In this bulletin:
1. AUST — Pacific nations secure more funding for climate and aid
2. PACIFIC — Tuvalu Prime Minister defines Ocean Health as frontline of National Security
3. PACIFIC — Fiji PM Rabuka calls for united Melanesian action to protect and sustain the Pacific Ocean
4. PACIFIC — Vanuatu PM calls for courage in ocean protection
5. PACIFIC — Solomon Islands will not endorse a moral declaration at the Ocean summit
6. PACIFIC — Cook Islands lead with sacred ocean protection
7. FIJI — Fiji Government awaiting results of ministers’ drug tests
8. AUST — Pressured Australian media sector boosted by broadcast tax cuts
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Pacific Fuel Fears: NZ Finance Minister Willis warns of crisis pressure on island economies
10. PACNEWS BIZ —– NZ hosts Forum Fisheries Committee 142 officials at the Grand Hall Parliament
11. PACNEWS BIZ — FFC142 opens with call for stronger regional solidarity on Pacific Fisheries
12. PACNEWS BIZ — Heather Ward takes the helm of regional fisheries talks
13. PACNEWS BIZ — Poi Okesene reflects on his time as FFC Chair
14. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Melanesian Ocean Summit: Message in a bottle
15. PACNEWS DIGEST — Tonga Rides the Wave of Resilience
AUST – FUNDING: AAP PACNEWS 1: Wed 13 May 2026
Pacific nations secure more funding for climate and aid
CANBERRA, 13 MAY 2026 (AAP) — Australia will provide more support to Pacific nations including funding for upcoming climate change summits and tax exemptions for some rugby league players.
Tuesday’s federal budget contained more than $335 million (US$242 million) of assistance across the Pacific.
The bulk of the funding will go towards development assistance measures for Nauru, with $167.3 million (US$121 million) over the next four years and about $50 million (US$36 million) per year after that.
The funding will kick in from 2027, when an existing aid program expires.
The Pacific will also get $147 million (US$106 million) to help host events as part of the UN’s annual climate summit.
Pacific nations will help host conferences in the lead-up to the summit, including a leaders’ event.
After Australia and the Pacific made a joint bid to host the UN summit, a diplomatic compromise saw hosting rights fall to Turkey, but Pacific countries are hosting events ahead of the main gathering.
Security across the region will also be bolstered, with $5.5 million (US$3.97 million) to guard against money laundering, crime and the financing of terrorism.
An extra $550 million (US$397 million) over the next decade will be set aside for infrastructure resilient to climate change throughout the Pacific and East Timor.
Rugby league diplomacy is also central to the Pacific budget, with players signing on to the PNG Chiefs team in the NRL, as well as club staff, given an exemption from paying tax.
The sweetener will deliver a $5.4 million (US$3.90 million) hit to tax revenue over the next four years.
The ABC will also receive funding to build media distribution and engagement in the Pacific, with $14.1 million (US$10.19 million) set aside.
Aid outside of the Pacific has also been included in the budget, with continued support for Ukraine.
A duty exemption for Ukraine will also be extended by two years to 2028.
All goods from Ukraine will be duty-free entering Australia, except for products such as alcohol, fuel and tobacco…. PACNEWS
PAC – OCEAN SUMMIT: POST COURIER PACNEWS 1: Wed 13 May 2026
Tuvalu Prime Minister defines Ocean Health as frontline of National Security
PORT MORESBY, 13 MAY 2026 (POST COURIER) — Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo delivered an address at the 2026 Melanesian Ocean Summit Tuesday, declaring that the ocean is no longer merely an environmental concern for Tuvalu, but the very front line of its national security.
Speaking at APEC Haus, Teo announced that Tuvalu is currently developing its first-ever National Security Policy, which will place maritime conservation and management at the absolute centre of the country’s strategic architecture.
The government expects to officially launch the policy by the second half of this year.
Teo underscored that for a low-lying atoll nation, the distinction between land and sea is a matter of survival.
” For Tuvalu, the ocean is our sovereignty,” the Prime Minister stated.
“It is our economic development, our food system, and the integrity of our borders. Our cultural identity is deeply tied to the health and stability of the sea.”
The Prime Minister highlighted a shift in how the Pacific nation categorizes external pressures.
He noted that traditional environmental issues must now be treated as strategic national security challenges, specifically citing: Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing
Transnational crime and marine pollution, Biodiversity loss and accelerating sea-level rise.
“Safeguarding ocean health is fundamental to safeguarding national resilience, peace, and the future security of our people,” Teo said.
In a regional unity, Prime Minister Teo expressed Tuvalu’s strong support for the Melanesian Ocean Corridor of Reserves (MAPA framework).
He commended the initiative for its shared stewardship, noting that its reliance on both science-based management and customary knowledge is essential for protecting sovereign rights across the Pacific…. PACNEWS
PAC – OCEAN SUMMIT: FIJI GOVT PACNEWS 1: Wed 13 May 2026
Fiji PM Rabuka calls for united Melanesian action to protect and sustain the Pacific Ocean
PORT MORESBY, 13 MAY 2026 (FIJI GOVT) — Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has reaffirmed Fiji’s commitment to regional ocean leadership, sustainable blue economies, and collective Pacific stewardship during his address at the inaugural Melanesian Ocean Summit in Port Moresby.
While delivering his remarks Tuesday, Prime Minister Rabuka emphasised that the Pacific Ocean remains central to the identity, livelihoods, security, and future of Pacific Island nations.
