In this bulletin:
1. VAN — Vanuatu Government takes over Maritime Safety Authority after MV Matui tragedy
2. NZ — ‘Treasury can write what it likes’: Winston Peters defends Pacific Islands Forum hosting decision
3. PACIFIC — U.S deepens Pacific engagement with new economic and security initiatives
4. PACIFIC — Biggest Pacific gathering on Nature Conservation ends with declaration committing to strengthened efforts
5. PACIFIC — Fiji sets three priorities for COP31
6. FIJI — Remote islands in Fiji seek water as El Niño conditions bite
7. FIJI — Fiji Employment Minister Minister Agni Deo Singh dies in Brisbane
8. PACIFIC — Fiji commits $27,000 to Pacific Media Summit
9. PAC — ‘The connection is spiritual’: Pacific island nations see prophecy in Jerusalem embassies
10. PACIFIC — Hurricane Lowell linked to at least 2 deaths in Hawaii
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Bridges and roads represent hope: ADB
12. PACNEWS BIZ — Tax kava, alcohol, junk food: Doctors propose
13. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Pacific in Progress: Country achievements from the Pacific Met Council
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — World titans clash in the Pacific
15. PACNEWS DIGEST — Communities Leading Conservation: Vanuatu’s Fight Against Invasive Species
VAN – MARITIME DISASTER: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Mon 14 Sep 2026
Vanuatu Government takes over Maritime Safety Authority after MV Matui tragedy
PORT VILA, 14 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS) — The Vanuatu Government has transferred responsibility for the Vanuatu Maritime Safety Authority (VMSA) to the Prime Minister’s Office as search and rescue operations continue following the tragic sinking of the MV Matui.
Prime Minister Jotham Napat issued an Instrument of Withdrawal and Assignment of Function under the Government Act [Cap 243], transferring responsibility for the VMSA from the Ministry of Fisheries, Ocean and Maritime Affairs to the Ministry of the Prime Minister.
The instrument, issued on 13 September, states that responsibility for the VMSA is withdrawn from the Ministry of Fisheries, Ocean and Maritime Affairs and assigned directly to the Ministry of the Prime Minister.
The move comes as questions are being raised over maritime safety enforcement and the circumstances surrounding the MV Matui tragedy.
More than 40 crew and passengers were reportedly on board the vessel.
According to the latest government update, 15 people have been accounted for alive and one deceased person has been recovered, while more than 30 people remain missing at sea.
Search and rescue operations are continuing, with efforts now shifting from open waters towards the south-east coast.
Luganville MP Matai Seremiah said the search in open waters was being eased as authorities considered the possibility that currents may have carried survivors towards the coast.
The Government expressed its condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones and called for continued efforts to locate those missing.
It said reports of strong winds and marine warnings, as well as possible overloading of the vessel, would form part of the investigation into the incident.
However, the Government said a full investigation would be conducted to establish the facts and determine what led to the tragedy.
“The safety of life at sea must come first,” the Government said.
It also reminded vessel owners of their responsibility to ensure their vessels are seaworthy, carry required safety equipment and have adequate communication systems.
The Government warned that failure to heed marine warnings could put lives at risk.
It thanked those involved in the ongoing rescue and coastal search, including HELPR 1, Dr Mark Turnbull, MP Matai Seremiah, local communities, volunteers and seafarers.
The transfer of VMSA responsibility to the Prime Minister’s Office takes effect immediately under the instrument.
The government has indicated that the move comes at a critical time for Vanuatu’s maritime sector, amid renewed scrutiny of maritime safety requirements and the response to serious incidents at sea.
Meanwhile, search and rescue operations for those still missing from the MV Matui continue….PACNEWS
NZ – DIPLOMACY: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS 1: Mon 14 Sep 2026
‘Treasury can write what it likes’: Winston Peters defends Pacific Islands Forum hosting decision
WELLINGTON, 14 SEPTEMBER 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC)—New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters says he was under no obligation to consult with Cabinet before making an offer to Pacific Island Forum (PIF) member nations to host the annual leaders meeting in 2027.
