A typo turned Maoli into a drug suspect online
A court filing mistake sent social media into a frenzy, but Maoli singer Glenn Awong is not a drug dealer.
US federal prosecutors have corrected a mistake in a criminal complaint that wrongly appeared to link the Hawaiian reggae star to allegations of methamphetamine dealing.
Awong, the founder and lead singer of Maoli, was mistakenly identified as “Person 3” in the document. Prosecutors have since confirmed that was an error and that Awong should have been identified as “Person 5”.
The confusion came from a criminal case involving Maui Police Lieutenant Michael Vaituulala, who is accused of accepting bribes from suspected drug dealers, illegal cockfighting operators and others.
Awong was mentioned in the wider case because Vaituulala had attended a New Year’s party at his home.
But somehow, a typo in the federal filing had TikTok and social media doing detective work before the correction had even landed.
Awong was suddenly being accused online of being a drug dealer, despite there being no allegation against him.
According to his lawyer, John Isbell, the mistake had serious consequences.…more
How much will Pacific players be paid at the Rugby League World Cup?
By Iliesa Tora Via RNZ
All players playing at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup will be paid AU$850 per week as a standard match fee, but individual federations can pay their players more if they can afford to.
The International Rugby League clarified this to RNZ Pacific on Thursday, following reports that some member associations are concerned that Australian players are reportedly due to receive AU$40,000 flat payment per player.
That deal is being reported to have been made between the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) and the Rugby League Players' Association (RLPA).
That match fee will be equally paid to both male and female players in both the Kangaroos and the Jillaroos teams.
In contrast, players from Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga will receive AU$2,550 for three weeks; AU$3,440 if their team makes the top four; and AU$4,250 if they reach the final.
International Rugby League Secretary General Danny Kazandjian
IRL
RLWC 2026 is being held in October, joint hosted by Australia, PNG and New Zealand.…more
Pacific Music Awards Winners 2026
Pacific music takes centre stage: All the winners from the 2026 Pacific Music Awards
From R&B and hip hop to gospel, reggae, Pacific language music and metal, the 2026 Pacific Music Awards have celebrated the incredible breadth of Pacific music and the artists continuing to shape the sound of Aotearoa and the wider Pacific.
Held in Auckland on Wednesday night, the awards saw some familiar names return to the winners' circle, alongside artists making their mark across the Pacific music scene.
At the top of the night was Sam V, who continued his remarkable run at the awards, taking home three major honours.
The Auckland-based Cook Island Māori artist won Best Pacific Soul/R&B Artist for the fifth consecutive year, as well as Best Pacific Male Artist and Best Pacific Song for his track Small Taste, featuring Jaedyn Randell.
Meanwhile, A.R.T backed up their 2025 success by once again taking home Best Pacific Group.…more
Deep Sea Mining in American Samoa: What You Need to Know
Polymetallic nodules, such as those shown here, can occur on the ocean floor and are of interest for the critical minerals they contain. (Image credit: NOAA)
Our ocean's future is once more the subject of a global trade for profit.
Recent announcement that the United States is moving to open waters around American Samoa to deep sea mining have sparked widespread concern among Pacific leaders, scientists, and environmental advocates. News broke that the US federal government will be proceeding with its first proposed lease sale for mining the deep sea on American Samoa’s Outer Continental Shelf. A Federal Register notice announced the plans last week. The proposal would offer over 31 million acres for mining in a sale on November 19, 2026. That area for sale is 632 times the total land area of American Samoa.
For many Pacific Islanders, this debate is not about minerals, it is about protecting the ocean that sustains livelihoods, traditions and culture.…more
32% of Pacific children are going hungry, new MSD data shows
New government data shows Pacific children continue to face some of the highest levels of material hardship in Aotearoa, as unemployment remains double the national rate.
For Pacific families across Aotearoa, the warning signs around poverty and financial hardship have not gone away.
New figures from the Ministry of Social Development's 2026 Child Poverty Report show 31% of Pacific children were living in material hardship in 2025, equivalent to around 54,000 children. While 25% of Maori children and 12% of European children.
That compares with 14 percent of children overall.
The figures add to concerns raised earlier this year that Pacific families are continuing to face disproportionate pressure from the cost of living, housing and employment.
Pacific children remain over-represented in hardship
Pacific children also make up a disproportionate share of children experiencing hardship.
While Pacific children account for around 10 percent of children overall under the prioritised ethnicity measure, they make up 23 percent of children experiencing material hardship.
The numbers show that Pacific families are not simply experiencing lower incomes.…more
First Pacific Professor of Pacific ECE in the world
Via Auckland University of Technology
After 25 years of teaching, researching and leading early childhood education (ECE) for Pacific children, AUT’s Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific, Jacoba Matapo, has become the world’s first Pacific Professor of Pacific ECE following AUT’s 2025 academic promotions round.
