PINA

By Nic Maclellan Last December, the Pacific Islands Forum sent a ministerial mission to New Caledonia, to monitor the conduct of the third referendum on self-determination under the Noumea Accord. Their report, obtained by Islands Business, is sharply critical of the referendum process. A large delegation from New Caledonia, led by President Louis Mapou, is in Suva this week for...

By Pita Ligaiula Members of the Pacific ACP subregion met in Fiji Monday on the fringes of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting to finalise a new partnership agreement with the European Union (EU). The pacific has develop a protocol under the EU framework agreement, which prioritises environment and climate change, inclusive and sustainable development and ocean seas and fisheries. The...

Kiribati's sudden withdrawal from the Pacific Islands Forum without wider political discussion by the government is out of order, the country's opposition leader and its first president Sir Ieremia Tabai says. The Kiribati government gave the Pacific Islands Forum secretary general a letter on Saturday, that said they were withdrawing from the body immediately. The latest Forum summit is now underway...

By Pita Ligaiula Solomon Islands has made its intention known to the Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting (FMMM) that it wants to host the next Forum Leaders Meeting in 2023. This was part of the Forum Foreign Ministers communique released Friday. Vanuatu is next in line in the rotation to host the Forum Leaders Meeting but the communique noted Solomon...

With climate change causing the sea to rise around them, the Pacific island of Tuvalu is calling on New Zealand to provide more support for their survival. Tuvalu foreign minister Simon Kofe told Barbara Dreaver for Q+A that “more needs to be done” by bigger countries, and that “it’s an issue of justice” given the scale of emissions produced by...

Australia's increased target on climate change action is set to be welcomed when leaders meet at the Pacific Islands Forum in Fiji, according to the federal minister for the region. Pacific Minister Pat Conroy said the federal government's new climate target had been well supported by nations in the region and a sign of improved ties amid growing tensions in...

Formal outcomes from the Forum Foreign Ministers, held in Suva on Friday have been released with key collective decisions including a declaration that the Pacific is facing a Climate Emergency that threatens the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of its people and ecosystems. Spearheaded by Vanuatu, Foreign Ministers also endorsed a recommendation for Forum Leaders to call on the UN General...

The key diplomatic body in the Pacific has been dealt a devastating blow on the eve of its first in-person meeting since the pandemic, as Kiribati announced it would be withdrawing from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). The Pacific has become a site of intense geostrategic competition, as a result of increased interest from China, and Kiribati’s withdrawal will weaken...

Papua New Guinea caretaker Prime Minister James Marape becomes the first candidate to be declared in the 2022 National General Election. Marape was officially declared the Member-elect for the Tari-Pori Electorate Sunday, which he held for three consecutive terms since 2007. This will be his 4th consecutive term i the 11th National Parliament after the 2022 NGE. He polled 40,913 well above...

Vanuatu’s special envoy on climate change for the Pacific has told Australia to back his country’s push to tie climate change inaction to the International Court of Justice, escalating pressure on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to act days before he meets with Pacific leaders in Suva. The ultimatum, delivered ahead of the first day of the Pacific Island Forum leaders’...