Max Towle

Despite restrictions easing on Fiji's mainland, six remote islands have been put on high-alert amid the escalating rise in Covid-19 cases there.

Health teams have been sent to these areas where… Audio

The simmering conflict between West Papuan independence fighters and Indonesian military forces has flared up again.

There are more signs of mass displacement too, following an attack on an… Audio

The Australian government has several times now vowed to improve Covid-19 vaccination rates within indigenous communities, but has come in for severe criticism for leaving measures too late.

The… Audio

It's the terror attack that changed the course of America and the world. This weekend marks the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Almost 3000 people from 78 countries were killed on September the 11th… Audio

It is Tongan Language Week. Tongans make up about 1.7 percent of New Zealand's population - our Pacific population is expected to reach 414,000 this year. Max Towle spoke to Tongan-born Labour MP… Audio

The country's grid operator Transpower is promising to make changes after a report found it contributed to last month's blackouts. The blackouts caused more than 34,000 customers to lose power on one… Audio

Some good news for Dunedin - those keen on visiting the Otago Farmers' Market tomorrow will be able to do so. The government has designated it an event, meaning there is a limit of only 100 people… Audio

A night of wild wind has downed powerlines and trees, and fanned scrub fires along the South Island's east coast. Severe, orange weather warnings are in place today, with strong northwest gales in… Audio

As Delta cases continue to pop up, possible symptoms such as stomach pain are under scrutiny. The Director of the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research Professor Graham Le Gros told Max Towle… Audio

Another mystery case of Covid-19 has potentially exposed 36 Middlemore patients and some visitors to the Delta variant. Seven police officers who also interacted with the patient have been stood down… Audio

Now, "common prosperity" has been the key mission statement from China's ruling communist party and leader Xi Jinping in recent months. He's been putting pressure on China's richest people to better… Audio

Members of Auckland's Tongan community are taking part in a mass vaccination event which started in the suburb of Favona today. It's part of Tongan Language Week, and will run for the next three days… Audio

A few days ago a once-powerful Catholic cardinal pled not guilty to child sexual abuse charges in a Massachusetts court.

This is Theodore McCarrick, was defrocked by the Vatican two years ago.

This… Audio

New Caledonia will go into a two-week lockdown in just a few minutes, that is at the top of the hour, after the detection of three new Covid-19 cases in the community. The French territory had been… Audio

A lockdown in French Polynesia has been extended by 15 days, as the Covid-19 situation deteriorates. More than 200 people have died in the past two weeks, and hospitals are full. Worldwatch's Max… Audio

The Victorian government now says it too, like New South Wales, won't be able to eliminate the virus. It's instead banking on a high vaccination rate before opening back up. Another big jump in… Audio

Australia's national government has been accused of neglecting remote indigenous communities, particularly those in central and western New South Wales, where Covid-19 is running rampant. An… Audio

An Afghan has told of his miraculous escape from Kabul this week, crammed aboard a US cargo plane.

Images from the plane have gone viral - of hundreds of people refusing to get off in the hopes of… Audio

Australia is experiencing one of its darkest days of the pandemic, with new lockdowns, and others extended, as the Delta variant spreads across the country.

Nowhere is the virus more rampant than in… Audio

Australia's Covid-19 crisis goes on - this afternoon Canberra was plunged into a week-long lockdown after the discovery of a new local infection.

New South Wales also continues to see high numbers… Audio