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Know what’s happening across Oceania—before your coffee’s cold.
TODAY IN OCEANIA
Today is World Diabetes Day!
World Diabetes Day, observed on 14 November, raises awareness about the growing impact of diabetes and the importance of early detection and healthy living. It’s a reminder that with knowledge, support, and small daily choices, we can protect our health and empower our communities.
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OCEANIA MARKETS
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S&P/ASX 200
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8,753.40
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-0.52%
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S&P/NZX 50 Index Gross
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13,597.87
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-0.54%
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ASX 200 and NZX 50 Data Provided By:
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*Market index data sourced from official exchange publications and financial data aggregators. ASX and NZX data reflect end-of-day figures from the Australian and New Zealand stock exchanges respectively. SPX (South Pacific Stock Exchange) figures reflect the most recent published data. Note: NZX and SPX figures include dividends (total return), while the ASX figure reflects share price movement only.
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REGIONAL NEWS
Five-year extension pushes mining decision deadline as companies fail to complete baseline studies. Photo Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust
Cook Islands Extends Deep-Sea Mining Exploration to 2032
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The Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority has confirmed that exploration licenses for three companies will be extended for another five years beyond their February 2027 expiration date. The companies—Cook Islands Cobalt Limited, Moana Minerals Limited, and CIIC Seabed Resources Limited—received their initial five-year licenses in February 2022 to conduct scientific research and environmental impact assessments on the country's polymetallic nodule deposits. Commissioner Beverly Stacey-Ataera stated that license holders have not yet completed their approved plans of work and will need to apply for renewal if they wish to continue exploration. The nodule fields contain high concentrations of cobalt, nickel, copper, and manganese at depths of 4,500 to 6,000 meters.
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Te Ipukarea Society, a local environmental group, welcomed the extension but argued that five years has never been adequate for gathering necessary information about deep-sea ecosystems. The organization had previously recommended during 2019 consultations that the authority follow International Seabed Authority guidelines and allocate a minimum of 15 years for exploration with a possible five-year extension. The group also noted that demand for these metals in the context of green energy transition has decreased since exploration began. Meanwhile, 38 countries, including five Pacific nations—Palau, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, and Tuvalu—have called for a moratorium on deep-sea mining, though the Cook Islands government has consistently opposed such measures.
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A recent U.S.-funded expedition by the E/V Nautilus mapped more than 14,000 square kilometers of the Cook Islands seafloor between October 1 and 21, documenting deep-sea biodiversity and collecting baseline environmental data. John Parianos of the Seabed Minerals Authority told RNZ that officials currently "don't know enough to make a decision" and that the expedition's data would contribute to the environmental baseline information needed for the government's eventual mining decision.
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Solar-powered smart lockers at two Queensland parks offer on-demand basketballs, soccer balls, and volleyballs through smartphone app. Photo credit: David Lasday / LinkedIn
Redland City Trials Free Sports Equipment Lockers in Australian First
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Redland City Council has installed SportsBox lockers at Beth Boyd Park in Thorneside and Raby Esplanade Park in Ormiston, making it the first Australian council to trial the equipment until October 2026 at no cost to the council. Users download the SportsBox app and scan QR codes on the lockers to access equipment during park opening hours, with Beth Boyd Park offering basketball, volleyball and soccer gear while Raby Esplanade Park has soccer, table tennis and basketball equipment. SportsBox is rolling out 25 lockers across Queensland in partnership with Decathlon and the state's Department of Sport, Racing and Olympic and Paralympic Games, targeting locations in Gold Coast, Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay regions. The lockers are solar-powered and stocked with Decathlon equipment, with 20 more planned across Australia in coming months.
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Research conducted by Decathlon with over 1,000 respondents found that 73.2% of Australians view cost as a barrier to participating in sport and exercise, while 36.1% said they would play more sports if equipment were easier to access. Among Queenslanders specifically, 20% said sports were too expensive to play and 34% would play more if equipment were more accessible. Health and Wellbeing Queensland CEO Dr Robyn Littlewood noted that over 420,000 Queenslanders are not getting enough physical activity each week and more than 48,000 Queensland children get less than one hour of physical activity daily. The SportsBox initiative received funding through the Queensland Government's ActiveKIT Grants program, the same program that supported TRiQ Arena activity modules previously trialled in local parks.
