In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Oceania Anglican Leaders set action Plan on Climate, labour and education
2. PACIFIC — Fiji and Pacific on the frontline of ‘hybrid warfare’, says Defence Minister Tikoduadua
3. FIJI — Fiji Military declares No-Fly Zones, warns detected drones will be neutralised
4. VAN — Vanuatu denies it is about to sign a security deal with China as Australia works to ink its own pact
5. COOKS — China a ‘good friend, but NZ is family, says Cook Islands PM Mark Brown
6. NZ — New Zealand Prime Minister Luxon survives party leadership vote months before election
7. TONGA — Concerns over work procedures behind resignation of three Anti‑Corruption investigators in Tonga: Reports
8. PACNEWS BIZ — PCRIC releases $1.2 million Fiji support despite Cyclone missing insurance trigger
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Endless blackouts push public to breaking point, Tonga PM Fakafanua urged to act
10. PACNEWS BIZ — U.S weighs potential fuel lifeline for the Pacific as regional crisis deepens, Winston Peters says
11. PACNEWS DIGEST — Anglican leaders from Oceania call for just climate finance
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — First ever European Union regional workshop on security threats linked to natural disasters takes place in the Pacific
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — UN Forum puts spotlight on healthcare for Indigenous Peoples
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE/CHURCH: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Wed 22 Apr 2026
Oceania Anglican Leaders set action Plan on Climate, labour and education
PORT VILA, 22 APRIL 2026 (PACNEWS)—Anglican leaders from across Oceania have wrapped up a three-day Fono with a clear plan to tackle climate change, labour mobility and theological education, saying their unity is driving action on regional challenges.
“The Oceania Anglican Fono is more than a gathering of neighbouring provinces. It is a gift of God’s grace in relationships patiently nurtured over time. We are called to love our neighbour, and it is a blessing that these relationships with fellow primates and general secretaries are marked by trust, honesty and genuine warmth.”
“These bonds are the foundation of our common life. They give the Fono its strength, and from them we are able to work together on shared concerns, including theological education, labour mobility and climate change.” the leaders said in a joint statement.
The 7th Oceania Anglican Fono, held from 9–12 April 2026, brought together Primates, General Secretaries and their spouses from Anglican Churches in Australia, Melanesia, Papua New Guinea, and Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia.
It was hosted by Archbishop Leonard Dawea of the Anglican Church of Melanesia and led by Bishop James Tama of the Diocese of Central Vanuatu and New Caledonia.
Leaders noted the absence of some archbishops and called for continued prayer, especially for the Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea as it works through leadership decisions.
Over three days, the Fono focused on strengthening relationships and building partnerships to address regional and global challenges. The theme, “One God, One Ocean, One People,” centred on unity, shared identity and regional connection.
Discussions were shaped by listening sessions with people in Vanuatu, internal church priorities and community worship, grounding decisions in both local realities and regional cooperation.
Climate change was a major focus, with leaders briefed by Vanuatu’s Climate Change Minister Ralph Regenvanu on global developments, including the 2025 International Court of Justice advisory opinion.
In response, Fono members agreed to push for wider Anglican Communion support for Vanuatu’s initiative at the United Nations, review church investment policies in line with climate justice, and hold a special meeting later this year focused on disasters and preparedness.
Labour mobility also came under scrutiny. Presentations highlighted both economic benefits and serious social and local economic impacts, challenging the idea that such schemes are always positive.
Leaders said their response must be both “pastoral and prophetic,” committing to speak out where schemes are exploitative or imbalanced and to strengthen support systems for workers and their families both at home and overseas.
The Fono also strengthened ties with traditional leadership, meeting with Vanuatu’s National Council of Chiefs, the Malvatumauri, in what was described as a significant step in linking church leadership with kastom structures.
Theological education remained a priority, with agreement to develop a shared database of providers and explore a regional “Centres of Excellence” framework to improve training and capacity across the churches.
Leaders also discussed wider issues affecting the region, including safeguarding, church structures, inequality and the role of Christian communities in minority contexts.
The gathering included community engagement in Port Vila, where members joined the Seaside Anglican Parish for worship, cultural exchange and fellowship.
Looking ahead, future Fono meetings are scheduled for Australia in 2027, the Anglican Diocese of Polynesia in 2028 and Papua New Guinea in 2029, with a special disaster-focused meeting set for later this year…..PACNEWS
PAC – HYBRID WARFARE: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Wed 22 Apr 2026
Fiji and Pacific on the frontline of ‘hybrid warfare’, says Defence Minister Tikoduadua
NADI, 22 APRIL 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Climate disasters create security gaps now exploited by hybrid threats in Fiji and the Pacific.
Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs Pio Tikoduadua made the remarks at the Hybrid Threats and Natural Hazards regional workshop at Black Rock Camp in Nadi Tuesday.
