In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Pacific pushes for faster access to Climate finance
2. PACIFIC — Pacific Climate Finance agenda progresses ahead of Inaugural Investment Forum
3. PACIFIC — Leaders want Pacific voices heard on climate change
4. PACIFIC — Pacific youth urged to understand their role in global climate decision-making
5. COOKS — First Cook Islands election seat decided before a vote is cast
6. FIJI — Fiji Opposition leader wants bigger military role in drug fight
7. NZ — Pacific vote no longer guaranteed as parties fight for a changing political landscape
8. FIJI — Fiji establishes Israel Allies Caucus in effort to promote moving national embassies to Jerusalem
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Pacific voices in regional tuna discussions
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Tuvalu completes boarding and inspection training to strengthen fisheries enforcement
11. PACNEWS BIZ — More than 126,000 UTOF investors share record $9.19m payout
12. PACNEWS BIZ — ‘Focus on creating jobs, not just economic growth’
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — Pacific coral reef plight takes centre-stage – Expert reaction
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — China as a future hegemon? Easier said than done
PAC – CLIMATE FINANCE: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Thu 16 Jul 2026
Pacific pushes for faster access to Climate finance
NADI, 16 JULY 2026 (PACNEWS)— Pacific Islands Forum Deputy Secretary General Desna Solofa says the region must improve access to climate finance, warning that global commitments have not translated into funding that Pacific countries can readily access.
Opening the Climate Finance Access and Mobilisation Strategy (CFAMS) Preparatory and Prioritisation Workshop in Nadi on Wednesday, Solofa said climate change has become one of the region’s biggest development challenges.
“Climate change is no longer simply an environmental issue. For the Pacific, it is a development challenge, an economic challenge, a fiscal challenge, and ultimately, an existential challenge. It influences every aspect of our economies – from infrastructure and agriculture to health, fisheries, water security and disaster resilience,” said Solofa.
She said the scale of the challenge requires investments well beyond the fiscal capacity of Pacific Island countries.
While the international community recognises the vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States, Solofa said access to climate finance remains a major obstacle.
“Despite growing global commitments, many Pacific countries continue to face lengthy approval processes, fragmented funding arrangements, limited institutional capacity and increasingly complex financing requirements.”
Solofa said these challenges prompted Forum Economic Ministers to endorse the Climate Finance Access and Mobilisation Strategy (CFAMS) as the region’s framework for improving climate finance access.
“CFAMS represents much more than another regional strategy. It provides a practical roadmap for improving coordination, strengthening institutional capacity, building investment-ready pipelines, expanding partnerships and ultimately increasing the scale and effectiveness of climate finance reaching our countries and communities,”
She stressed that CFAMS is intended to complement, not replace, national climate finance priorities.
“Importantly, however, let me emphasise that CFAMS is not intended to replace national priorities or national climate finance efforts.”
Instead, she said the strategy identifies common priorities across Forum Members that can be developed into regional programmes capable of attracting larger investments.
“By bringing together national priorities, we are able to tell a stronger regional story. A story that demonstrates not only the urgency of our needs, but also the scale of opportunities available to development partners, multilateral development banks, climate funds and private investors,” she said.
Solofa said the three-day workshop will validate country priorities, identify regional investment opportunities, examine financing pathways and begin preparations for the Pacific Climate Finance Investment Forum planned for 2027.
“Our objective is to leave this workshop with a clearer understanding of where our collective priorities lie, what investments are ready to progress, where additional preparation is required, and how regional collaboration can help accelerate access to finance.”
She called for stronger collaboration across governments, regional organisations and development partners.
“This requires open dialogue. It requires collaboration across ministries. It requires stronger partnerships with regional organisations and development partners. And above all, it requires that we continue working together as one Blue Pacific Continent,” she said
Solofa said the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat remains committed to supporting members in coordinating regional action and strengthening international partnerships to improve climate finance access…..PACNEWS
PAC – CLIMATE FINANCE: PIFS PACNEWS 1: Thu 16 Jul 2026
Pacific Climate Finance agenda progresses ahead of Inaugural Investment Forum
NADI, 16 JUNE 2026 (PIFS)—Senior officials from Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Member countries, regional organisations, and development partners are meeting in Nadi, Fiji this week from 15 to 17 July to advance regional efforts to strengthen access to climate finance and to develop a robust pipeline of investment-ready climate and resilience initiatives ahead of the inaugural Pacific Climate Finance Investment Forum in 2027.
