It is the end of Alama Ieremia's first week in Apia in his new role as Manu Samoa's head coach.

Health authorities have added eight tropical destinations, including Samoa, to a travel alert about an illness linked with a severe birth defect and spread by mosquitoes.

If you want to know what makes Samoa tick then head along to any of the events at the annual Teuila Festival.

Samoa is waking up to survey the damage after Cyclone Tuni battered the Pacific nation overnight.

Chiefs assistant coach Andrew Strawbridge, who suffered a serious eye infection while in Samoa, has thanked the public for the $65,000 raised for the hospital.

The meeting house has been built in Mangere, South Auckland, as part of a new multimillion-dollar complex belonging to the Government of Samoa.

The father-of-two's partner of six years shared her grief on Facebook saying, "It's not ok that you left us so soon and especially without saying goodbye."

A Givealittle appeal raising funds to provide medical equipment at Samoa's Moto'otua National Hospital intensive care unit have surpassed $54,000.

More than 20 years have passed since Manu Samoa caused one of the Rugby World Cup's greatest upsets - beating Wales in the Pacific nation's tournament debut.

Heavyweight boxing contender Joseph Parker plans to follow in the steps of the All Blacks and take his talents to Samoa.

Sometimes work is just work ... even on a beach, with beautiful people, and never-ending surf, writes Elisabeth Easther.

Fresh water or salt, the bathing options in Samoa are heavenly, says Elisabeth Easther.

After a range of World Cups and test matches in his seven years as Prime Minister, Key could now rival Usain Bolt in his sprint to the changing room, writes Claire Trevett.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has spoken of his pride in his team handling conditions he described as among the toughest they have faced.

It's game day and rugby fans are out in full force as the All Blacks play in Samoa for the first time.

The enthusiasm with which the All Blacks have been greeted in Apia should get New Zealand Rugby thinking.

A Samoan-Kiwi opera singer will perform New Zealand's national anthem at the big showdown at Apia Park today.

With the All Blacks playing in Samoa this week, the Herald's Pacific Affairs reporter, Vaimoana Tapaleao, selects her top things to do on the islands.

Manu Samoa have prepared for their battle against the All Blacks with hymns and prayers at a service at Our Lady of The Rosary church today.

Sweltering heat of 29°C and 74 per cent humidity await the men in black when they kick off their Rugby World Cup campaign and play a historic first test in Samoa.

Welcome to the Manu Samoa way of doing things - one which is a world away from the All Blacks, finds Patrick McKendry in Apia.

Five days from the historic test between the All Blacks and Manu Samoa, Apia - and the villages which line the road from Faleolo Airport to Samoa's capital - have put on quite a show.

A flight from Auckland to Honolulu was re-routed earlier this afternoon because of a fuel gauge problem.

All Blacks' management have been liaising closely with Samoa Police before their historic test in July.

Newcastle centre Joseph Leilua says Samoa must use last year's impressive Four Nations campaign as their benchmark for Saturday's Pacific test against Tonga.

"Just the thought of people dating the same culture, Polynesians dating other Polynesians. You never see it nowadays. It's always been kind of like ... a taboo."

Demand for the much anticipated All Blacks test in Samoa has reached fever pitch - with many of the stadium's stands filled up and all eight corporate boxes sold out.

The Ministry for the Environment has released figures showing that carbon pollution, which New Zealand is adding to, increased 42 per cent globally.

Paul Rush samples the simple pleasures of Robert Louis Stevenson's Samoa.