“Fiji comes to this Summit as a Large Ocean State, with the ocean not only surrounding us, but shaping who we are as a people, as an economy, and as a nation. For Fiji, the ocean is not simply a resource. It is our food security, our climate shield, our transport corridor, our culture, our identity, and our inheritance,” Rabuka stated.
“Today, we are not merely discussing oceans, we are shaping the future of our region. As custodians of one of the largest and most significant oceanic regions on Earth, the responsibility rests with us to ensure that our ocean remains a source of life, resilience, prosperity, and peace for generations to come.
“The ocean is not simply a resource. It is our food security, our climate shield, our transport corridor, our culture, our identity, and our inheritance.”
The Prime Minister reaffirmed Fiji’s strong support for the regional vision of an “Ocean of Peace”, describing the Pacific as a region that must continue to be defined by cooperation, solidarity, sustainability, and shared prosperity amid growing global geopolitical competition.
He highlighted Fiji’s national ocean governance efforts, including the implementation of Fiji’s National Ocean Policy and the Climate Change Act 2021, which commits Fiji to sustainably managing 100 per cent of its ocean spaces and protecting 30 per cent as Marine Protected Areas by 2030.
As part of this commitment, Fiji intends to designate up to 15 percent of its waters as Marine Protected Areas by the end of 2026.
The Prime Minister also outlined progress on Fiji’s Marine Spatial Planning process and Blue Economy Framework, aimed at balancing sustainable economic growth with ocean conservation, climate resilience, and community wellbeing.
In supporting the proposed Melanesian Ocean Corridor of Reserves (MOCOR), Prime Minister Rabuka described the initiative as a practical expression of regional solidarity and collective stewardship.
“MOCOR represents a bold and timely step forward, recognising that our oceans do not end at national boundaries, and that our stewardship responsibilities must therefore extend across them,” he said.
Prime Minister Rabuka further called for strengthened regional cooperation in ocean science, maritime security, sustainable fisheries, climate adaptation, and blue economic development.
As part of Fiji’s proposals to the Summit, the Prime Minister announced support for advancing a Melanesia Blue Shipping Initiative focused on developing climate-resilient and low-emission maritime transport systems to improve regional connectivity and reduce transport costs across the Pacific.
He also reaffirmed Fiji’s continued leadership on global ocean and climate issues through its roles in international ocean governance processes, including the United Nations Ocean Conference, the Paris Agreement, and preparations towards pre-COP31 and COP31.
Prime Minister Rabuka concluded by urging Melanesian nations to work together to ensure the Pacific Ocean remains a source of peace, resilience, prosperity, and security for future generations.
“Our responsibility is clear: to protect the ocean that has protected us, to manage it wisely, and to ensure that future generations inherit a healthy, secure, resilient, and thriving Blue Pacific,” he added.
At the end of the first plenary session, the Melanesian leaders present signed the MOCOR Declaration.
Fiji’s endorsement further represents our sub-regional commitment to strengthen the protection, sustainable management, and stewardship of the Pacific Ocean and its marine resources…. PACNEWS
PAC – OCEAN SUMMIT: POST COURIER PACNEWS 1: Wed 13 May 2026
Vanuatu PM calls for courage in ocean protection
PORT MORESBY, 13 MAY 2026 (POST COURIER) — Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat has called on Pacific nations to act with courage and unity to protect the ocean, warning that climate change and overfishing are already threatening livelihoods across the region.
Speaking at the the Melanesian Ocean Summit in Port Moresby, Napat said marine biodiversity is declining and tuna stocks, vital for national budgets will be disrupted by 2050 if action is delayed.
“Our traditional custodians hold knowledge that no satellite can replace. Our scientists hold tools that no canoe can carry. We need both,” he told leaders.
The Prime Minister announced that Vanuatu has protected more than 17,000 square kilometres of northern waters, about ten (10) percent of its exclusive economic zone, and plans to expand protection once maritime boundaries are settled.
He said regional cooperation is essential, noting that no single nation can manage its exclusive economic zone alone.
Napat also urged Melanesian countries to overcome colonial divisions by working together through a “Melanesian corridor” linking Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Fiji.
He said solidarity, not colonial borders, should shape the future of the Pacific.
Closing his address, Napat declared: “We are not sacrificing our ocean to save it. We are choosing protection over extraction, and the long memory of our ancestors over the short interest of others.”
He offered Vanuatu as host of the next Melanesian Ocean Summit in two years’ time…. PACNEWS
PAC – OCEAN SUMMIT: POST COURIER PACNEWS 1: Wed 13 May 2026
Solomon Islands will not endorse a moral declaration at the Ocean summit
PORT MORESBY, 13 MAY 2026 (POST COURIER) — The Solomon Islands has formally declined to endorse a new regional ocean declaration, with High Commissioner William Soaki delivering a pointed defense of indigenous governance and constitutional due process.
Speaking at the Melanesian Ocean Summit in Port Moresby Tuesday, Soaki framed the Solomon Islands’ position not as an act of obstruction, but as a commitment to a vision of cosmic harmony that rejects modern, secular pragmatism.
In an address, High Commissioner Soaki challenged the conventional view of environmental management.
” The ocean is not a resource to be managed from above,” Soaki stated.
“It is a living system of which we are part. The human person is not the absolute master of the universe, but an interdependent component.”
He said that the Solomon Islands’ approach to the ocean is rooted in a totality that predates colonial influence.
He emphasised that the nation never ceded sovereignty over its customary governance systems through colonial treaties.
Central to the High Commissioner’s address was the concept of More, an operational framework the Solomon Islands cabinet endorsed in mid-2025.
