In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Pacific COP process begins in Fiji with call to put communities at centre of climate action
2. PACIFIC — ‘We are leaders, not victims’: Pacific youth demand climate voice
3. PACIFIC — ‘Disability voices must shape climate policy, not just be represented’
4. SOL — PM Marape calls for new era of PNG-Solomon Islands economic partnership
5. SOL — PM Wale calls for “Melanesian growth corridor” at inaUgural PNG- Solomon Islands investment confrence
6. SOL — Solomon Islands calls for stronger UN support and presence
7. NZ — NZ seeks answers from Russia after missile warning forces US Antarctic flight back to Christchurch
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Indigenous businesses must drive PNG- Solomon Islands investment: PM Wale
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji steps up surveillance to protect tuna stocks from illegal fishing
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Pacific-owned financial institution proposed to unlock affordable finance
11. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — ‘Teeming with life’: Cook Islands officials enthuse over NOAA deep dive
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — Pacific emergency care leaders gather in Samoa to discuss how to strengthen systems that save lives
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — Tonga tests innovative solutions for managing invasive rats
PAC – PRECOP: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Thu 20 Aug 2026
Pacific COP process begins in Fiji with call to put communities at centre of climate action
NADI, 20 AUGUST 2026 (PACNEWS)—The Pacific’s COP31 process has begun in Fiji, with communities, Indigenous Peoples, youth, farmers, chiefs and climate advocates gathering in Nadi to put Pacific priorities at the centre of global climate discussions.
Siaosi Carter, Director of the ANU Pacific Institute, said the gathering marked an important moment after years of Pacific advocacy for greater regional involvement in the COP process.
“COP31 has arrived into the Pacific.”
“After the many years of advocating, socialising and mobilising for Pacific COP – it has started and finally arrived in the Pacific. BULA,” said Carter.
Carter said the gathering in Nadi is the first of three mandated meetings to be hosted in the Pacific, separate from COP and Pre-COP.
He acknowledged the Government of Fiji, through the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, as well as the UNFCCC Secretariat, for hosting the event.
“We are here in Nadi, Fiji for the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform’s Pacific Gathering.”
Carter said the meeting is different from traditional climate negotiations because it brings together people from communities rather than focusing on government officials.
“This UNFCCC Pacific Gathering is unique it brings together not state officials, but PEOPLE.”
“Our peoples, communities, and advocates from village farmers to youth champions, to chiefs, elders – we have heard powerful stories of resilience and innovation from across Oceania (Polynesia Melanesia Micronesia Australia).”
Carter said the gathering is providing space for communities across Oceania to share their experiences and solutions to climate change.
“Our local experiences that remind us climate change is not abstract, it is lived daily.”
He said while COP negotiations focus on building consensus among States, the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform provides a space for communities to share their experiences and push for their priorities to be reflected in climate action.
“While COP attempts to build state consensus, among communities the Platform allows sharing our experiences and solutions, we ensure that our priorities from cultural identity, food security, agriculture, adaptation, and climate justice are not only heard but acted upon.”
Carter said the gathering provides an opportunity to amplify Pacific voices and ensure the experiences of communities are reflected in the wider COP process.
“Amplifying our Oceania voices in COP,” he said…. PACNEWS
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Thu 20 Aug 2026
‘We are leaders, not victims’: Pacific youth demand climate voice
SUVA, 20 AUGUST 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Pacific youth are demanding a stronger role in shaping climate policies and decisions affecting the region.
They say their voices, traditional knowledge and lived experiences must be reflected in regional and global climate discussions.
The call was made during the ongoing Regional Conference of Youth at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva.
Young leaders from across Oceania have developed shared priorities and a regional youth statement ahead of upcoming climate discussions.
National Youth Council Fiji vice-president Selai Niusere said climate change was not simply a policy issue for Pacific communities, but a daily reality threatening food systems, cultural identity, low-lying islands and coastal villages.
Niusere said Pacific youth should be recognised as navigators, negotiators, scientists, researchers and leaders, rather than being treated only as victims of climate change.
Four key priorities were identified during the gathering — keeping global warming within 1.5 degrees Celsius, improving access to climate finance, protecting the ocean and ensuring young people have a meaningful seat at decision-making tables.
The 1.5-degree target is critical to the survival of Pacific island communities, calling for rapid emissions reductions, a transition away from fossil fuels and greater accountability from major emitters.
Climate finance was also highlighted, with calls for funding to be more accessible, predictable and responsive to the needs of local communities and youth organisations.
“Protecting the ocean is equally important because it supported Pacific livelihoods, food security and cultural identity,” Niusere said.
International Labour Organisation (ILO) Pacific director Martin Wanderas said young people should not simply be consulted, but should be involved in shaping programmes and decisions that affected them.
“Priority should be to create programmes with young people rather than simply for young people, this ensure their experiences and ideas influenced decision-making processes,” he said.
Wanderas said the three-day conference provided an opportunity for Pacific youth to identify their priorities, develop collective messages and turn their ideas into action.
Participant Timoci Mocebalavu, a legal research intern at Dialogue Fiji, said the discussions provided an opportunity to contribute his legal drafting skills while learning about the planning and aspirations leading into upcoming climate discussions.
Mocebalavu said he felt privileged to join young leaders from across the Pacific and contribute to discussions on the ocean, cultural preservation and traditional knowledge.
