Christina Persico

4 days ago | radionz.co.nz | Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai |Christina Persico

Some elderly Samoans have finally regained New Zealand citizenship after waiting decades, following a bill revoking an old law passing through New Zealand's parliament. But for many, there's still no pension in sight. In October 2024, New Zealand passed the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Restoration Amendment Act, restoring a pathway to citizenship to Samoans born between 13 May 1924 and 1 January 1949. Many had theirs stripped under the Citizenship Act 1982.

5 days ago | rnz.co.nz | Christina Persico

Vanuatu's Supreme Court has quashed a Teaching Service Commission decision to suspend and terminate over 600 teachers for participating in a strike. The court also declared that the industrial action, which started on 6 June last year and recalled on 10 August 2024, remains lawful. The Vanuatu Daily Post reported the strike was initiated by the Vanuatu Teachers Union over payroll issues.

5 days ago | radionz.co.nz | Christina Persico

Vanuatu's Supreme Court has quashed a Teaching Service Commission decision to suspend and terminate over 600 teachers for participating in a strike. The court also declared that the industrial action, which started on 6 June last year and recalled on 10 August 2024, remains lawful. The Vanuatu Daily Post reported the strike was initiated by the Vanuatu Teachers Union over payroll issues.

6 days ago | rnz.co.nz | Teuila Fuatai |Iliesa Tora |Christina Persico

A New Zealand-born Niuean educator says being recognised in the King's Birthday honours list reflects the importance of connecting young tagata Niue in Aotearoa to their roots. Mele Ikiua, who hails from the village of Hakupu Atua in Niue, has been named a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to vagahau Niue language and education. She told RNZ Pacific the most significant achievement in her career to date had been the promotion of vagahau Niue in the NCEA system.

1 week ago | rnz.co.nz | Christina Persico

Kiribati was the world's largest consumer of Vanuatu kava in 2024. The Vanuatu Daily Post reported that last year the country imported 280 metric tonnes of kava from Vanuatu. Michael Louze, former chairman of the Vanuatu Kava Industry and a kava exporter to the United States, said when you break it down, it's about four kilograms of kava per person annually if half the population drinks. "Some drink more, some less.