He clarified that this framework is a recognition of existing traditions rather than a new initiative.
” There is no external secretariat directing what Solomon Islands does in its own waters,” Soaki said.
“There is no funding deploying resources in our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) without our consent.”
He described the nation’s participation as a voluntary cooperation among willing states, emphasising that the Solomon Islands remains at the summit in a technical capacity only.
The High Commissioner was candid regarding the legal barriers preventing the signing of the summit’s declaration.
He noted that the proposed document: Has not undergone required domestic processes. Lacks clearance from the Attorney General.
Has not been endorsed by the Solomon Islands Cabinet.
“These are not procedural preferences,” he stressed.
“They are the constitutional mechanisms through which our sovereign commitments are authorised.”
Invoking the history of his hosts, Soaki drew a parallel to the 1975 constitutional deliberations of Papua New Guinea’s founding fathers. He quoted their refusal to rush independence for the sake of quantitative change, choosing instead to focus on “lqualitative change.”
” The quality of a foundation matters more than the speed of construction,” Soaki concluded.
“The question Solomon Islands brings today is not ‘Can we produce a document?’, but ‘What kind of governance will it actually create?’” he said…. PACNEWS
PAC – OCEAN SUMMIT: POST COURIER PACNEWS 1: Wed 13 May 2026
Cook Islands lead with sacred ocean protection
PORT MORESBY, 13 MAY 2026 (POST COURIER) — Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown told leaders at the inaugural Melanesian Ocean Summit that his country is committed to safeguarding the Pacific Ocean through one of the world’s largest marine parks and science‑based governance of seabed minerals.
Brown said the Marae moana Act of 2017 created a multi‑use marine park spanning nearly two (2) million square kilometres, with 324,000 square kilometres designated as protected areas where large‑scale fishing and seabed mining are banned.
“Marae moana means sacred ocean,” he explained, adding that its principles of protection, sustainable use, cultural significance and transparency are obligations, “we carry for our children and our children’s children.”
He highlighted that the Cook Islands has completed maritime boundary agreements with neighbours, secured recognition of its extended continental shelf, and is considering whale migration corridors as new transboundary protected areas with Tonga and Niue.
Turning to seabed minerals, Brown said the nation’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) contains an estimated seven million tonnes of polymetallic nodules but stressed that “any future decision on whether to allow minerals harvesting must be science‑based.”
Three exploration licences issued in 2022 have produced extensive mapping data, but he noted, “the science is not yet complete” and more research is required before decisions are made.
Brown linked ocean stewardship directly to climate resilience, warning of warming seas, bleaching reefs, and shifting fish stocks.
He argued that protection and prosperity can work together: “By leading with knowledge and foresight we can show that a thriving environment is the very foundation of a thriving economy.”
He invited Pacific nations to share environmental standards, marine spatial planning experience, and join Cook Islands’ Women in Science expeditions. “Together let us protect it as our ancestors would expect of us. Let us develop it only as our children can be proud of it,” Brown concluded…. PACNEWS
FIJI – DRUGS FIGHT: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Wed 13 May 2026
Fiji Government awaiting results of ministers’ drug tests
SUVA, 13 MAY 2026 (FIJI SUN) — The Government is awaiting the Fiji Police Force to release the results of drug tests carried out on Cabinet Ministers as part of efforts to address Fiji’s growing drug crisis.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka confirmed this while speaking on the Government’s Voqa ni Davui programme earlier this week.
Rabuka has mandated drug testing for all ministers, Members of Parliament and civil servants.
The tests are being conducted by the Fiji Police Force medical team.
Rabuka said a number of Cabinet Ministers had volunteered and already undergone testing earlier this month, including Minister for Information and Climate Change Lynda Tabuya.
“The testing was part of Government’s wider push to take a stand against drugs, with leaders to lead by example,” Rabuka said.
His comments come amid growing concern over increasing drug use across the country, particularly among young people.
Rabuka said drugs were destroying the lives of many youths in Fiji and the Government wanted to combat drug use through the initiative.
In recent months, Police and community leaders have repeatedly raised concerns about the rise in drug-related cases in Fiji, with calls for stronger action and awareness programmes to address the issue.
Meanwhile, the Government’s decision to have Cabinet Ministers tested is being viewed as an effort to promote accountability and strengthen public confidence as authorities continue the fight against illegal drugs…. PACNEWS
AUST – MEDIA: AAP PACNEWS 1: Wed 13 May 2026
Pressured Australian media sector boosted by broadcast tax cuts
CANBERRA, 13 MAY 2026 (AAP) — Australian media organisations, including the nation’s independent newswire, will receive a government funding injection to safeguard against industry upheaval.
Tuesday’s federal budget included funding boosts to the ABC, SBS and Australian Associated Press (AAP), along with $6.4 million (US$4.2 million) for planned adjustments to media regulations.
The funding will also provide support for structural changes to the media market.
The Albanese government will also suspend the commercial broadcasting tax for two years to provide financial relief for TV and radio stations.
The measure will save broadcasters $111.3 million (US$80.46 million) over five years, according to the budget papers.
Ahead of the budget, the government outlined changes to the news bargaining incentive, which encouraged social media giants like Google and Meta to strike deals with media companies to use content on their platforms.
If deals are struck between the companies for content, social media platforms will only pay 1.5 percent of revenue to the government, compared with a higher amount of 2.25 per cent if no deal is made.
Funding for the ABC and SBS is set to increase under the budget.
The government will spend $1.28 billion (US$920 million) on ABC in 2026/27, meaning the national broadcaster will get an increase of $58.5 million (US$42 .35 million) from the previous financial year.
