Breast cancer support: The Cook Islands Breast Cancer Foundation’s inaugural Beehive Ball in Wellington (Aug 8) will feature Dame Lynda Topp and other major entertainers, aiming to raise funds for work that can save lives. Heart health research: A Cook Islands Māori PhD researcher at the University of Otago is exploring whether bathing in naturally warm lagoon waters could support heart health, linking science with community knowledge and elders’ guidance. Mosquito-borne illness warning: Australian travellers are being urged to protect themselves from dengue in Samoa, as cases and hospitalisations rise across the Pacific; officials stress repellent and covering up to prevent mosquito bites. Public health spotlight on scabies: A New Zealand and Western Pacific focus piece argues scabies isn’t just an itchy nuisance, linking it to serious downstream illness and calling for it to be treated as a public health priority. Community-led lagoon protection: Aitutaki’s Lagoon Management Plan consultation is pushing stronger enforcement and co-management, with ra’ui and island bylaws at the centre—aimed at protecting a key health-and-livelihood resource. Culture and wellbeing: Commentaries raise concerns about the strain on youth during Te Maeva Nui training, questioning whether “culture” is being pushed into harmful extremes.