Latest news with #Kiribati
ABC News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
VT1S singer Liz Vamarasi searches for Fiji's lost mythical island of Burotukula
Fijian reggae singer Liz Vamarasi takes us deep into the spirit world of Burotukula — Fiji's mythical sunken island said to be home to ancient ancestors and forgotten gods. With her soulful voice and deep cultural roots, Liz guides us through legends that still echo across the Pacific. Then, we turn up the volume as Kiribati's newest singing sensation, Katangiman Emosi, drops her debut single — an electrifying blend of island rhythm and raw emotion that's already making waves. And Marshallese singer and climate activist Carnie Reimers has been gaining recognition across the Pacific. Her music is deeply rooted in the themes of island identity, climate change and cultural resilience and this week she welcomes a brand-new wave of listeners tuning in from the Marshall Islands on 106.7FM, marking a powerful new chapter in Pacific broadcasting.
ABC News
6 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Radio Australia finishes Pacific expansion with Marshall Islands launch
ABC Radio Australia has completed its expansion of services across the Pacific with the Marshall Islands set to host broadcasts for the first time in more than five years. A new FM transmitter means residents of Majuro atoll are the latest listeners to join the network, which has doubled in two years and now extends to 25 locations across the region. Audiences in Majuro can now tune into ABC Radio Australia on 106.7FM. The launch is the final part of an expansion which kicked off with Ghizo Island in the Solomon Islands in September 2023 and has been rolled out to the Federated States of Micronesia (Pohnpei), Palau (Koror), Nauru, Kiribati (Tarawa), Tuvalu (Funafuti), Cook Islands (Rarotonga), Auki in the Solomon Islands and three additional Papua New Guinea locations, in East New Britain (Kokopo), Manus Island (Lorengau) and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (Buka). Radio Australia now has a network of transmitters in the Pacific, like this one in Tarawa, Kiribati. Head of ABC International Services, Claire Gorman, hailed the project as a "landmark success". "In the 85 years since ABC Radio Australia first broadcast across the region, the network has undergone significant changes with this latest expansion in transmission sites," she said. "This represents the next chapter for ABC Radio Australia, providing new audiences with our slate of trusted news and Pacific-focused radio programming." ABC Radio Australia Manager Justine Kelly said teams had been working hard for two years to deliver the project. "We are proud to be available across even more locations throughout the Pacific as our talented team of presenters and comprehensive suite of shows, share the incredible stories and voices from across the region," she said. The full radio service offers listeners an extensive schedule of bespoke programming covering the latest in news, music, sports, culture, health, science and faith. Tumultuous times for broadcasters The completion of the project comes after a tumultuous few months for independent media in Asia and the Pacific. US President Donald Trump slashed funding to multiple media organisations including Voice of America, Benar News and Radio Free Asia earlier this year, which risked leaving millions of people across the region without access to independent news. The US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which funded these organisations, employed roughly 3,500 people and had an $US886 million budget before it was gutted. Aleksandra Bielakowska from Reporters Without Borders told the ABC at the time the cuts "threaten press freedom worldwide" and were a "gigantic gift" for authoritarian regimes in Beijing and Moscow. As VOA director Michael Abramowitz, said: "For the first time in 83 years, the storied Voice of America is being silenced.'' The project began with the launch of Radio Australia in Gizo, Solomon Islands, in 2023. ( Radio Australia ) The state of the media in the Pacific The State of the Media: Pacific Region report found that, despite advancements in the Pacific media sector, it remains fragile in the face of digital disruption and additional loss of advertising revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic, creating an existential crisis. The study found there had been a sharp increase in internet access across the region over the previous decade. In Samoa, for example, internet access had soared from 7 per cent in 2013 to 75 per cent in 2025. It also found misinformation and disinformation were bigger challenges in larger countries such as Fiji, Solomon Islands, and Samoa, which have active diasporas and higher penetration of foreign media sources, particularly on social media platforms owned by big tech companies. There were also concerns about media freedom which influenced audience trust in mainstream media, particularly government-owned media organisations. Why an independent voice is important Radio Australia was launched at the start of World War II to counter propaganda from the Axis powers. For decades it provided an independent news service in multiple languages to people across the region. Around a decade ago, Australian government budget cuts forced ABC Radio Australia to wind down its coverage and services to focus solely on the Pacific and Timor Leste. ABC technicians install a transmitter in Nauru. With extra funding in 2022 and 2023, it has been able to expand the footprint and the amount of content designed for Pacific audiences. This international broadcasting is important as it can break stories and hold power to account across the region, in a way that local media at times may not be able to. ABC Radio Australia also supports local radio services by providing relevant valuable content for local audiences and can tell uniquely Pacific stores. It also acts as a counterweight to anti-democratic information and disinformation. Indeed, when the US government cut funding to its broadcasters, authoritarian regimes including Beijing-backed media celebrated the decision, while activists and analysts warned the closures would create information "black holes" that could be filled by Russian or Chinese services. There are multiple ways to listen to ABC Radio Australia across the Pacific – live via internet streaming, through 24-hour FM stations in your area, or by catching up with full episodes on ABC Pacific online.
