Latest news with #RNZPacific
Scoop
19 hours ago
- Health
- Scoop
Pacific Security And Health Leaders Pledge Cooperation
A conference of Pacific security and health leaders concluded in Suva last week with the promise to "collaborate more" on a drug crisis spiralling out of control. But public health experts say that law enforcement are undermining efforts to combat the drug-driven spread of HIV in Fiji, putting the wider region at risk. This comes at a time when transmission of the disease has risen to levels only surpassed by the Philippines within the Asia-Pacific region, according to UNAIDS. National HIV Response Taskforce chair Dr Jason Mitchell believes Fiji is still far behind where they need to be in terms of detection and prevention measures. "I think a lot of times when we are trying to introduce strong public health interventions, there's opposition, oftentimes from our law enforcement agencies." Dr Mitchell told RNZ Pacific that progressive prevention measures, such as needle and syringe programmes, are often opposed at all levels of Pacific governments. "There may be legislation that they are often expected to uphold. They could also be responding to the public or political sentiments around drugs and drug users." Speaking at the recent Pacific Regional and National Security Conference 2025, held in Suva, Dr Mitchell said that the growing drug trade in the Pacific is driving the spread of HIV. "About 50 percent of people who were infected with HIV last year were as a result of intravenous drug use" UN: 'Of course' police don't help According to a new UNAIDS report, "Aids, Crisis and the Power to Transform" Fiji stands out in all the worst ways. "Since 2014, number of new HIV infections in Fiji has risen by an alarming 10-fold. UNAIDS estimates that in 2014, there were fewer than 500 people living with HIV in Fiji. Just 10 years later, that number was 5900." That rate, according to the report puts Fiji above Papua New Guinea, the previous regional leaders, to the second fastest transmission rate in the Asia-Pacific, behind only the Philippines. The report further acknowledges that given people struggle to access support services where their case would be recorded, these estimates could fall short. "In 2024, only 36 percent of people living with HIV in Fiji were aware of their HIV status, and only 24 percent were receiving treatment." When asked whether law enforcement in Fiji hinders public health efforts, UNAIDS head Renata Ram said yes. "In the Pacific, law enforcement policies can sometimes create significant barriers to effective HIV prevention, particularly for key populations such as sex workers, men who have sex with men, and people who use drugs." "The criminalisation of these populations in many Pacific Island countries contributes to increased stigma and discrimination, driving them further away from essential health and HIV services." Ram said that colonial-era laws that continue to criminalise same-sex relations, sex work and drug possession are causing HIV-infected persons to avoid seeking help. "Punitive drug laws and the lack of protective legal environments for vulnerable populations hinder the implementation and scale-up of high-impact interventions, such as needle-syringe programmes and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)." Collaboration needed on all fronts Fiji Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu said at the conference that he and Dr Mitchell are finding time to sit down and have a chat. "It's more befitting for us to have more conference in regards to this, so that we can know what's happening in other countries, share information, look into the success stories of other countries, and how can we ourselves learn from what other countries are doing well." Tudravu said they have to fight a war on two fronts: trying to hold back the spread of drugs internally, while stopping the flow of drugs into the country from the wider Pacific. "We share information, we share resources, and we help each other... but having said that Pacific islands are limited to the resources that we have, so we need the partners that are out there, our bigger brothers, to come on board, because what we are doing in the Pacific also affects them." Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime's head of the Pacific programme Virginia Comolli told RNZ Pacific that a transnational operation, with shared resources and the help of Australia and New Zealand, would give police the space to make changes internally. "This is certainly a law enforcement issue that requires involvement of the police and customs, etc, but it also requires these security actors to cooperate closely with doctors, with public health practitioners, with mental health specialists." Comolli said she was impressed with how open and frank the police leaders were. "They are the first ones to say they cannot fight this challenge alone... who would admit that capabilities within law enforcement aren't always up to scratch." "They also highlighted how legislation needs to be to be updated in order to be on par with these emerging challenges in the introduction of new illicit substances. So I think there was lots of honesty there."
