert.

An International Joint Investigations Team is being set up with the aim of gathering evidence on illicit shipments before they enter Pacific waters.

Biman Prasad and Manoa Kamikamica are set to face corruption trials.