PINA

The Pacific Elders’ Voice is extremely concerned with the turn of events in New Caledonia, leading to unrest and loss of life and livelihoods. We urge a speedy resolution to the situation through dialogue and underscore the importance of listening to indigenous Kanak voices and the Pacific wide support for self-determination. We call for the peaceful and positive response to...

Tensions between the NRL and Australian government have been eased during "productive" talks at Magic Round, but deliberations on the future of a mooted Papua New Guinean team are set to continue. Minister for the Pacific Pat Conroy met with NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo and Australian Rugby League Commission chair Peter V'landys for an hour on Friday night over...

The Queensland Reds' Super Rugby Pacific home finals hopes have evaporated in a crushing homecoming for fallen Wallabies star Suliasi Vunivalu. Vunivalu was sent off following two trips that cost the Reds dearly in a 28-19 loss to Fijian Drua in Suva. Saturday's defeat left Queensland in fifth spot, an unreachable 11 competition points behind the fourth-placed Chiefs with two rounds...

A gendarme was killed on Thursday in France's riot-struck Pacific territory of New Caledonia by an “accidental gunshot”, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin told AFP. “It was not a hostile shot” that killed the officer, added a source informed about the incident, which brings to five the number of deaths in unrest since Monday, including two gendarmes. The unrest flared after lawmakers...

The Pacific Conference of Churches(PCC) stands in deep solidarity with our sisters and brothers of Kanaky in this time of political crisis that has led to the eruptions of violence these past few days and nights. The violence that the country is currently experiencing are once again endangering the dignity of the life of every human being in the territory. As...

New Zealand and Tuvalu have reaffirmed their close relationship, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says. “New Zealand is committed to working with Tuvalu on a shared vision of resilience, prosperity and security, in close concert with Australia,” said Peters, who last visited Tuvalu in 2019. “It is my pleasure to return to Funafuti with a broad delegation, which demonstrates New Zealand’s...

Outgoing Forum Secretary General and former Cook Islands Prime Minister, Henry Puna says, ‘leadership is something that can only be enriched by experience; and experience can only be enriched by the lessons that we learn through life.’ Puna made the comment last night in his remarks as the region bid farewell to one of the true sons of the Blue...

In the small village of Lobau along Fiji's Queen's Highway, Asilika Matavola, a single mother of three, stands at the forefront of a battle against an invisible foe: climate change. The village faces relentless assaults from rising tides and coastal erosion, leaving its residents grappling with the harsh realities of environmental degradation. Matavola, the 38-year-old Lobau Women’s Club Secretary, recalls how...

“When the baton was passed to you two years ago, Forum Leaders entrusted the Secretariat to your capable hands, recognising your extensive as a stateman. Your deep understanding of the Forum and its membership assured us all that you were well- equipped to lead”. These were the sentiments shared by Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka while delivering his heartfelt remarks to...

The French government sent more police to the Pacific island of New Caledonia on Thursday and said it would crack down on rioters, hoping to restore order after three nights of upheaval in which four people have been killed. Rioters angry with an electoral reform have burnt businesses, torched cars, looted shops and set up road barricades, causing a "dire...