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Act 269 creates state registry for hemp businesses; $50 fee covers five-year period with grace period for compliance. Photo credit: Hawaii Tribune Herald
Hawaii Requires Hemp Retailers to Register by January 2026
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Act 269, signed into law on July 2, requires all businesses selling manufactured hemp products in Hawaii—including online and out-of-state retailers—to register with the Department of Health's Office of Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation starting January 1, 2026. The state does not currently track the number of hemp businesses operating in Hawaii, and some products sold do not meet state standards for testing, labeling, packaging or THC content. Registration costs $50 for a five-year period, with applications available through the DOH website beginning in January, and the office will focus on outreach and education throughout 2025 before enforcement begins after a grace period. State law has always prohibited the sale of hemp flowers, hemp pre-rolls, vapes, gummies, and foods or beverages containing hemp derivatives, with only tablets, capsules, powders, softgels, gelcaps, liquids, tinctures, and topicals permitted.
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Businesses that fail to register or continue selling noncompliant products after the grace period could face cease-and-desist orders, fines up to $10,000 per violation, and embargo, seizure or destruction of products, with property owners housing violating tenants also subject to fines, liens or injunctions. The DOH already enforces existing laws against illegal hemp-derived products that fail to meet testing, packaging and labeling requirements through warning letters, product holds, or fines. Hawaii bans cannabinoids created through isomerization, including delta-8 and delta-10 THC, and requires all hemp products to contain no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC. The law also limits the sale of hemp-derived tinctures to consumers 21 and older and grants DOH regulators authority to inspect sales and distribution facilities.
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Tafea Province Plant Documentation Launched After Decade of Research -
Vanuatu
Nearly 1,000-page publication documents traditional plant knowledge from over 200 local experts across four islands.
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Vanuatu's Department of Forestry, New York Botanical Garden, and Vanuatu Cultural Centre launched "Plants, People and Culture in Tafea Province" on November 5 at the Chanel Sam Botanical Garden in Port Vila. The two-volume publication spans nearly 1,000 pages and documents plant species from Tanna, Aneityum, Futuna, and Aniwa islands, including scientific names, local language names, traditional uses, and photographs collected through more than ten years of botanical research and linguistic interviews with over 200 local experts. Gregory Plunkett, who led the research starting in 2013, noted that Vanuatu has about 138 languages among 300,000 people, making it a critical location for documenting plant use and traditional knowledge. The research team recorded how plants are used for building, clothing, gardening, and ceremonies while respecting sacred knowledge, and the work supports Custom Forest Conservation approaches focused on locally driven conservation and protection of endangered species like the rare Tanna palm.
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Dominik Ramik from Lycée Technique on Tanna Island developed the LinguaNabanga app, an offline digital tool for phones and computers that contains information from both books, including plant photos, language names, and traditional stories. Presley Dovo, head of the Botany and Conservation section in Vanuatu, described the publication as the first of its kind in Vanuatu's history and said it will serve as a learning tool for students, researchers, and communities to understand plant heritage. The project reflects collaboration between local and international institutions combining science, culture, and technology to preserve traditional knowledge that is increasingly threatened by globalization and language loss across the Pacific.
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(Pictured - Collecting fish otoliths) Data collected will support improved management of Palau’s reef fish stocks based on local scientific analysis. Photo credit: Island Times Palau
Palau Begins Study on Reef Fish Growth, Age, and Reproduction
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Palau has started a study focusing on the life history traits of reef fish species common in its waters. The project involves The Nature Conservancy Micronesia and Polynesia, Palau’s Bureau of Fisheries, Palau International Coral Reef Center, and the Coral Reef Research Foundation. The study collects data on fish growth, age, and reproductive cycles using fish measurements, otolith analysis (ear bones for aging), and examination of reproductive organs. This data replaces prior management assumptions that were based on fisheries information from other Pacific locations, aiming to provide locally relevant information.