Scoop
2 days ago
- Sport
- Scoop
Fiji Coach Doubles Down On Claim NZ Rugby Contracts Restrict Players From Representing Pacific Nations
Flying Fijians head coach Mick Byrne has told RNZ Pacific that New Zealand-based players of Pacific Island heritage have signed letters of agreement attached to their contracts, which bar them from playing for teams other than the All Blacks. In an exclusive interview with RNZ Pacific, Byrne said that while New Zealand Rugby has publicly stated that players contracted to NZ-based Super Rugby clubs are free to choose which national team they want to represent, he has been told otherwise. This follows comments he made in June, stating that some players of Fijian heritage playing Super Rugby Pacific in New Zealand have been unable to play for Fiji because their contracts ban them from doing so. Byrne claims he has spoken to some player agents who confirmed that there is an agreement players sign, and these are attached to their contracts. "I know New Zealand Rugby came out and said they're not contracted; well to the letter of the law, they're probably not, but they have a letter attached to their contract that they signed that they can't play," Byrne said. "At the moment, I'm trying to chase down a couple of players. Since we spoke, a couple of the players have been taken into wider training squads, but there's still a couple of players there that I'd like to talk to, but we still need to get their approval. "I know New Zealand Rugby said I was wrong, but I've done some investigations and spoken with agents, and they've told me that the players actually signed a letter attached to their contract, and there's a little bit more to it. "I'd actually like to get some more details. I'm investigating and trying to find out exactly where we're at." However, he said there is light at the end of the tunnel, as there is a process that can be followed to get players released from their current arrangements while still honouring their player contracts. "But my understanding is I can't just say if a player wants to play for Fiji. I can't just sign him and get him to play. "I have to go through a process to get him cleared to be released from current letter of arrangement that New Zealand Rugby have with these players." Last month, a New Zealand Rugby spokesperson told RNZ Pacific that, while the they could not comment on individual players, the union was clear on what it can do, including offering contracts to up to three players who may not opt to play for New Zealand. Responding to Byrne's claims on Monday, New Zealand Rugby maintained that players have the freedom to choose which national union pathway they wish to pursue and that is declared at the time they sign their contracts. "NZR's five Super Rugby Pacific clubs have the ability to contract up to three 'non-NZ eligible players' who have already played internationally (including for Pacific Island nations Samoa, Tonga or Fiji) or who have declared their intent to play internationally for a non-NZ national team at international level and therefore not make themselves eligible for NZ national teams. "All other players contracted to NZR's five Super Rugby clubs have declared their availability and intention to represent NZ national teams over the duration of their contract." Byrne is interested to discuss options with Blues' Hoskins Sotutu, Crusaders' George Bower and Highlanders pair Jona Nareki and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens. Former All Black Sotutu will be eligible to play for Fiji this year and is also eligible for England through his mother. Bower, who was also going to be eligible to play for Fiji this year, has since been recalled into the All Blacks by head coach Scot Robertson, and is named on the bench for Saturday's third Test against France in Hamilton. Both Nareki and Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens are currently contracted to the Highlanders and have both indicated their willingness to play for Fiji. Byrne said he will continue to pursue the issue and hopes to have some positive news soon. With the 2027 Rugby World Cup in 24 months, the Fiji head coach is hopeful he will be able to use some of the New Zealand-based players during the 2026 build-up campaign.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Ex-Rebel Leader ‘General' Kauona Is Brimming With Confidence In Bougainville Presidential Race
