PINA

Australia will build a new national security hub for Vanuatu and beef up its economic support for the Pacific island nation's key sectors. In a joint statement released after a meeting in Canberra, Vanuatu Prime Minister Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau endorsed Australia's bid to host the climate forum COP31 in 2026 in partnership with Pacific nations. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told his...

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna is visiting Tonga for a series of high level consultations to strengthen visibility and engagement for regional priorities in 2023, across a range of sectors. SG Puna has met with the Foreign Minister Fekitamoeloa 'Utoikamanu, Crown Prince Tupouto'a Ulukalala, and the Prime Minister of Tonga, Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni and was hosted to...

New Zealand’s climate change minister has made a furious speech excoriating parliament for lost decades of “bickering” over the climate crisis, as Cyclone Gabrielle devastates the country. “As I stand here today, I struggle to find words to express what I am thinking and feeling about this particular crisis,” James Shaw told parliament on Tuesday. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt...

A year wiser and no longer rookies, Moana Pasifika are realistically expecting to finish higher up in Super Rugby Pacific 2023. The Pacific team finished bottom of the table in their debut season in 2022 with two wins - against the Hurricanes (24-19) and the Brumbies (32-22) against 12 defeats. Many of their earlier matches were postponed due to covid-19,...

The Fiji Rugby Union would love to have Crusaders mentor Scott Robertson as head coach or technical advisor for the Flying Fijians in this year’s Rugby World Cup. FRU Acting chief executive Tevita Tuiloa said it’ll depend on Robertson’s availability. On a lighter note, Tuiloa said he’s trying to convince the Super Rugby Pacific champs coach who loves to surf to...

Rising seas pose “unthinkable” risks to billions around the world, with profound implications for security, international law, human rights and the very fabric of societies, senior officials told the Security Council on Tuesday, as members held their first-ever debate on the phenomenon’s global implications. “The impact of rising seas is already creating new sources of instability and conflict,” said UN...

  The Micronesian bloc of the Pacific Islands Forum say they're “ready” and “already working2 to attend the special Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting in Fiji next week to put an end to issues impacting regional unity. The President of the Federated States of Micronesia, David Panuelo, said the leaders from the sub-region have made “big decisions” at the Micronesian Presidents'...

A week before Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meet in Fiji for a Special Leaders Retreat – the five Micronesian member countries have resolved major outstanding decisions from the Suva Agreement – that assured their return to the regional political body. Meeting in the Federated States of Micronesia capital, Pohnpei, the five leaders from FSM, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru and Palau...

Australia has been helping to broker the talks to bring Kiribati back into the fold, and Australian officials will be relieved to see Micronesian leaders strike this pact at a broader meeting of PIF leaders next week in Fiji. Foreign Minister Penny Wong is also travelling to the Pacific next week, and is expected to visit Kiribati as Australia moves...

An increase in the pace at which sea levels are rising threatens “a mass exodus of entire populations on a biblical scale”, the UN secretary general has warned. The climate crisis is causing sea levels to rise faster than for 3,000 years, bringing a “torrent of trouble” to almost a billion people, from London to Los Angeles and Bangkok to...