The conference represents a significant shift for Pacific youth, who are increasingly being given opportunities to participate in conversations affecting their future.
The gathering has also provided young people with an opportunity to raise their concerns and demonstrate the impact they can make when given the opportunity.
The Regional Conference of Youth will produce a collective statement reflecting the shared priorities and experiences of young people from across the Pacific.
Participants are optimistic that the statement will not simply remain on paper, but carry the collective voice of Pacific youth into regional and global decision-making processes….PACNEWS
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Thu 20 Aug 2026
‘Disability voices must shape climate policy, not just be represented’
SUVA, 20 AUGUST 2026 (FIJI SUN)—People with disabilities must have meaningful opportunities to participate in climate discussions and influence decisions to ensure policies reflect the challenges faced by communities on the ground.
Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Officer Sabina Moce, who works with civil society organisation Field Ready, said representation alone was not enough.
She said people with disabilities needed opportunities to participate, speak and influence decisions where policies were being shaped.
Speaking on the second day of the ongoing Regional Conference of Youth at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva, Moce said her participation in such a space was an important step towards greater inclusion.
“I have never been to COP. This was my first COP, and being invited to this kind of space was a step towards inclusion,” she said.
Moce said representation was important, but participation was equally critical because it allowed decision-makers to better understand the needs of people with disabilities.
She said people attending international and regional discussions often represented communities that did not have the opportunity to be physically present.
“We have the power. We were in this room, and we had the power to implement those conversations and then lead them to policies,” she said.
Moce said greater representation was also needed among young people with different disabilities.
She said having only a small number of people with disabilities in a discussion limited the range of experiences and needs being presented.
“Luisa was a person with a mobility impairment, and she could tell you the needs of persons with mobility impairments. But what about those who had hearing impairments? What about those who had other disabilities?” she said.
Moce, who also serves as secretary of the Fiji Disability People’s Board and a board member of the Pacific Disability Forum Youth Board, said meaningful participation and representation were essential if climate action was to be truly inclusive
Meanwhile, as Fiji prepares to host Pre-COP31, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change continues to strengthen engagement with stakeholders to ensure Pacific priorities, experiences and solutions are strongly represented in the discussions leading to COP31.
Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Lynda Tabuya, and Permanent Secretary, Dr Sivendra Michael met with representatives of DIVA for Equality FIJI in Suva as part of ongoing engagement ahead of Pre-COP31.
Discussions focused on Fiji’s preparations for Pre-COP31 and the importance of creating space for diverse Pacific voices and lived experiences to contribute to the climate discussions in Fiji and carry these priorities forward to COP31.
The meeting also discussed DIVA for Equality’s perspectives and priorities, including the Pacific Feminists’ 17 Urgent Demands, as part of the wider stakeholder engagement around climate action in the Pacific.
As preparations continue to progress, the Ministry continues to work with stakeholders and partners to ensure Pre-COP31 provides a strong platform for Pacific climate priorities and solutions to be heard and elevated on the global stage….PACNEWS
SOL – ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP: INDEPTH SOLOMONS PACNEWS 1: Thu 20 Aug 2026
PM Marape calls for new era of PNG-Solomon Islands economic partnership
HONIARA, 20 AUGUST 2026 (INDEPTH SOLOMONS) —Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has called for a new era of economic partnership between PNG and Solomon Islands.
Marape said the two neighbouring Melanesian countries must turn their strong political, historical and cultural ties into greater investment, trade, jobs, downstream processing and economic independence.
He made the call at the official opening of the inaugural PNG–Solomon Islands Business Investment Forum in Honiara alongside Prime Minister Matthew Wale.
The forum, held under the theme “From Opportunity to Investment: Building the PNG–Solomon Islands Growth Corridor,” brings together government leaders, investors, business executives, financial institutions and private-sector representatives from both countries.
Marape said the forum should mark the beginning of sustained economic engagement between PNG and Solomon Islands.
“What good is political independence without economic independence?” he said.
He said PNG had been working since 2019 to reduce its reliance on aid and grants by making greater use of its natural resources.
“We do not want to be aid and grant recipients forever,” Marape stated.
“We want to build economies strong enough to stand on our own feet and, in time, assist others who need our help.”
Marape said PNG and Solomon Islands were permanent neighbours whose futures were closely linked by geography, culture and history.
“Location matters. Place matters. It is who we are. We cannot change geography,” he said.
He said the two countries must build a future that is fair, balanced and respectful of their people and businesses.
Marape said his Government supported the forum’s focus on turning economic opportunities into actual investments.
He encouraged businesses from both countries to form partnerships and joint ventures.
“If we can source capacity from each other, let us source it. If we can have joint ventures amongst each other, let us have those joint ventures,” he said.
PNG businesses already have a significant presence in Solomon Islands in sectors including property, finance, retail, fisheries, professional services and construction.
Marape thanked the Solomon Islands Government and people for welcoming PNG businesses.
He encouraged PNG investors to partner with Solomon Islands businesses and help develop local small and medium-sized enterprises.
“PNG businesses, as you work here, incubate a local business to be your value partner,” he said.
“A good relationship, a good business venture and a good reputation is premium capital.”
He also invited Solomon Islands businesses to invest and expand in PNG.
Marape identified the two countries’ large maritime resources as one of their biggest economic opportunities.