The Climate Finance Access and Mobilisation Strategy (CFAMS) Preparatory and Prioritisation Workshop marks a significant milestone in implementing the Strategy, which was endorsed at the Special Meeting of the Forum Economic Ministers in March 2025.
The workshop provides an opportunity for Members to translate the Strategy’s regional priorities into a coordinated programme of investable projects that can attract greater climate finance.
By bringing together senior Forum officials from the respective Ministries of Finance, Planning, and Climate Change, the workshop is strengthening alignment between national priorities and regional financing objectives, while identifying high-impact climate and resilience investments that can be advanced through regional collaboration.
“The 2050 Strategy reminds us that our future will be shaped by Pacific-led solutions and stronger regional cooperation. Climate finance is fundamental to achieving that vision,” said the Forum Secretary General, Baron Waqa of the workshop.
“Through this workshop, our members are identifying shared priorities, strengthening collaboration, and preparing a portfolio of strategic investments that reflects Pacific ownership. The 2027 Pacific Climate Finance Investment Forum will provide an opportunity to connect these priorities with partners who are ready to invest in a more resilient and sustainable Blue Pacific”
As climate impacts continue to intensify across the Blue Pacific, the workshop reflects the region’s shared commitment to improving access to climate finance and transforming regional priorities into bankable investments that strengthen resilience, support sustainable development, and deliver long-term prosperity for Pacific communities.
The inaugural Pacific Climate Finance Investment Forum in 2027 is envisioned as the region’s premier platform for climate investment. It will bring together Forum member governments and multilateral development banks, climate funds, philanthropic organisations, private investors, and development partners to mobilise finance for transformative, investment-ready projects that respond to the Pacific’s development and climate priorities….PACNEWS
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: AAP PACNEWS 1: Thu 16 Jul 2026
Leaders want Pacific voices heard on climate change
CANBERRA, 16 JULY 2026 (AAP)—Australia needs to lead by example on climate change as it takes the driving seat at a global climate conference, Pacific and Indigenous community leaders say.
Yuin woman Takesa Frank says the government has “so far to go” in terms of climate action.
Australia will take a leading role in the United Nations climate change convention COP31 in Turkey, where federal Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen will serve in the plum role of president of negotiations.
The government has already pledged more than $150 million (US$105 million) for November’s global summit, but Frank says Australia must not overlook the voice of First Nations people.
“(It’s important) that calls to action are actioned by governments at these global stages,” she told AAP.
‘Here on the country that I live on, it changes the way that we get to celebrate culture and connect to country.
“We saw the 2019/2020 Black Summer bushfires, where we saw 85 percent of our forests get burnt at that time, but also we saw a lot of our culture get burnt.”
Frank is part of the Oceania First Voices workshop, a group of leaders from Australia and across the Pacific who are presenting their priorities and lived experiences to the government.
Ahead of COP31, a group of Pacific leaders will also host the Pre-COP gathering, which aims to show delegates a first-hand experience of the impact of climate change on the island nations.
Anahera Nin from New Zealand says that Pacific voices must be at the centre of discussions.
“We’re on the front line, we do have the answers, and what we need from states with power is to support us to progress the climate movement,” Nin said.
“It’s a moment. I see this as an opportunity for collectiveness to amplify and to demonstrate what’s happening in the Pacific.”
Climate change is one of the biggest threats to the Pacific’s future, with sea surface temperatures rising at three times the global average since 1980, according to the World Meteorological Organisation.
Climate disasters in the region have also ballooned by an average of 700 percent in the last decade, with the costs soaring above $7 billion (US$4.90 billion), research from Oxfam Australia has found.
Fiji’s Lavenia Naivalu said telling their communities’ stories was crucial.
She said climate change had already depleted her family’s fishing grounds, disrupting their way of life.
“I ask myself, and I ask world leaders when I’m given platforms to speak, what did my children do wrong?,” she said……PACNEWS
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: FIJI GOVT PACNEWS 1: Thu 16 Jul 2026
Pacific youth urged to understand their role in global climate decision-making
SUVA, 16 JULY 2026 (FIJI GOVT) —If young people are not at the table, how can they be part of the decisions that will shape their future?
Fiji Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change Dr Sivendra Michael posed this question while addressing nearly 70 young climate leaders from across the Pacific at the Second Pacific Youth Talanoa Series Dialogue, encouraging them to become actively involved in international climate processes.