The funding will boost Indo-Pacific broadcasting, news and media diversity, and produce Australian drama and children’s content.
However, salary and wages increase, as well as extra operating costs, will lead to a rise in expenses at the broadcaster, up $46.3 million (US$42.30 million) on the year before.
SBS will also get $367 million (US$265 million) for the next financial year, with $3 million (US$2.16 million) over three years to extend a podcast series.
AAP will get a $15 million (US$10.84 million) top-up from the federal government to ensure its financial sustainability.
It brings the total federal funding for AAP for the 2026/27 financial year to $26 million (US$18.80 million).
AAP chief executive Emma Cowdroy said the additional funding would secure the newswire into the future.
“At a time when the news media industry around the world is in a perilous position, AAP’s role in feeding high levels of factual, accurate, primary-source journalism into the information ecosystem is of critical importance,” Cowdroy said…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PAC – IRAN CRISIS/FUEL PRICE: PMN PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 13 May 2026
Pacific Fuel Fears: NZ Finance Minister Willis warns of crisis pressure on island economies
WELLINGTON, 13 MAY 2026 (PMN) — Pacific governments are warning they could struggle to afford fuel if global supply chains are hit by a major disruption, New Zealand’s Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.
She says the concern has been raised strongly by New Zealand’s realm countries, including the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau, which rely heavily on imported fuel and are closely tied to Aotearoa’s currency and economic stability.
“In terms of Pacific partners, in particular, the Prime Minister, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, have engaged with their counterparts in the Pacific, particularly as it relates to the realm countries who would be affected by any elevation in the fuel phases,” Willis told journalists.
“Of critical concern to them has been ensuring that they have the funds needed to pay for fuel should it spike significantly in cost, and our Ministry of Foreign Affairs is already working alongside Australia and other international partners to ensure that we do have a joined-up response there.”
The concerns from Pacific leaders come as New Zealanders face their own record-breaking costs at the pump. As of 12 May, 91 Octane petrol is averaging $3.50(US$2.08) per litre while diesel has spiked to $3.51(US$2.09, a staggering 88 percent increase from early 2025 levels.
For Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau, which use the New Zealand dollar, rising fuel prices are made worse when the currency weakens. This means buying fuel from overseas becomes even more expensive and makes the “joint-up response” Willis mentioned critical to their economic stability.
The warning comes as Pacific leaders step up regional coordination on fuel security. In early May, Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders activated the Biketawa Declaration, a rare move used only during major regional crises.
It was last invoked during the Covid-19 pandemic, highlighting how seriously fuel supply risks are now being treated across the region.
The declaration sets out how Pacific nations respond together to major crises, including political instability, natural disasters, and now growing concerns over energy disasters.
A special session of the Forum Officials Committee will be held this month, followed by a meeting of foreign ministers to agree on next steps.
Australia has also moved to support the region with Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong announcing an AUD$30 million (NZ$36m) package during a recent visit to Suva last week to help Fiji respond to fuel pressures.
Tonga’s Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua says the kingdom remains in the “green light” phase of its fuel plan meaning supply remains stable for now despite wider global risks.
In his latest press conference, Fakafanua also announced immediate cost-of-living support including an electricity subsidy for households, help for outer-island connectivity, a one-off $100(US$41) payment for elderly and disability beneficiaries, and support for businesses facing rising energy costs.
In New Zealand, the Government has rolled out an updated national fuel resilience plan aimed at preparing for global shocks.
According to Willis, fuel refiners have secured crude oil supplies through July and August and have widened sourcing away from the Gulf including suppliers in the United States, Mexico, Oman, Latin America, and Canada.
She says companies have also agreed to provide early warnings of any disruptions, giving New Zealand several weeks’ notice if risks rise.
Despite that, the Government says it remains on alert. Since moving into phase one of its fuel response framework in March, New Zealand has built up fuel reserves, prepared allocation plans for essential public services, and worked with industry on emergency jet fuel arrangements.
Willis says consultations on the framework included fuel companies, businesses, social service organisations, and Pacific partners, reflecting how closely linked the region has become to energy security…. PACNEWS
PAC – FISHERIES: FFA PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 13 May 2026
‘The Bonds That Unite Us as Pacific Peoples’ – NZ Hosts FFC142 Officials at the Grand Hall Parliament
WELLINGTON, 13 MAY 2026 (FFA) — Pacific solidarity, shared ocean stewardship, and regional partnership took centre stage on Monday evening, as senior fisheries officials, diplomats, and regional partners gathered for an official welcome reception alongside the 142nd Forum Fisheries Committee (FFC142) officials Meeting in Wellington.
Hosted at the Grand Hall of Parliament by New Zealand Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Shane Jones – and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters, the evening brought together representatives from across the Pacific at a time when the region faces growing economic pressures, climate challenges, and increasing global interest in Pacific tuna resources.
In his address, Minister Jones spoke of the enduring relationships that continue to bind Pacific nations together through fisheries cooperation and shared stewardship of Te Moana Nui a Kiwa – the Pacific Ocean.
“Fisheries remain an incredibly important shared resource for all of us,” Minister Jones said.
“While New Zealand may have different fisheries interests, I can assure you that the pelagic species that make their way into our part of Te Moana Nui a Kiwa are deeply treasured.”
He acknowledged the critical importance of tuna resources to Pacific Island economies and reaffirmed New Zealand’s commitment to working alongside Pacific neighbours to ensure the sustainable management of the region’s fisheries.
“We greatly value the opportunity to enjoy them, harvest them responsibly, and manage them together as a shared collective resource,” he said.