He said security threats were shifting alongside changes in the geographic landscape and the increasing frequency of natural disasters.
“Hostile actors are exploiting vulnerabilities created by climate stress and disaster response operations. They emerge concurrently with our natural disaster cycle,” he said.
“In Pacific Island countries, natural disasters are not an abstract risk. They are our reality. Cyclones, floods and rising seas shape our economies, infrastructure and communities. Increasingly, these events are creating operational openings for a different category of threat.”
Tikoduadua said these included foreign information manipulation, transnational organised crime and risks to critical maritime infrastructure.
“This is what we now describe as hybrid threats. For Fiji and the Pacific, this is now an operational concern. When a disaster strikes, our primary directive is saving lives and restoring basic services,” Mr Tikoduadua said.
“However, during this period, national systems come under strain. Information systems degrade, personnel resources are stretched, maritime surveillance is reduced, and communities become more isolated from verified sources of information.
“These are not incidental conditions. They are vulnerabilities that can be exploited. Transnational criminal networks use reduced patrol presence to move illicit goods. Disinformation campaigns target populations disconnected from official communications.
“External actors may also seek to map or interfere with critical infrastructure, including communication cables and port systems, during periods of disruption. The convergence of disaster response and hybrid threat activity presents a complex challenge to national security.”
He said this required a broader understanding of resilience.
“Resilience must extend beyond infrastructure. It must include continuity of government systems, information integrity, supply chain redundancy, and protection of sovereign data and maritime assets during periods of vulnerability.”
Tikoduadua said Fiji had taken structural steps in this direction, with its national security strategy recognising the concurrent nature of modern threats.
“It establishes that security is not confined to the military domain, but requires coordination across government.
“It strengthens data‑sharing protocols across civil defence, cybersecurity and the public public agencies, while investing in maritime domain awareness and advancing maritime security strategy.”
He said initiatives such as the Maritime Service Centre were improving the integration of intelligence and response functions.
“The co‑location of maritime and communication services enables real‑time coordination between patrol units and disaster management authorities. But no country can address hybrid threats alone.”
“Our commitment is to work with partners to address these evolving security challenges. We must not only fund disaster response, but also the systems exposed because of it.”
European Union Ambassador to the Pacific Barbara Plinkert said disasters highlighted the region’s vulnerabilities.
The workshop is the first Pacific activity under the European Union‑funded project, Enhancing EU Security Cooperation in and with Asia and the Indo‑Pacific.
“The European Union understands that its approach to security is changing amid profound geopolitical shifts,” she said.
“The international rules‑based system is becoming more fragmented, contested and less predictable.”
She said information manipulation was not just a communications issue, but a security and foreign policy challenge within the cyber threat landscape.
“In this evolving global context, we must balance avoiding entanglement in great power rivalries while safeguarding our economy, resilience and security,” she said….PACNEWS
FIJI – DEFENCE: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Wed 22 Apr 2026
Fiji Military declares No-Fly Zones, warns detected drones will be neutralised
SUVA, 22 APRIL 2026 (PACNEWS)–The Republic of Fiji Military Forces(RFMF) has declared all its installations “NO-FLY ZONES” for drones, warning it will take action against any unauthorised aerial activity.
“RFMF installations are ‘NO-FLY ZONES’ for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles or Drones of any type,” RFMF said in a statement.
The military warned that unauthorised drone use poses a security risk.
“The unauthorised operation of drones over RFMF installations poses a potential risk to the safety and security of the RFMF.”
It urged the public to comply with existing rules.
“The public is strongly advised to refrain from flying drones over restricted areas such as military installations, as detailed in the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji Regulations.”
RFMF made it clear enforcement action will follow if needed and called for cooperation.
“The RFMF will execute counter drone measures to detect, deter and neutralise unauthorised aerial activity that may pose a security threat to RFMF personnel and infrastructure or the wider public.”
“Counter drone measures are a deterrent and are part of ongoing efforts to safeguard national security and maintain public confidence.”
“The RFMF thanks the public for its cooperation and reminds all drone operators to act responsibly, in accordance with the law.”….PACNEWS
VAN – DIPLOMACY: ABC PACIFIC PACNEWS 1: Wed 22 Apr 2026
Vanuatu denies it is about to sign a security deal with China as Australia works to ink its own pact
PORT VILA, 22 APRIL 2026 (ABC PACIFIC) —Vanuatu has furiously denied that it is on the cusp of signing a security pact with China and warned that it will not be “dictated to” by Australia in a row which threatens to disrupt delicately poised negotiations for the landmark Nakamal Agreement.
Multiple sources have confirmed that China and Vanuatu have spent months discussing a comprehensive new pact called the Namele Agreement.