He said their combined exclusive economic zones provide access to some of the world’s richest tuna resources.
However, he called for a shift from simply harvesting and exporting fish towards greater domestic processing and manufacturing.
“We have been open for business for so long. We now want to go into partnership,” he said.
“We want to step up processing of our catches in our respective countries.”
Marape said PNG and Solomon Islands could become a strong regional bloc supplying sustainably produced tuna and other marine products to international markets.
He said this could create jobs and retain more economic value within both countries.
Marape also encouraged responsible investment in mining and energy.
Investors, he said, should receive reasonable returns while host countries, landowners and local businesses receive a fair share through taxes, royalties, equity and local participation.
Marape said the greatest asset of both countries was their people, particularly their young populations.
“Our youthful workforce must be seen as our number one resource,” he said.
He called for greater investment in education, technical skills, small businesses and labour mobility.
Marape also acknowledged Solomon Islanders working in PNG, including teachers, pastors and other professionals.
He said stronger skills development could allow people from both countries to access domestic, regional and international employment opportunities.
Marape said the partnership should be based on shared prosperity rather than competition.
“A healthy Solomon Islands is a healthy PNG. A healthy PNG is a healthy Solomon Islands.”
He encouraged businesses from both countries to explore opportunities across the border.
“Solomon Islands businesses, come to PNG. Likewise, PNG businesses, come to Solomon Islands,” he said.
“Our strength is in economic prosperity.”
Marape said PNG and Solomon Islands already work closely through the Pacific Islands Forum, Melanesian Spearhead Group, Commonwealth and United Nations.
He said strong government-to-government relations must now be matched by stronger business-to-business partnerships.
“As our countries move into the next 50 years, we must build economies that give our people control over their own destiny,” he said.
“Let us use what God has placed in our land, our seas and our people, work together as Melanesian brothers and sisters, and create prosperity that strengthens both our nations,” he said….PACNEWS
SOL – INVESTMENT: SOL GOVT PACNEWS 1: Thu 20 Aug 2026
PM Wale calls for “Melanesian growth corridor” at inaUgural PNG- Solomon Islands investment confrence
HONIARA, 20 AUGUST 2026 (SOL GOVT) — Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has urged Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands to turn their long-standing Melanesian relationship into a “structured, bankable economic partnership” as he officially opened the inaugural PNG–Solomon Islands Investment Conference in Honiara.
Speaking under the theme “From Opportunity to Investment: Building the PNG–Solomon Islands Growth Corridor”, the Prime Minister said the two countries must move beyond goodwill to deliver measurable economic outcomes for their combined population of over 11 million people.
Prime Minister Wale said PNG and Solomon Islands share more than a border.
“Trade across our islands was never a mere transaction. It was reciprocity. It was obligation honoured over generations. It was trust, banked and repaid,” he said.
“The wantok system that binds us is, in economic terms, social capital of extraordinary depth — networks of trust that lower the cost of doing business before a single contract is signed.”
The Prime Minister highlighted that more than 50 Papua New Guinea companies already operate in the Solomon Islands across banking, telecommunications, transport, agriculture and hospitality, with an estimated value of PGK 1 billion (SBD$1.8 billion).
“Capital goes where it expects returns. That figure tells the world that the Solomon Islands is investable,” he said.
He noted that new direct air connectivity, with the weekly Solomon Airlines service between Honiara and Port Moresby launched in July 2026, will further reduce the cost of moving people, ideas and capital. “Connectivity drives commerce,” Prime Minister Wale said.
Prime Minister Wale framed the partnership around three dimensions, including;
• Partnership for Growth: Diversifying beyond raw exports into agriculture, fisheries processing, tourism, renewable energy and digital services. “We seek private participation in commercial farming, agro-processing and export development,” he said.
• Partnership for Solidarity: Ensuring benefits reach indigenous MSMEs, women and youth. “Joint ventures, local supply contracts, technical training and pathways to local ownership should become normal features of major investments,” the PM stated.
• Partnership for Stability: “Stability is not imposed from outside; it is built from within, job by job, enterprise by enterprise. Let us redraw that map: from an arc of instability to an arc of stability and prosperity.”
The Prime Minister called for an end to extractive business models.
“It is time to look at new business models — models that process here, employ here, train here, and share ownership here. Models that respect our laws, our landowners and our custom, and treat tribal land not as an obstacle but as equity,” he said.
Prime Minister Wale said the groundwork is set with the MOU between PNGSIBC and SICCI signed in October 2025 and the Framework Agreement on Development and Economic Cooperation 2026-2030 signed with PM James Marape in Port Moresby in June 2026.
He urged conference participants to “move beyond discussion to implementation” and to create investments that lead to jobs and improve livelihoods.
“To PNG investors, my message is direct. Solomon Islands welcomes your capital, knowledge and experience. Come prepared to build long-term partnerships. Work with our businesses. Train our people. Respect our laws and landowners” PM Wale said.
The Prime Minister concluded that the success of the conference will be measured not by speeches, but by “the investments that follow, the joint ventures established, the indigenous businesses that scale up, the jobs created, and the prosperity generated.”
The two-day conference is hosted by the Papua New Guinea Solomon Islands Business Council and the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry. …PACNEWS
SOL – DIPLOMACY: SIBC PACNEWS 1: Thu 20 Aug 2026
Solomon Islands calls for stronger UN support and presence
HONIARA, 20 AUGUST 2026 (SIBC)—The Solomon Islands Government has called for stronger and more strategic United Nations support, including an enhanced UN presence in the country, to help advance its development and foreign policy priorities.