The evening also highlighted the broader challenges facing Pacific fisheries, including rising fuel prices, increasing operational costs, and growing pressures on regional economies.
“New Zealand stands ready to work effectively and collaboratively with your governments, right through to your respective agencies and authorities, to find practical solutions,” Minister Jones told delegates.
Among those attending the reception were senior regional fisheries officials, including Under-Secretary of Fisheries and Oceans Jenny Marcroft, alongside members of the diplomatic corps and development partners.
Despite the serious themes discussed, the evening was marked by warmth, humour, and the long-standing friendships shared across the Pacific fisheries community. Minister Jones drew laughter from guests as he joked about Wellington’s cooler autumn weather compared to the tropical climates many delegates had travelled from.
“When discussions began last year about New Zealand hosting this event in 2026, I did warn that it would fall during an election year for us,” he said.
“So unfortunately, there would be no tropical Solomon Islands warmth or Tonga-style crab expeditions in Tokelau weather conditions here in Wellington.”
The light-hearted remarks reflected the close relationships and camaraderie built over decades of regional cooperation.
The reception provided an opportunity for delegates to reconnect ahead of a busy week of discussions on some of the Pacific’s most pressing fisheries priorities, including tuna management, regional governance reforms, monitoring and surveillance cooperation, climate change impacts, and preparations for upcoming Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission negotiations.
“I encourage everyone to use this gathering as a productive opportunity, not only to discuss the challenges before us, but also to strengthen the bonds that unite us as Pacific peoples,” Minister Jones said.
The 142nd Forum Fisheries Committee Officials Meeting continues this week in Wellington…. PACNEWS
PAC – FISHERIES: FFA PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 13 May 2026
FFC142 opens with call for stronger regional solidarity on Pacific Fisheries
WELLINGTON, 13 MAY 2026 (FFA) — Senior fisheries officials and delegates from across the Pacific region gathered in Wellington, New Zealand Aotearoa, for the opening of the 142nd Meeting of the Forum Fisheries Committee (FFC), hosted by the Government of New Zealand.
Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Director-General Noan David Pakop thanked the Government of New Zealand for hosting the meeting and acknowledged the warm hospitality extended to all delegations.
“We are particularly honoured by the traditional pōwhiri welcome this morning, which reflects the spirit of partnership, respect, and shared stewardship that underpins our regional fisheries cooperation,” Pakop said.
He also acknowledged outgoing FFC Chair, Poi Okesene of Niue for his sterling leadership over the past year and welcomed New Zealand’s Heather Ward as the incoming Chair.
Pakop noted that many Members had already spent the previous week participating in pre-FFC meetings, technical workshops and consultations aimed at progressing key regional priorities.
“These preparatory discussions have laid an important foundation for the deliberations we will undertake together over the coming days,” he said.
“It has been particularly heartening to hear the broad support expressed by Members for deeper engagement in the wider ocean management and governance processes taking place beyond our immediate fisheries space, while at the same time recognising the importance of continuing to strengthen the Secretariat internally to better serve Members.”
He said the fisheries landscape facing the region was becoming increasingly complex and interconnected, requiring Pacific countries to strengthen regional institutions while also remaining actively engaged in broader international processes shaping the future of ocean governance.
“To remain effective and continue leading in this space, we must ensure that we are strengthening ourselves from within – through stronger systems, stronger institutions, stronger governance, and stronger regional solidarity,” Pakop said.
“This meeting therefore comes at an important time for our region and for the Forum Fisheries Agency.”
Throughout the week, Members will deliberate on issues central to the future of Pacific fisheries cooperation and the long-term sustainability of the region’s tuna resources.
“As always, our work remains grounded in a simple but powerful objective – ensuring that Pacific people derive the greatest possible social and economic benefits from the sustainable use of our tuna resources,” Pakop said.
“Today, tuna continues to be the common currency of the Blue Pacific.”
He said the Pacific region collectively manages one of the largest and most valuable tuna fisheries in the world, with regional cooperation continuing to be recognised globally as one of the strongest examples of successful regionalism.
At the same time, he acknowledged the growing challenges facing the region, including increasing geopolitical interest in the Pacific, climate change impacts, market uncertainties and growing pressures on ocean resources.
“These challenges require us not only to protect what we have built together, but also to adapt and strengthen our institutions, systems and collective approaches for the future,” he said.
Key agenda items this week include discussions on the future strategic direction of the FFA through the Strategic Plan review process, implementation of the KPMG Review recommendations, and broader regional fisheries architecture.
Members will also consider regional fisheries management priorities ahead of upcoming Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) negotiations, including management procedure work for tropical tunas and South Pacific albacore, strengthening the collective coastal State position, and advancing monitoring, control and surveillance cooperation.
Other priorities include climate change implementation, market access, and advancing regional initiatives such as the East New Britain Initiative.
“These are significant matters,” Pakop said.
“They require difficult conversations, strategic thinking, and above all, continued regional solidarity.”
Pakop acknowledged the efforts of the Chair, Members, observers, partners and Secretariat staff in preparing for the meeting, as well as the continued support of development partners working alongside Pacific fisheries priorities.
“I encourage all delegations to engage openly, constructively, and strategically over the coming days,” he added.
“The decisions and guidance provided through this meeting will shape not only the work of the Secretariat, but also the future direction of regional fisheries cooperation in the Pacific.”