It comes after Treasury released documents showing, in March, they advised Finance Minister Nicola Willis to gut Peters’ NZ$30 million (US$17.36 million) proposal to fund PIF, saying the “value for money of the bid is not clear.”
It was noted that this, in part, was because “Cabinet approval was not sought before announcement of the hosting initiative,” and therefore it was “more difficult to assess the strategic alignment” with the government’s wider ambitions to cut down the size of the public service.
The offer to host PIF was made to Pacific countries in August.
Peters told RNZ Pacific that he gave Prime Minister Christopher Luxon a mid-year heads up, and had no reason to tell Cabinet at that point.
“Treasury can write what it likes,” the minister said.
“You don’t know whether or not [PIF] are going to be taking up your offer. So, what would you discuss with Cabinet, unless the Forum first agrees?”
He also noted that hosting obligations were on a rotating basis between PIF members, and that it was New Zealand’s turn.
“Every Cabinet minister should understand that, even if they weren’t told.”
Documents showed Willis had sought an “inflation adjusted” figure to host PIF, and offered Peters NZ$10m (US$5.82 million) – comparable to the cost of hosting in 2011. A figure of $20m (US$11.64 million) was ultimately agreed by May.
“Treasury can write their papers as they do about every other portfolio, but in the end it’s about the Ministerial negotiations, Minister by Minister,” Peters said.
“They’re not in charge of foreign policy, we are – and our reach overseas depends upon the skills of our foreign policy team, and the resources we give it.”
RNZ Pacific reported in July that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) had planned for operating costs of $30m (US$17.36 million) – the same as the original bid.
This was noted as a specific fiscal risk in MFAT’s submission, but was not disclosed in Treasury’s Budget Economic and Fiscal Update.
Peters would not say what was likely to go as a result of the cutback.
“We were always going to be very cautious about our expenditure … you can easily waste money in these circumstances.
“Our plan is to have a very efficient, very meaningful PIF hosting experience in this country using all of our past knowledge, and make sure that when it’s over, we have done our responsibility to the max.”
Treasury wrote that the final amount was ultimately agreed on “to reflect that the Forum has increased in scope and importance since 2011” …PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Mon 14 Sep 2026
U.S deepens Pacific engagement with new economic and security initiatives
WASHINGTON, 14 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— The United States has announced a series of new economic, infrastructure, security and disaster-recovery initiatives across the Pacific following a regional tour by Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau.
Landau travelled to the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Solomon Islands and Kiribati after attending the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau, where he announced more than US$150 million in new U.S support for Pacific Island countries.
In the FSM, Landau met President Wesley Simina and visited Chuuk State to assess recovery efforts following Typhoon Sinlaku.
He announced that the United States intends to provide more than US$100 million for disaster relief and reconstruction in the FSM under U.S commitments through the Compact of Free Association.
In Solomon Islands, Landau highlighted the countries’ shared history during World War II and visited memorial sites at Guadalcanal, Red Beach and Bloody Ridge.
He announced U.S support through the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation to preserve the Bloody Ridge battlefield as a site of remembrance and education.
The United States also signed an agreement with Solomon Islands Foreign Affairs and External Trade Minister Rick Houenipwela for the Peace Corps to return to Solomon Islands after a 26-year absence.
Landau also announced that the U.S Department of State, working with Congress, intends to provide four aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles to improve aviation safety at Honiara Airport.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation will also conduct a condition assessment of the Solomon Islands Parliament to determine the cost of rehabilitation.
In Kiribati, Landau attended the Kiribati Development Partners Forum on Kiritimati Island at the invitation of President Taneti Maamau.
He announced that the Millennium Challenge Corporation will conduct a study to assess options to update and expand the wharf on Kiritimati.
The United States said the project could support future infrastructure investment, improve access to trade and strengthen maritime security and efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
Landau’s visit followed his participation in the Pacific Islands Forum Partners Dialogue in Palau, where he engaged with Pacific leaders and ministers and announced new U.S-funded initiatives.