The call was made during a joint mission by UN Resident Coordinator Dirk Wagener and a senior UN delegation to Solomon Islands from 16 -19 August.
The Government described the visit as an opportunity to strengthen the longstanding partnership between Solomon Islands and the United Nations.
It reaffirmed its commitment to balanced and nationally driven international engagement and urged the UN to better align its assistance with Solomon Islands’ development priorities.
The Government acknowledged continued UN support in areas including climate resilience, sustainable development, health and education.
During discussions, Solomon Islands highlighted its regional leadership role and stressed the importance of Pacific solidarity, unity and consensus in addressing common challenges, including peace and security and increasing geopolitical competition in the region.
The Government also outlined preparations for the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau and called for continued UN support for Pacific priorities and regional cooperation.
A key issue was the need for a stronger UN presence in Solomon Islands.
The Government renewed its call for an elevated UN presence, including a dedicated Resident Coordinator based in the country, to provide more timely and responsive support to its growing development needs.
While recognising the contribution of the previous five-year strategic framework, the Government said greater investment was needed in transformative and tangible projects under the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023–2027 and the new Country Implementation Plan.
It said UN investments should support sustainable economic growth, inclusive development and long-term economic transformation.
The Government also called for greater UN support for the reform agenda of the GREAT Coalition Government, particularly in economic transformation, decentralisation, accountability and improved service delivery.
It stressed that UN assistance should remain aligned with national priorities while strengthening Solomon Islands’ own institutions and systems.
The Government further called for greater focus on provinces and communities, saying development assistance must translate into tangible improvements in people’s lives.
It encouraged stronger support for provincial service delivery, local governance and community-level programmes.
To improve coordination, Solomon Islands reaffirmed the importance of the Joint UN–Solomon Islands Government Steering Committee in aligning UN programmes with national development priorities.
The Government also called for practical follow-up to the outcomes of the High-Level Government–Development Partner Summit, including clearer responsibilities, regular engagement and stronger coordination between the Government, UN agencies and development partners.
Solomon Islands acknowledged the UN’s role in supporting progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals but stressed that UN programmes must remain closely aligned with the National Development Strategy and the priorities of the GREAT Coalition Government.
The Government also highlighted the need for coordinated UN support for Solomon Islands’ graduation from Least Developed Country status.
It said such support would be important in managing the transition and minimising potential impacts on development financing, trade opportunities and other international assistance.
Looking ahead to COP31 and other international processes, Solomon Islands called for continued UN support for its climate diplomacy and resilience priorities, including improved access to climate finance, disaster resilience and stronger links between ocean and climate action.
The Government thanked the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office for organising the joint mission and co-hosting the High-Level Government–Development Partner Summit, which it said provides an important platform for strengthening coordination and aligning development assistance with national priorities….PACNEWS
NZ – DIPLOMACY: THE POST PACNEWS 1: Thu 20 Aug 2026
NZ seeks answers from Russia after missile warning forces US Antarctic flight back to Christchurch
WELLINGTON, 20 AUGUST 2026 (THE POST)—New Zealand officials are seeking further information from Russia after a warning about a planned missile launch forced a United States Air Force flight bound for Antarctica to return to Christchurch.
The flight departed Christchurch on Tuesday before turning back after aviation authorities were alerted to a potential hazard in international airspace southeast of New Zealand.
The CAA said space activity could have posed a hazard to aviation en route to Antarctica.
However, it said “The CAA was made aware by the Russian Air Traffic Management Centre of a planned missile launch and associated potential hazard to international airspace, within New Zealand’s Oceanic Flight Information Region,” a CAA spokesperson said.
“As a result, we put in place a danger area and issued a NOTAM, Notice to Airmen, to alert aircraft operators to the potential hazard.”
The CAA said the notice did not close the affected airspace.
“This does not prevent aircraft from flying through the area, operators make their decisions based on the information available.”
The Oceanic Flight Information Region managed by New Zealand covers a large area of international waters.
“Much of our Oceanic FIR is over international waters, where we have limited control over activities.”
“It is normal practice for Airspace Authorities and Air Traffic Service Providers, provided with such hazard notifications to issue NOTAMs.”
“Our role is to make sure operators know about aviation hazards. The safety and security of aircraft and passengers is our priority.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said he had been briefed on the matter.
“New Zealand is aware of the Russian notice to aircrew and mariners of a planned missile launch and associated potential hazard to international airspace southeast of New Zealand.”
“However, details of the Russian notice are currently unclear and we are seeking further information.”
Associate Transport Minister James Meager said his office had also been kept informed.
“In this case, once the CAA was notified of a planned missile launch affecting New Zealand’s Oceanic Flight Information Region, a danger area was put in place, and a NOTAM was issued so operators could make informed decisions.”
“My office has been kept up to speed with developments on this. Safety and security are our top priorities, and this is a standard process for managing potential aviation hazards over international waters.”
The Government has not yet provided further details about the planned Russian missile launch, including its purpose, trajectory or exact timing…..PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
SOL – BUSINESS: SOL GOVT PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 20 Aug 2026
Indigenous businesses must drive PNG- Solomon Islands investment: PM Wale
HONIARA, 20 AUGUST 2026 (SOL GOVT)—Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale says indigenous businesses, women-led enterprises and young entrepreneurs must be at the centre of the growing economic partnership between Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.