The 142nd Annual FFC Officials meeting ends on Friday 15 May 2026…. PACNEWS
PAC – FISHERIES: FFA PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 13 May 2026
From Dunedin to the Pacific Table: Heather Ward takes the helm of regional fisheries talks
WELLINGTON, 13 MAY 2026 (FFA) — Before she officially opened one of the Pacific’s most important fisheries meetings this week, Heather Ward began not with policy, politics or statistics – but with whakapapa.
Standing before fisheries senior officials and delegates gathered at Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand’s new Forum Fisheries Committee (FFC) Chair introduced herself first in te reo Māori, acknowledging where she comes from, who her people are, and the place she now calls home.
“My ancestors are from Scotland. I was born in Dunedin, I grew up in Dunedin, and I now live in Wellington,” she told delegates warmly.
It was a simple but grounding introduction – one that reflected the tone Ms Ward would carry throughout her opening remarks as New Zealand officially assumed the Chairmanship of the Forum Fisheries Committee Officials Meeting.
There was warmth, humour, gratitude and realism.
And perhaps most importantly, there was a clear understanding that the Pacific fisheries conversations happening this week are ultimately about people.
Ward paid heartfelt tribute to outgoing Chair Poi Okesene of Niue, praising his leadership during a demanding year for the region.
“As Chair, Poi Okesene performed this role with absolute distinction,” she said.
She joked that Okesene’s rugby background may have helped him navigate some of the region’s toughest negotiations, particularly the discussions around the allocation framework for South Pacific albacore.
“No doubt drawing on his rugby skills to tackle those difficult issues,” she said, drawing laughter around the room.
The light moment reflected the strong relationships that have developed among Pacific fisheries leaders and officials over years of negotiations, long meetings and shared regional challenges.
Ward also acknowledged the generosity shown by Niue when it hosted last year’s meetings.
“It is certainly a tough act to follow,” she admitted.
But behind the humour sat the reality of what lies ahead.
As New Zealand takes on the Chair role, Ms Ward made it clear that Pacific fisheries leaders are entering a critical period – one that will require difficult decisions, strategic thinking and regional unity.
“Members, we have our work cut out for us this week,” she said.
Among the major issues on the table are reforms following the independent KPMG review of the FFA Secretariat, questions around long-term funding, recruitment of a new Deputy Director-General, and finalising the FFA Strategic Plan for 2026-2031.
On the fisheries side, the region continues to tackle major tuna management decisions, including implementation work for South Pacific albacore and ongoing negotiations around bigeye tuna management.
Ward acknowledged that balancing the impacts of purse seine and longline fisheries remains one of the more complex conversations facing members.
But while the discussions are technical, the impacts are deeply personal for Pacific countries.
“The current global context cannot be ignored,” she said.
She pointed to rising fuel prices and uncertainty linked to conflict in the Middle East, warning that global events continue to have direct consequences for Pacific fisheries operations, governments and communities.
At the same time, Pacific nations are continuing efforts to increase the value they receive from tuna resources that remain central to the region’s economies and livelihoods.
Throughout her remarks, Ward repeatedly acknowledged the people working quietly behind the scenes to make the meeting possible – from officials in New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries to the FFA Secretariat staff coordinating the complex week-long programme.
She singled out members of her own team for their “relentless cheerfulness and remarkable efficiency,” drawing appreciative smiles from colleagues in the room.
It was a reminder that regional fisheries diplomacy is not only shaped by ministers and negotiators, but also by the many officials, advisers and support staff whose work often goes unseen.
As she formally declared the 142nd Forum Fisheries Committee Officials Meeting open, Ward struck a tone that balanced seriousness with optimism.
The agenda ahead may be heavy – governance reform, climate pressures, fisheries management, monitoring systems and regional negotiations – but there was also a strong sense that Pacific cooperation remains one of the region’s greatest strengths.
And in many ways, Ward’s opening remarks reflected exactly that: grounded leadership, respect for relationships, and a steady focus on the collective future of the Pacific Ocean and the people who depend on it……PACNEWS
PAC – FISHERIES: FFA PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 13 May 2026
From rugby fields to regional fisheries leadership: Poi Okesene reflects on his time as FFC Chair
WELLINGTON, 13 MAY 2026 (FFA) — There was a moment during his farewell remarks at the 142nd Forum Fisheries Committee (FFC) Officials Meeting in Wellington when outgoing Chair Poi Okesene of Niue paused, smiled, and took delegates back to his younger days in New Zealand.
Long before chairing one of the Pacific’s most important regional fisheries meetings, Okesene was a young Niuean student trying to find his place in Wellington.
“I attended Mana College in Porirua for two years in the late 1980s,” he recalled.
“Being new to New Zealand for the first time, I had to overcome the challenge of speaking English as a second language. At the school canteen, the only thing I recognised on the menu was a mince pie, so that became my lunch every day for quite some time.”
The story drew laughter around the room at Te Papa Tongarewa, where Pacific fisheries senior officials had gathered for the official opening of the 142nd FFC Officials Meeting.
But it was also a reminder of the journey behind the man stepping down after leading the Forum Fisheries Committee through one of the most challenging and important periods for Pacific fisheries cooperation.
For Okesene, Wellington holds more than political and professional memories. It was also where he proudly represented Niue on the rugby field.
“I had the honour of representing Niue three times at the Wellington Sevens tournament,” he said.
“One of the highlights of my sporting career was captaining the first Niue National Rugby Sevens team at the Wellington Sevens and playing against some of the best New Zealand and world-class rugby players, including Jonah Lomu.”
Even though the team suffered a heavy defeat, Okesene remembers the experience with pride.
“Even though we were defeated by more than 60 points, it remains one of the most memorable experiences of my life here in Wellington.”