In Vanuatu, the Namele leaf is a sacred symbol of peace and authority used to enforce kastom or customary laws.
On Tuesday the Vanuatu newspaper the Daily Post reported that Australian officials in Port Vila were concerned the deal could have security elements, quoting a source who said it might “”affect agreements with Australia” and undermine Vanuatu’s push to make Canberra ease visa restrictions.
But later that day Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Jotham Napat issued a forceful statement calling the report “grossly misguided and inaccurate” and insisting the proposed agreement was a “comprehensive development cooperation agreement” not a security pact.
He also took a thinly veiled swipe at Australia saying that “Vanuatu will decide what is good for Vanuatu. We will not be dictated to.”
“Our foreign policy is guided by our national interests, not by external speculation or pressure,” Napat said.
“Suggestions that our partnerships could affect visa arrangements or other bilateral matters are unhelpful and not a cultural reflection of Nakamal values.
“Vanuatu’s relationships are not exclusive.”
The dispute risks poisoning the atmosphere between Australia and Vanuatu just as the two countries prepare to finalise protracted and sometimes difficult negotiations over the Nakamal Agreement — a landmark security and development pact between the two countries.
Last week Vanuatu’s Climate Minister Ralph Regenvanu said the government was on the “cusp”of finally signing the deal, almost eight months after it was given initial approval on the summit of Mt Yasur.
One diplomat in Vanuatu from a third country said the fact Australian officials still pressed ahead with raising public concerns about the pact with China, albeit by an anonymous leak to a newspaper, showed they must have “serious” concerns that it would have security implications.
The ABC has been told that Australia is not opposed to Vanuatu building up its economic links with China, but wants to ensure that the Namele pact is not a security agreement which might undermine Nakamal, or threaten Australia’s interests.
The Pacific Minister Pat Conroy would not confirm if Australia had concerns, or say whether officials in Vanuatu had tried to use the Namele agreement as leverage to secure a better deal in negotiations on the Nakamal Agreement.
But he said Australia was in a “daily contest” with unnamed other countries throughout the Pacific.
“We’ve been very honest with the Australian public that we’re in a permanent state of contest for influence in the Pacific,” Conroy said.
“That’s why we’ve put so much resources and so much ministerial energy into this area.”
Australia has also been closely monitoring meetings between the Chinese government and Vanuatu government ministers, including Interior Affairs Minister Andrew Napuat, who went to a major summit on digital technology in Hong Kong last week.
Napat said the conference was focused on “addressing challenges in cyber security, digital transformation, and emerging technologies” and a senior government source in Vanuatu denied outright that any agreements had been signed with China during his trip.
The Chinese embassy in Vanuatu also said the claim of a security agreement was “untrue” and that “China–Vanuatu cooperation focuses on infrastructure development and capacity building”.
Napat also insisted the discussions around finalising the Nakamal Agreement with Australia were “not at all linked to China”.
“Officials are continuing close engagement to ensure any agreement with any partner reflects Vanuatu’s interests as high priority in ensuring its longevity,” he said.
The agreement hit the rocks just before it was due to be signed in Port Vila by prime ministers Anthony Albanese and Jotham Napat in September, with Vanuatu deciding it could not endorse language aimed at limiting China’s security presence in the Pacific.
That included a section emphasising that Pacific nations should have clear responsibility for security matters in this region, and another section which was designed to limit foreign investment in critical infrastructure in Vanuatu.
Even before this dispute there has been evidence of tensions between the two sides.
Multiple sources in Vanuatu have said Australian diplomats had deliberately kept an unusually low profile in recent weeks, a move one official said was “strange” and noticeable”.
Conroy would not be drawn on when the Nakamal Agreement was set to be signed.
“We’ve had very productive conversations but you’ll hear about an announcement when we make it,” he said.
Shadow Foreign Minister Ted O’Brien said Australia was “deeply invested in its relationship with Vanuatu” and the government needed to make it built a “strong, respectful and enduring partnership”.
“The Albanese government has questions to answer here,” O’Brien said.
“What is the status of the Nakamal Agreement? And what steps are being taken to encourage its finalisation?
“This is looking like yet another diplomatic blunder on the part of the Albanese government and given the strategic importance of this relationship I expect Labor will exhaust every effort to improve the situation,” he said…PACNEWS
COOKS – DIPLOMACY: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS 1: Wed 22 Apr 2026
China a ‘good friend, but NZ is family, says Cook Islands PM Mark Brown
RAROTONGA, 22 APRIL 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC) —Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says New Zealand is “family” while China is “a very good friend”.
Brown spoke to Checkpoint on the relationship between his nation and New Zealand.
The two governments recently patched up a major diplomatic fallout that resulted in New Zealand pausing nearly $30 million (US$17.62 million) in funding to Cook Islands.