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Samples will be processed with help from the University of Guam Marine Laboratory and Poseidon Fisheries in Honolulu, while Palauan staff receive training in sample collection and analysis. Results from the project will help set fish size limits and other regulations to better match actual growth and reproduction patterns of these fish in Palau. The findings will be shared directly with fishing communities and the government to improve understanding and support fisheries decisions grounded in local data.
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The project includes constructing new piers and facilities to enhance maintenance and operational capacity for submarines homeported at Polaris Point. Photo Credit: Petty Officer 1st Class Andrew Waters / US Navy
NAVFAC Plans $100 Million Expansion for Submarine Support at Polaris Point, Guam
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The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) is undertaking projects totaling approximately $100 million to expand submarine support infrastructure at Polaris Point, Naval Base Guam. This expansion includes building a new concrete fixed single-deck submarine repair pier capable of accommodating up to four Virginia-class submarines. The development aims to improve maintenance capabilities and support for the five nuclear-powered fast-attack submarines currently homeported in Guam, allowing for more efficient and timely repairs without the need to send vessels elsewhere.
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This expansion works alongside related initiatives such as the Guam Advanced Material & Manufacturing Accelerator (GAMMA) project, which will provide facilities for on-demand 3D printing of submarine parts, reducing reliance on distant supply chains. The NAVFAC projects also include upgrades to existing repair and support infrastructure, contributing to the Navy’s broader effort to enhance readiness and operational effectiveness in the Western Pacific. These improvements are intended to support the U.S. Navy’s strategic posture by ensuring that submarines in this critical region can be maintained and deployed with minimal downtime.
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Advocacy continues with government action and youth participation to end child marriage in Solomon Islands. Photo credit: The Island Sun
Solomon Islands Advances Raise of Legal Marriage Age with Youth Voice at International Children’s Day
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The Solomon Islands government is moving forward with plans to raise the legal marriage age from 15 to 18 years. The current law allows marriage at 15 with parental consent, while customary practices permit child marriage without any age minimum. Advocates stress the change aligns with children's rights frameworks and aims to reduce child marriages that expose girls to early school leaving, domestic violence, and health risks. Community groups, including World Vision and Save the Children, alongside government agencies, have supported educational outreach to rural and urban areas to build understanding and consensus around the legal reform.
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At the 2025 International Children’s Day event in Honiara, a young advocate named Annabell spoke publicly about the importance of raising the marriage age to protect girls and preserve their futures. Her speech called for respect of children’s rights and emphasized community roles in enforcing laws that safeguard young people from early and forced marriage. She highlighted the link between education, health, and delaying marriage and echoed wider efforts by local communities to pass bylaws preventing underage marriage. This representation of youth voices complements formal government steps and underlines the commitment to multi-level action on ending child marriage in the Solomon Islands.
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PRESENTED BY VONU STUDIOS
Children's Book: Vonu and the Druas Play Hide and Seek
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Join Vonu the turtle and the stingray twins, the Druas Vai and Fai, in an exciting game of hide and seek! A heartwarming story filled with fun and adventure, perfect for young readers. Get your copy today!
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A Coromandel couple shares their experience living with little blue penguins nesting under their house and the difficulties of coexisting with these protected birds. Photo Credit: RNZ/Libby Kirkby-McLeod
Little Blue Penguins Nest Under Coromandel Home, Causing Noise Challenges for Residents - NZ
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A couple living on a cliff above Waitete Bay in Coromandel have been dealing with little blue penguins tunneling under their home and nesting close to their bedroom. While initially enjoying the presence of the penguins, the couple has faced increasing noise disturbances, as the penguins are active and vocal throughout the night with calls every 20 minutes on average. The constant noise and activity have made sleep difficult, especially as one resident is recovering from surgery.
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The birds are protected, and moving them requires professional expertise, which the couple has struggled to access. The Department of Conservation (DOC) advises waiting for the penguins to finish nesting before blocking their access points to prevent return during moult season. DOC also warns that relocating penguins can be harmful. The department encourages coexistence strategies and emphasizes the importance of living in harmony with native wildlife.
