The crucial poll, involving over 190,000 voters (as part of a recently revised, but still restricted electoral roll) is scheduled to take place on 28 June.

The registration for Australia's "incredibly popular" Pacific Engagement Visa ballot will open for applications on 1 July, the Australian Department of Home Affairs announced Wednesday.

But the Samoan government says it is engaging with Vietnamese authorities over the two men accused with killing a suspected Sydney gang leader in Ho Chi Minh city last month.

Bougainville has accused Papua New Guinea's government of breaching the landmark agreement between the two parties, and called for United Nations support.

The last census shows Pacific peoples make up just 3.7 percent of the Wairarapa population, or almost 2000 people out of around 50,000 residents.

Naupa's appointment marks a historic milestone for the regional bloc after a 40-year wait for Vanuatu to lead, the Vanuatu government says.

An El Niño event occurs when the ocean becomes warmer than usual, affecting rainfall and wind patterns.

This comes despite conservation advocates slamming the move to reopen protected waters to commercial fishing, saying it "is a significant setback" for "Pacific communities cultural heritage".

A New Zealand oncologist and researcher says the country's health system needs to be easily accessible and culturally safe to help narrow inequities in breast cancer care.

A human rights activist in Fiji is calling for the joint police-military taskforce on drugs to be disbanded, but the Fijian government says it does not support the call.

A round-up of news from around the region, including Solomon Islands prime minister signalling a long-term departure from seasonal worker schemes.

Residents of the Northern Mariana Islands are being advised to prepare for heavy rain, gusty winds, and rough seas a tropical disturbance approaches the region later this week.

But while the rest of the Pacific is fair game, Republican Uifa'atali Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen says protected American Samoan waters should be off limits for fishing.

Tūhura Otago Museum says its newly redeveloped Pacific Cultures gallery was redesigned with direct input from Pasifika communities.