Speaking at the inaugural PNG–Solomon Islands Investment Conference in Honiara, Wale said investment benefits must extend beyond urban centres and large corporations.
“Indigenous entrepreneurship is not a footnote to this conference, it is the point of it,” he said.
Wale said PNG companies investing in Solomon Islands should build meaningful partnerships with local businesses rather than simply operate alongside them.
He said joint ventures, local supply contracts, technical training and pathways to local ownership should become standard features of major investments.
The Prime Minister described indigenous micro, small and medium enterprises, women-led businesses and young entrepreneurs as the backbone of both economies because they create jobs, support families and keep wealth within communities.
“Inclusive growth is not only socially responsible; it is smart economics,” he said.
Wale said economies that allow more people to participate are stronger, more resilient and more sustainable.
He also linked inclusive economic growth to national stability, saying every young person employed, indigenous business given access to capital and community with a stake in economic growth strengthens the foundation for peace and prosperity. …. PACNEWS
FIJI – FISHERIES: FIJI GOVT PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 20 Aug 2026
Fiji steps up surveillance to protect tuna stocks from illegal fishing
SUVA, 20 AUGUST 2026 (FIJI GOVT)—Fiji is stepping up surveillance and enforcement across its 1.2 million square kilometre Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to protect its tuna stocks from illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
The Government is using satellite imagery, vessel monitoring systems, sea and aerial patrols and port inspections to track fishing activity and identify vessels suspected of breaching Fiji’s fisheries laws.
All foreign fishing vessels calling at Fijian ports are subject to physical inspections, while vessel movements and previous arrival records are checked before entry is approved.
Minister for Fisheries and Forestry Alitia Bainivalu told Parliament that Fiji is combining technology, enforcement operations and regional cooperation to strengthen fisheries surveillance.
The Fiji Fisheries Surveillance and Operations Centre has been operationalised in partnership with the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), while surface and aerial patrols provide additional monitoring at sea.
Fiji also participates in regional fisheries operations including Operation Tui Moana, Operation Island Chief, Operation Kurukuru and Operation Nasse.
The operations strengthen intelligence-sharing, vessel tracking, inspections and surveillance across the wider Pacific.
Under Shiprider Agreements, Fijian enforcement officers can board and inspect vessels on the high seas using assets provided by partner countries.
The Republic of Fiji Military Forces Naval Division also supports fisheries surveillance through its patrol vessels RFNS Savenaca and RFNS Timo, as well as the hydrographic vessel RFNS Volasiga.
Bainivalu said strong fisheries surveillance is critical to protecting Fiji’s marine resources.
IUU fishing threatens the sustainability of fish stocks, the domestic economy and resources belonging to the people of Fiji.
The Government will continue strengthening surveillance, enforcement and regional partnerships to combat illegal fishing and protect Fiji’s tuna resources.
The aim is to ensure the country’s marine resources remain sustainable and available for future generations….PACNEWS
PACIFIC – AFFORDABLE FINANCE: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 20 Aug 2026
Pacific-owned financial institution proposed to unlock affordable finance
SUVA, 20 AUGUST 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Fiji is pushing for a Pacific-owned financial institution to provide affordable finance and keep capital within communities as part of efforts to strengthen cooperatives across the region.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Industries, Commerce, Business Development and Public Enterprises Manoa Kamikamica proposed the establishment of a Pacific Cooperative Savings and Loan institution owned and governed by cooperatives and their members.
He made the call yesterday at the Strengthening Pacific Cooperatives through Education, Training and Regional Cooperation Forum in Nadi.
Kamikamica said access to finance must be a central pillar of the proposed Pacific Islands Cooperative Network (PICON), particularly as rural enterprises and small businesses continued to face barriers to capital.
“If we are serious about revitalising the cooperative movement in the Pacific, then we must also be serious about building financial systems that are designed to serve our people,” he said.
Kamikamica said the proposed institution could mobilise community savings, provide appropriate financial products and help cooperatives, micro, small and medium enterprises and informal businesses grow.
“Most importantly, the capital would remain within our communities and within our cooperative movement, helping our people to finance our own development.”
He said the proposal was about more than establishing another financial institution.
“It is about creating a financial ecosystem that is owned by the people it serves. It is about putting the principles of cooperation into practice, pooling our resources, sharing our risks, and investing collectively in our future.”
Kamikamica said cooperatives were more than economic entities and could support inclusive growth, poverty reduction and community empowerment.
He said stronger cooperatives could also create opportunities for young people, reduce social exclusion and help address challenges including unemployment, substance abuse and crime.
The minister said Fiji was strengthening its legislative and regulatory framework to ensure cooperatives were well-governed, competitive and innovative.
He also highlighted education and training, regional trade, technology, market access and greater participation by women and young people as key areas for strengthening the cooperative movement.
Kamikamica said PICON could become a driving force for revitalising cooperatives across the Pacific and creating shared economic opportunities…. 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
‘Teeming with life’: Cook Islands officials enthuse over NOAA deep dive
By Tiana Haxton, RNZ Pacific journalist/presenter
RAROTONGA, 20 AUGUST 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC)—A 26-day deep sea expedition in the Cook Islands by a United States scientific agency has uncovered new information about marine life and seabed minerals within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ship Okeanos Explorer returned to Rarotonga this week after carrying out research in the western Cook Islands where little to no prior data exists.
