Refugees in the Pacific — two very different stories

This week, two stories are playing out in the Pacific region. Both involve refugees, but they are very different narratives. One fills me with anger and sadness, the other opens up a sliver of optimism.

Why I love Disney’s Moana

I love Moana. My daughters love Moana. Everyone loves Moana, right? Well, maybe not everyone, and that’s OK, but I do. And here’s why.

A ray of hope for underwater life

Coral reefs are vital for the health of the planet, but they’re dying. In Fiji a coral gardener is trying to save the world, one reef at a time.

“It’s chaos here” – Rugby 7s and Gold medal hysteria

Recently the Fiji Rugby Sevens team won gold at the Olympics, and the country collectively lost its mind.

Escape to the highlands

I’m at the top of the hill looking down on Namosi Eco Retreat. Ten small bures in a tidy line, a communal eating place, and the toilet block. All bamboo and thatch in the traditional style. Beyond the retreat is the river, beyond that the village. And beyond that, the road that brought us here, snaking its way through the peaks and valleys of Viti Levu’s rugged and beautiful highlands.

Grappling with trauma after Winston

My own children’s experience of Cyclone Winston was a comparatively safe one, but over the last few weeks I’ve noticed signs of them processing what happened. At least once or twice I’ve caught them playing ‘cyclones’ with the doll’s house

On the eve of (another) cyclone

A few days ago someone said to me that bad weather that had formed off Fiji was going to turn into a cyclone. At the time I scoffed in disbelief. As I write, it turns out that this is exactly what has happened. Tropical Cyclone Zena is on its way to us right now, due to make its presence felt at around dawn.

Recovering from a cyclone: the difference a week makes

Recently I posted about my visit to Delaikuku village two weeks after Cyclone Winston hit. One week later I visited again, and it felt like a different place. Last time I felt the loss and confusion, this time I felt hope.

The destruction of Natalei: in pictures

Natalei Eco Lodge was until recently a small, community-run hotel nestled in a beautiful cove famous for snorkelling and dolphin watching. By all accounts it was modest but charming, an authentic Fijian experience built around the friendliness of the locals and the beautiful natural environment.

Natalei Eco Lodge no longer exists.