RNZ News
08-06-2025
- RNZ News
The Fijian pilot inspiring the next generation of Pacific aviators
Photo: Salote Mataitini When Salote Mataitini first dreamed of becoming a pilot, she was a child reading newspaper articles about aviators, long before iPhones or social media. "In primary school, I learned about pilots through newspaper interviews, pre-smartphone era," she said. Today, Mataitini lives out her lifelong dream. She is a captain with Air Kiribati, flying across one of the world's largest ocean states and inspiring the next generation of Pacific aviators. The Kiribati capital and most populated area, South Tarawa, consists of several islets, connected by a series of causeways. Photo: Supplied Originally from the Garden Island of Taveuni and raised in Somosomo, Fiji, Mataitini's journey began in Aotearoa, where she trained at Ardmore Flying School in South Auckland. "That was a great experience as I got to see different parts of the country while studying," she said. "While doing… my NZ commercial pilot's licence, I was lucky to be able to pick wherever I wanted to fly to, so because of that exposure, I've been to most, if not all, the airports and aerodromes in the upper North Island and Great Barrier Island." She joined Air Kiribati as a first officer a decade ago and has flown as a captain on the Harbin and twin otter aircrafts for the past eight years. "In Kiribati, we provide air service to 20 airports - 17 in the Gilbert Group while we are based in our HQ in Tarawa, and three airports in the Line Islands Group based in Christmas Island. So every few weeks we rotate between these two bases," she said. "Kiribati is a massive ocean state with atolls spread across the central Pacific Ocean. I'm quite blessed to be flying in these parts of the world where I get to cross the equator multiple times a day." Mataitini's pathway wasn't without challenges, however. Early in her career, female pilots in the Pacific were rare, and gender bias was common. "During the early days of my career there weren't many female pilots in the Pacific. Gender bias was very prevalent in those days," she said. "When I look back now, it was God's way of redirecting me to my destiny to go and work in Kiribati. "I have been able to fully immerse myself in the culture and language because of the way the people of Kiribati have embraced me as one of their own." While Mataitini finds peace in the sky, she said that her job is just as rewarding on the ground. "Watching families, friends and loved ones reunited after a flight is always a rewarding experience." Photo: Salote Mataitini Beyond the cockpit, Mataitini is passionate about inspiring young people to pursue careers in aviation. "Once I started flying, I wanted to do the same to inspire not only girls but the next generation of aviators. So that's when I started sharing my journey and my story online," she said. Through her social media posts, Mataitini has become a recognisable role model across the region. She frequently receives messages from parents of aspiring pilots, and takes time to guide them, offering advice on training, pathways, and nearby flight schools. "In Kiribati, it's become… normal for them to see me fly to their island. Compared to when I first started, it was rare to see a female pilot. "But now when I land, I'm surprised to hear kids calling out to me, calling out my name. So I normally just smile and wave or go shake their hands," she said. Salote Mataitini is inspiring young children to enter the aviation space Photo: Salote Mataitini She continues to be a sought-after speaker at graduations and school events across the country, where she encourages young people to dream boldly, and pursue their goals. Today, Mataitini is heartened by the growing number of young Pacific people, particularly women, entering aviation. "A decade later I'm beginning to see the fruits of that influence. It's great to see a number of new Kiribati female graduate pilots and a few others who are currently in Nadi flying schools," she said. "It's only a matter of time before they'll start sharing the cockpit with me, so I look forward to that day." However, Mataitini maintains that women in Kiribati are natural "leaders, mothers, and highly educated role models". "I see my role as an extension to theirs," she said. "Together, we inspire the next generation to follow in our footsteps, empowering not only females - but the future leaders of Kiribati."
