Politok pulls back the curtain on what goes on behind the scenes in Pacific politics and how it affects us. Scott Waide speaks with the region’s leaders, public servants, aid workers, academics, and everyday people to uncover the real stories and unpack the big questions.
Sea cucumbers, marijuana and golden passports: New season of Politok drops
How can Pacific countries rebuild in the aftermath of devastating cyclones?
In Vanuatu’s case, it was turning to the “golden passport” scheme in the wake of Cyclone Pam in 2015 – and it generated more than 35 per cent of the government’s total revenue at its height.
Welcome to the new season of Politok, which pulls back the curtain and ask the big questions like:
Why are governments banning the lucrative sea cucumber trade?
And there’s an emerging cannabis industry in the Pacific – can it deliver on its economic promise, or will it go up in smoke?
Join host Scott Waide on Radio Australia’s for another season of Politok, which goes beyond the headlines.
3 Aug 2026
The day the taro stopped growing
When Palau's giant swamp taro began rotting from the inside out, it sent a warning far beyond one island. In this episode ABC Radio Australia's Politok show Scott Waide follows Pacific women farmers and scientists as they uncover how climate change, saltwater intrusion and colonial food systems are putting the region's food security at risk. From taro pits to gene banks, this is a story about survival and the traditional knowledge helping the Pacific fight back.
20 Jul 2026
Cracks in the seawall: Do global development models fit the Pacific?
In the pantheon of development aid in the Pacific, the World Bank is one of the most recognisable names. For decades it has channelled billions of dollars into the region funding bridges, roads, climate adaptation projects and critical services.
But across its 50-year relationship with the Pacific, there have also been moments of friction. From poverty data that didn't reflect lived reality in Fiji, to seawalls in Kiribati that became symbols of something deeper, Pacific leaders have at times questioned whether global models truly fit Pacific contexts.
In this episode of ABC Radio Australia's Politok, Scott Waide examines the evolving relationship between the Pacific and the World Bank exploring who defines development, who holds the power, and what happens when local realities clash with global frameworks.
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