The expedition conducted 14 remotely operated vehicle dives, collecting more than 400 samples and sub-samples, exploring seamounts, abyssal plains and areas of the Manihiki Plateau.
Researchers aboard collected more than 23 biological specimens, some of which are believed to be new to science.
The information is being gathered at a time when the U.S administration has made no secret of its desire to explore the potential of minerals on the Cook Islands’ deep seabed.
Evaluating potential
U.S Geological Survey scientist Amanda Demopoulos said building an understanding of underwater life will help form a baseline that the local community can reference when making decisions about resources in their oceans.
But the ecologist pointed out the information can also impact the wider region, as the wider Pacific Islands grapples with whether to allow deep sea mining for valiuavble polymetallic nodules on the deep seabed.
“Countries have borders, but our ecosystems do not. By working together across international borders and boundaries, we can better understand how the full deep-sea ecosystem functions,” Demopoulos said.
The expedition also confirmed the presence of extensive polymetallic nodule fields in parts of the Cook Islands ocean territory that scientists did not expect.
NOAA’s deputy assistant secretary Erik Noble said the findings provide important baseline data for future decisions about seabed resources.
“High-quality data is the essential first step towards evaluating resource potential. That baseline data collected on this cruise has given us concrete advancements in understanding deep-sea marine ecosystems.
“And yes, it confirmed the presence of rich polymetallic nodule fields, vast fields in this region, even in places where they were not expected, even from our own scientific team.”
Building relations
Noble said he wants to build on the expedition through further relations.
“The U.S is looking forward to long-term, lasting partnerships with nations that are actively committed to using world-class science to move forward’
“Specifically, using this foundation of data to build out a secure, responsible critical minerals industry for the future. The goal is to see this data translated into active economic development, strengthening global supply chains and creating real-world opportunities.”
He announced a new science fellow position will be established at NOAA though the US Embassy in New Zealand – with the person to be based in the Cook Islands to support and guide scientific and regulatory processes.
Cook Islands caretaker Prime Minister Mark Brown, fresh off a resounding victory in the country’s election last week, welcomed home the vessel and its crew.
“What has returned to these shores is more than a research vessel. It is knowledge,” he said.
Brown said the expedition showed how much remains unknown about the Cook Islands ocean.
He described it as a “humbling and inspiring” experience to sit alongside scientists as they sent an ROV, remotely operated vehicle, below the waves and watched its discoveries in real time on screen.
“It reminded me that, even as an ocean nation, there is still so much about our own waters that we are only beginning to understand, and that understanding matters.”
The new U.S Ambassador to the Cook Islands Jared Novelly said more than 60,0000 people around the world tuned in to the expedition’s ROV dives through live-streams.
“People around the world followed this expedition live. They watched scientists become genuinely excited about sand, rocks, and the occasional deep-sea creature that appeared surprised to be on camera. The discoveries were shared as they happened.”
Earlier expedition
The expedition builds on earlier work by the Okeanos Explorer that helped the Cook Islands establish its rights over a much larger area of seabed.
A Cook Islands public servant Joshua Mitchell said the vessel was instrumental in gathering evidence for the Cook Islands’ revised extended continental shelf submission to the United Nations.
In 2017, the Okeanos Explorer mapped unusual underwater ridges known as the Spurs, which extend from the Northern part of the Manihiki Plateau.
“The expedition was a resounding success. We sent the coordinates through to the Okeanos Explorer, and they mapped it thoroughly using sophisticated multibeam equipment. They even flew an ROV up and along the feature, broadcasting the high-definition footage in real time for all to see.”
“I’ll never forget sitting at my desk one day when Alan messages me and tells me to click on a link to follow the ROV expedition.
“What I saw unfold on my screen was just incredible: soft corals, invertebrates, and all manner of unusual sea creatures. The Spur was teeming with life, an amazingly diverse ecosystem some 4000 metres down in the deep.”
Mitchell said the information ultimately formed part of the Cook Islands revised submission to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.
In 2025, the UN accepted the technical arguments and endorsed it’s claim, adding 396,900 square kilometres of extended continental shelf – and expanding the countrys total national jurisdiction to more than 2.3 million square kilometres.
Mitchell said this also makes the Cook Islands the first Pacific Island nation to finalise all of its maritime boundaries and extended continental shelves under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
For him, the Okeanos Explorer returning to the Cook Islands for its most recent expedition is very special.
“She represents opportunity for people from two different nations working together for the betterment of both countries.
“She represents the importance of scientific knowledge to the ultimate expression of sovereignty in our maritime space, our Marae Moana, and she represents legacy from inspiring school kids in a classroom on a remote atoll to someday become marine scientists and researchers themselves.”
The Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority commissioner Beverly Ataera said that having NOAA taking members of her team on board for the expedition has helped build local scientific capability.
“One of the things I particularly value about this expedition is that the Cook Islanders have not simply been observers… That capability that you shared with them will remain in the Cook Islands forever. This is how we build long-lasting capability.”
While there is significant concern in the Pacific Islands region about the potential environmental impact from deep sea mining, Ataera said the sort of knowledge gained in the NOAA expedition can only help better inform the debate.