RNZ News
06-06-2025
- RNZ News
The Kiribat pilot inspiring the next generation of Pacific aviators
Photo: Salote Mataitini When Salote Mataitini first dreamed of becoming a pilot, she was a child reading newspaper articles about aviators, long before iPhones or social media. "In primary school, I learned about pilots through newspaper interviews, pre-smartphone era," she said. Today, Mataitini lives out her lifelong dream. She is a captain with Air Kiribati, flying across one of the world's largest ocean states and inspiring the next generation of Pacific aviators. Photo: Salote Mataitini Originally from the Garden Island of Taveuni and raised in Somosomo, Fiji, Mataitini's journey began in Aotearoa, where she trained at Ardmore Flying School in South Auckland. "That was a great experience as I got to see different parts of the country while studying," she said. "While doing… my NZ commercial pilot's licence, I was lucky to be able to pick wherever I wanted to fly to, so because of that exposure, I've been to most, if not all, the airports and aerodromes in the upper North Island and Great Barrier Island." She joined Air Kiribati as a first officer a decade ago and has flown as a captain on the Harbin and twin otter aircrafts for the past eight years. "In Kiribati, we provide air service to 20 airports - 17 in the Gilbert Group while we are based in our HQ in Tarawa, and three airports in the Line Islands Group based in Christmas Island. So every few weeks we rotate between these two bases," she said. "Kiribati is a massive ocean state with atolls spread across the central Pacific Ocean. I'm quite blessed to be flying in these parts of the world where I get to cross the equator multiple times a day." Mataitini's pathway wasn't without challenges, however. Early in her career, female pilots in the Pacific were rare, and gender bias was common. "During the early days of my career there weren't many female pilots in the Pacific. Gender bias was very prevalent in those days," she said. "When I look back now, it was God's way of redirecting me to my destiny to go and work in Kiribati. "I have been able to fully immerse myself in the culture and language because of the way the people of Kiribati have embraced me as one of their own." While Mataitini finds peace in the sky, she said that her job is just as rewarding on the ground. "Watching families, friends and loved ones reunited after a flight is always a rewarding experience." Photo: Salote Mataitini Beyond the cockpit, Mataitini is passionate about inspiring young people to pursue careers in aviation. "Once I started flying, I wanted to do the same to inspire not only girls but the next generation of aviators. So that's when I started sharing my journey and my story online," she said. Through her social media posts, Mataitini has become a recognisable role model across the region. She frequently receives messages from parents of aspiring pilots, and takes time to guide them, offering advice on training, pathways, and nearby flight schools. "In Kiribati, it's become… normal for them to see me fly to their island. Compared to when I first started, it was rare to see a female pilot. "But now when I land, I'm surprised to hear kids calling out to me, calling out my name. So I normally just smile and wave or go shake their hands," she said. Salote Mataitini is inspiring young children to enter the aviation space Photo: Salote Mataitini She continues to be a sought-after speaker at graduations and school events across the country, where she encourages young people to dream boldly, and pursue their goals. Today, Mataitini is heartened by the growing number of young Pacific people, particularly women, entering aviation. "A decade later I'm beginning to see the fruits of that influence. It's great to see a number of new Kiribati female graduate pilots and a few others who are currently in Nadi flying schools," she said. "It's only a matter of time before they'll start sharing the cockpit with me, so I look forward to that day." However, Mataitini maintains that women in Kiribati are natural "leaders, mothers, and highly educated role models". "I see my role as an extension to theirs," she said. "Together, we inspire the next generation to follow in our footsteps, empowering not only females - but the future leaders of Kiribati."
NHK
30-05-2025
- Business
- NHK
China pledges support for Pacific island nations to address climate change
China has pledged to continue its support for Pacific island nations to address climate change. Beijing apparently intends to strengthen its influence in the Pacific region by stressing that it takes a different position from the US on global warming. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his counterparts from 11 island nations, including Kiribati, the Solomon Islands, and Nauru, gathered in the city of Xiamen in China's Fujian Province. The countries wrapped up the meetings and issued a joint statement on Thursday. The statement refers to strengthening trade relations, and continued Chinese support for Pacific nations to deal with the challenges posed by climate change. China's support contrasts with the reluctant stance of US President Donald Trump's administration on the issue. The Trump administration has withdrawn the US from the Paris Agreement on climate change. It has also frozen some US aid programs in the Pacific region. The move has triggered widespread concerns.