The dialogue, led by the Pacific Youth Council in partnership with the United Nations Pacific Office, brought together young people from across the region, both in person and virtually, to strengthen Pacific youth engagement on climate action and the road to the Pacific-led Pre-COP31.
As Fiji’s Chief Climate negotiator under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Dr Michael outlined the structure of the UNFCCC process, the different avenues available for youth engagement, and the important role of UNFCCC-recognised youth constituencies in ensuring young people’s voices are heard.
Dr Michael also explained the distinction between observer participation and formal country negotiations, helping participants better understand how climate decisions are made and where they can contribute most effectively.
‘Young people have a vital role in shaping climate action. Their perspectives, innovation and lived experiences must be part of the conversations that influence decisions at the national, regional and global levels,” Dr Michael said.
Also joining the dialogue was Miss Pacific Islands 2026, Ailava Samuels, who encouraged Pacific youth to get involved early, build their understanding of international climate processes and use their voices to help shape decisions that affect the region.
“We are Pacific youth living with the realities of climate change. By getting involved now, we can help shape the decisions that will determine our future,” she said.
The dialogue also featured COP31 Presidency Youth Climate Champion Sally Higgins, who engaged with participants and shared opportunities for young people to contribute to the Pacific-led Pre-COP31 and COP31.
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change remains committed to empowering the next generation of Pacific climate leaders and ensuring youth voices are represented as Fiji prepares to host the Pacific-led Pre-COP31 this October….PACNEWS
COOKS – ELECTION/POLITICS: PMN/COOK ISLAND NEWS PACNEWS 1: Thu 16 Jul 2026
First Cook Islands election seat decided before a vote is cast
RAROTONGA, 16 JULY 2026 (PMN/COOK ISLAND NEWS) —-The Cook Islands election campaign has its first winner before polling day, with one parliamentary seat already decided, the Cook Islands News reports.
Independent MP Agnes Helen Armstrong has been returned unopposed in the Ivirua electorate on Mangaia after nominations closed with no other candidates entering the race.
The result means voters in Ivirua will not need to cast a ballot when the Cook Islands heads to the polls on 12 August.
In the report, Chief Electoral Officer Taggy Tangimetua confirmed Armstrong would be officially declared elected after nominations closed at midday on Tuesday.
While uncommon, uncontested seats are not unheard of in Cook Islands elections. Tangimetua said the most recent examples were Ivirua in 2014, Penrhyn in 2006 and Ivirua again in 2004.
Armstrong, who entered Parliament in 2019 as a Democratic Party MP following the death of her husband and former Ivirua MP in 2018, is standing as an independent this year.
She said the uncontested result reflected her community’s wish to remain united.
“It is what the people of Ivirua have wanted, to be united, come together as one people, and to (maintain) peace in the village, instead of dividing, you know, politics divides people … that’s what our village wanted, to come together as one,” Armstrong told the local newspaper.
“And I think if you’re always in contact with your people, you’re talking with them all the time and keeping them up to speed with what’s going on, what their values and what they want, and I think that’s where this (decision) comes from.
“We give thanks to our Lord that He’s paved the way for us to all come together as one people.”
Although elected as an independent, Armstrong said any decision about supporting a political party after the election would be made with her community.
“Well, we’ll come together as a village, as a community. We’ll talk about it, see what our options are, and we’ll go from there,” she said.
“I will be led by my people. I won’t make decisions on my own. I will be talking to my people, and we’ll collectively move forward.”
She also encouraged candidates contesting other electorates to keep their communities at the centre of their campaigns.
“I’d just like to encourage everybody else out there to do the right thing, to do it for their people. It’s our people that we need to look after first. And keep the Lord in front of you. He will guide you.”
The close of nominations confirmed 63 candidates will contest the 2026 general election, down from 71 in 2022. The field includes 49 men and 14 women.
The governing Cook Islands Party has nominated 20 candidates, followed by the Cook Islands United Party with 14 and the Democratic Party with 12. There are also 12 independents, two Progressive Party candidates, two representing Independent-Enuamanu and one candidate from the newly formed Independence Party.
