Stories by Eleisha Foon

It has been 30 years since a Pope stepped foot on the South Pacific nation. The last visit by a Pope to PNG was John Paul II in 1995.

Sharing their stories for the first time, Guam cancer survivors of the nuclear radiation exposure, want the world to know how it has devastated their lives and their families. Audio

A Pacific academic claims corruption is rife within the Fiji Police Force because officers "are not very well paid and temptations to take a bribe is quite strong". Audio

The battle for land rights continues in the US territory ahead of proposed long-range missile testing in December. Audio

The Solomon Islands foreign affairs permanent secretary says associate and full membership status of the largest regional body was originally set up for independent countries only.

As Washington tries to bolster its defence capabilities in the US territory, Guamanians are questioning whether militarisation will help or harm the people, the environment and their future. Audio

Governor Lou Leon Guerrero says the US territory has no choice but to defend itself amid ongoing nuclear threats to the Asia-Pacific region. Audio

Cultural historian and Guam museum curator Dr Michael Bevacqua says after liberation in July 1944, there was the strong desire amongst indigenous Chamorros to Americanise. Audio

Voter turnout has been low, with just over 31 percent casting their ballots - despite there being over 60,000 registered voters.

This is Air Taxi Vanuatu's second plane crash this year following its first in Sola, Vanualava Island, where the Finance Minister John Salong was a passenger on board the aircraft.

The window for oral submissions has closed on the Samoa Citizenship Bill's first reading in Wellington.

Two US Pacific territories are steps closer to having their membership upgraded at the main political decision-making body in the region.

"It's been so long, over 80 years since the war, but it was really special for my family and other families."

While delivering the coalition's second Budget, Finance Minister Biman Prasad said the government must act faster to address its serious skills shortage and drug crisis.

Inflation, unemployment, high cost of living, labour shortage and government debt are among a host of challenges plaguing Fiji's economy.

Guam's Acting Governor says military activity is ramping up on the island at an unprecedented rate and he wants assurances from the US that disruptions will be minimal. Audio

University of Auckland researcher Asetoa Sam Pilisi says there is a cultural burden to care for family which can come at the cost of mental health and wellbeing within Pacific communities. Audio

Aucklander Dietrich Soakai grew up in spaces where men rarely talked about their emotions. He believes it's crucial for men to prioritise their mental health. Audio

The US Missile Defense Agency gave the people of Guam 30 days, until 2 July, for submissions on the proposal, which could allow missile testing twice a year for 10 years.

Two weeks on from the landslide in Enga Province, humanitarian assistance is still being hampered by lack of road access, tension between tribes and new evacuation orders.

The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is giving the people of Guam 30 days for public consultation on a decade-long proposal to test missile defences at Guam.

Geotechnical experts from New Zealand will complete their soil assessments today on the deadly landslide in Papua New Guinea.

A dozen people have been killed in tribal violence in province nearby the site of the landslip disaster in Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape is visiting the site of the deadly landslide in the Enga Province on today. Audio

A growing youthful population of Māori and Pasifika is the future of Aotearoa New Zealand, a former Pacific peoples minister says. Audio