Niue Budget Watch: Niue MPs are challenging the newly re-elected government’s first budget since the election, pointing to a widening deficit and asking why community development and social welfare have slipped out of the stated priorities even though they remain major spending lines; the 2026/27 Appropriation Annual Bill sets $83.4m in spending against $65.8m in expected revenue and now heads to the Public Accounts Committee for deeper review. LGBTQ Rights Backslide: A new anti-gay law in Niger adds to a broader wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation across Africa, with the report noting Niue among countries that had ended criminalization in 2024—highlighting how quickly progress can be reversed elsewhere. Niue on Stage: Auckland Theatre Company’s debut Niuean play, Sons of Vao, brings a personal story of making peace with the past to the spotlight, using theatre to open up long-held anger and grief. Pacific Youth Spotlight: 13-year-old Braxton Matene has been selected for an America basketball tournament via Hoop 33 Academy and is seeking community support to cover about $8,500 in costs. Ocean & Climate Funding: Leaders and partners are pushing to close a major ocean conservation funding gap as tuna fisheries face climate-driven shifts, with a new regional warning system aimed at helping Pacific governments plan for changing tuna distribution.