The election will be held on Wednesday, 12 August. …. PACNEWS
FIJI – DRUGS FIGHT: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Thu 16 Jul 2026
Fiji Opposition leader wants bigger military role in drug fight
SUVA, 16 JULY 2026 (FIJI SUN) –Fiji Opposition leader Inia Seruiratu has called for the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) to be given a greater role in Fiji’s fight against illicit drugs, saying recent joint operations with Police have shown the value of closer collaboration.
Speaking during the 2026-2027 National Budget debate in Parliament on Monday, Seruiratu said the growing drug threat required the military to remain actively involved in protecting national security.
“On National Defence and Security, we have witnessed lately the impact of the Police and the Military working in collaboration to combat the illicit drug trade in Fiji,” he said.
“I had raised the question on this earlier in Parliament and, again, I make the call for the Republic of Fiji Military Forces to remain and be given a bigger role in their fight against drugs and in maintaining of our national security and the development of our national infrastructure.”
Seruiratu said the partnership between the Fiji Police Force and the RFMF had already demonstrated its effectiveness and should be strengthened as Fiji responds to the increasing threat posed by illicit drugs.
His comments come amid heightened public concern following a series of cocaine discoveries across the country and ongoing investigations into transnational drug trafficking.
Seruiratu made the call as part of his response to the 2026-2027 National Budget, where he outlined several recommendations aimed at strengthening national resilience and public safety…..PACNEWS
NZ – ELECTION/POLITICS: PMN PACNEWS 1: Thu 16 Jul 2026
Pacific vote no longer guaranteed as parties fight for a changing political landscape
WELLINGTON, 16 JULY 2026 (PMN)—For generations, Pacific voters have been seen as a reliable base for Labour.
But ahead of this year’s election, political parties are facing a new reality: Pacific voters are asking more questions and weighing up their choices.
The latest PMN Horizon Research Pacific Issues Election Survey shows Labour remains the strongest choice among Pacific respondents.
But political figures say the results also point to changing attitudes within communities.
Green MP Teanau Tuiono says long-standing political loyalties can no longer be taken for granted.
Speaking on Pacific Mornings, Tuiono said Pacific families have historically had strong connections with Labour, but younger generations are looking closely at what parties are offering.
“I come from a traditionally Labour family like many of us within the Pacific. Loyalty is a good trait and we have that in abundance within the Pacific, but of course that loyalty always needs to be tested,” Tuiono says.
“If you would have done this poll 40 years ago it would have probably been 100 percent Labour, so things are changing and it’s important for us to continue to push for that.”
Tuiono says younger Pacific voters are focused on issues that directly affect their future.
“Particularly because our young people want action on climate change, so that they can get into affordable housing, pay their bills, put food on the table and keep the lights on.”
Labour MP Tangi Utikere the party welcomes the continued support shown in the survey but knows there is more work to do before election day.
“Of course that’s heartening. But… there’s a wee way to go through to the election. When I reflect on that result, we think about the record high levels of unemployment facing our Pacific community,” Utikere says.
“We look at the slashes in this year’s budget and in previous budgets for our Pacific community as well. So I’m not surprised, but there is still a lot of work to do.”
Labour leader Chris Hipkins says the focus now must be on helping families manage financial pressures.
“So we’ve got to get wages growing again because that’s one of the ways that you help people to catch up with the cost of living,” Hipkins says.
“We’ve also got to focus on the Government doing what it can do to ease some of that financial pressure… capping public transport fares, making it cheaper and easier for people to put solar panels on their roofs so they can bring their own electricity bills down.”
New Zealand First candidate Alfred Ngaro believes the survey also reflects a Pacific community open to chance.
While acknowledging the poll provides a snapshot rather than the full picture, Ngaro says his experience campaigning across the country shows there is movement among Pacific voters. .
“Because the reality is that for the last five and a half weeks, I’ve been travelling throughout the country on behalf of the party, and the mood on the ground is quite different in a lot of cases,” Ngaro tells PMN.
“In Māngere just recently, about four weeks ago, at the Fale Sāmoa, the heart of Labour territory, we had over 400 Pasifika inside the Fale Sāmoa, where we announced three Pasifika candidates in particular.
“While the poll I think is a good poll, it gives a direction, there’s a groundswell of change in our Pasifika communities.”
The survey also found cost of living remains a major concern for Pacific voters, with 90 percent saying it will influence their decision at the election.
But the bigger question now is whether traditional political loyalties will continue or whether Pacific voters are entering a new era where parties must compete harder for every vote.
