PINA

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has successfully retained his position, commending Members of Parliament from both the government and opposition sides for upholding democratic processes. Marape highlighted the exercise of Section 50 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to aspire to public office. “These are constitutional provisions. I want to thank members on both sides of the House,”...

“We need to work across all levels grassroots, traditional, professional, and national to truly change the landscape of political leadership for Pacific women,” said Sashi Kiran, Fiji’s Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, during last week’s talanoa session on advancing women’s political participation in the Pacific. The session, part of the Pacific Technical Cooperation Programme of the Committee on...

Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr has submitted a supplemental budget bill to the Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK), requesting nearly US$1.2 million in new funding and seeking appropriation of funds previously authorised—but not appropriated—under the Fiscal Year 2025 Unified Budget. The proposal, submitted 04 April and now under review by the Senate Ways and Means Committee, coincides with the start of...

Papua New Guinea will “immediately”" lift a ban on forest carbon credit schemes, the Pacific nation's climate minister told AFP on Thursday, opening up its vast wilderness to offset global emissions. The island of New Guinea is cloaked in the world's third-largest rainforest belt, helping the planet breathe by sucking in carbon dioxide gas and turning it into oxygen. Foreign companies...

New Zealand is easing visa restrictions for visitors from Pacific Island nations, the New Zealand foreign affairs and immigration ministers announced on Friday. From early July visitors from Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) countries, who apply for a visitor visa for Aotearoa, may be eligible for a multi-entry visa. This would allow them to visit New Zealand as many times as they...

Pacific Climate Warriors Thursday joined the largest mobilisation of Indigenous peoples in Brazil, and handed a strongly worded letter from civil society to the COP30 Presidency, emphasising demands for the end of fossil fuels and a just energy transition. Ahead of the UN climate negotiations in Brazil in November, the letter was received by COP30 President, André Corrêa do Lago,...

Tuvalu Prime Minister and chair the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS), Feleti Teo didn’t hold back Thursday as he opened the Oceans Ministers meeting in Suva—warning that the ocean sustaining island nations is now the threat that could drown them. “Thanks for the opportunity to provide some remarks in this opening session in my capacity as the current chair...

Bougainville's position is clear — our people voted for independence as defined in the referendum ballot paper, and that is the only model we are here to discuss. This was the firm message delivered by the Vice President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville Patrick Nisira, on behalf of the President, in the closing remarks at the second Joint Moderation...

ABG President Ishmael Toroama Thursday thanked the Papua New Guinea Government for acknowledging Bougainville’s right to self-determination and emphasised that the outcome of the referendum must now be implemented in good faith. Speaking during the Second Joint Moderation Meeting in Port Moresby Thursday, President Toroama reaffirmed Bougainville’s firm commitment to independence and called on all parties, including the National Government...

By Jane McAdam The details of a new visa enabling Tuvaluan citizens to permanently migrate to Australia were released this week. The visa was created as part of a bilateral treaty Australia and Tuvalu signed in late 2023, which aims to protect the two countries’ shared interests in security, prosperity and stability, especially given the “existential threat posed by climate change”. The...