Article – RNZ The former Bougainville Revolutionary Army leader says, 'This time, I'm going to win. I'm confident.'17 July 2025 , RNZ Pacific Senior Journalist Sam Kauona, a former leader of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA), wants to become president of the autonomous Papua New Guinea region. Bougainville is immersed in political campaigning as it prepares to choose 46 MPs from 404 candidates in elections shceduled for the first week of September. Seven people are contesting the presidency, including Kauona and his former BRA colleague, the incumbent President Ishmael Toroama. Kauona, who styles himself as 'General' Kauona, has in recent years been more focussed on developing a potential new gold mine, but now he wants the presidency. He ran unsuccessfully in 2020, but this time, he told RNZ Pacific, he is brimming with confidence. (This transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity.) SAM KAUONA: This time, I'm going to do it. I'm going to get the seat. I'm going to win. I am confident. DON WISEMAN: Why? Given that you didn't do that well last time? SK: Because the government, for the last five years, did not achieve what Bougainvilleans, what we, wanted. They were concentrating on one option only. That's why it wasted the last five years, and we did not achieve anything. DW: And we're talking here about independence? SK: Oh yes. That's the only agenda for Bougainville – independence. There are many approaches that we can consider. One, there is an option in which we can work with Papua New Guinea, and there's an option that we negotiate. You know, it varies. So this government, they went for the option of negotiating for ratification [of the 2019 independence referendum]. They did not achieve what Bougainville wanted. DW: Well, what do you think they should have done? And what would you do? SK: Well, to me, I would go to exercising those powers and function that will make Bougainville realise its independent, meaning to say those powers and functions that concern sovereignty protection, sovereignty rights. Exercising those powers, Bougainville can be able to reach her destiny by exercising the powers of foreign affairs, currency, number two and number three, exercising the powers to protect ourselves – security, defence. In the Peace Process, those powers and functions were reserved for Papua New Guinea. We were not independent at that time, but after the referendum, people voted not for autonomy to be with Papua New Guinea, but they voted to become independent, on their own, exercising the sovereign right. It means that with the referendum achieving independence, the door to exercising those rights, sovereign rights, was open. It was open. It was closed during the peace process, when it was open, we should have put into policies necessary functions. For example, the defence. You see Bougainville is not protected. We are not protected at this point of time, there is fatal incidents happening south to north. We need to exercise the power of security – establishing defence, establishing police powers and functions, protecting our people, our natural resources, our sea boundaries. Of course, whatever we do, we have to consult with Papua New Guinea and establish those functions. Currency, [is] another function that we should be able to now establish our own banks [and] currency, so that we can be able to achieve the level of independence. DW: So you're not talking about making a unilateral declaration or anything like that. You're still talking about negotiating a solution with Port Moresby? SK: Not negotiating, but coming up with a plan, a strategy, that will accommodate Papua New Guinea to participate. When accommodating Papua New Guinea, we need to see Papua New Guinea we are on one side. There is still a common enemy out there: BCL, CRA, Rio Tinto using the system, and then they subjugated us with all their systems, the laws. And here, when we come up with a plan of exercising our rights, Papua New Guinea is part and parcel of that. We need to compensate Papua New Guinea. We need to support Papua New Guinea, also in the economy which, which was incurred during the crisis conflict. They borrowed so much funding, so we should be sharing. DW: What you're talking about, still, is negotiation, isn't it? Bougainville can't do these things you're talking about unless it reaches some sort of a deal with Papua New Guinea, and it's going to need the money. SK: Correct. We need money. Bougainville is full of resources. We are rich in natural resources. But how we manage our resources is a different dimension this time. Before, we were under all those colonial laws, and when we are free now we should be able to come up with the laws to protect our natural resources and use it wisely, together with whoever invests, that comes in. But here, I'm trying to say, not so much negotiation, but it's a plan that Bougainville needs to do. The plan is to be user friendly with Papua New Guinea. And of course, for us, we have won it. We have won the political battle. We need to set away. We need to have a compass that we need to navigate with, and that compass, we Bougainvilleans, we have it in our hands, and that has to be a user friendly direction that we close out. Papua New Guinea will have to be drawn in, we have to participate in that, yes, to a level, it is negotiating, but it is like, you know, we have to lead the way. We have to come up with a plan [that's] user friendly. Not just for Papua New Guinea, let me say that. It is friendly to our Pacific countries, our neighbours, Australia, New Zealand. In terms of security, we will have to make sure that we secure our region together, not just Bougainville, together with the countries that are around us. That's why we need a defence force that is not really big, but enough to protect its internal affairs, internal issues.
