PINA

Fears AI like ChatGPT may misrepresent Pacific knowledge and languages by losing their essence and nuance. Commentary by Jope Tarai As Moana sailed the Pacific late last year in her traditional canoe on the big screen, a heated debate raged online over the ownership of this potent symbol that unites Pacific islanders. The discussion of her canoe in turn influenced, in...

The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) Board of Directors has terminated the appointment of Laijipa Naulivou as Director of Rugby. While Naulivou tendered her resignation following her sexist remarks in a media interview, the Board determined that a firm stance was necessary to reinforce its commitment to upholding professional standards and safeguarding the integrity of Fiji Rugby. Naulivou had stated that she...

Hard work beats talent. These are the words of Flying Fijians head coach Mick Byrne to youngsters looking to one-day wear the white jersey and run out for the Flying Fijians. Byrne said that since almost every Fijian youngster has the talent of playing rugby, hard work is what stands out when scouts are on the lookout for new additions to...

Prime Minister Mark Brown is set to become the first Cook Islands leader to be accorded a state visit to China, highlighting growing cooperation between the two countries. The state visit was initially announced in December 2024, during a visit by Dr Zhaoxu Ma, the Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China (PRC). This marked the...

Cook Islands has called for continued global cooperation to address climate crisis and for the global community to fill any funding gaps left by the United States after its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. This comes after the United States president Donald Trump signed an executive order to again withdraw from the Paris climate agreement – hours after he was...

The freely associated states' (FAS) diplomats have reminded the new U.S administration that migrants from the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Palau and the Marshall Islands have legal rights to live in the U.S or any of its territories under the Compacts of Free Association. FAS Ambassadors this week met with officials of the U.S State Department and the Department...

Concerns are growing across the Pacific over New Zealand’s potential exit from the Paris Climate Agreement. The agreement, signed by almost 200 nations to tackle emissions, has come under scrutiny following Act Party Leader David Seymour’s proposal to withdraw after 2026. Speaking on Pacific Mornings, Greenpeace spokesperson Amanda Larsson criticised the idea of abandoning climate commitments. “Our position is if you've got...

By 'Alakihihifo Vailala, Sariah Magaoa A review of investments supporting Pacific education priorities has resulted in a major reduction in funding. Information obtained by PMN News through an Official Information Act (OIA) request reveals that funding for the Ministry of Education’s Pacific Bilingual Language programmes has been cut from $2.6 million (US$1.46 million) in 2023-2024 to $1.2 million (US$677,000) in 2024-2025,...

Pacific Ocean Commissioner Dr Filimon Manoni has urged the region to take the lead in shaping global ocean governance, warning that the Pacific cannot afford to lose momentum ahead of the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France later this year. Speaking at the opening of the UNOC3 Technical Meeting on Tuesday, Dr Manoni highlighted the importance of ensuring...

Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka will attend a presidential prayer breakfast in Washington on Thursday, the first opportunity for a Pacific Islands leader to press the region's aid and climate priorities with the Trump Administration. Community groups across the Pacific Islands, one of the world's most aid reliant regions, are scrambling to find ways to pay staff after U.S funding...