The breakdown was over a strategic agreement the smaller nation signed with China at the beginning of last year. It lasted for more than a year and was officially resolved when Brown and New Zealand foreign minister Winston Peters signed a new defence and security agreement earlier this month.
Brown said “New Zealand is probably our strongest relationship that we have with all of our development partners”.
“We have a lot of friends and New Zealand’s more than a friend to us. They’re our family.”
When asked about China, he highlighted the “nearly 30 years” of diplomatic partnership between Cook Islands and China.
“Over that time, China’s been very supportive of the development priorities of the Cook Islands and has helped us out mainly in infrastructure development over the years.
“China’s a very good friend to the Cook Islands.”
Brown denied there had been a “falling out” with New Zealand.
“Like any family members, you do have your ups and downs, but at the end of the day, you still remain family and you move along together.”
He said the comprehensive strategic agreement he signed on behalf of the Cook Islands with China in February last year was “similar to what we signed with New Zealand for our Waka Hourua/ Vaka Purua relationship between our two countries in 2022.”
He also said the China agreement was similar to another one Cook Islands had with Australia.
Brown said the new Cook Islands-New Zealand agreement “outlined clearly” areas of responsibility for each party in regard to security and defence.
“What we’re looking forward to, I guess, is growing. our relationship that we have with New Zealand. And I have to say that it is on the basis of good faith and respect that we do deal with each other.”
He said he was grateful New Zealand had resumed its development funding to Cook Islands.
“From our perspective, this is New Zealand’s funding. They’re well within their rights as to how they choose to engage with other countries, including the Cook Islands, in development funding.
“As I said, we’ve come through a period of ups and downs. We’ve ironed those out,” said PM Brown….PACNEWS
NZ – POLITICS: AP PACNEWS 1: Wed 22 Apr 2026
New Zealand Prime Minister Luxon survives party leadership vote months before election
WELLINGTON, 22 APRIL 2026 (AP)—New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Tuesday that he had survived a vote on his leadership among his own party’s lawmakers, after recent slumps in the polls prompted speculation he might be ousted.
The vote was held behind closed doors during a routine meeting of Luxon’s centre-right National Party lawmakers and was sought by the Prime Minister himself.
Luxon emerged afterward to read a brief statement announcing the vote and departed without taking questions from reporters.
“The last week, there has been intense media speculation about my leadership,” Luxon said, adding that he had called for a confidence vote “to put that media speculation to rest.”
His party caucus had “answered clearly and decisively,” the Prime Minister said. “It has backed my leadership.”
He did not say that the vote had been unanimous. Nicola Willis, the party’s deputy leader, said later Tuesday that vote had been a secret ballot with only scrutineers knowing the final tally, but that Luxon must have received a majority.
The confidence vote happened months ahead of New Zealand’s next national election, scheduled for Nov. 7. Recent drops in the polls for National had prompted speculation from analysts that he would face a leadership challenge.
That was seen by party lawmakers as an unwelcome distraction in an election year for National, which has governed New Zealand in a right-wing coalition government since the 2023 vote. Luxon, a former airline executive who entered Parliament in 2000, has led the party since 2021.
While two recent New Zealand prime ministers — National’s John Key and Labour’s Jacinda Ardern — have voluntarily quit the post, it would have been extremely unusual for lawmakers to oust a sitting prime minister.
Luxon blamed reports of unrest within his party’s ranks on news outlets, but one political poll released days ago appeared to have made a discussion of leadership unavoidable. The 1News-Verian poll suggested slumping support for Luxon and for National in a hypothetical election.
The levels of support in the most recent poll implied the right-wing bloc led by his party could come in behind the left-wing bloc led by Labour if an election were held immediately, though the vote won’t occur for more than another six months.
“If the media want to keep focusing on speculation and rumor, I am not going to engage,” Luxon said Tuesday….PACNEWS
TONGA – ANTI CORRUPTION: KANIVA TONGA NEWS PACNEWS 1: Wed 22 Apr 2026
Concerns over work procedures behind resignation of three Anti‑Corruption investigators in Tonga: Reports
NUKU’ALOFA, 22 APRIL 2026 (KANIVA TONGA NEWS)—Tonga’s Anti‑Corruption Commission (ACC) is facing one of its first major tests less than two years after its establishment, following the reported resignation of three investigators amid concerns over leadership and work procedures.
The resignations come amid a broader government effort to bolster the Commission’s capacity by recently recruiting police detectives to assist with the investigation of about 70 complaints lodged ahead of the country’s general election in November.
The complaints reportedly included allegations against the former Hu’akavameiliku government, ranging from misappropriation of public funds to breaches of governance protocols. Hu’akavameiliku denied the allegations at the time.
