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RNZ News
2 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
Tonga confirms dengue outbreak over, three deaths recorded
Photo: Tonga Ministry of Health Tonga's Ministry of Health has declared the end of its dengue fever outbreak. The ministry said there have been no new cases in the last two weeks, with the last case reported on 4 August. During the outbreak, which was declared on 19 February, 907 cases were recorded and three people died. The majority of cases were from Tongatapu (521), followed by Vava'u (312), then 'Eua (70) and Ha'apai (4). Minister of Health Dr 'Ana 'Akau'ola said he is thankful to the people of Tonga for the collaborative efforts in mitigating and ending the outbreak, as well as international and development partners for assistance. Fiji last week declared the end of the dengue fever outbreak in its Western and Central Divisions. In a statement on 12 August, the country's Ministry of Health and Medical Services said the number of cases had significantly decreased since June, and "the current numbers are now in line for what is typical for this time of year". A total of 11,599 cases were reported throughout Fiji from 1 January to 27 July. The ministry said dengue fever is still endemic in Fiji and people are advised to remain vigilant. The disease continues to strike in other parts of the Pacific . Samoa's Ministry of Health said this week more than 9000 cases of dengue fever have been clinically diagnosed in the country since January. As of 17 August, 9571 clinically diagnosed cases have been confirmed, of which 3070 are laboratory-confirmed. Six people have died . An update from the Cook Islands Ministry of Health on Monday said 93 cases had been recorded in Rarotonga since February. The UN's OCHA ReliefWeb service reported as of 18 August, Nauru's Ministry of Health had confirmed 379 dengue cases out of the 1,158 tests conducted. A 15-year-old and a seven-year-old have also died there .
Times
11-06-2025
- Times
18 of the best places to visit in September 2025
September may mark the start of autumn but it can also be a transient, liminal month. Take Europe, for instance, where the sea remains wonderfully warm off the sun-soaked shores of Malta or Greece, yet harvests have begun in earnest amid Transylvania's valleys, bringing breathtaking golden hues and a need for jumpers. Further afield, whales come to Argentina's coast; South Africa steps into spring with wildflowers and ideal conditions for spotting wildlife; and savvy scuba divers head to Indonesia for its calm, clear waters before the rains sweep in the UK, of course, the downpours are just getting started. Here's where to escape to. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue Why go in September? To swim with calving humpback whales When reaching a South Pacific archipelago involves travelling 10,000 miles on multiple flights with tickets costing four figures, a compelling motivation is essential. Luckily, Tonga has a unique string to its bow: there's no better place on earth to share the sea with humpback whales. As the mighty, musical cetaceans come here from Antarctica between July and September to calve, responsible local operators can safely get divers and snorkellers thrillingly close. Manta rays, dolphins and sea turtles should also be around. Try the northerly Vava'u group of islands, where some of Tonga's finest white-sand beaches await. Expedia has a range of hotels, guesthouses and cottage rentals for exploring all Tonga's best beaches and outcrops. The UK-based adventure tour operator Natural High offers tailor-made Tonga itineraries, and help with all the complicated travel logistics. • Best wildlife holiday ideasWhy go in September? For the autumn colours A bucket-list destination for US autumn leaves, New England is everything you see in the brochures and more. Think dense foliage in reds, oranges and yellows reflected in mirror-like lakes, with a church spire or gable roof peeking through at intervals. The temperature is just right for those mountain hikes — cooler in the mornings and evenings, but still warm enough to wear a T-shirt during the day. The trick is to get out of the cities and head for those more remote corners of the state where phone reception is hit and miss, like Mount Washington. And, while the timings vary, aim for the end of the month when the transformation from green to golden really stands out. Stay at the Glen House in Gorham, where the main restaurant has a breathtaking view of those autumn colours each morning. • How to see New England in autumnWhy go in September? For a beach break without the crowds The summer hordes may have departed Malta but the balmy weather certainly hasn't. In September you can still expect temperatures to reach the high 20s — comfortable for both sightseeing or simply flopping on the