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Palau to Remove Invasive Rats from Sonsorol Islands to Restore Ecosystems and Support Local Communities
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The Republic of Palau has announced plans to remove invasive rats from the Sonsorol state islands of Sonsorol, Merir, and Fanna beginning in 2026. The rat populations have damaged crops, disrupted native wildlife, and made the islands difficult to inhabit. The project, led by the Sonsorol community with support from Palau’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment and the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), seeks to restore native ecosystems, improve food security, and support the cultural and economic wellbeing of local communities. Techniques such as drone technology for rat control and enhanced biosecurity measures will be used to prevent reinvasion and protect fragile island ecosystems.
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Community consultations have been ongoing since 2023 to ensure local voices and traditional knowledge guide the project. The removal of rats is expected to allow native vegetation to recover, reduce mosquito and rat-borne diseases, and improve living conditions. Restoring seabird populations through predator control will also aid ecosystem nutrients cycling. The initiative aligns with Palau’s commitments to biodiversity restoration and climate resilience while enabling the Sonsorolese people to reconnect with their ancestral lands and traditional practices.
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SPOTLIGHT
Pacific Researchers Develop Cassava-Based Food Coating
Scientists at the University of the South Pacific have created an edible coating from cassava starch that extends fruit shelf life and offers an alternative to plastic packaging. Photo credit: University of the South Pacific
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Associate Professor David Rohindra and his team at USP's Discipline of Chemistry have developed a coating that combines cassava starch with agar, glycerol, and clove oil. The formulation accelerates fruit dehydration through osmosis and prevents fruit flies from laying eggs on tropical fruits like mangoes.
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Cassava starch contains approximately 17% amylose, giving it strong film-forming properties. Research has shown that cassava starch films can inhibit bacterial growth from pathogens including E. coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus when combined with essential oils. The clove oil in Rohindra's coating provides antimicrobial protection while the agar and glycerol improve flexibility and moisture control.
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This builds on Rohindra's earlier work using cassava coatings to preserve eggs by reducing microbial growth. The mango preservation research was published in Sustainable Food Technology in 2025 under the title "Development of edible food coating using cassava starch/agar blends infused with clove oil for the preservation of mangoes".
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Studies on similar cassava-based packaging have demonstrated the ability to keep meatballs below FDA safety limits for 96 hours at ambient temperature, compared to 48 hours for control packaging. When cassava starch films incorporated higher concentrations of essential oils, antibacterial effectiveness increased significantly.
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The research addresses two problems simultaneously: plastic pollution from conventional food packaging and post-harvest losses from pest damage and spoilage. Cassava grows abundantly throughout the Pacific region, making it a locally available raw material. If production scales commercially, Fiji could supply biodegradable wraps to markets where demand for plastic alternatives continues to grow.
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OCEANIAN MAKING WAVES
15 Year Old Allahna Tuteru Becomes First Cook Islander to Win Professional Boxing World Title
 New Zealand-based fighter Allahna Tuteru stops veteran Hemingway to claim vacant WIBA heavyweight championship. Photo credit: Roycey Royce / Facebook
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Allahna Tuteru defeated Sequita Hemingway by stoppage on November 8 at the Netball Manurewa Community & Events Centre in Auckland to win the vacant Women's International Boxing Association world heavyweight title. Only 15 years old, Tuteru became the first Cook Islander to win a world title in professional boxing and the first person to stop Hemingway, who entered the bout with a 4-6 record after facing multiple world champions including two-time opponent Lani Daniels. The fight lasted 10 two-minute rounds under the Ultimate Rage 38 promotion, though Hemingway's team threatened to withdraw multiple times including on fight day before promoter Terry Tuteru kept the bout on track.
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Tuteru made her professional boxing debut in April 2025 against Maria Hunt, winning by unanimous decision. She is the daughter of boxers Ange Davis, who fought for the New Zealand title in 2016, and Terry Tuteru, who fought Joseph Parker in 2012. The WIBA title has existed since 1999 and predates the major four organizations (WBA, WBO, IBF, WBC) sanctioning women's world titles, with many fighters using it as preparation for those championships. The heavyweight division title had not been contested since 2014, when Australian Olympic shot put gold medalist Lisa Marie Vizaniari defeated Kathy Rivers.