The Commission was also tasked with investigating former Police Minister Piveni Piukala, who was accused of assisting Mormon leader Pita Foliaki Hopoate to flee Tonga while he was subject to a restraining order. Piukala argued at the time that it was his job to assist Hopoate.
No public updates on the investigations have been released to date.
The resigning officers had been recruited from the Tonga Police Force to serve as part of the ACC’s operational staff.
However, their resignations have now seen all three resume duties within the Tonga Police.
According to information broadcast by Letiō ‘a e Kakai FM 88.1, the resignations were linked to alleged dissatisfaction with the Commission’s working policies and the way it is managed by its leadership.
The officers reportedly believed that the Commission’s approach to investigations conflicted with their professional values and with established policing principles.
They are understood to have raised concerns about investigative processes, including procedures for receiving and handling complaints, the methods used to investigate those complaints, and the reporting of investigation outcomes, according to the radio.
It said that the officers felt these professional standards were not sufficiently aligned with the Commission’s operational approach, prompting their decision to resign.
When contacted by the radio for comment, the ACC Commissioner Chris LaHatte allegedly declined to comment on the matter.
He reportedly explained that the Commission’s operational rules prohibit officials from speaking to the media or publicly discussing internal work‑related issues.
Kaniva News reported LaHatte had expressed confidence during the launch of the Commission’s first Strategic Plan (2024–2029) that collaboration with the community would lead to “significant strides in eliminating corruption and upholding the law.” …PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
FIJI – CYCLONE RESPONSE: PACNEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 22 Apr 2026
PCRIC releases $1.2M Fiji support despite Cyclone missing insurance trigger
SUVA, 22 APRIL 2026 (PACNEWS)—The Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company (PCRIC) has approved an ex-gratia payment of FJD$1.2 million (US$550,000) to the Fiji Government following Tropical Cyclone Vaianu, saying it is stepping in despite the disaster falling short of insurance payout thresholds.
“Given the scale of hardship experienced by affected citizens, PCRIC is pleased to be in a position to consider the merits of extending this ex-gratia support.”PCRIC said in a statement.
Cyclone Vaianu tracked along Fiji’s western side, bringing strong winds, storm surge and flooding across the Western Division, disrupting communities and essential services.
PCRIC confirmed the event “did not meet the parametric thresholds required to trigger Fiji’s insurance policy, it came close.”
The organisation said the payment highlighted its regional role, stating it “reflects PCRIC’s unique leadership role in disaster risk financing across the Pacific, demonstrating our commitment to stand with member countries when they face acute shocks and require immediate assistance.”
PCRIC said the funds will help government respond to immediate needs.
“This financial support will help the Government of Fiji manage the fiscal pressures associated with emergency response and will contribute to restoring normalcy for communities impacted by Cyclone Vaianu.”.
Fiji Minister for Finance, Esrom Immanuel has acknowledged the payment of US$550,000 PCRIC following the impact of Tropical Cyclone Vaianu……PACNEWS
TONGA – POWER CUTS: KANIVA TONGA NEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 22 Apr 2026
Endless blackouts push public to breaking point, Tonga PM Fakafanua urged to act
NUKU’ALOFA, 22 APRIL 2026 (KANIVA TONGA NEWS)— Public frustration has flared again as ongoing power outages continue to darken homes and interrupt electricity to village water sources, intensifying calls for action.
Residents across affected areas flooded social media with anger and exhaustion, with many now tagging the Prime Minister and senior Cabinet ministers in appeals for compassion and urgent relief.
The reaction reflects years of simmering frustration, as power outages over the past decade have become routine and public complaints are widely seen as falling on deaf ears.
Complaints ranged from the loss of running water and inability to flush toilets to serious concerns for the elderly, young children, and people dependent on electricity-powered medical equipment.
Several complainants also alleged inconsistencies in planned outage notifications, saying announcements were sometimes issued after power had already been cut in affected areas, resulting in substantial damage to electrical equipment.
Tonga Power could not be reached for comment.
Matangiake resident ʻIsileli Fatani directly appealed to Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua on Facebook, describing severe hardship caused by two consecutive nights without power in the last 72 hours.
“I earnestly appeal to the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers Fane Fotu Fituʻafe, ʻAisake Eke, and Sevenitini Toumoʻua — for the past two nights we have been suffering a power outage from 8:30pm through to daylight. Please look into our situation,” Fatani wrote, tagging Fotuafe, Toumo’ua, Sika and others in his Facebook post.
He said the power cuts had knocked out the village’s main water pump, leaving families without water for basic sanitation.
“Our water pumps have stopped working, leaving us without water in our bathrooms. The darkness has also led to an increase in theft. What is happening?” he asked.
“People who work night shifts and early mornings are suffering, with no water available. We plead with the government to show compassion for our struggles.”
Endless blackouts push public to breaking point, PM Fakafanua urged to act.
