PINA

Applying CHOGM outcomes on climate change, oceans, blackbirding offers new secretary-general shot at relevance. Commentary by Tess Newton Cain As CHOGM came to a close, Samoa rightfully basked in the resounding success for the country and people as hosts of the Commonwealth leaders’ meeting. Footage of Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa swaying along to the siva dance as she sat...

A women’s rugby player who admitted to supplying cocaine and ketamine in Sydney’s CBD is stranded in the Pacific Islands after her visa to return to Australia after a competition was refused, a court has been told. Aliti Namoce, 26, did not appear before Downing Centre Local Court on Monday where pleas of guilty were entered on her behalf to...

The Flying Fijians want to record good performances against the three Tier 1 nations they will be going up against during the Northern Hemisphere tour to help leverage their cause. Their first assignment is battling Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday morning (Fiji and NZ time). Head coach Mick Byrne said in a press interview that facing Scotland, Wales, and Ireland is...

Pacific Islands Forum Chair and Tongan Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni opened a crucial meeting with New Caledonia’s Customary Senate, calling for peaceful resolutions to escalating tensions in the French territory. “The situation in New Caledonia is a top priority for us,” Sovaleni said, before customary leaders and emphasising the significance of cultural ties in resolving the crisis. “We are here...

Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Baron Waqa took a strong stance on elevating kava's economic potential at the CHOGM side event last week, declaring the plant as the Pacific's “Green Gold” and lauding its importance to Pacific livelihoods, culture, and trade. “Kava is unique to our Pacific region,” Waqa said, emphasising its deep-rooted cultural significance and vital economic contribution to...

France has been criticised for the “alarming” death toll in New Caledonia during recent protests and its “cold shower” approach to decolonisation by experts of the UN Human Rights Committee. The UN committee met last week in Geneva for France’s five-yearly human rights review with a focus on its Pacific territory, after peaceful protests over electoral changes turned violent leaving...

The Commonwealth Heads of Government(CHOGM) has adopted the Commonwealth Principles on Freedom of Expression and the Role of the Media in Good Governance at their summit meeting in Apia, Samoa. These Principles highlight the importance of freedom of expression and media freedom to democracy. They state that Commonwealth governments ‘should consider repealing or amending laws which unduly restrict the right...

In a boost for Pacific Islands such as Tuvalu under threat from rising seas, Commonwealth nations agreed on Saturday that a nation's maritime boundaries should remain fixed even if climate change causes small island states to be submerged. The 56 countries with roots in Britain's empire issued the Commonwealth's first Ocean Declaration at the end of a summit of the...

New Zealand congratulated Kiribati's Taneti Maamau after the pro-China president was elected on Saturday to a third term in charge of the low-lying Pacific island nation. According to the New Zealand High Commission in Kiribati, Maamau received 20,676 votes, equating to about 55 percent support at the polls, to head off nearest challenger Kaotitaaake Kokoria, who received about 42 percent...

Papua New Guinea dropped the bombshell by announcing it will not attend the upcoming 29th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties (UNFCCC COP29) this year. Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko announced it at the Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting on Small State (CMMSS) in Apia, Samoa, last week. Tkatchenko said; “Papua New Guinea is making this stand for the...