Latest news with #CalebFotheringham
RNZ News
31-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Tension as Cook Islands marks 60th anniversary
The biggest event in the Cook Islands calendar is currently underway, marking 60 years of free association with New Zealand. However it comes as the relationship with New Zealand is tense, after the Cook Islands Prime Minister signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with China in February. RNZ Pacific journalist Caleb Fotheringham is in the Cook Islands.
RNZ News
30-07-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Tsunami advisories lifted across Pacific following magnitude 8.8 quake off Russia's coast
Cook Islands - Boats in Rarotonga being moved to deeper water on the advice of local authorities in response to Tsunami Warnings after the 8.8 magnitude quake off of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. 30 July 2025 Photo: RNZ Pacific/Caleb Fotheringham Most formal tsunami warnings and advisories have been lifted in the Pacific region following a magnitude 8.8 earthquake off the Russian coast. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says the threat of tsunami waves remains possible, but Hawai'i is the only area under a tsunami advisory. Earlier, CNN reported authorities saying tsunami waves started to hit the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia around 10,000 kilometres away from the epicenter. Emergency authorities in the Northern Marianas cancelled the tsunami advisory for Guam and the CNMI at around 7pm Wednesday local time. Scientists at the US National Weather Service in Guam say they were fortunate the peak impacts occurred close to low tide, so wave gauges showed very small fluctuation in wave height. Parts of California and Alaska remain under tsunami advisory. Authorities say French Polynesia could be hit with waves up to four metres high, Reuters reports. They have revised their the tsunami alert for the Marquesas Islands archipelago, saying waves of up to four metres could reach the islands of Ua Huka, Nuku Hiva, and Hiva Oa overnight. A previous alert said waves of up to 2.2m could affect the islands. Earlier, the French Armed Forces in French Polynesia said they were "on alert as a precautionary measure" to assist any potential search and rescue or medical evacuation operations.
RNZ News
30-07-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Pacific on tsunami watch following powerful 8.8 quake off Russia
Cook Islands - Boats in Rarotonga being moved to deeper water on the advice of local authorities in response to Tsunami Warnings after the 8.8 magnitude quake off of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. 30 July 2025 Photo: RNZ Pacific/Caleb Fotheringham The Cook Islands Meteorological Service has upgraded its earlier tsunami advisory to a tsunami warning following the powerful 8.8 quake which occurred 133km south east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, off Russia. Issued at 7pm local time it says based on available information from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre hazardous tsunami waves of 0.3m to one metre in height are possible across the Cook Islands. This may create strong currents and surges on beaches with sea levels higher than usual. Authorities are requesting people to, remove boats and equipment from foreshore areas prior to 9pm this evening and move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours. Citizens are also being urged to listen to local emergency response authorities and follow any instructions. It says the first tsunami activity causing these strong currents and surges may reach the Cook Islands from approximately 10pm tonight local time. Samoa's Metoreology Office says the estimated arrival time of any possible tsunami waves to Samoa will be around 9.40pm local time. This was generated by the powerful 8.8 earthquake which occurred 133km south east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in Russia. In a tsunami advisory issued at 4:30pm, it advises the public to exercise caution around coastal areas, and stay informed through official updates. Tsunami Advisory by the Tsunami Warning Center following the 8.7 quake off Russia - Red - warning, Orange - advisory, Yellow - watch, Purple - threat. Photo: Tsunami Warning Center Tonga's Meteorological Services has issued a tsunami alert for the kingdom following the powerful 8.8 quake which occurred 133km south east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, off Russia. It said the estimated time of arrival of the initial tsunami wave to Tonga's coastline is about 9.25pm local time. The service said actual arrival times may differ and the initial wave may not be the largest. It said the public who are in the tsunami threat area are advised to prepare to evacuate. In the capital, Nuku'alofa, schools in the area close to the Tonga Broadcasting Commission (TBC) building have been evacuated to the top floor of the building. The Commission building is one of the evacuation centres in Tonga. Local media reports say there are now queues of people waiting to get into evacuation centres. Mariners out at sea are advised to prepare move to deeper water. Tonga's National emergency operation centre has been activated and remains on standby. A tsunami watch has been issued in Fiji for all low-lying coastal areas where strong currents are predicted. The Mineral Resources departments seismology section urged Fijians to remain vigilant and stay informed. An advisory says coastal areas could experience strong, unusual currents and unpredictable surges. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued a tsunami watch for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. The Center says the potential tsunami impact is still being evaluated (as of 11:35am NZT). It says if a threat exists, the earliest arrival for Guam, Rota, Saipan or Tinian would be 2.37pm Chamorro Standard Time (5:37pm NZT). It says a threat to American Samoa from this earthquake is still under investigation. The US Geological Survey said hazardous tsunami waves were possible within next three hours along some coasts of Russia and Japan. The Tsunami Warning centres says tsunami waves reaching more than three metres about the tide level are possible along some coasts: The tsuami waves reaching one to three meters above the tide level are possible along some coasts of Chile, Hawaii, Japan and Nothern Hawaiian islands, and Solomon Islands. An evacuation has been ordered along the coast of Oahu in Hawai'i, including parts of Honolulu following the massive earthquake. Officials say the first of a series of destructive tsunami waves is expected at 7:17pm local Hawai'i time (Hawai'i time or 5:17pm today NZT). The US Tsunami Warning Center says the danger may continue for many hours after the initial wave, and that wave heights cannot be predicted. It says tsunami waves reaching 0.3 to one metre above the tide level are possible for some coasts of: A tsunami warning has been issued for the state of Hawai'i effective at 2:43pm local time. It says a tsunami has been generated that could cause damage along coastlines of all islands in Hawai'i. Urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property. The estimated arrival time in Hawaii of the first tsunami wave is 7:17pm local time 29 July (5:17pm NZT, 30 July) The Tsuami Warning Centre says based on all available data there is a threat to Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan. It says sea level fluctuations and strong ocean currents that could be a hazard along beaches in harbors and in coastal waters. It says the earliest estimated time that hazardous sea level fluctuations and strong ocean currents may begin in Guam, Rota, Tiniana and Saipan is 2:37pm local time (5:27pm NZT). It says recommended actions include: An evacuation has been ordered along the coast of Oahu in Hawai'i, including parts of Honolulu. Officials say the first of a series of destructive tsunami waves is expected at 7:17pm local time. The US Tsunami Warning Centre says the danger may continue for many hours after the initial wave, and that wave heights cannot be predicted. Meanwhile, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says waves reaching one to three metres above tide level are possible along some coasts of Guam, Johnston Atoll, and the Northern Marianas. Waves reaching 0.3 to one metre above the tide level are possible for some coasts of Chuuk, Kosrae, Marshall Islands, Palau, Pohnpei and Yap.
Scoop
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
'Building Deterrence': PNG To Host Part Of Australia's Largest Military Exercise
Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific Journalist For the first time, Papua New Guinea will host a training activity as part of Australia's largest military exercise, which one Pacific defence expert says is about "building strategic deterrence" in the region. Exercise Talisman Sabre, which began its eleventh iteration on 13 July, has over 30,000 personnel from 19 countries taking part, including Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tonga. The war-fighting exercise involves live-fire drills, air combat and maritime operations, including amphibious landings. Massey University's associate professor in defence and security studies Anna Powles told Pacific Waves that the exercise is taking place during a period of "really unprecedented geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific". "There is a very strong sense amongst a number of those countries participating, particularly Australia and the United States and others, that the Indo-Pacific may well become the location for conflict in the near future," she said. "These types of exercises, including those smaller Pacific militaries in the exercise, is all about building strategic deterrence across the region." On Saturday, the Financial Times reported that US defence official Elbridge Colby asked for clarification from Australia and Japan about what role they would play if the US and China went to war over Taiwan. Australia's Acting Defence Minister Pat Conroy told the ABC that he would not "engage in hypotheticals" or "disclose confidential discussions". Powles said Exercise Talisman Sabre was also significant for the Pacific because of Papua New Guinea hosting part of the event. She said it is becoming increasingly common to include the defence forces of Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Fiji in such bilateral combined training activities, noting they also participate in New Zealand's Exercise Southern Katipo. "What we are seeing increasingly now is a growing sense of wanting to include, like-minded defence partners in these exercises, such as exercise Talisman Sabre, because it is part of growing capabilities and interoperability with Pacific countries." She said relationships between the Pacific Island defence forces and those of Australia and New Zealand have been longstanding.
Scoop
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Luxon And Peters To Miss Cook Islands' 60th Constitution Day Celebrations
Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific Journalist New Zealand will not send top government representation to the Cook Islands for its 60th Constitution Day celebrations in three weeks' time. Instead, Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro will represent Aotearoa in Raorotonga. On 4 August, Cook Islands will mark 60 years of self-governance in free association with New Zealand. It comes at a turbulent time in the relationship New Zealand paused $18.2m in development assistance funding to the Cook Islands in June after its government signed several agreements with China in February. At the time, a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the pause was because the Cook Islands did not consult with Aotearoa over the China deals and failed to ensure shared interests were not put at risk. Peters and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will not attend the celebrations. Ten years ago, former Prime Minister Sir John Key attended the celebrations that marked 50 years of Cook Islands being in free association with New Zealand. Officials from the Cook Islands and New Zealand have been meeting to try and restore the relationship.