Other posts about the ongoing outage saga seen by Kaniva News showed some commenters resorting to abusive language directed at Tonga Power.
The public frustration intensified yesterday after Tonga Power Limited issued another load‑shedding advisory, confirming that faults in several generators had reduced capacity and made power cuts unavoidable in parts of Tongatapu.
The notice was one of several issued this month alone, with Tonga Power saying load shedding is currently affecting communities in Hahake, including Pea, Haʻateiho, Veitongo, Lapaha, Kolonga, Niutoua, Fuaʻamotu, Nakolo, and surrounding villages. The utility warned that additional areas could also be included if required.
“Load shedding is a necessary last‑resort measure used to reduce pressure on the power system and prevent a total blackout across Tongatapu,” the company said, adding that electricity would be temporarily turned off in some areas to maintain supply to the wider network…..PACNEWS
PACIFIC – IRAN CRISIS/FUEL PRICE: PMN PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 22 Apr 2026
U.S weighs potential fuel lifeline for the Pacific as regional crisis deepens, Winston Peters says
WELLINGTON, 22 APRIL 2026 (PMN)—The United States has raised the possibility of helping secure fuel supply lines for Pacific nations as pressure builds across the region over energy security.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says the idea was discussed during recent meetings in Washington with senior US officials where he highlighted how exposed Pacific nations are to fuel disruptions.
In an interview on Pacific Mornings, Peters said the talks stemmed directly from concerns about supply stability.
“That’s why we had the discussion with them in the United States in the first place,” Peters says. “That’s when they volunteered that maybe we could provide some supply lines ourselves out of the United States, which was very encouraging.
“But again, words are words and promises to be kept are something we’ve got to make sure that happens in the future and that’s what we’re working on.”
Peters did not specify what form that support could take. It could include emergency shipments, commercial supply agreements, logistics support, financing or fuel reserves positioned closer to the Pacific.
No formal U.S programme, funding commitment or timeline has been announced.
His comments come as several Pacific leaders move to activate the Pacific Islands Forum’s (PIF) Biketawa framework, a regional system used to respond to major crises.
The shift follows growing concern over fuel security with instability in the Middle East and global shipping pressures adding strain to already stretched supply chains.
Media reports say Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands have declared energy emergencies while Solomon Islands, Fiji, Nauru, Vanuatu, the Cook Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia are all putting in place national measures to manage fuel use and supplies.
Those measures include conservation plans and tighter coordination of remaining stocks, although many governments have not publicly confirmed how much fuel they have left or how long it will last.
Tonga’s Prime Minister, Lord Fakafanua, says the kingdom remains in a green light phase but could move to yellow in the coming weeks.
Tonga Power has also warned that heavy reliance on diesel is putting pressure on electricity generation.
The wider crisis is being linked tp a key global shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz where a large share of the world’s oil passes.
But analysts say the pressure is also felt much further down the chain. They point to limited tanker availability, rising freight and insurance costs, refinery limits, and delays reaching smaller island markets that are often serviced after larger economies.
Many Pacific nations do not produce oil and rely on imported diesel, petrol, and jet fuel, mainly shipped in from Asia.
Many also have limited storage, meaning even short delays in deliveries can quickly lead to shortages or rationing.
Peters said Pacific nations north of New Zealand were among the most exposed.
“We think, New Zealand way out here in the southwest Pacific is at the end of the pipeline, no, we’re not,” Peters says.
“There are countries beyond us and the Pacific going north from us who are seriously at the end of the pipeline, and looking at their needs is something that we’re going to have to assess.”
He said the issue had been raised with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau, alongside wider security concerns.
Peters also said New Zealand was continuing to look at how it could support Pacific partners if conditions worsen.
Energy experts say emergency fuel shipments may help in the short-term but warn the longer-term solution is to reduce dependence on imported diesel through solar power, battery storage, and stronger local grids…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Anglican leaders from Oceania call for just climate finance
PORT VILA, 22 APRIL 2026 (ANGLICAN COMMUNION NEWS SERVICE) —The Primates and General Secretaries of the Anglican Provinces in Oceania have called on Member Churches around the Anglican Communion to advocate with their Governments on behalf of Pacific Island states and other nations heavily impacted by climate change.
Between 09 – 16 April, Anglican leaders from the Anglican Church in Australia, Melanesia, Papua New Guinea and Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia were hosted in Vanuatu by the Diocese of Central Vanuatu and New Caledonia (Anglican Church of Melanesia).
The gathering was the 7th annual meeting of the Oceania Anglican Fono (council), which concluded with an action plan on climate change, regional labour schemes and Anglican theological education across Oceania.
Following the meeting, the Fono of Oceania’s Anglican leaders has called for support from across the Anglican Communion for Vanuatu’s push to implement ‘polluter pays’ financial consequences on high-polluting UN member states.