The U.S said its Pacific engagement is focused on expanding economic and commercial opportunities, strengthening digital connectivity, combating transnational crime and supporting global health security.
It said the initiatives are intended to advance a free and open Pacific while creating opportunities for U.S businesses and delivering what Washington described as concrete economic benefits for both Pacific partners and American taxpayers.
The latest announcements form part of the Trump Administration’s broader America First approach to U.S engagement in the Pacific, with a focus on economic and commercial diplomacy, infrastructure and security partnerships….PACNEWS
PAC – NATURE CONSERVATION: SPREP PACNEWS 1: Mon 14 Sep 2026
Biggest Pacific gathering on Nature Conservation ends with declaration committing to strengthened efforts
NOUMEA, 14 SEPTEMBER 2026 (SPREP)—The 11th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas closed with an enhanced commitment, renewed purpose and a shared responsibility to carry the conservation work forward, together.
For 51 years the Conference has brought together the voices, knowledge, and leadership of the Pacific conservation community.
In Noumea, New Caledonia last week, at the PCNC11, a consistent message was loud and clear – Pacific leadership must shape Pacific conversation. Communities must help determine priorities, lead implementation and share in the benefits.
The Môo Mâ Awé Declaration, a Pacific Commitment to Nature Conservation and Protected Areas adopted at the conference is one of three tools to help guide the Pacific as it renews its commitment to protect and restore nature, uphold Pacific knowledge and cultures, and ensure that conservation supports the wellbeing of present and future generations.
“What we take away from this week can be summed up in one sentence,” stated Hon Christopher Gyges, Vice President of the Government of New Caledonia at the closing of the Conference.
“Commitments are made at conferences, but nature is protected on the ground, together with the people who live there.”
The Môo Mâ Awé Declaration recognises, endorses and commits to implementing 16 Regional Collective Priorities by 2030 to ensure the protection, restoration, and flourishing of both nature and people across our vast Pacific.
It is one of three significant tools resulting from the one-week conference that brought together over 400 delegates from across the Pacific Islands region, that helped build a shared course going forward for Pacific conservation.
The Pacific Islands State of Environment and Conservation Report 2026 strengthens our understanding and condition of our environment, the pressures it faces, and the responses required. Its value will be realised through the decisions it informs, and the action it inspires.
“The work does not end here. It continues when we return home. Let us return ready to turn our commitments into practical action,” said Easter Chu Shing, Deputy Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
“Let us strengthen the partnerships formed here, nurture the friendships we’ve forged, support community leadership, invest in our young people, and sustain the knowledge systems that have guided stewardship throughout generations. Across the Pacific, we understand that a voyage depends on shared effort.”
For the representatives of Pacific Island governments, development partners, and Heads of Organisations of Members of the Pacific Islands Round Table for Nature Conservation (PIRT) the one week conference was a resounding success.
It was the opportunity to bring all conservation stakeholders together, face to face, for the first time in over a decade. The 10th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas was initially to be hosted in Noumea, New Caledonia however due to COVID-19, the event transitioned to a virtual event.
“As a delegate at this conference I feel there was a lot of good work being done across our region with incorporating our indigenous knowledge and ways into protected area management plans,” said Ms Aungas Olewale of the Piku Biodiversity Network Inc of Papua New Guinea.
“As a member of the greater Pacific, I feel hopeful that through this conference there is going to a much more progress with us all coming together, sharing our experiences and thoughts, we’ve gained confidence in doing more of this work in our community.”
The 11th Pacific Islands Conference for Nature Conservation and Protected Areas was held from 7 to 11 September 2026 at the Tjibaou Culturel Centre in Noumea New Caledonia.
It brought together over 400 delegates from across the Pacific, the conference was organised by New Caledonia, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, and the Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation with the support of partners. …PACNEWS
PAC- PRE-COP31 MEET: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Mon 14 Sep 2026
Fiji sets three priorities for COP31
SUVA, 14 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FIJI SUN)—The Fijian Government has identified three key priorities for this year’s COP31 climate talks — keeping the 1.5-degree goal within reach, fairer access to climate finance and putting the ocean on the negotiating table for the first time.
Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change Dr Sivendra Michael revealed the priorities on Saturday at the Fijian Media Association’s (FMA) Climate Change Media Masterclass in Suva.
Michael said Fiji will host the Pacific pre-COP negotiators meeting in Nadi on October 1 and 2, ahead of COP31, to finalise the region’s official negotiating positions.
On the 1.5-degree goal, Mr Michael said the mitigation work programme, which deals with phasing out fossil fuels, had not been agreed on for five years.
He blamed resistance from major fossil fuel-producing nations.
“We have had major blocks from countries,” Dr Michael said.
On finance, he said only three agencies were accredited to receive Green Climate Fund money across all 14 Pacific island countries.
This makes it difficult for Fiji to access funds directly.
He said Fiji had scored a major win by becoming the first country able to access the Fund for Loss and Damage without going through accreditation.
“It was Fiji that said we will not have any accreditation processes in order for us to access this fund,” he said.
On oceans, Dr Michael co-chairs the UNFCCC Ocean and Climate Dialogue.
He said the Pacific was pushing to formally place oceans on the COP agenda for the first time.
He noted the ocean remained one of the least-funded areas under the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
FMA general secretary Stanley Simpson said the masterclass would help journalists understand Fiji’s negotiating positions.
“You’ve got to have strategy, you’ve got to have information, and you’ve got to know our government’s position,” Simpson said….PACNEWS
FIJI – ELNINO: FIJI SUN/SPREP PACNEWS 1: Mon 14 Sep 2026
Remote islands in Fiji seek water as El Niño conditions bite
NUKU’ALOFA/SUVA, 14 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FIJI SUN/SPREP)—Some of Fiji’s remote islands have started asking for water as El Niño conditions begin putting pressure on drinking water supplies.
Fiji Meteorological Service director Misaeli Funaki confirmed the emerging situation as Fiji prepares for the coming tropical cyclone and amid El Nino conditions.
“At this time, whilst we look into the tropical cyclone season, with the El Nino upon us, some of our remote islands have started asking for water,” Funaki said.
Funaki was speaking on the sidelines of the 8th Pacific Meteorological Council meeting in Nuku’alofa, Tonga.
His comments come after the latest Early Action Rainfall (EAR) Watch issue highlights significant dry conditions in several parts of the country.
The update highlights significant dry conditions in several parts of the country.
As of August 2026, the three-month rainfall outlook shows very wet conditions in Vatulele, while very dry conditions exist in parts of Makogai, parts of Koro Island, Gau, across Vanua Levu, Vanuabalavu, the northern Lau Group and Ono-i-Lau. Seriously dry conditions exist in Taveuni and Cikobia, while the rest of the country has no extreme alert.
Last Tuesday, Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources urged communities heavily reliant on boreholes and groundwater sources to take precautionary measures as Fiji prepares for an extended period of below-normal rainfall associated with the ongoing El Niño conditions.
Fiji faces the challenge of preparing simultaneously for dry conditions associated with El Niño and the approaching tropical cyclone season, which normally brings the country’s rainy season.
Funaki said the possibility of El Niño extending into the rainy season had implications beyond water supplies, including Government resources and the ability of essential services in remote areas to cope.
“We’re looking into the tropical cyclone season because it brings with it the rainy season. But with the forecast that we have that it may touch into our rainy season, what that means on the government is about the mobilisation of resources. For our everyday people, people in the outlying stations, how the medical facilities will cope.
“So, it’s a broad conversation, but the government has its strategy on how to handle it, and I think they’re doing their very best.”
The situation puts particular attention on remote and maritime communities where access to alternative water supplies can be more difficult.
Funaki said the conditions Fiji was facing included drought and rough seas, making regional discussions on how meteorological services respond increasingly important.
“But the truth is, when it comes to the season that we are in, long drought, macamaca na wai, rough seas in which are southerly winds, it is a time for us to come together and as I said, find what is the way to strategise.”