beach. Valletta, with its cobbled streets, honey-hued fortifications, and magnificent churches, will no doubt be at the top of your list. But cross over the Grand Harbour to the Three Cities and you'll get an even better view — Vittoriosa is the one to head for if you only have time for one. Sea temperatures, meanwhile, will have had an entire summer to warm up, and won't have cooled much yet, which makes it ideal for snorkelling. Grab your gear, catch the ferry to Gozo and then bay-hop. Base yourself at db Seabank Resort & Spa in Mellieha for sea views and easy access to Gozo ferries and the rest of Malta. • Best places to visit in Malta• Best hotels in VallettaWhy go in September? For an extended summer escape across the islands If you're not bound by school terms, September is the ideal month for travels in the Greek islands. Air temperatures are a notch down from their peak, but still at summer holiday levels, and sea temperatures are warmer than in the other shoulder season month of June. Before ferry services in the Aegean start to wind down for the winter, there's time for some unhurried island-hopping. The Dodecanese are pleasingly varied and, along with the main island of Rhodes, there's Kos with its long, sandy beaches, Kalymnos for rock-climbing opportunities, spiritual Patmos and the steaming volcanic caldera of Nisyros. OKU Kos is just steps from a quiet stretch of beach on the island's north coast, and is a place for grown-up relaxation and spa treatments, with cuboid architecture in line with the Greek island look. • Best Greek islands• Best hotels in KosWhy go in September? For whale-watching off the coast of Patagonia The coming of spring in Argentina shifts the thermostat to varying degrees in a country that touches the tropics at one end and points to Antarctica at the other. While southern Patagonia is just beginning to unfreeze, flowers start to bloom in the Argentine Lake District; it's a less humid time at Iguazu Falls, and Buenos Aires is a pleasantly mild starting point for nationwide explorations. Perhaps best of all is the Valdes Peninsula in the province of Chubut, northeast Patagonia, with its historic Welsh settlements. Southern right whales stay in the area from roughly June to December, and in September they migrate around the peninsula, often close enough to shore that they can be viewed from land. The 84-room Hotel Tolosa in Puerto Madryn, the gateway to the peninsula, has a degree of urban sophistication that might come as a surprise in a small city in a remote and rugged region. • Best places to visit in South AmericaWhy go in September? For a city break with seafood and lots of craic Live music in brightly painted pubs and on the cobblestoned streets is what most people come to Galway in search of. Food culture is another strength: while visitor numbers elsewhere on Ireland's west coast tail off after mid-September, the last weekend of the month brings the Galway International Oyster Festival. There are cooking classes and tasting trails devoted to other produce of the sea, too. Day trips north of the city lead to the hills and loughs of Connemara, while to the south across the bay is the limestone landscape of the Burren and the towering Cliffs of Moher. The House Hotel is a sturdy stone building centrally located in Galway's quayside Latin Quarter, newly refurbished with plenty of boutique touches such as plush headboards, patterned comfy armchairs and rainforest showers. • Most beautiful places in Ireland• Best luxury hotels in IrelandWhy go in September? For the beauty of life in the desert Namibia's place names hint at a land not to be messed with, whether it's the ships' graveyard of the Skeleton Coast or the Kalahari ('great thirst') Desert. September in Namibia is generally the last full month of the dry season and sees a slow return to warmer days after southern winter minimums. It's a perfect time to visit national parks such as Etosha in the north, where elephants, giraffes, lions and leopards crowd at watering holes dotted around a vast salt pan. Nights at desert safari lodges are still on the chilly side, but night skies are spectacular in one of the world's most sparsely populated countries. Blending in well with the natural landscape, Ongava Lodge has 14 thatched stone chalets on a ridge overlooking a watering hole, in a private game reserve on the edge of Etosha National Park. • Best safaris in AfricaWhy go in September? For an alternative to carnival in the city of canals An absolute haven of historical re-enactment, Italy's national calendar is dotted with events where proud citizens dress like extras from Romeo and Juliet and compete in time-honoured challenges. September brings the likes of Arezzo's Saracen joust, or Asti's Palio, where flags and trumpets, horses and jockeys are toasted with spumante, the northern city's famous fizz. Over to the