Anglicans are being asked to stand with Vanuatu as it backs the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) 23 July 2025 Advisory Opinion that finds a case for imposing financial damages on member states that have long-since engaged in polluting activities that worsen atmospheric damage.
The ICJ finding shows that the nations responsible for the majority of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and which fail to meet internationally-agreed reduction targets, cannot be allowed to hand the financial burden of climate change mitigation onto the most-affected developing and island nations.
The ICJ has found that developed nations’ high emissions exacerbate extreme weather, sea-level rise, and desertification, while the same low-emitting nations are now forced to bear the costs of disasters caused by others’ excesses.
Oceania Anglican leaders are asking for Anglican churches to advocate for their Governments to meet their obligations under Article 9 of the Paris Agreement, which states that: ‘developed country Parties shall provide financial resources to assist developing country Parties with respect to both [climate change] mitigation and adaptation’.
As well as requiring developed nations to support restoration of ecosystems, early warning systems and resilience-enhancing infrastructure, through both finance and technology, the ICJ legal opinion calls for consideration of affected peoples’ human rights to an environment that sustains healthy communities, particularly noting the cultural and self-determination rights of Indigenous peoples.
With all of the Anglican Churches in the Oceania region home to island communities at direct risk of climate-related disasters, the move to shift finance toward adaptation for the nations most threatened by climate change could help ensure communities served by Oceania’s Anglican churches have a better chance to survive and flourish into the future, even as the climate changes.
The Fono also committed the region’s churches to reconsider their own investment strategies, including the challenge of more direct church investment into Pacific climate resilience programmes.
The Archbishops and General Secretaries concluded the climate-related portion of their April meeting by agreeing to convene an additional Fono, which will look at how Anglican Churches can build initiatives to foster climate resilience and disaster preparedness in their communities and across the region.
In their official statement from the meeting, the Fono members agreed to:
*Call upon the Anglican Communion to support Vanuatu’s United Nations General Assembly initiative recognising the [July 2025] ICJ advisory opinion,
* Review investment policies in light of best practice in climate justice, and
* Convene a special FONO focused on disasters and disaster preparedness.
The Oceania Anglican Fono also committed to reviewing the holistic impact of migrant worker schemes across the Pacific and to work on developing the network of Pacific Anglican centres for theological education.
At the same time as the Fono convened in Melanesia, Anglicans in the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand & Polynesia have also been undertaking a 50-day voyage aboard a traditional Polynesian-style canoe (vaka), the Uto Ni Yalo.
The Expedition is known as the Soko ni Nuinui (Sails of Hope) initiative, which combines Indigenous traditional Pacific ocean-faring wisdom and stewardship knowledge with Christian theology and climate science to engage churches and communities as protectors of oceans as the lungs of God’s created Earth. The core vision of the initiative centres on the theme ‘We Are the Ocean,’ reflecting a deep connection between the Moana (ocean) and the community’s identity, mission and unity. ….PACNEWS
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
First ever European Union regional workshop on security threats linked to natural disasters takes place in the Pacific
NADI, 22 APRIL 2026 (EU PACIFIC) —The first ever Regional Workshop on Hybrid threats and Natural Disasters in climate-stressed regions is taking place in Fiji on 21-22 April, funded by the European Union (EU), Germany and France.
Experts from nine Pacific countries, the EU and its Member States are convening at Blackrock Camp in Nadi to analyse how hostile entities exploit vulnerabilities caused by natural disasters and climate change, with a special focus on hybrid threats including foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), transnational organised crime, and threats to critical maritime infrastructure.
The 2-day workshop is co-organised by the European Union and the Centre for Intelligence and Security Studies (CISS), as part of the EU project ESIWA+ (Enhancing Security Cooperation in and with Asia and the Indo-Pacific). The event is hosted at the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Joint Task Force Command.
Pio Tikoduadua, Minister for Defence and Veterans Affairs of Fiji, said: “We gather at a time when the hybrid threats we confront during natural disasters are no longer defined by geography or convention. This workshop reflects that we are a team — bringing together expertise from Pacific islands and from Europe to find solutions together. Fiji has always understood the importance of partnership and is an active contributor to international peace and security. We welcome engagement with international partners such as the European Union to ensure that future solutions are grounded in Pacific realities, reflecting our priorities.”
Welcoming the 60 participants, Barbara Plinkert, Ambassador of the European Union to the Pacific, underlined that “by extending the activities of the ESIWA+ project to the Pacific, this workshop will create an invaluable network of peer-to-peer expertise between the EU and the Pacific, showing Team Europe as a credible and reliable security and defence partner for the Indo-Pacific region. Together, we are committed to building a resilient, stable, and secure Blue Pacific – capable of withstanding not only the shocks of nature, but also the pressures of an increasingly complex geopolitical environment. Resilience is not built alone — it is built together.”