The 2026 general election will be held on Saturday, 07 November, with advance voting opening on Monday, 26 October…PACNEWS
FIJI – DIPLOMACY: THE JERUSALEM POST PACNEWS 1: Thu 16 Jul 2026
Fiji establishes Israel Allies Caucus in effort to promote moving national embassies to Jerusalem
SUVA, 16 JULY 2026 (THE JERUSALEM POST) —Fiji has established an Israel Allies Caucus in its parliament as part of an effort to strengthen ties with Israel and promote regional support for moving national embassies to Jerusalem.
The caucus, the 65th affiliated with the Israel Allies Foundation worldwide, was launched at the Fijian Parliament in Suva on Tuesday.
It will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka and will focus on advancing relations with Israel, combating antisemitism, and opposing boycott initiatives.
Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, Israeli Ambassador Maya Yaron, Israel Allies Foundation President Josh Reinstein, and International Christian Embassy Jerusalem Vice President David Parsons attended the launch.
Representatives from several Pacific Island nations, including Samoa, the Marshall Islands, Vanuatu, Micronesia, and Papua New Guinea, are also scheduled to participate, alongside Australian MP Andrew Wallace, who chairs the Australian Israel Allies Caucus.
“It is a great honour for Fiji to establish the 65th Israel Allies Caucus,” Gavoka said. “As a nation that values faith, democracy, and friendship, we stand firmly with Israel.”
The parliamentary event was followed by a Jerusalem Summit dinner bringing together political, diplomatic, religious, and civil society leaders from across the South Pacific.
Rabuka delivered the keynote address at the summit, which celebrated Fiji’s decision to relocate its embassy to Jerusalem and encourage other Pacific Island countries to take similar steps.
“The launch of the Fiji Israel Allies Caucus and the Jerusalem Summit mark a defining moment for the Pacific,” Reinstein said, describing Fiji’s decision as an example for other countries in the region.
The Israel Allies Foundation said the new caucus would join a network of more than 1,600 legislators engaged in pro-Israel parliamentary activity worldwide…..PACNEWS
PAC – TUNA INDUSTRY: FFA PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 16 Jul 2026
Pacific voices in regional tuna discussions
NAGASAKI, 16 JULY 2026 (FFA)—Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Members Vanuatu, Fiji, Cook Islands and New Zealand took part in key fisheries discussions in Nagasaki, Japan, this week, alongside the FFA Secretariat.
The 11th Joint IATTC–WCPFC Northern Committee Working Group meeting on Pacific bluefin tuna management was held from 08-11 July, followed by the 22nd meeting of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Northern Committee from 13-14 July.
Discussions covered the management of Pacific bluefin tuna, including stock recovery, long-term harvest strategies and the Catch Documentation Scheme.
Members also engaged in discussions on other important northern stocks, including North Pacific albacore and northern billfishes.
The meetings are part of ongoing regional efforts to ensure tuna and other highly migratory fish stocks are managed sustainably….PACNEWS
TUVALU – FISHERIES: FFA PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 16 Jul 2026
Tuvalu completes boarding and inspection training to strengthen fisheries enforcement
FUNAFUTI, 16 JULY 2026 (FFA)—Twenty-one fisheries and police maritime enforcement officers from Tuvalu have completed a specialised Dockside Boarding and Inspection (DSBI) training, strengthening the country’s capability to carry out fisheries boarding, inspection and enforcement activities.
The week-long training, held from 15 – 19 June 2026, was delivered under the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency’s (FFA) Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) Strategy 2024–2029 following a request from the Government of Tuvalu under its Country Partnership Agreement (CPA) and the Niue Treaty Subsidiary Agreement.
“For Tuvalu, dockside boarding and inspection training isn’t just a regulatory checkbox—it is the front-line shield for our blue economy,” said Saifoloi Talesi of Tuvalu Fisheries.
“By turning our ports into absolute strongholds of compliance, we ensure that every tuna transshipped/landed is legally caught, accurately accounted for, and aligned with international, regional and national sustainability standards. The training reinforces our capability as a small island nation, to protect our oceans and its resources.”
The training focused on strengthening participants’ understanding of Tuvalu’s fisheries legislation, powers of authorised officers, licensing requirements and conservation and management measures, while building practical skills in boarding and inspection procedures, evidence collection and management, inspection reporting, vessel searches, field interviews and operational planning.