east, Venice stages its own spectacle on the first Sunday of the month: the Regata Storica, where the usual all-black gondolas on the Grand Canal are replaced by a colourful flotilla. Venice isn't a complete time capsule though — this month is also when the International Film Festival rolls out the red carpet on the island of Lido. You don't go to Venice for minimalism, and at Ca Maria Adele the damask drapes, wooden beams and chandeliers really dial up the drama, all in a discreet spot in the Dorsoduro district near the entrance to the Grand Canal. • Best things to do in Venice• Best hotels in VeniceWhy go in September? For more room to savour a French holiday classic As la rentrée sends schoolchildren and office workers back to their desks at the start of September, vacancies pop up in some of France's most attractive corners. These include the Dordogne, a region that has inspired residents and visitors for at least 17,000 years, if the cave paintings of Lascaux are anything to go by. In September there should still be plenty of golden light at castle towns huddled against riverside cliffs and through rows of grapevines in the thick of the harvest. The season for the famous black truffles of Périgord (as the province was once called) is still a few months off, but the area's gastronomic reputation rests on other pillars too, from charcuterie to chestnuts. The turreted, 19th-century Château Hotel Edward 1er overlooks the southern Dordogne's hills from the medieval town of Monpazier — it has 17 bedrooms and a fine restaurant. • Best villas in France Why go in September? For a fine blend of culture and beach time Indonesia is spread over some 17,000 islands. Bali nabs an outsize share of visitors, so why not show some love to its other outcrops? There's one of the world's most populous, Java, with its rice fields, volcanoes and ancient temples such as Borobudur. Rare species hide in the jungles of Sumatra and Borneo, and there are white sands of the pint-sized Gili Islands. You'd expect some climate variety in such a sizeable country, but visit in September and, in most parts, you'll hit the interval between peak-season August and the October start of big rains. Even in the typically wet northern tip of Sulawesi, with its rich coral life and fantastic diving, the month is the year's least rainy. Siladen Resort & Spa is a great choice for beach breaks and exploring the diversity of the Coral Triangle, with its offshore island location near Manado in north Sulawesi. • Bali honeymoon ideasWhy go in September? For a short-haul tropical feel Madeira isn't actually in the tropics, but with locally grown bananas, papayas and mangoes in its markets and fern-cloaked gorges looking like a lost world, it might as well be. Although visitor numbers are down from July and August, temperatures into the high 20s aren't. Almost the only thing spoiling the 'Hawaii of Europe' illusion (other than the splendidly Portuguese architecture) is the lack of natural sandy beaches — but, if you're keen, these can be had on the neighbouring island of Porto Santo, two and a half hours away by ferry. It's easy to get the measure of Madeira from its many clifftop viewpoints, but for an island speciality, try to fit in a hike along its lush levadas (water channels). An 18th-century mansion in botanical gardens on a hill overlooking the capital Funchal is the setting for Quinta Jardins do Lago, which has classic interiors and a sprawling swimming pool. • Best things to do in Madeira• Best hotels in MadeiraWhy go in September? For major celebrations in the Catalan capital Barcelona is one of the few places in Europe to combine a big-name city break with a beach holiday and September brings the best balance between the two. That's especially true in the second half of the month when temperatures make it easier to soak up a range of architectural treasures while making time for warm rays of sun on the sand. Of the two big events in September, the National Day of Catalonia on the 11th is more politically tinged, while the five-day Festes de la Merce later in the month brings parades of giant statues, thrilling fire runs and gravity-defying human towers. Yurbban Trafalgar Hotel in the old town is a short walk from the cathedral and Plaça de Catalunya, while a 30-minute stroll to Barceloneta beach. A rooftop pool with sunloungers and sweeping skyline views ensures plenty of respite from the action. • Best things to do in Barcelona• Best family hotels in BarcelonaWhy go in September? For peace and quiet on storybook woodland trails Late summer is the most enticing time to put in the distance on the roads and hiking trails of this 100-mile chain of hills and mountains in Germany's southwest. The pretty cathedral city of Freiburg im Breisgau in the lower-lying regions bordering the Rhine Valley is considered Germany's warmest and sunniest. At the