PINA

A significant agreement between Australia and select Pacific nations has been described as a crucial “doorway” that will strengthen judicial systems internationally. Signed Monday, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) marks a pivotal step forward in supporting the relationship between Australia, the Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea. The agreement will see the Pacific nation judges have access to crucial support and...

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer joined more than 400 people in Rarotonga on Tuesday morning (Monday, Cook Islands time) to protest against Prime Minister Mark Brown’s Government. Ngarewa-Packer, who is in the Cook Islands for her 30th wedding anniversary, said the local community asked her to join the rally, held a day after Brown returned from China, where he...

The Fiji Police Force has ruled out the existence of a large commercial-grade drug manufacturing lab in Fiji. Newly appointed Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu, in a media conference today said this conclusion comes following extensive intelligence gathering and information sharing with our local, regional, and international partners. He said there is no intelligence to show that there are commercial clandestine...

Cook Islands will receive a “one off grant” of approximately $4 million (US$2.29 million) from China, following the signing of the Joint Action Plan for the 2025-2030 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership last week. Prime Minister Mark Brown, who returned from his state visit to China with his delegation, also told the media that “there has been no projects we’ve signed up...

Over 400 people have taken to the streets to protest the Cook Islands Prime Minister's recent decisions, which have led to a diplomatic spat with New Zealand. The protest, led by Opposition MP and Cook Islands United Party leader Teariki Heather, is taking place outside the Cook Islands parliament in Avarua - a day after Brown returned from China. Protesters have...

Scientific observation is critical to keep deep-sea fisheries sustainable “I love the ocean,” says Saiasi Sarau, a sturdy Fijian sailor with a broad smile. “It has been good to me ever since I started fishing as a kid,” he reflects, as he gazes over the calm waters of the harbour of Mauritian capital, Port Louis. Fishing is the only way of life...

The Cook Islands says it has signed a deal to expand relations with China, stressing that the accord does not impinge on ties with former colonial power New Zealand. Prime minister Mark Brown said he signed an “action plan for the comprehensive strategic partnership” with Chinese premier Li Qiang in the northern city of Harbin during a five-day state visit...

Just a day after returning from China, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown will face protestors outside parliament this morning as local residents demand more transparency. New Zealand said it had not been properly consulted over the agreements Brown has signed with China — and that goes against the Cook Islands' constitutional relationship with Aotearoa. This comes hard on the heels...

New air quality research has shown highly concerning levels of airborne pollution in Pacific Island urban areas and their surrounds, with acceptable annual and daily limits for airborne particles in the size of 2.5 and 10 microns (PM2.5 and PM10) exceeded in both Fiji and the Solomon Islands over the course of the study. The findings are based on four...

An international fisheries forum has delivered a stinging rebuke to New Zealand after diplomats made an abrupt about-turn on deep-sea trawling restrictions. But Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has hit back insisting geo-political tensions mean Wellington shouldn't cede any influence or footprint in the Pacific. The inter-government body in charge of regulating high-seas fishing in the South Pacific, SPRFMO, convenes its annual...