New Zealand

Up to 1.7 million travellers from 60 countries who previously didn't need a visa will now be required to declare their passport details and any criminal history before they can travel.

The government has spent $5 million on a domestic and international marketing campaign to make sure people aren't stopped at the gates.

Board of Airline Representatives New Zealand executive director Justin Tighe-Umbers said about 4000 to 5000 travellers would need an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) each day.

A new strain of the beetle, CRB-G, is resistant to traditional control methods, and the government said it could cause $US150 million dollars to be lost from the Pacific's coconut and palm oil industries every year.

CRB-G is established in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands where it is damaging palm trees.

New Zealand is contributing about $US11 million dollars to the fight, some of which will go to science institute AgResearch.

Wesley College, at Paerata, south of Auckland, is marking 175 years after being established by the Wesleyan Missionary Society in October 1844.

The school is well known for producing more recent All Blacks than any other school in the country, most notably Jonah Lomu.

Originally a boys' school in recent times Wesley has been also produced a number of high achieving female sports stars.

There has also been significant success in academia, the arts, business and politics at home and internationally.

“We extend our condolences to his family and to the people of Tonga. Prime Minister Pohiva was an elder statesman of the Pacific and a great friend to New Zealand,” Jacinda Ardern said.

“He will be remembered for his lifelong commitment to championing democracy. He was also a powerful advocate for Pacific regionalism, demonstrated at the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Tuvalu where he advocated for climate change action and regional solidarity.

“Our thoughts are with the people of Tonga,” Jacinda Ardern said.

Remittances are a key source of earnings for many Pacific families who have relatives working abroad and the intervention comes as both Wellington and Canberra step up their engagement in the region.

The plans are part of a push to meet UN Sustainable Development Goals, which include a commitment to reduce remittance costs to less than three percent by 2030. In the Pacific, the average remittance costs are more than 10 percent, well above the global average of 7.1 percent.

The 25-year-old Fotu was born in York, England to an English mother and Tongan father before the family moved to New Zealand when he was seven.

Growing up in Auckland, he used to love watching NBA games on ESPN and became inspired to take up the sport himself after seeing New Zealand basketball legend Mika Vukona playing for the Breakers.

"That's what drew me in - I saw an island boy playing basketball with his physical style and I said hopefully I can play that as well and play the same way as him," he said.

Kelli Brown opened the scoring with just seconds on the clock and ended the game with an incredible eleven goals to her name.

Arabella Maynard and Maggie Jenkins scored five a piece and were among six other players to get on the scoresheet, while Samoa ended the match with ten players after Paepae Tuitama was sent off in the 42nd minute.

New Zealand coach Gemma Lewis was understandably thrilled with her team's opening performance.

The celebrity dancer and choreographer met with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Friday, to discuss her plans for the six-month long expo.

Ardern said Goebel's plans were "spectacular" and would do the country proud. Her programme was made to reflect themes of caring for people and the environment, with a focus on youth and sustainability.

In a statement, Goebel said her new role was "an honour" and she was using it as a chance to work with artists from different fields.

Stevie Norua Cullen and Selaima Fakaosilea appeared in the High Court at Whangārei this morning before Justice Gordon.

Cullen has been sentenced to 27 years in prison with a minimum period of imprisonment of nine years.

Fakaosilea has been sentenced to 12 years and six months to be served cumulatively on the 14 years and six months sentence she was given last year for further drug dealing following the Northland bust.

She was given a minimum period of imprisonment of seven years.

For My Father's Kingdom is directed by Pacific film-makers Vea Mafile'o of Tonga and Samoa's Jeremiah Tauamiti.

The documentary centres on Vea's father, Saia Mafile'o, and his four children.

Film reviewer Chris Schulz told Kathryn Ryan on Nine to Noon people were in tears at the screening in Auckland.

"All great documentaries shine a light on something that you don't know anything about. Right?

"So, this is about tithing in the Tongan church. I knew nothing about this.

"When I walked in, I walked in absolutely cold. And it really affected me.