centre of the region, the Kinzig Valley includes towns such as Schiltach and Gengenbach, which offer some of the country's finest half-timbered architecture. The Hotel-Gasthof Zum Weyssen Rössle at Schiltach dates from at least 400 years ago, with crown-glass windows in its wood-beamed dining room and the odd four-poster in its welcoming bedrooms. • Best river cruises in EuropeWhy go in September? For a brilliant flowering on the desert's edge The wildlife of South Africa would make a spotter's checklist run to several pages. So if that's your priority then September is the last non-humid month in Kruger National Park to tick off sightings of the big five. But even with such eye-catching fauna, you shouldn't overlook the flora. The Table Mountain area alone has more plant species than the whole of Britain. Here and elsewhere in Cape Town's cooler and wetter surrounds, many of the wonderfully diverse fynbos shrubs are in springtime bloom. Further north in Namaqualand, spilling into Namibia, the flowering season is short but glorious: aim for early September to see the semi-desert sport a vivid carpet of oranges and pinks. In the hills of the Northern Cape province, Naries Namakwa Retreat offers guests a choice of rooms in a Cape Dutch-style manor house, self-catering cottages and luxurious, boulder-like domed suites. • Best hotels in Cape TownWhy go in September? For timeless cave hotels and tranquil balloon flights The summer crowds have eased along Turkey's Mediterranean coast, but despite the temptations of beach days in the high 20s, now might be the time to turn your attention inland. The historic region of Cappadocia lies in modern-day Central Anatolia, almost at the centre of this transcontinental country. Being on a plateau more than 1,000m high means that while summers are almost as hot as on the southern coast, winters are much colder. The transition period is a delightful time for touring ancient towns that melt into a dreamlike landscape of caves and rock spires, where traditional crafts are treasured and hot-air balloons take to the skies on calm days. Aren Cave Hotel in the town of Goreme shows how far from primitive it can be to live in spaces hollowed out from the rock, with its ten gracefully furnished rooms. • Cappadocia's hot-air balloon rides: everything you need to know• Argos Cappadocia hotel reviewWhy go in September? For good times at the kick-off of Aussie spring The start of southern hemisphere spring brings more warmth and less rain to some temperate parts of Australia, while the tropical north is still awaiting its wet season, making September a happy average across this continent of a country. This is usually the driest month in Sydney, and a great time for hikes in mild temperatures in the nearby Blue Mountains. At the Indian Ocean end, the corner of Western Australia around its capital, Perth, blooms with unique wildflowers, as does the city itself in the month-long Everlasting Kings Park Festival. It's an inviting time to sample the eateries and bars of Perth, and pay a visit to its port in the city of Fremantle — where you can also take a ferry to Rottnest Island, home of photo-bombing quokkas. Como the Treasury is a luxury hotel based in the Victorian-era State Buildings at the very heart of Perth, its 48 rooms and suites spacious and elegantly understated. Read our full review of Como the Treasury • Best things to do in Perth• Best hotels in PerthWhy go in September? For cottages and castles among the forests A mountain-ringed land where rural traditions are still strong, Transylvania looks splendid with summer drawing to a close and autumn preparations under way — as harvest festivals start up and sheep are brought down from high pastures. Dracula-based clichés will only weigh more heavily as October 31 approaches, so this month is an ideal time to do a loop around the region's historic cities, beginning in Cluj-Napoca with its good flight connections, and taking in Sibiu, Brasov and Sighisoara. There are also plenty of farm stays and thoughtfully renovated cottages for a taste of Romanian village life, plus an epic challenge for drivers on the hairpin-rich Transfagarasan Highway. Copsamare Guesthouses spreads its rooms across a set of traditional Transylvanian Saxon village houses, one valley over from the Unesco-listed fortified church of go in September? Sightseeing with fewer downpours Temperatures in Singapore are pretty much constant year-round but its two monsoon seasons can put a dampener on things. Fortunately, September offers some respite with shorter showers and more opportunities for sightseeing. The city state bills itself as a city in a garden, so leafy attractions such as Singapore Botanic Gardens and Gardens by the Bay should be top of your list. For a small nation, it's also extremely multicultural. Go on a walking tour of Kampong Glam to learn about its Arab heritage, see Little India via its many temples, and don't miss the colourful Peranakan houses. For families Sentosa is a haven — there's a choice of beaches but also theme parks such as Universal Studios Singapore and Adventure Cove Waterpark. Raffles Singapore is a classic hotel, and you'll need to stop by the Long Bar for a Singapore Sling and peanuts. Read our full review of Raffles Singapore • Best hotels in Singapore Additional reporting by Richard Mellor
