PINA

By Lord Fakafanua, Speaker of the Parliament of Tonga, Munkhtuya Altangerel, Resident Representative, UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji The vast Pacific Ocean binds our island nations, shaping our identity and sustaining countless communities. But the challenges we face, from climate change to economic disparity, and the continual erosion of faith and trust in our democratic institutions, transcend borders. If we cast...

Kiribati's pro-China president retained his parliamentary seat in a landslide, according to the first results on Thursday of an election that hinged on worries about the cost of living, rising sea levels and closer ties with Beijing. Results posted by the Pacific nation's Ministry of Culture and Internal Affairs showed Taneti Maamau won his Onotoa seat with almost 83 percent...

Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX and CEO of Tesla, has been invited to attend the 53rd Pacific Island Leaders Meeting, scheduled from 26-30 August, 2024. The invitation reportedly comes from the Tongan government, acknowledging Musk’s previous assistance to the island nation following the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai eruption and tsunami in February 2022. In the aftermath of the disaster, Musk’s SpaceX and Starlink...

Christopher Luxon says he wants New Zealand to be a “force multiplier” for Australia, which could include partnering through AUKUS pillar two. The New Zealand prime minister gave a foreign policy address at the Lowy Institute in Sydney on Thursday night as part of a two-day visit to Australia. The two countries are already formal defence allies, with a closeness comparable...

The outgoing commander of the French Pacific fleet, Commodore Geoffroy d'Andigné, is warning of rising tensions in the Pacific Ocean and of the need to prepare. Looking back on his past two years at the helm of the French Pacific fleet from his Pape'ete headquarters, departing Commodore d'Andigné said he has been busy reinforcing the protection of French Polynesia's huge...

By Dr Naihuwo Ahai PhD, Governance and Development Specialist, Buka It is now 35 years since the Bougainville crisis erupted and 23 years after it officially ended through the signing of the Bougainville Peace Agreement in August 2001. Children in Primary school in 1989 are now in their late 40s or early 50s babysitting grandchildren. While most physical evidence of...

Vanuatu plans to bid to host the 2031 Pacific Games in Port Vila, with a proposal expected by the end of the year. A high-profile government delegation is expected to travel to Palau to formally submit the bid, aiming to showcase Vanuatu's potential to host the prestigious event and boost the local economy through sports tourism. The bid, which will be...

Papua New Guinea’s bid to have a team in Australia’s National Rugby League will “hopefully” be confirmed by the end of this year, bid chairman Wapu Sonk has told the 2024 Business Advantage PNG Investment Conference. Speaking at the conference’s gala dinner, Sonk said the PNG and Australian governments could make funding decisions as early as this week. “We are at...

Following rugby sevens’ celebrated ‘coming of age’ on the Olympic stage in Paris, World Rugby has today confirmed the first five destinations and dates of the highly anticipated HSBC SVNS 2025, with further events to be added in the coming weeks. The announcement means fans around the world can already mark their calendars and prepare to see the superstars from...

The Speaker of the Niue Assembly, Hima Douglas has declared Saturday, 31 August as the date for the national referendum to decide on the proposed amendments to the Constitution. The Referendum is held in conjunction with the Village Council Elections. The electorate is being asked to decide on four amendments – these are to change the title of Premier to Prime...