Scoop
5 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Tonga's Health System 'Fully Restored' After Cyber Attack With Australia's Help
Problems resulting from a cyber attack on Tonga's Health Information System appear to have been resolved. The assault on the system a month ago led to a demand by the hackers for a ransom of one million dollars. RNZ Pacific Tonga correspondent Kalafi Moala updated us about the latest developments. (This transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity.) KALAFI MOALA: The system was hacked, the health information system, and they asked for payment of a million dollars to have the system back. The government or the Ministry of Health refused to make any payments. In the meantime, they called for help to Australia, who sent their expertise to help them out. The way the Minister of Health (Dr Ana Akauola) described it was that it was within 48 hours they were able to call for help, and immediately there was a response. And it was very, very key in helping them restore the system. DON WISEMAN: The presumption has always been that these villains located overseas. Do we know any more about that? KM: No, there's nothing that has been revealed, or at least that has been disclosed from the ministry, other than the fact that they're from overseas. They couldn't put a face to them. In other words, they were not any individuals, just that there was a group that did that. But the talk, of course, the guesses in town is that probably there's a group overseas that had local connections that did the hacking. DW: The Australians have left. Have they left a system in place that's stronger than it was before they made that announcement? KM: The Minister of Health made that announcement yesterday (Wednesday), saying that the system has been fully restored. She used the term, saying there's still some gaps, but they're back into it. I think with the restoration of the system, they also have had a backup, so that if this thing happens again, they've got a backup to the information system. DW: Tongans who had health issues, or have health issues, had been told that they needed to take what information they had. Hand written, I guess, information they had to take into appointments, outpatient appointments and so on. That's not still happening? KM: Well, no, that's not happening. But they were basically responding to the shock that came from people saying, what's going to happen to us now if we're going to go in when some of the patients don't even know the kind of records they get. For example, things that they are allergic to, the kind of medication and its details that they were given. So, the restoration of the system really recovers all of that without having the patient to be able to come into the hospital and and try to bring up all that information. I think it's really good, and it's returned to what it was. DW: I guess the officials and health are very concerned about things and so with the government. But to what extent did it bother the people? KM: Well, it really was a scare for people. Look, the immediate response was, what does this mean for me? The thing is, a patient, 'I've got my own personal information in somebody else's hands, who's a criminal who not only stole it, but basically are demanding money for the returning of that information. But one of the issues is that Tonga is turning to become digital in so many of its services, like you go to apply now for birth certificate, marriage certificate, and all those things are being now, including visas, being now done digitally. And so that transition, it means that all the government systems are going to be digital. This hacking that took place, it's like a warning that we need to be careful in what we're doing, and we need to have backup systems, and that security is so important as Tonga is becoming more digital in its government services.
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
Tonga's health system 'fully restored' after cyber attack with Australia's help
Tonga's Health Minister Dr ʻAna ʻAkauʻola said that the system has been fully restored. Photo: 123RF Problems resulting from a cyber attack on Tonga's Health Information System appear to have been resolved. The assault on the system a month ago led to a demand by the hackers for a ransom of one million dollars. RNZ Pacific Tonga correspondent Kalafi Moala updated us about the latest developments. (This transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity.) KALAFI MOALA: The system was hacked, the health information system, and they asked for payment of a million dollars to have the system back. The government or the Ministry of Health refused to make any payments. In the meantime, they called for help to Australia, who sent their expertise to help them out. The way the Minister of Health (Dr ʻAna ʻAkauʻola) described it was that it was within 48 hours they were able to call for help, and immediately there was a response. And it was very, very key in helping them restore the system. DON WISEMAN: The presumption has always been that these villains located overseas. Do we know any more about that? KM: No, there's nothing that has been revealed, or at least that has been disclosed from the ministry, other than the fact that they're from overseas. They couldn't put a face to them. In other words, they were not any individuals, just that there was a group that did that. But the talk, of course, the guesses in town is that probably there's a group overseas that had local connections that did the hacking. DW: The Australians have left. Have they left a system in place that's stronger than it was before they made that announcement? KM: The Minister of Health made that announcement yesterday (Wednesday), saying that the system has been fully restored. She used the term, saying there's still some gaps, but they're back into it. I think with the restoration of the system, they also have had a backup, so that if this thing happens again, they've got a backup to the information system. DW: Tongans who had health issues, or have health issues, had been told that they needed to take what information they had. Hand written, I guess, information they had to take into appointments, outpatient appointments and so on. That's not still happening? KM: Well, no, that's not happening. But they were basically responding to the shock that came from people saying, what's going to happen to us now if we're going to go in when some of the patients don't even know the kind of records they get. For example, things that they are allergic to, the kind of medication and its details that they were given. So, the restoration of the system really recovers all of that without having the patient to be able to come into the hospital and and try to bring up all that information. I think it's really good, and it's returned to what it was. DW: I guess the officials and health are very concerned about things and so with the government. But to what extent did it bother the people? KM: Well, it really was a scare for people. Look, the immediate response was, what does this mean for me? The thing is, a patient, 'I've got my own personal information in somebody else's hands, who's a criminal who not only stole it, but basically are demanding money for the returning of that information. But one of the issues is that Tonga is turning to become digital in so many of its services, like you go to apply now for birth certificate, marriage certificate, and all those things are being now, including visas, being now done digitally. And so that transition, it means that all the government systems are going to be digital. This hacking that took place, it's like a warning that we need to be careful in what we're doing, and we need to have backup systems, and that security is so important as Tonga is becoming more digital in its government services.
