PINA

Samoa's former Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi says it is easier for his people to get to hell than to come to New Zealand. Tuilaepa, who now sits in the opposition as leader, is in Auckland with his Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) this week. He made the comment at a public hearing that commenced in South Auckland for the ‘Restoring...

Five high-profile, award-winning journalists and journalism academics will join their regional media counterparts to address the 2024 Pacific International Media Conference in Suva, Fiji, this week. They include a three-time Emmy Award-winning television news producer from the United States, a widely published award-winning journalism academic and author based in Hong Kong, a recently honored Member of the New Zealand Order...

A talanoa session expected to be held later this year would see Pacific Island Forum leaders coming together in a collective position on seabed mining. Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, the Pacific Islands Forum outgoing chair, told the media in May that one of the outcomes of the Leaders meeting in Rarotonga last year on the issue was a...

The new Pacific Islands Forum secretary general has expressed concerns about the U.S-China rivalry in his first open press conference since starting the role. Baron Waqa also said he was ‘truly concerned’ about the ongoing crisis in New Caledonia, which has been gripped by civil unrest since May. Waqa assumed the key diplomatic role despite misgivings among some Pacific leaders over...

-Fiji's Registrar of Political Parties, Ana Mataiciwa has announced the deregistration of former ruling FijiFirst party on Monday 01 July 2024. This action was taken under section 12(4) of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding & Disclosures) Act, 2013. “On 30 May 2024, FijiFirst was notified to amend its constitution to include provisions required under Schedule 2 of the Act,” said...

Theo McFarland has been given the Manu Samoa captain’s armband for the July Tests against Italy and Spain, and according to management, the lock deserves the leadership role. The 28-year-old was one of the outstanding players from the team’s last campaign. From playing rugby at Pesega College and then at Moamoa Roosters, he is now enjoying success at Saracens in...

The Pacific Islands Forum has announced the appointment of Desna Solofa as the Deputy Secretary General – Governance, effective 24 June 2024. Solofa joins the Forum from the Government of Samoa, where she was the Assistant Chief Executive Officer of the Regional Relations Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She has previously served at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat as...

Climate change and the protection of the Pacific Ocean remains the two most important agendas for all Pacific Island Countries, says Tongan diplomat. Tonga’s Ambassador to Japan, Suka Mangisi said that Pacific Island nations were not interested in geopolitics and security deals thrown their way by “superpower countries”, but hoped Pacific leaders could use the current interest in the Pacific...

New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters is taking a leaf from Penny Wong's book, looking to visit all Pacific Islands Forum members within the government's first year. Alongside the shared travel goal, there are signs New Zealand and Australia are working hand-in-glove in the region. Peters, the veteran statesman in his third stint as foreign minister, takes off on Monday...

French Pacific results for the first round of French national snap elections have shown on Sunday a firm radicalisation, especially in the case of New Caledonia. In both of New Caledonia's constituencies, the second round will very much look like a showdown between pro-independence and pro-France contestants. The French Pacific entity has been gripped by ongoing riots, arson and destruction since...