Those who know Okesene say the values he carried from rugby – teamwork, resilience, discipline, humility, and standing together under pressure – have also shaped his leadership style at the FFC table.
Throughout his tenure as Chair, colleagues often described him as calm, respectful, and steady during difficult negotiations, particularly during discussions around tuna management, treaty negotiations, and regional fisheries priorities.
In many ways, the parallels between rugby and regional fisheries diplomacy are clear. Both require strategy, trust, patience, and the ability to bring people together despite different interests and pressures.
Addressing delegates during the opening session, Mr Okesene reflected on the responsibility of leading the FFC and the importance of regional solidarity.
“When I was appointed Chair, I promised myself that I would place my trust in God’s wisdom, listen carefully, learn from all of you, and lead our discussions with patience and humility,” he said.
“Together, we have navigated important decisions, demonstrated regional solidarity, strengthened partnerships across members, and kept the rights and livelihoods of Pacific peoples at the centre of every decision we made.”
During his term as Chair, the region achieved several major milestones, including the adoption of the South Pacific albacore management procedure, progress on conservation and management measures, strengthened monitoring and surveillance cooperation, and advancement of U.S treaty negotiations and funding arrangements for members.
“These achievements are the result of countless months of hard work, long days, late-night conversations, and the willingness of members to compromise for the greater good,” he said.
“I am proud of how we have held one another to high standards while remaining respectful and constructive.”
Niue’s Director of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Okesene, also acknowledged the Government of New Zealand, the Ministry for Primary Industries, mana whenua, and the FFA Secretariat for hosting the meeting and extending warm hospitality to all delegations.
The traditional Māori pōwhiri that welcomed delegates to Te Papa Tongarewa set a fitting tone for the week ahead, grounding discussions not only in fisheries policy and science, but also in culture, identity, and shared stewardship of the Pacific Ocean.
“It is especially fitting that we gather here at Te Papa Tongarewa, where the stories of land and ocean are connected and preserved with care,” Okesene said.
“The moana is not simply a resource, but a relationship that connects us all.”
As he handed over the Chair to New Zealand’s Heather Ward, Okesene spoke warmly about the future of the FFC and the importance of continuing to put Pacific people at the centre of regional fisheries work.
“My hope for the FFC is simple and steadfast,” he said.
“That we continue to keep people at the centre of our work, strengthen resilience, foster stronger collaboration and regional solidarity, and continue to build partnerships that are equitable, respectful, and focused on long-term outcomes.”
Despite the seriousness of the work ahead, Okesene ended his remarks with humour, admitting he was looking forward to spending more time with family – and perhaps attending fewer meetings.
But beneath the light-hearted comment was a deeper reflection on leadership itself.
“This role has taught me that leadership is less about the person sitting at the front, and more about the people who stand together,” he said.
As delegates applauded the outgoing Chair, it was clear many saw the same qualities that once guided a young Niuean rugby captain on the field now reflected in the way he helped steer Pacific fisheries cooperation – with humility, resilience, teamwork, and heart…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS In Focus
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Melanesian Ocean Summit: Message in a bottle
PORT MORESBY, 13 MAY 2026 (POST COURIER) — To commemorate the inaugural Melanesian Ocean Summit launch at the APEC Haus on Monday, May 11th, 2026, attending delegates and officials gathered outside to see the message in a bottle sent out to sea.
At the seafront, Prime Minister James Marape addressed all who attended while carrying a child in his arms to symbolize Moana, depicting the Ocean theme
He told the gathering that Pacific nations, as custodians of a vast ocean reservoir, are prepared to sacrifice their economy and influence to protect the life‑giving ocean.
Young Moana with the message to be sent out to the sea. Picture by: Herbert Navun
“In the Pacific, we as a big reservoir of ocean can sacrifice our economy, our influence, in the quest to preserve the life‑giving ocean. Please join us, help save our oceans,” Marape said before releasing the message in a bottle.
The message in a bottle contained the following pledge:
To the technocrats out there, to those of you who in haste for profit of today’s generation, squandering the prospect of young Moana’s generation.
Together, we stand not just as nations but as guardians.
Guardians of a shared ocean that feeds our people, carries our stories, and connects every island across our Pacific Ocean.
The ocean does not belong to us. We belong to the ocean.
This message we send to sea is more than a symbol. It carries our collective pledge:
*To protect our oceans from harm.
*To manage our resources with care and respect.
*To ensure that future generations inherit seas that are abundant, alive, and strong.
We recognise that our economies and our environment are not separate – they are one and the same. And the strength of our future depends on how we protect both.
So tonight, together, we send this message beyond this shore – a commitment from Melanesia to the world.
That we will lead. That we will act. And that we will protect what sustains us.
One people. One ocean. One future. Wansolwara…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Tonga Rides the Wave of Resilience
NUKU’ALOFA, 13 MAY 2026 (UNSDG) — Have you ever heard of the Ring of Fire? Stretching around the Pacific Ocean, it is a horseshoe-shaped belt of active volcanoes and seismic activity. Nestled within it, the Kingdom of Tonga often feels the ground tremble beneath its feet. Ranked the second most at-risk country in the world to natural disasters (World Risk Report 2020), Tonga faces a constant convergence of natural hazards. In the past decade, more than 3,000 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or higher have struck within 300 kilometres of the islands.