Participants also covered fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) data analysis, catch quantification, logsheet analysis, pre-boarding risk assessments, practical vessel inspections, post-inspection reporting, the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA), standard operating procedures, inspection documentation and processes for requesting investigations by flag States.
Jointly delivered by FFA, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), and Tuvalu Government PROPER. The programme brought together personnel from the Tuvalu Maritime Police and Tuvalu Fisheries Authority…..PACNEWS
FIJI – DIVIDEND: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 16 Jul 2026
More than 126,000 UTOF investors share record $9.19m payout
SUVA, 16 JULY 2026 (FIJI SUN) —More than 126,000 Unit Trust of Fiji (UTOF) investors will receive a share of a record $9.19 million (US$4.59 million) interim dividend after the fund announced the largest six-month payout in its history.
UTOF chairperson Lavinia Kaumaitotoya announced the record distribution in Suva Wednesday..
The payout covers the six months from January 1 to June 30, 2026, and comprises $8.46 million (US$4.23 million) for the Income and Growth Fund and $728,193(US$364, 096) for the Income Fund.
Kaumaitotoya declared a dividend of 4.00 cents per unit for the Income and Growth Fund, amounting to a total distribution of $8,461,877(US$4,230,938).
The Income Fund recorded an annualised dividend rate of 3.25 percent, equating to $728,193(US$364,096).
“This represents the largest interim dividend payout in UTOF’s history and reflects the strength, resilience and quality of our investment portfolio,” Kaumaitotoya said.
She said total income available for distribution exceeded $19.3 million (US$9.65 million) across both funds during the first six months of 2026, with more than $10.13 million (US$5.06 million) to be retained and carried forward to support future distributions and growth initiatives.
Chief executive officer Vilash Chand said the record payout was driven by portfolio growth, the quality of investments and strong returns from investee companies.
“The number of unit holders has been coming to our fund these days in order to create their wealth and grow their savings,” Chand said.
He said UTOF was targeting a similar final dividend by December, which could see the annual payout approach the record 8 cents per unit distributed in 2019.
“There is something in the pipeline and we will see how we perform over the remaining six months,” Chand said……PACNEWS
FIJI – ECONOMY: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 16 Jul 2026
‘Focus on creating jobs, not just economic growth’
SUVA, 16 JULY 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Fiji should shift its national focus from economic growth to creating and sustaining jobs if it wants to tackle labour shortages, skills shortages and migration, International Labour Organisation (ILO) Head of Education and Training Dr Naren Prasad says.
Speaking at the University of the South Pacific (USP) Wednesday, Dr Prasad said Fiji had made significant progress in infrastructure and economic development, but its labour market continued to face growing pressure from workforce shortages, skills gaps and migration.
He said policymakers should move beyond using Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth as the main measure of success and place employment at the centre of economic decision-making.
“We focus too much on GDP. Growth, growth, growth,” he said.
“Our policy makers should focus more on putting the jobs at the centre of policy making. Not only growth.”
Dr Prasad said a job-centred approach should measure employment outcomes, labour force participation, wages and migration alongside economic growth.
He outlined five strategic shifts needed to strengthen Fiji’s labour market: placing jobs at the centre of economic policy, building a skills system driven by labour market demand, making Fiji a country that retains skilled workers, increasing women’s participation in the workforce, and ensuring policymaking is guided by evidence and research.
Dr Prasad said Fiji was producing more graduates than ever before, yet employers across many industries continued to struggle to fill vacancies.
“Labour shortages required policies that focused not only on economic output but also on creating opportunities, improving working conditions and retaining talent,” Dr Prasad said…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Pacific coral reef plight takes centre-stage – Expert reaction
AUCKLAND, 16 JULY 2026 (SCIENCE MEDIA NZ) — Researchers from around the world will meet in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland next week to discuss the threats facing coral reefs and how to solve them.
This is the first time the week-long symposium has been held in NZ.
The organisers say this year’s location provides “a truly unique opportunity to feature Pacific Islander knowledge and traditions for reef management.”
The SMC asked researchers to share what they’ll be discussing at the conference.
Associate Professor Dan Hikuroa (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngaati Whanaunga, Ngāti Mahuta, Pākehā), Te Wānanga o Waipapa, Waipapa Taumata Rau/University of Auckland, comments: “For thousands of years, Indigenous Pacific peoples voyaged across the Pacific Ocean, home to myriad and diverse coral reefs, using ancestral and innovative technologies of sailing and navigation. As one of the world’s largest Pacific cities, it is highly fitting that Auckland host a meeting on coral reefs, which have always been an integral part of Pacific peoples’ lives and livelihoods.
