PINA

Australia's foreign minister urged Pacific island countries on Thursday to stay united in the face of great power competition as she visited New Caledonia, where the president raised concerns about Australia's AUKUS nuclear submarine programme. Foreign Minister Penny Wong's visit to the French territory coincides with a push by a China-backed group for several Pacific island nations, including New Caledonia,...

New Zealand and Tonga are reconnecting and strengthening ties, while acknowledging the need to be united as a Pacific region in response to the many challenges we face. In Nuku'alofa Thursday,Tonga's Prime Minister and New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister agreed that defence cooperation remains strong During a joint press conference with Prime Minister, Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni, the visiting New Zealand Deputy...

The new Permanent Representative of Fiji to the United Nations, Filipo Tarakinikini, presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General António Guterres Monday this week Prior to his appointment, Tarakinikini held several positions at the United Nations Department for Safety and Security (UNDSS), including as Chief of the Middle East and North Africa Section, beginning in 2018, where he led United Nations...

Niue is this week welcoming its first visiting yachts in three years. The steady trickle of maritime visitors had been a much welcome feature of Niuean winters for many years until the island was shut down due to the Covid pandemic. Niue Yacht Club manages moorings for the vessels and its commodore Keith Vial told RNZ Pacific these latest arrivals came...

Vanuatu continues to show innovation in the face of natural disasters with the launching of the country’s first Ocean Monitoring Network this afternoon. The network, which consists of six new wave buoys, was officially launched by the Minister of Climate Change, Ralph Regenvanu. “Today’s launch is very timely following the aftermath of the twin cyclones that impacted our nation. Severe...

Fijian Drua coach Mick Byrne believes the Chiefs is a side that can attack from anywhere, ahead of their Super Rugby Pacific clash tonight. Byrne says they are aware the table leaders can run at them hard, and they have clever players as seen in their past games. He says the side also has depth which is why they must ensure...

Flying Fijians Head Coach Simon Raiwalui says it would be logistically impossible to have a training camp in the build-up towards the Rugby World Cup with their diaspora of players all over the world. Unlike neighbours, the All Blacks and Wallabies who hold a majority of players on shore now begin their preparations with intermittent camps for those earmarked, Raiwalui...

The United Nations’ highest court confirmed Wednesday that the General Assembly has asked for it to issue an advisory opinion on “the obligations of States in respect of climate change.” UN nations led by the South Pacific island state of Vanuatu adopted a historic resolution late last month calling for the International Court of Justice to lay out the legal...

The University of the South Pacific (USP) and Aotearoa New Zealand have announced a new 10-year partnership to support the long-term success of the region’s premier institution. The partnership, known as the “Aotearoa New Zealand and The University of the South Pacific Framework 2023-2033’ underlines the need for a shared Pacific future. USP Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Pal Ahluwalia and New...

Fiji and New Zealand's exemplary partnership provides remarkable opportunities to advance sustainable economic development and build stronger future for the communities in Fiji, Pacific and beyond. This shared commitment was conveyed during a bilateral meeting between the New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister and Associate Foreign Affairs (Pacific Region) Minister Carmel Sepuloni and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade,...