She believes the value of the expedition lies not only in what it discovered, but what it allows the Cook Islands to do next.
“They help us to understand our ocean a little better. They help us to identify what we know and what we don’t know yet, and where we need to focus our efforts to learn a little more. And that matters enormously for us in the Cook Islands.
“If we are going to make good decisions about that ocean, those decisions must be grounded in good science and good information.”
Ataera concluded by reiterating that the information gathered must also be made accessible to Cook Islanders.
The expedition data, video logs and sample analysis will be processed and shared with the Cook Islands Government and wider scientific community….PACNEWS
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Pacific emergency care leaders gather in Samoa to discuss how to strengthen systems that save lives
APIA, 20 AUGUST 2026 (WHO PACIFIC) —When a patient arrives at the emergency department, the first minutes and hours are critical. A clear triage system, trained staff, the right equipment, and timely referral can mean the difference between recovery and preventable harm.
This urgency was at the centre of discussions in Apia, Samoa, where the Pacific Islands Society for Emergency Care (PISEC) inaugural scientific conference was held from 13 to 14 August 2026. Hosted by the Government of Samoa through the Ministry of Health, with support from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Pacific Community, the Regional Emergency and Critical Care Systems Strengthening Initiative, the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre, and other partners, the conference brought together emergency care professionals from across the Pacific under the theme, “Strengthening the Pacific ECO System: Working Together for Our People.”
Participants exchanged experiences, discussed common challenges, and explored ways to improve emergency care across pre-hospital services, hospital-based care, and continued care after the emergency has passed. Earlier in the same week, the Ministry of Health Samoa organised a two-day point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) pre-conference workshop that brought together doctors, nurses, midwives from primary health care facilities, as well as sonographers, for hands-on training to support faster clinical decisions and improve patient care in Samoa.
A Pacific movement for emergency care
For Pauli Dr Pai Enosa, Head of the Emergency Department at Tupua Tamasese Meaole (TTM) Hospital and the President of PISEC, the conference was an important milestone for their new regional society.
“We identified that there is a need for a standard of care across the Pacific, especially for our people,” Dr Enosa said, recalling how Pacific emergency care leaders first came together through regional workshops in 2018. He explained that the society was created to advocate for better emergency services across the region and to share lessons learnt to better serve our people, with membership open to doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals.
PISEC now brings together members from around 15 countries, spanning Polynesia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Timor-Leste. Across these island nations, many emergency care teams face similar pressures.
“The common challenge with all the member countries was, number one, not enough staff to actually run the department,” Dr Enosa explained. “And the second challenge is limited resources within the departments, with some of the countries even saying that they don’t have a specific area for emergencies.”
In a call to action at the conference, Dr Sebastian Paulo, a junior registrar at TTM Hospital, challenged Pacific emergency care practitioners to focus on practical improvements that reach patients and communities.
“From this moment, every discussion here must answer one question: ‘Will this change outcomes for our people or just language in our reports?’” Dr Paulo asserted. He urged Pacific countries to shape emergency care systems grounded in their own realities, noting that “every nation must be supported to build its own pathway, aligned to its workforce, geography, culture, and reality.”
Dr Paulo also reminded the conference participants to keep patients and communities at the centre of every discussion. “That is who we serve. Not institutions. Not conferences. People,” he emphasised.
Samoa launches a five-year emergency care roadmap
During the scientific conference, the Ministry of Health, led by the Chief Executive Officer June Scanlan-Lui, took the opportunity to launch the Accident and Emergency Department Strategic Plan for Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital for 2026/27 to 2030/31. The plan provides a five-year roadmap to strengthen emergency services in Samoa and support the development of the Emergency Department as a regional centre for emergency care by 2030.
The plan is structured around six strategic goals: clinical services and patient care; workforce capacity and education; infrastructure and equipment; systems and processes; data and information; and leadership, governance, and partnerships. It is aligned with Samoa’s health priorities, the WHO Emergency Care System Framework, the Healthy Islands Framework, and the PISEC Regional Emergency Care Framework.
Dr Enosa said the strategic plan is a costed roadmap for the department over the next five years, with the intention of improving health systems to enable staff to deliver quality emergency care for patients, families, and the wider community.
“The main idea of having this strategic plan is to actually make sure we are held accountable so that we create systems to enable us to deliver quality and efficient services,” Dr Enosa explained.
Partnership for safer, timely care
The launch of the strategic plan and the organisation of the PISEC scientific conference also highlighted the role of strong partnerships across the Pacific in strengthening emergency care. Both efforts brought together support from WHO and other partners, combining technical assistance and regional collaboration to help advance safer, timelier, and better-coordinated emergency care for Pacific communities.
For Dr Enosa, the long-term goal is to continue growing PISEC, strengthen partnerships, and support Pacific countries to improve emergency care in ways that are relevant to their own settings, “The important thing is that we try to achieve our vision, which is to improve emergency care within our Pacific Islands, to make sure that emergency care across the Pacific is standardised in terms of systems, knowledge, and skills.”
“We’ve had immense support from the World Health Organisation, especially with the emergency department,” Dr Enosa added. “We are very appreciative of the support that we get from the World Health Organisation.”
“Emergency care is one of the clearest points where health systems meet people at their most urgent moment,” said Dr Wendy Snowdon, WHO Representative to Samoa, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau.