RNZ News
09-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Tonga princess calls for legal rights for whales
Photo: konart/123RF Tonga's Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Tukuʻaho is calling for whales to have legal rights. "The time has come to recognise whales not merely as resources but as sentient beings with inherent rights," Princess Angelika told the One Ocean Science Congress in France. Tonga's Princess Angelika Latufuipeka Tuku'aho Photo: wikicommons Talanoa Tonga reported the global "I'm a Person Too" campaign is asking governments to give whales legal personhood. More than 367,000 people around the world have supported it. Tonga has a strong connection to whales. In 1978, the late Tongan King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV banned whale hunting in Tongan waters , creating one of the world's first whale sanctuaries. Last year, Aotearoa's Kiingi Tuheitia and the Cook Islands Kaumaiti Nui Tou Ariki signed the He Whakaputanga Moana in Rarotonga that aims to give to'orā more robust protections that are recognised internationally. The declaration also seeks to protect the rights of tohorā to migrate freely, conserve and grow dwindling populations, establish marine protected areas, and use mātauranga Māori alongside science for better protections and set-up a dedicated fund for whale conservation. After Kiingi Tuheitia's death, the residents of the Tonga island group of Vava'u promised to honour the late Māori King's call for whales to be given personhood. A whale watching guide in Vava'u, Siaki Siosifa Fauvao, told RNZ Pacific his community was committed to safeguarding the mammals. "We will protect the whale; the whale is like a family to the Tongan people," Fauvao said. One of the late Māori King's closest advisors, Rahui Papa, said the Pacific Ocean was not just a body of water but a connector, and so are whales.
RNZ News
08-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
'Act responsibly for humankind' - Palau president on deep sea mining order
Surangel Whipps Jr, left, wants US President-elect Donald Trump to see firsthand the impacts of climate change. Photo: RNZ Pacific / PICRC Palau's president says the US order to fast-track deep sea mining is not a good idea. Deep sea mining frontrunner The Metals Company (TMC) has since confirmed it will not apply for a mining license through the International Seabed Authority (ISA), instead opting to apply through US regulations. Surangel Whipps Jr. said the high seas belongs to the entire world so everyone must exercise caution. "We should be responsible, and what we've asked for is a moratorium, or a temporary pause ....until you have the right information to make the most important informed decision," Whipps told RNZ Pacific. Whipps said it's important for those with concerns to have an opportunity to speak to US President Donald Trump. "Because it's about partnership. And I think a lot of times it's the lack of information and lack of sharing information. "It's our job now as the Pacific to stand up and say, this direction could be detrimental to all of us that depend on the Pacific ocean and the ocean and we ask that you act responsibly for humankind and for the Pacific." Pacific Island's Forum Leader's retreat 2024 Vava'u. Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Lydia Lewis Trump's executive order states: "It is the policy of the US to advance United States leadership in seabed mineral development." The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was directed to, within 60 days, "expedite the process for reviewing and issuing seabed mineral exploration licenses and commercial recovery permits in areas beyond national jurisdiction under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act". It directs the US science and environmental agency to expedite permits for companies to mine the ocean floor in the US and international waters. The Metals Company has praised the US deepsea mining licencing pathway. In a press release, its chief executive Gerard Barron made direct reference to Trump's order , titled 'Unleashing America's Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources'. He said he was heartened by its call "for a joint assessment of a seabed benefit-sharing mechanism" and was certain that "big ocean states" like Nauru would continue to play a leading role in the deep sea mining industry. There