Participants included senior officials and security experts from across the Pacific, including representatives from Fiji, Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Tonga, Tuvalu, Timor-Leste and Vanuatu.
The workshop marks an important step towards strengthening regional cooperation on climate-related security risks and hybrid threats. Building on this exchange, partners will continue to develop practical, demand-driven responses and reinforce a shared commitment to resilience and stability in the Pacific.
Prof Dr Carlo Masala, Conference Chair, CISS, Bundeswehr University Munich, said: “There is a significant risk that foreign actors exploit disaster-induced chaos with a mix of diverse tactics of hybrid warfare. This threat must be addressed and discussed, and short-, medium- and long-term strategies developed. I therefore very much look forward to a rigorous and candid exchange with experts from academia, politics and the military — the expertise of the participating Pacific countries is indispensable in this regard.”
EU project ESIWA (Enhancing the EU’s Security Cooperation In and With Asia and the Indo-Pacific) has since 2020 worked across countries in the region to enhance cooperation in four thematic areas: counterterrorism and preventing violent extremism, crisis management/addressing hybrid threats, cyber security, and maritime security. Co-funded by the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), Germany, and France, the project is co-implemented by the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), and by Expertise France…..PACNEWS
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
UN Forum puts spotlight on healthcare for Indigenous Peoples
NEW YORK, 22 APRIL 2206 (UN NEWS CENTRE) —Ensuring Indigenous Peoples’ access to healthcare, including during conflict, is the theme for a major meeting that opened at United Nations Headquarters in New York on Monday.
More than 1,000 participants are expected to attend the latest session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) – the platform that has placed their concerns at the centre of international debate over the past 25 years.
“From the Amazon to Australia, and Africa to the Arctic, you are the great guardians of nature, a living library of biodiversity conservation, and champions of climate action,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in remarks to the opening ceremony.
Health inequities persist
Delegates – many wearing traditional clothing – convened in the General Assembly Hall where an Inuit leader from Canada, Aluki Kotierk, was re-elected chair of the forum by acclamation.
Although Indigenous People make up six per cent of the global population, they account for nearly 19 per cent of those living in extreme poverty. Communities still encounter discrimination, marginalisation and exclusion, and she highlighted the health inequities they face.
Regardless of where in the world they live, Indigenous Peoples experience shorter life expectancy, increased likelihood of chronic illnesses and alarming suicide rates, she said.
“The degradation of Indigenous Peoples’ lands, territories and waters directly contribute to these poor health outcomes,” she added, with communities reporting issues such as mercury contamination and climate change impacts.
Interconnected and inseparable
Kotierk explained that for Indigenous Peoples, “health and well-being is more than just physical and mental health. It is interconnected with our culture, spirituality, languages, our lands and our environment.”
She argued that health systems and understanding around health “must be decolonized to acknowledge this interconnectedness and incorporate the holistic, self-determined approaches to health by Indigenous Peoples.”
The Secretary-General underscored how their rights are inseparable from their lands, waters, languages, cultures, and ecosystems, stressing that when one is harmed, all are affected.
“This is especially true in the context of conflict, when displacement from ancestral lands, loss of livelihoods, food insecurity, destruction of sacred sites, and disruption of cultural traditions can put health at risk,” he said.
‘A moral failure’
General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock addressed how land loss, displacement and marginalisation have caused communities to suffer higher rates of illness, malnutrition and preventable disease, while life expectancies can be up to 20 years shorter.
“Indigenous women face particularly acute risks, including disproportionately high maternal and infant mortality rates,” she said.
“This is not only a moral failure. It is a development failure. The health and well-being of Indigenous Peoples is both a measure of our progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals and a condition for achieving them.”
Honour commitments, promote participation
The Secretary-General acknowledged Indigenous Peoples as “bearers of cultures, knowledge, and ways of life that have sustained humanity for thousands of years.”
Stressing that their participation in global decision-making has never been more critical, he outlined four priorities for action, with the first urging Member States to honour their commitments under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Meanwhile, the UN system and Member States must ensure the full, meaningful, and direct participation of Indigenous Peoples at all levels, supported by adequate and sustained financing.
He called for societies everywhere to take immediate and concrete steps to protect Indigenous Peoples, their leaders, and human rights defenders – and to address the violence and risks they face.
The final area for action is to ensure that Indigenous women and girls can participate meaningfully in decisions that affect their lives, as “their knowledge, leadership, and perspectives must shape the way forward.”
Forum for debate
The UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) was established in July 2000 as a high-level advisory body to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
It has a mandate to deal with issues in six areas – economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights.
The 25th session runs from 20 April to 01 May and will address a range of key issues, including related to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. …PACNEWS