These hazards have had a significant and lasting impact. In 2022, ash cloud and tsunami waves from the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haʻapai volcano caused extensive destruction throughout Tonga. The eruption generated the largest atmospheric explosion ever recorded and triggered tsunamis that affected Tonga, Fiji, American Samoa, Vanuatu, New Zealand, Japan, the United States, the Russian Far East, Chile and Peru, resulting in at least four fatalities and affecting 85,000 people in the Kingdom of Tonga.
Damages were widespread, including on Tongatapu and the islands of Nomuka Iki, Mango, and Tonumea. The disaster affected 85 percent of Tonga’s population and caused damages and losses of an estimated US$182 million or over 35 percent of Tonga’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), making it the most expensive volcanic event in the world in the last 30 years. (World Bank Press Release 2022)
When Early Warnings Become Early Action
Recognising these daily realities has laid the foundation for the Kingdom, the UN and its partners to establish systems and processes that prioritise resilience. Tonga is part of the Secretary-General’s Early Warnings for All initiative, a global effort to ensure that every person is protected by early warning systems by 2027. Recently, when UN Resident Coordinator Dirk Wagener and UN colleagues visited the islands, they experienced how these systems safeguard communities. When a 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck, triggering a nationwide tsunami alert, authorities and institutions swung into action. Sirens blared, national radio shifted to emergency mode, and people were urged to seek higher ground. There was no panic. The event highlighted the country’s growing preparedness.
The deliberate, coordinated investment into early warnings brings together multiple actors across the UN system. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction works with national authorities to strengthen disaster risk knowledge and advance the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, ensuring that risks such as tsunamis are well understood and integrated into planning in Tonga. The World Meteorological Organisation supports detection, monitoring, and forecasting, helping ensure that hazards are identified early and accurately. The International Telecommunications Union underpins the rapid dissemination of warnings, ensuring that alerts reach people through reliable, inclusive communication systems. The United Nations Satellite Center (UNOSAT) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) contribute satellite data, risk analysis and scientific expertise, helping to close information gaps and strengthen national capacity.
Tonga is among the first countries in the Pacific alongside Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, and Solomon Islands, to roll out Early Warnings for All, with a national roadmap shaped through consultations across government, partners, and communities. These efforts focus not only on strengthening systems but also on ensuring that they translate into action at the community level.
At its core, the initiative connects four elements: understanding risk, detecting hazards, communicating warnings and enabling preparedness and response. In Tonga, these elements are increasingly working as one system. The recent tsunami alert demonstrated that when they do, early warnings become early action, saving lives and reinforcing confidence in the country’s growing resilience.
A Whole-of-UN Approach to Resilience
Under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator, UN entities engage with Government counterparts, the diplomatic community and civil society to chart a sustainable and resilient future for Tonga. The Tonga Strategic Development Framework offers a blueprint for strengthening coordination and aligning the UN’s support with national priorities.
Across the islands’, UN-supported initiatives are already delivering tangible results.
In Vavaʻu, UNDP and the Global Environment Facility support the national Ridge to Reef Project, which preserves biodiversity while directly strengthening livelihoods. Communities are seeing improved fish stocks through sustainable fishing practices, restored coastal ecosystems that protect against erosion, and new income opportunities linked to eco-tourism and local products. For the community, it is more than a project; it is a lifeline, helping households diversify income while safeguarding the natural resources they depend on.
It also includes a Ridge to Reef Community Grants Initiative, through which US$570,000 is being invested directly into 33 communities, including 26 in Tongatapu and 7 in Vavaʻu. This investment empowers civil society organisations, women, and young people to lead practical solutions in climate resilience, ecosystem restoration and sustainable livelihoods.
In rural areas, women are quietly leading transformative change. The Joint Programme on Accelerating Progress Towards Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment, implemented by FAO, IFAD, UN Women and WFP, supports women in boosting household incomes through climate-smart agriculture, strengthening food security and expanding access to markets. Beyond economic gains, women are taking on greater leadership within their communities, strengthening local decision-making and building resilience to climate shocks.
In Tongatapu, the story of “The Nurse Who Survived and Went Back to Fight” has echoed across the islands. After being diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2019, Sela Tuitupou, a nurse with nearly 20 years of experience, returned determined to advocate in Tonga’s fight against the disease. She supported the Ministry of Health’s Vaccine Champions Programme, implemented with UNICEF, and turned to community outreach, strengthening health awareness through a more personal approach.
“I wish I had taken the HPV vaccine sooner. I don’t want any Tongan girl to face what I am facing.”
With about 30 per cent of eligible girls across Tonga having been vaccinated by the end of 2023, the programme is helping protect women and girls from HPV infection and cervical cancer. In a context where climate-related shocks can disrupt access to essential health services, such community-based approaches are critical to ensuring continuity of care and strengthening resilience at the household level.
From national leadership to local communities, this is how the United Nations works in Tonga, as one, aligning with national priorities and delivering where it matters most. As the Prime Minister reflected: “These waves might shock us today, but we will get back up tomorrow. The UN can help us do that. The time is now, and partnership is needed.”
With 80 per cent of Tonga’s population living on the coastlines, the stakes could not be higher. As climate change drives more frequent, extreme, and unpredictable weather events, investments in adaptation, risk mitigation, and multi-hazard early warning systems have never been more urgent.
As UN Resident Coordinator Dirk Wagener puts it: “Tonga is not just surviving these shocks. It is showing the world how small island states can lead. But leadership requires investment. What Tonga needs from the global community is scaled-up climate financing, stronger early warning systems, and genuine, sustained partnership. What works here can work across the Pacific and beyond.”
Tonga’s resilience is hard-won. And with the right support, its story can light the way for every Small Island Developing State facing the rising tide…. PACNEWS