are divergent views on deep sea exploration and mining in the Pacific, with many nations, civil society groups, and even some governments advocating for a moratorium or outright ban. However, Tonga, Nauru, Kiribati and the Cook Islands have exploration contracts with mining representatives. Vanuatu's Climate Minister Ralph Regenvanu told RNZ Pacific in 2023 that Vanuatu's position is for no deep sea mining at any point. "We have a lot to think about in the Pacific. We are the region that is spearheading for seabed minerals," he said. The Cook Islands has sought China's expertise in seabed mining through "high-level" discussions on Prime Minister Mark Brown's February 2025 trip to China. Nauru President David Adeang, left, with Cook Islands PM Mark Brown at the opening of the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' Meeting in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. 26 August 2024 Photo: RNZ Pacific / Lydia Lewis Whipps said "you have to give [The Metals Company] credit" that they have been able to get in there and convince Donald Trump that this is a good direction to go. But as the president of a nation with close ties to the US and Taiwan, and the host of the PIF Ocean's Commissioner, he has concerns. "We don't know the impacts to the rest of what we have in the Pacific - which is for us in the Pacific, it's tuna [which] is our biggest resource," Whipps said. "How is that going to impact the food chain and all of that? "Because we're talking about bringing, first of all, impacting the largest carbon sink that we have, which is the oceans, right? So we say our islands are sinking, but now we want to go and do something that helps our islands sink. "That's not a good idea." Abstract abyss under sea background. coral reef underwater with sun ray. 3D rendering image. Photo: Copyright: isampuntarat
RNZ News
14-05-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Pacific news in brief for 15 May
Photo: Tonga Ministry of Health Tonga's Health Ministry says dengue cases have reached almost 700 in the latest reporting period. In an update on Monday, it said the cumulative total was 697, with 331 of these from Tongatapu, 305 from Vava'u and 59 from 'Eua. Ten cases were in hospital. The ministry said the death toll from the dengue outbreak remains at three. An Australian solidarity group for West Papuan self-determination has called on Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to raise the human rights crisis in the Melanesian region with the Indonesian president this week. Albanese is visiting Indonesia for two days this week . Asia Pacific Report said the group has written a letter to Albanese appealing for him to raise the issue with President Prabowo Subianto. Spokesperson Joe Collins said the letter asks Australia's leader to encourage the Indonesian government to allow the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit West Papua to investigate the human rights situation in the territory. A leading Sri Lankan food and beverage manufacturer wants to build a joint-venture coconut processing plant in Madang Province in Papua New Guinea. Sri Lanka's Jaindi Export met with Trade Minister Richard Maru this week. NBC reported that Jaindi Export operates two processing facilities in Sri Lanka and exports products like coconut cream, milk, oil, sugar, butter, and whipping cream around the world. Minister Maru said his government is working with Madang Provincial Government to get a partnership off the ground. A plant that can process up to 100,000 coconuts a day is being discussed. A Solomon Islands-Australia Partnership with Our Telekom has delivered six towers to remote areas around the Pacific island country. One tower is in Vadede, which was previously one of the most hard-to-reach areas in Choiseul. The Australian High Commission, which funded the project, said local nurses report they have begun coordinating with other clinics to provide a faster response in times of medical emergencies. A Pasifika state abuse survivor says he no longer believes the historic Royal Commission will produce justice. Last Friday, the government announced next week's budget will "invest" NZ$774 million into the existing redress system for survivors of abuse in state care. This is instead of introducing a new independent redress system, as recommended in the final report by the Royal Commission of Inquiry, and undertaken by the Prime Minister. Criticism of the government's u-turn came from a number of survivors, as well as from the Opposition. David Williams said the survivor community is outraged. "For me this whole thing, even the Royal Commission, they paid out hundreds of millions of dollars and a lot of survivors are asking, what for? We've told our truths. "It is really shocking; it is so disappointing. There is not any words to describe what this National Government is doing."
