Dateline Pacific for 13 December 2019

Papua New Guinea's government is appealing to the public for patience to allow time to process Bougainville's overwhelming vote for independence: the former prime minister of Ireland, Bertie Ahern, headed the Referendum Commission, which oversaw preparations for the vote; Samoa's measles death toll now at 72 with 5000 sick over past two months and vulnerabilities remain for Pacific despite mass vaccination efforts; more than $5000 NZ dollars was raised on Tuesday night in Porirua for the families affected by the measles epidemic in Samoa; the last of the group of Nauru anti government protestors, charged over a protest more than four years ago, have been convicted and placed in custody; Preparations for Fiji's first semi-professional rugby league team are well underway, with a 45-man squad turning up for pre-season training and a final squad of 30 players to be selected after the Christmas break.