“In my opening speech I will be discussing a mindset that underpins many Indigenous peoples’ approach – Being a Good Ancestor. It is an expression of what it means to be indigenous – simultaneously thinking about the past, present and future, and making decisions with an inter-generational mindset. As I try and manifest ‘Being a Good Ancestor’ in my work, I seek to weave together indigenous knowledge and science, recognising that many solutions or ways forward can only be realised by drawing from both bodies of knowledge together, and could not be reached from either on its own.
“A focus on the Pacific affords the opportunity to remember ancestral, but largely languishing, connections. In 2022, addressing navigators and researchers attending a meeting in Tahiti, Heremoana Maamaatuaiahutapu, while Minister of Culture, Lands and Environment, reminded those gathered that “before we spoke French and you spoke English – we shared a common language”. Reminding those present of the “ancestral navigation pathways” and declaring them to be “open”. Perhaps this meeting can be considered an expression of that ‘opening’.”
Conflict of interest statement: “I don’t think I have any conflicts. I am UNESCO NZ Commissioner for Culture, and as part of that role serve as an advisor for Te Tini a Tangaroa – NZ Ocean Science Decade.”
Dr Christopher Cornwall, Senior Lecturer in Marine Biology, Victoria University of Wellington, comments: “This symposium brings together the world’s leaders in coral reef science in one place to discuss ideas and issues of importance. It is timely that it is held in New Zealand. Climate change greatly threatens the world’s coral reef ecosystems with ongoing ocean warming causing marine heatwaves that drive coral bleaching in even otherwise pristine reefs. This coral bleaching causes widespread mortality of corals and will cause long-term degradation of reefs if recovery does not occur.
“New Zealand is positioned to be a leader in the south Pacific. The last iteration of this symposium that was accessible to Pacific Island researchers was Hawaii in 2016, with the one prior to this being in Germany. Therefore, now is the time for New Zealand to take heed of the findings of the symposium and take advantage of the world leaders in this field being present in our country to improve outcomes for the coral reefs of our Pacific neighbours. The forecasted upcoming El Nino event this summer will mean the impacts of coral bleaching will be felt particularly hard in the south Pacific. Governments across the south Pacific should take the opportunity to send delegates to the event to learn more of the pertinent findings.
“I will be discussing the effects of climate change on coral reef growth and persistence of reef structures globally. Ocean warming, acidification, and deoxygenation reduce the calcification of corals and calcified algae, i.e., their ability to make their skeletons. Marine heatwaves like those predicted due to the upcoming El Nino event cause mass coral bleaching that kills coals and reduces their cover. These stressors also increase biological erosion of coral reef framework. I will be discussing the responses of reefs under different possibly scenarios and highlight actions forward for our society.”
Conflict of interest statement: “I am a Co-Director of Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington’s Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology. I am also an Associate Director of Coastal People Southern Skies Centre of Research Excellence.”
Professor Paul Kench, Pro Vice-Chancellor of STEM, The University of Waikato, comments: “Approximately 26% of the world’s coral reefs are located in the Pacific Ocean, where climate change and other human pressures are increasingly threatening reef ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
“Hosting the International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS) presents a significant opportunity for New Zealand to demonstrate leadership alongside our Pacific neighbours, drawing global attention to the challenges facing coral reefs and Pacific Island nations while advancing sustainable solutions. The ICRS provides a unique opportunity for researchers from our region to engage with the world’s largest gathering of reef scientists, practitioners and policymakers, to exchange experience and knowledge, strengthen international collaborations, and advance solutions to protect coral reef ecosystems.
“My talk will be examining the state of knowledge of coral reef island formation and change. Reef islands are environmentally and culturally important landscapes that sustain a diverse range of living things including unique global populations of seabirds and marine turtles, and are deeply significant for indigenous and local communities. As physical landforms, reef islands are wave-deposited accumulations of sand and gravel that is derived from the broken down remains of corals and other skeletal organisms that grow and dwell on the surrounding coral reef. In small island nations of the Pacific and Indian Ocean (such as Tuvalu, Kiribati, Marshall Islands and the Maldives) reef islands provide the only habitable land for more than 700,000 people.
