PINA

Following extensive consultations and careful deliberation, the Fiji Cabinet has given the green light to establish the medicinal cannabis industry in the country. A Taskforce was established in August 2023 to carry out national and community consultations on the proposal. It was also mandated to oversee the feasibility of this industry and assess the laws required for this emerging market. The Taskforce...

Oceania Rugby and Moana Pasifika are delighted to announce a strategic partnership aimed at launching a new age-grade competition designed to reinvigorate U20s pathway programmes across the Pacific region. The Oceania Rugby U20s Challenge will serve as a viable competition pathway opportunity for age-grade players across the Pacific to advance into the elite professional environment of Moana Pasifika and Fijian...

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Thursday extended a warm welcome to Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape at the Australian Parliament in Canberra – the first leader of another nation to address Parliament since 2020. “And the first leader of a Pacific island nation to address the Australian Parliament, ever.” “It is fitting that such an honour belongs to Papua...

New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says his visit to Polynesia is not part of efforts to ease reservations about New Zealand joining the non-nuclear pillar of Aukus. Peters – also deputy prime minister – and Health Minister Dr Shane Reti are starting the second of a four-day tour of Tonga, Cook Islands and Samoa. It is Peters’ second...

The Vanuatu Electoral Commission will adopt the “simple majority” rule for counting referendum votes. This decision was revealed by the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Edward Kaltamat while launching the 2024 National Referendum, Wednesday. According to Kaltamat, the decision was made at the recent meeting of the Commission. He added that they will not use the qualifying majority or the territorial...

New Zealand will provide $20 million (US$12.2 million) towards an initiative aimed at strengthening severe weather and early warning capabilities in the Pacific region. Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters made the announcement in Tonga, where he and Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti are on the first leg of this year’s Pacific Mission. The funds will go towards setting up...

The government's 2024 Pacific Mission, led by New Zealand deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti, is travelling to three Pacific islands for a series of meetings and events across Tonga, the Cook Islands and Samoa throughout the week. The first set of the Deputy Prime Minister's bi-lateral meetings was...

Papua New Guinea has flatly ruled out signing a security deal with China as Prime Minister James Marape touches down in Australia. Marape attended an official dinner with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra before he becomes the first Pacific leader to address parliament. Marape will use his speech today to celebrate independence from Australia almost 50 years ago and the...

Border security agencies must carry out their own internal investigations to flush out their own who are involved in the drug business, says Fiji Home Affairs Minister Pio Tikoduadua. Tikoduadua said there was a zero-tolerance policy for security officers involved in the movement of drugs, an activity that has been happening for years. “I have demanded for the police to really...

Kiribati President Taneti Maamau says that Kiribati and China have continued to forge a friendship rooted in mutual respect, cooperation, and commitment Maamau made the remarks while addressing the Spring Festival reception held by the Chinese Embassy in Kiribati. “From the beginning of our establishment of diplomatic relations in 1980, until the resumption of diplomatic relations in 2019, Kiribati and China...