Teahupo'o is known for the surf break and heavy, glassy waves offshore, often reaching 2 to 3m and sometimes up to 7 meters Photo: WSL
Samoa - police operation
A huge police operation in Samoa has led to the arrest of 18 people and the seizure of methamphetamine, other drugs, illegal weapons, and a large amount of cash.
Police Commissioner Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo told local media that those arrested are in custody and are being questioned.
The Samoa Observer reports that the courts have expressed concerns over the meth-related cases they are dealing with.
Police have earlier revealed that gangs from New Zealand may be involved as they had information that possible chapters could be set up in Samoa.
Police have also admitted that there could be a correlation between meth and burglary and theft cases as well.
Tonga - police
The police investigation in Tonga over the discovery of human remains at Yellow Pier in Nuku'alofa continues.
Police are treating the grisly find as a homicide.
Chief Superintendent Commander Filipe Fifita would not disclose anything further about the investigation to local media.
The human remains were discovered by fishermen on Christmas Day.
Tonga police last week urged the public to come forward with any information on missing persons.
Matangi Tonga reports it's unclear whether the remains belonged to one person or more, or what the gender or ethnicity might be.
Police have not said how long the remains had been at sea or whether DNA testing was being used to help in the identification process.
Samoa - LTA party
Samoa's Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure said the money spent by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) for an end-of-year event was donated by the family of the outgoing CEO and was not from public funds.
However Olo Fiti Vaai comments contradict what the Authority's Chairman, Lilomaiava Punivalu told the Samoa Observer which confirmed the $15,000 tālā was approved by the Board of Directors.
Olo said he did not give approval for that, and he asked that when the story came out in the Samoa Observer.
He added the money came from outgoing CEO Galumalemana Titi and her family and was not money from the LTA, otherwise he would have been informed.
However, in an recent interview, the L.T.A. Chairman confirmed the $15,000 tālā expenditure was approved by the board of directors and done in the past.
Lilomaiava was adamant it was normal practice and was done before on condition that no alcohol is bought from the money.
He explained the money also covered for board members' Christmas hampers and dinner.
Fiji - low rainfall
Fiji is experiencing significantly less rainfall due to El Nino.
Nadi has received less than a third of its normal December rain and Suva has received half.
Fiji Metservice Acting Director Bepin Prakash said that even though there has been some rain, it is still significantly less than what is normally expected for December which is the peak wet season month.
"We expect this trend to continue, we expect that generally, we will have drier than usual months ahead, and we may get a bit of rainfall now and then with passing troughs of low pressure or tropical cyclones."
Prakash said although there has been significantly less rainfall it has not yet been called a drought.
West Papua - Benny Wenda
The president of the West Papua Liberation Movement has made a new call for Indonesia to withdraw its military from the region, in his New Year's statement.
Benny Wenda said following the movement's successful first Congress in 2023, they are moving forward according to their threefold agenda - full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights visit to West Papua, and a self-determination referendum.
He also said as demanded by the MSG Leaders' Meeting in August of last year, Indonesia must also facilitate a UN visit to West Papua before the next MSG meeting in April this year.
Wenda called on West Papuans to rally behind the liberation movement, and for all their military factions, all political groupings, and all international solidarity groups in the Pacific and around the world, to respect and honour the Congress resolutions.
He also called on all relevant parties to do more to ensure that New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens is released from captivity unharmed.
Tahiti - Teahupo'o
A controversial project to construct a judging tower in Tahiti for the surfing event of the 2024 Olympics continues to garner international criticism.
Hawaiian pro surfer and scientist Cliff Kapono told Surfer.com that his concerned about the reputation of the sport and that indigenous communities would view it as a weapon for environmental degradation.
Kapono was among a group of scientists who last year mapped out waves at Teahupo'o - the site of the scheduled Olympic surfing event.
He said that damage is inevitable, and his team estimated at least 1.3 million dollars in damage.
Cook Islands - plastics
An environmental NGO in the Cook Islands is inspiring youth to be eco-conscious by encouraging the phase-out of single-use plastics.
Te Ipukarea Society visited outer island schools and ran awareness-raising programs on responsible waste management.
Director Alanna Smith said single-use plastics are not only an issue for the Cook Islands but the whole of the Pacific.
She hopes the next generation will make better choices with their waste, in the best interest of the health of the community and environment.
"We currently have no recycling plants for plastics in the Cook Islands, so a lot of that waste ends up in our landfills or gets burnt on our fire pits which doesn't do anyone good in terms of health implications as well as climate change," she said.