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Tuteru's ranking on BoxRec jumped from 10th to 4th place following the victory, with Claressa Shields holding the top position after defeating Daniels in July. Her brother Nathaneal Tuteru also competed on the card, defeating Joe Ageli by split decision. New Zealand now has three WIBA world champions: Gentiane Lupi in super bantamweight (2015), Emma Nesbitt in light flyweight (2025), and Tuteru in heavyweight.
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QUICK TAKES
- More than 15 Vanuatu firefighters began a ten-day training program at Cook Barracks led by three instructors from the Dumbea Fire Service in New Caledonia, marking the first French civil protection training held in Vanuatu. Colonel Alexandre Carrat from the French Fire and Security Department in Canberra stated the training aligns with France's Pacific Strategy to strengthen regional preparedness through cooperation, and confirmed France is donating VT6 million worth of firefighting equipment including personal protective gear and portable pumps to enhance operational capacity. Captain Chitussi Bruno from the Dumbea Fire Service emphasized the training will focus on shared learning and finding solutions together, with practical exercises at Parliament House, hospital facilities, and Cook Barracks to prepare firefighters for high-risk locations where lives are at stake. Acting Deputy Commissioner for Management Astrophile Ngwele, speaking for the Minister of Internal Affairs and Police Commissioner, said the program will cover modern firefighting techniques, equipment handling, team coordination, and safety management beyond basic fire suppression skills.
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REGIONAL EVENTS
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UOG Presents Sondheim's Reverse-Chronology Musical
 Students perform complex score that tracks three friends' lives backward through 20 years. Photo credit: University of Guam
EVENT DETAILS:
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Dates: November 20, 21, 22, 2025
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Time: 7:00 PM (doors open 6:30 PM)
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Venue: UOG Fine Arts Theatre, University of Guam
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Production: Three nights only
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The University of Guam Theatre and Music programs present Merrily We Roll Along, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth. The production features UOG students, many of them theatre and music majors, performing Sondheim's challenging work for the first time. Based on the 1934 George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart play, the musical tells its story in reverse chronology, beginning in 1977 with a successful but disillusioned composer Franklin Shepard and moving backward through 20 years to 1957, showing how three friends' lives and friendship devolved as Shepard abandoned his songwriting career and friends to become a Hollywood producer. The original Broadway production in 1981 ran only 16 performances despite a score that won the Tony Award for Best Original Score, but a 2022 Off-Broadway revival transferred to Broadway in 2023 and won four 2024 Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical, with Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff, and Lindsay Mendez. The revival was filmed live at the Hudson Theatre and will be released in movie theatres via Sony Pictures Classics and Fathom Entertainment beginning December 5, 2025.
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OFC Futsal Men’s Champions League
 OFC Futsal Men's Champions League 2025. Photo credit: Oceania Football Confederation / X
EVENT DETAILS:
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Dates: November 16-23, 2025
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Venue: Vodafone Arena, Suva
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Tickets: From just $5 FJD
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The stage is set for the OFC Futsal Men’s Champions League! Six top teams, one title - who will come out on top in Suva? Fans can expect high-intensity action, exceptional skill, and true sporting spirit as the competition celebrates the growth and excellence of futsal across the Pacific. The event promises an exciting week of fast-paced matches, uniting players and supporters in a festival of elite futsal.
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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NZ Film Industry Development Funding
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The New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC)
is offering Industry Development Funding to support New Zealand screen sector organisations, companies, or collectives in delivering programmes that develop craft and practice within the film industry.
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Key Details:
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Purpose: To foster skill development, project initiatives, and talent within the New Zealand film sector.
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Eligibility: Open to New Zealand-based screen organisations, companies, or collectives registered in New Zealand.
Funding Strands:
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Strand 2 (up to $30,000): Applications opened on Monday, July 14, 2025 and remain open until June 30, 2026, or until funds are exhausted.
How to Apply: Applications are submitted via the NZFC's online application portal.
For full details on application criteria and guidelines, please visit the official NZFC website:
Industry Development Funding.
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