“Across Samoa and the wider Pacific, emergency care teams work under significant pressure to deliver the best possible outcomes they can for their patients. PISEC is a great initiative led by practitioners in the Pacific, towards strengthening emergency care services through collaboration and information sharing.”
“WHO congratulates the Ministry of Health Samoa for the launch of their Emergency Department Strategic Plan and is committed to supporting the implementation of this important initiative,” Dr Snowdon added….PACNEWS
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Tonga tests innovative solutions for managing invasive rats
VA’VAU, 20 AUGUST 2026 (SPREP)—Tonga has taken an important step in strengthening its invasive species management capacity with the deployment and initial field trialling of a rat management system on Mt Talau in Vava’u, positioning it to explore the possibility of expanding automated invasive species management technologies to other priority conservation sites around the country where invasive rats continue to threaten biodiversity.
The experience gained in Vava’u provides a strong foundation for scaling up these efforts and integrating invasive species management into broader ecosystem restoration and climate resilience programmes, while also generating important practical lessons on the suitability, installation, operation and monitoring of automated invasive species management technology in Pacific Island conditions.
The deployment was led by Tonga’s Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC) in partnership with the Vava’u Environmental Protection Association (VEPA) and local conservation practitioners with technical support from SPREP and BirdLife International. BirdLife International led the deployment work, being the technical co-lead for the RERC programme in the animal management component alongside SPREP.
The mission undertaken in late July, through the SPREP led Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS) under the PRISMSS Resilient Ecosystems and Resilient Communities (RERC) programme, reflects Tonga’s commitment to protecting biodiversity, restoring ecosystems and building long-term environmental resilience. These initiatives are part of the PRISMSS Restoring Island Resilience (RIR) project funded by the New Zealand Foreign Affairs & Trade and United Kingdom International Development.
Invasive rats remain one of the greatest threats to island ecosystems across the Pacific, impacting native bird populations, disrupting forest regeneration and placing significant pressure on fragile ecosystems. Effective management of these invasive predators is critical to safeguarding important conservation areas such as Mt Talau, one of Vava’u’s most significant natural sites.
National Invasive Species Coordinator based with MEIDECC, Viliami Hakaumotu, commented that, “the field trial was a valuable opportunity for Tonga to test new technology for the first time under local conditions, while building the skills needed to assess its practicality, limitations and potential role in future invasive species work.”
“A key focus of the mission was ensuring that Tonga’s conservation teams have the skills and confidence to independently manage the technology into the future and MEIDECC and VEPA personnel participated in practical, field-based training throughout the deployment, covering system installation, operation, maintenance, monitoring and troubleshooting.”
“By using a hands-on, learning-by-doing approach, participants gained direct technical expertise with the requirements of deploying and checking the units, as well as documenting technical issues encountered during setup and early monitoring so that they can inform future decisions and guidance,” he further added.
Community engagement also played an important role in the deployment. Local stakeholders were given opportunities to share their knowledge, experiences and perspectives on invasive species management and environmental stewardship.
Traditional ecological knowledge was recognised as a valuable complement to scientific approaches and will help inform future conservation planning and management decisions. The programme further promoted inclusive participation by encouraging the involvement of women, youth and community representatives, helping to strengthen local ownership of conservation efforts and support more sustainable natural resource management.
Beyond the installation itself, the deployment contributes to broader regional learning and collaboration. Any future standard operating procedures or best-practice guidance should reflect the lessons from this field trial deployment, including the need for careful testing, safety review and adaptive management before wider implementation.
Monitoring is expected to remain central to the next stage of work. Trail cameras and device action histories can help assess whether rats interact with the systems, whether entries result in trigger events, and whether the devices can function reliably under Mt. Talau field conditions.
SPREP Invasive Species Officer, Josef Pisi shared that, “this work responds to a common capacity gap in the Pacific, particularly where small conservation teams are working across large, remote or difficult-to-access areas.”
“The RERC programme is continuing to explore practical and innovative ways to support countries to manage invasive species more effectively, and new tools must therefore be tested carefully to determine whether they can reduce workload, strengthen monitoring and support evidence-based decision-making.”
“Healthy ecosystems play a vital role in maintaining biodiversity, supporting forest regeneration, stabilising soils, reducing erosion, improving water retention and protecting critical watershed functions.”
“These ecosystem services are increasingly important as Pacific Island countries face the growing impacts of climate change, including more frequent extreme weather events and changing rainfall patterns,” he further added.
The deployment also strengthens institutional and community resilience. Through training, knowledge transfer and practical experience, MEIDECC, VEPA and local conservation practitioners are building the expertise needed to manage future environmental challenges and support long-term ecosystem restoration efforts.
At the community level, greater participation in conservation activities helps foster environmental stewardship and ensures management approaches are informed by both scientific knowledge and local experience.
Looking ahead, Tonga’s VEPA will focus will be on monitoring device performance, assessing safety and operational requirements, and determining whether the technology can support future invasive species management objectives.
The deployment of the rat management systems at Mt Talau for the first time is an important phase that has generated practical evidence, built local capacity and highlighted the need for evidence-based decision-making when considering new invasive species management technologies for Pacific Island environments.
By combining innovative technology with local leadership, capacity building and community engagement, Tonga is strengthening its ability to protect its natural heritage while contributing to regional efforts to build healthier, more resilient island ecosystems across the Pacific….PACNEWS
