PINA

France’s Ambassador to New Zealand has reaffirmed the European nation’s commitment to facilitate peace while maintaining its presence in the Pacific. Since May, New Caledonia has been rocked with political unrest after protests and riots broke out in the capital Noumēa. The political standoff came to a head when France’s decision to change voting rights was opposed by pro-independence groups. As France...

Thirty-five Fiji police officers are attending a diplomacy training facilitated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), ahead of their deployment to Samoa to assist with security operations for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting later this month. Opening the training was the Assistant Commissioner of Police – Operations (ACP) Livai Driu who stressed the importance of the deployment. “Officers, you...

Palau is making preparations to host the 2025 Pacific Mini Games, scheduled from 30 June to 09 July 2025. In an interview, Frank Kyota, President of the Palau National Olympic Committee (PNOC), outlined the country’s efforts and challenges as it gears up for the event. Kyota confirmed that 24 countries are expected to participate in the games, competing in 12 sports....

With results in WXV 1 and WXV 2 going according to the rankings and the formbook, there were no positional changes to the top 10 of the World Rugby Women's Rankings this weekend. However, on a weekend of very little movement in the rankings, Samoa's record 45-17 win over Fiji in WXV 3 did have a big impact. Samoa easily beat...

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has expressed his optimism about the progress toward establishing a PNG rugby league team in the Australian NRL competition. Following a series of high-level discussions in Sydney with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Minister for Sport Anika Wells, Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, as well...

Tonga has agreed to host the 2031 Pacific Games, the announcement coming seven years after pulling out of hosting the 2019 Games. It was announced the host in Koror, Palau on Friday, when the Pacific Games Council members voted. Tonga secured the right to host the Games with a total of 12 votes, against Fiji's nine. It will be the first Pacific...

Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama says there are no warlords in his Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB). “Generally, there is peace and security,” he said. Toroama said the main concern was the law-and-order issue. “I’ve spoken to (Regional MP) Peter Tsiamalili Jr,” he said. “We will have consultations and iron things out. “Bougainville is small, we can undo certain things in a week. “There are no...

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) made a bold stand in London last week, pressing for urgent global action on maritime decarbonisation at the 82nd session of the International Maritime Organisation’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC82). Minister Hilton Kendall, representing RMI called for decisive measures, emphasising the need for economic and technical solutions to advance together. RMI, as part of...

A power outage may have caused a Royal New Zealand Navy ship to run aground on a reef off the coast of Samoa, NZ Defence Minister Judith Collins has suggested. The HMNZS Manawanui, a specialist dive and hydrographic vessel worth $100m (US$61 million), sank Sunday morning after it ran aground on a reef off the coast of Upolu and caught...

The Australian Government is supporting our Pacific neighbours to respond to climate change, with a $9 million (US$6.12 million) contribution to the Regional Pacific Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Hub. Parties to the Paris Agreement are required to set NDCs, which represent their commitment to reducing their own greenhouse gas emissions. NDCs are aligned with the Paris Agreement to limit the...