Professor Matapo’s influence on the progression of New Zealand’s Pacific ECE sector is prolific and when commenting on the historic milestone, she says it is a huge honour to be building on the visionary work achieved by the pioneering Pacific women who came before her.
“The spectrum of Pacific ECE centres in New Zealand only exist today as a result of the pioneers who started paving the way 40 plus years ago for ECE practices grounded in indigenous Pacific values, philosophies, language and pedagogy.
“As a person of Samoan and Dutch heritage, I feel hugely honoured to be able to play an instrumental role in continuing to build on what they developed for our many different Pasifika communities.…more
Samoan heavyweight Joseph Parker cleared to return to boxing after suspension lifted
Samoan heavyweight Joseph Parker says he is feeling "relieved" and grateful after his suspension was lifted, clearing the way for his return to the ring later this year.
The former WBO heavyweight world champion had been provisionally suspended by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) after a voluntary drug test following his October 2025 fight against Britain's Fabio Wardley returned a positive result for a cocaine metabolite.
UKAD investigated the result and found the positive test came from contamination linked to Parker's nutritionist, who admitted to using cocaine regularly. They found it was not connected to Parker taking the substance himself or trying to gain an advantage in boxing, allowing him to return to the sport.
Speaking ahead of this weekend's David Nyika vs Floyd Masson fight card in Auckland, Parker said the decision had brought relief not only to himself, but to the people who stood by him throughout the process.
"A sense of relief, sense of gratitude for all those who stuck by me and for those who've helped get me to where I am today, and just happy," Parker said.…more
The state of te reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani in Aotearoa
Cook Islanders have long played an important role in shaping Aotearoa's Pacific communities, bringing rich culture, language and traditions that continue to thrive across generations.
A new snapshot from the Ministry for Pacific Peoples highlights one area where the community is facing a growing challenge, the use of te reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani.
The report shows the proportion of Cook Islands Māori language speakers has steadily declined over the past two decades.
In 2001, 19 percent of the Cook Islands population living in New Zealand spoke te reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani. By 2006 this had fallen to 17 percent, before dropping to 13 percent in 2013, 9 percent in 2018 and just 8 percent in 2023.
The trend is also reflected across where people were born.
Among Cook Islanders born in New Zealand, the proportion of speakers fell from 5 percent in 2001 to 3 percent in 2023.
For those born overseas, language use also declined, dropping from 47 percent in 2001 to 37 percent in 2023.
Perhaps the biggest concern is among younger generations.…more
Pacific Athletes Break Records at Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2026
As the curtain closes on the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, we take a look at some of our Pacific athletics stars who narrowly missed the podium but still made history, producing national records, personal bests and season's bests on the international stage.
Max Teuruaa – Cook Islands
(Pictured in thumbnail)
Cook Islands decathlete Max Teuruaa delivered a standout performance in Glasgow, setting a new national record in the men's decathlon.
Teuruaa finished the event with 6,434 points, surpassing his previous national record of 6,337 points. He also equalled the Cook Islands national pole vault record, clearing 4.00m during the decathlon competition.
Kenaz Kaniwete – Kiribati
Kiribati sprinter Kenaz Kaniwete made history in the men's 100m, breaking his own national record with a time of 10.89 seconds.
His performance was another milestone for Kiribati athletics, showcasing the continued growth of Pacific sprinting on the international stage.
Alex Rose – Samoa
Samoan discus thrower Alex Rose came close to a medal finish, placing fourth in the men's discus competition.…more
Aussie and Samoan Youth Join Forces to Give Asau School a Major Makeover
A school in one of Samoa's most remote villages has been given a fresh new look, thanks to an incredible partnership between Australian volunteers, the Samoan diaspora and the local community.
Over 10 days, more than 50 young Australians, mentors and volunteers from the Terry Campese Foundation rolled up their sleeves alongside the people of Asau in Savai'i to help transform the village primary school.
Together, they built new spaces where local children can learn, play and grow, including a library, computer lab, playground, sports field and multipurpose court.
The project was led by Toe Timata le Upega, a community initiative founded in 2024 by Asau descendants Pisa Tufuga, Tofono Alaimoana-Taala and Lefaufili Leata Alaimoana-Roberts.
Wanting to give back to the village their families call home, the trio created the initiative to reconnect with their roots while investing in opportunities for Asau's next generation.
After connecting with the Terry Campese Foundation, the idea quickly grew into something much bigger than first imagined.
Originally, the plan was to build a library and computer lab.…more