The Pacific Meteorological Council brings together meteorological services and development partners from across the region to discuss common challenges and strengthen responses.
Funaki said Fiji had participated in the council since its inception and had also hosted previous meetings.
He said the gathering provided an opportunity to assess progress and prepare for a changing climate.
“I think this meeting is important because it is at one time where we get together as a region to take stock of how we’ve done, noting the challenges that we face and the uniqueness of the geographical area we live in,” said Funaki.
FIJI – OBITUARY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Mon 14 Sep 2026
Fiji Employment Minister Minister Agni Deo Singh dies in Brisbane
SUVA, 14 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS) — Fiji’s Minister for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations, Agni Deo Singh, has died in Brisbane, the Office of the Prime Minister has announced.
Singh died Saturday, with Prime Minister and Coalition Cabinet Chair Sitiveni Rabuka expressing his condolences to Singh’s family, loved ones, colleagues and friends.
Rabuka acknowledged Singh’s service to Fiji’s workers and his contribution to the Government and the nation.
“It is with great sadness that the Office of the Prime Minister announces the passing of the Minister for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations, the late Agni Deo Singh,” the Prime Minister’s Office said.
The Government said further details on funeral arrangements and other official matters would be announced in due course.
It has also asked the public and media to respect the privacy of Singh’s family during the period of mourning.
Singh served as Minister for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations, with responsibility for labour and workplace-related matters….PACNEWS
PAC – MEDIA SUMMIT: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Mon 14 Sep 2026
Fiji commits $27,000 to Pacific Media Summit
SUVA, 14 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS)—The Fijian Government has committed $27,000 (US$13,500) towards the 8th Pacific Media Summit, strengthening its support for a resilient and innovative Pacific media sector.
The funding commitment was formalised on Friday through an agreement signed between the Ministry of Information and the Fijian Media Association (FMA)last Friday.
Minister for Information, Environment and Climate Change Lynda Tabuya said the contribution was an investment in the future of Pacific media and the role of credible information in an increasingly digital environment.
She said a strong media sector was important to ensuring Pacific communities had access to reliable information as the region navigates rapid changes in technology and digital reporting.
FMA President Rosi Doviverata thanked the Government for its support, saying the summit would provide an opportunity to strengthen journalists’ skills in innovative storytelling and digital reporting.
The 8th Pacific Media Summit will be held in Savusavu from 21–25 September under the theme “Reaching the Remote: Media and Digital Innovation for a Connected Blue Pacific.”
The summit will bring together media professionals from across the Pacific to discuss the changing media landscape, digital innovation and ways to strengthen reporting and connectivity across the region…..PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: AFP PACNEWS 1: Mon 14 Sep 2026
‘The connection is spiritual’: Pacific island nations see prophecy in Jerusalem embassies
SYDNEY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2026 (AFP) —An ancient Biblical prophecy lies at the heart of a Pacific islands push to open embassies in Jerusalem, experts and former diplomats have told AFP.
Israel may seem an unlikely partner for the far-flung nations of the tropical South Pacific, sharing little in common by way of culture, language, food or sport.
And yet, Pacific island nations have often proven some of Israel’s most steadfast supporters on the international stage.
Nauru opened an embassy in Jerusalem last week, joining a handful of nations bucking international pressure by recognizing Israeli sovereignty in the holy city.
Papua New Guinea and Fiji are already among just seven UN member-states to open embassies in Jerusalem, while Samoa has stated it will join them later this year.
Former Fijian diplomat Salote Tagivakatini said the moves were less about calculated statecraft and more about religious conviction.
“Christianity is the biggest underlying factor,” she told AFP. “Around 90 percent of indigenous Pacific islanders identify as Christians. Therefore, their interpretation of the Bible and reference to Jewish people as ‘God’s chosen people’ obligates them to support Israel.”
Waves of European missionaries sailed through the South Pacific in the 19th century, bringing evangelical Christian teachings that were adopted with enthusiasm.
Many parts of the Pacific today hold deep-rooted beliefs in biblical prophecy, viewing Jews as destined to return to the Land of Israel.