“Due to their low elevation and small size, coastal erosion and increased flooding as a consequence of sea-level rise threaten the existence of islands and their communities. However, recent studies have shown that islands are not static landforms that will simply disappear, but have an ability to change their size, shape and location on reef surfaces. Such island dynamics affords island communities a broader set of opportunities to adapt with island change and sustain island populations into the future.
“My talk highlights that reef islands are dynamic components of reef systems that are in continual adjustment to changes in ecological and ocean processes, including sea-level rise. It examines our current understanding of the controls on island evolution, the functional links between islands and reef ecosystems, and the implications of these interactions for conservation and adaptation planning.
“Evidence increasingly shows that many reef islands are dynamic landforms capable of adjusting their size and location in response to environmental change, revealing a wide spectrum of future physical trajectories and adaptation challenges. These adjustments influence both island persistence, habitability, and broader reef-system resilience. The presentation highlights research priorities needed to improve predictions of future island change and support the long-term resilience of these important social-ecological systems.”…PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
China as a future hegemon? Easier said than done
By Graham Fletcher
SYDNEY, 16 JULY 2026 (LOWY INSTITUTE) —Donald Trump’s communication style might not lend itself to the use of terms like “hegemony” to describe the strong political and military foothold the United States maintains in the Western Pacific. Yet for all the unpredictability that characterises Washington these days, it is difficult to imagine the US presence receding any time soon. “Making America Great Again” would sit oddly with pulling back from Asia.
China no doubt hopes to attain a similarly dominant position in Asia, as I discussed (Opens in new window) in The Interpreter last week. This would involve neighbouring governments acknowledging its pre-eminence and leadership, with Beijing’s interests and desires being factored into their decision-making as a matter of course, rendering direct pressure or interventions less necessary.
It’s one thing for China to have ambitions – quite another to achieve them.
The origins of US hegemony can be traced back to the Monroe Doctrine of the 19th century, whereby Washington declared North, Central and South America to be its sphere of primary security interest with a view to preventing renewed meddling by European powers.
But Asia’s power structure is not at all like 19th–century Latin America. Then, with the large Spanish and Portuguese colonies newly independent and weak, the US faced no competitors. China’s neighbourhood includes India, Russia, Japan, Vietnam, South and North Korea, none of which will be pushovers if China seeks to impose on their interests. Those that are democracies will be hardest for China to win over. (Those that are not, like Vietnam, still need to consider public sentiment when it comes to China.)
How the Taiwan issue unfolds will be important, but a wild card. For what it is worth, my assessment is that the status quo will probably endure into the 2030s. But if change were to occur, a range of outcomes is possible, each of which would tip the scales differently.
Chinese pre-eminence in Asia is conceivable if many of its plans go smoothly, but this will not be straightforward. Others have a vote as well. Chinese hegemony in this region is certainly not inevitable.
US allies, faced with China’s growing power, are hardly going to be the ones to undo their security ties with Washington.
For China to attain global pre-eminence will be a much steeper climb.
The ingredients of US pre-eminence include: political and diplomatic convening power; economic weight; military strength with global reach; excellence and innovation in science and technology; the world’s best research and teaching institutions; deep and liquid financial markets (including venture capital); a trusted legal system; willingness to grant residency and citizenship; cultural appeal; a mother tongue which is the global lingua franca; and personal liberty.
These attributes combine to form a powerful magnet that draws in the world’s top entrepreneurs, students and talent of all kinds. Since the 1950s, for those with the means, New York and California have demonstrably been the most attractive places to be. Such pre-eminence contains a certain self-reinforcing element, where success builds on success.
China may well catch up to the US in some of these fields. It has pockets of excellence in research, technology and manufacturing. But it needs to catch up in essentially all of these areas – and then get out in front to be recognised as the new leader, so as to redirect the flow of global talent away from the US towards itself.
This will be a tall order. China’s economy has slowed and is looking more “normal”. Consumer confidence is stubbornly weak. The birthrate – a telling indicator of societal morale – is at its lowest point since 1949, with no sign of stabilising.
Yet it is China’s systemic impediments that are most constraining: the heavy hand of politics; restricted capital flows; untrusted statistics; information controls and censorship; the Great Firewall; the operation of the legal system; and a language few outsiders master.
China certainly has strengths and can point to many successes. Life there can be energetic and fascinating. But its national attributes, taken as a package, do not yet threaten the leading position of the United States. I question whether they ever will…. PACNEWS