There are pockets of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Fiji where some even identify as descendants of one of the “Lost Tribes of Israel.”
Anthropologists have documented the Gogodala people of western Papua New Guinea singing Hebrew songs and hoisting the flag of Israel at tribal ceremonies.
Religion mixes freely with politics in the South Pacific, where many nations declare their Christian faith in their founding constitutions.
Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is a former lay preacher in the Methodist church, while Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape is the devout son of a Seventh-day Adventist pastor.
Samoan Prime Minister La’auli Leuatea Schmidt wore a Jewish prayer shawl when he was sworn in last year, entering the room to the sound of a ceremonial shofar horn — used during the Jewish High Holidays, which kick off Friday night with Rosh Hashanah.
“I stand for Israel, the land of God,” he said at the time, according to local media. “Samoa will stand up and support the holy land of God.”
Despite such strong political statements, support for Israel is not universal in the region. A small group of demonstrators waving Palestinian flags awaited Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar when he visited Fiji earlier this year.
Most countries have kept their embassies in Tel Aviv on the grounds that Jerusalem’s status will be settled in a final resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
But U.S President Donald Trump shattered this consensus in 2018 by moving the U.S embassy to Jerusalem.
Only a handful of countries have followed suit: Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Nauru, plus Guatemala, Honduras and Paraguay.
There is a long history of outside nations courting Pacific island states for diplomatic clout.
When Russia-backed separatists in northwestern Georgia tried to form a breakaway state in the early 2000s, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Nauru were among the few nations to offer recognition.
China has in recent years persuaded Solomon Islands, Nauru and Kiribati to sever links with Taipei in favor of Beijing.
International affairs expert Shannon Brincat said it was easy to see what Israel gained from its Pacific friends.
“Symbolically, those things are huge. By moving their embassies to Jerusalem, it normalizes Israel’s claim that it’s the undivided capital.”
It was less clear what these small nations received in return, Brincat told AFP.
Lowy Institute data showed Israel had given US$2 million for aid and development in the Pacific since 2015.
Major donors such as Australia and China have, by comparison, spent hundreds of millions of dollars.
Pacific security researcher Maima Koro said typical notions of give-and-take diplomacy missed the point.
“Israel is the people of God to them. And there’s this promise that God made to Israel,” Koro, from Adelaide University, told AFP.
“It’s not transactional. The connection is spiritual,” said Koro….PACNEWS
PAC – HURRICAN DAMAGE: AP PACNEWS 1: Mon 14 Sep 2026
Hurricane Lowell linked to at least 2 deaths in Hawaii
HONOLULU, 14 SEPTEMBER 2026 (AP)—Crews began repairing the only cargo port on one of Hawaii’s smallest main islands while power was being restored to another island last Thursday, two days after Hurricane Lowell skirted along the state’s western edge.
At least two deaths were linked to the storm.
On the island of Kauai, intense wind and surging waves damaged oceanfront resorts, ripped apart roads and knocked out power, prompting tourism officials to urge visitors to stay away for now. On Lanai, a harbour that supplies much of the food and fuel to its 3,300 residents was inoperable and will take about two weeks to repair, state officials said.
The overall destruction to Hawaii’s infrastructure, businesses and homes was expected to be the worst from a storm since Hurricane Iniki, a Category 4 storm that walloped Kauai in 1992 and caused US$3 billion in damage.
While it has been a relatively quiet Atlantic hurricane season, there have been four hurricanes in the Pacific since the beginning of August. Another tropical storm formed Thursday, but it was not expected to make landfall.
Officials urged travelers to reschedule trips to Kauai or shift their destination to another island. Thousands of customers, including some resorts, remained without power, and crews continued clearing roads of downed trees and toppled utility poles.
“Adjusting your itinerary allows you to continue your Hawaiʻi vacation while supporting the state’s broader visitor economy as Kauaʻi recovers,” Caroline Anderson, interim president and chief executive officer of the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, said in a statement.
Kauai sees only a small fraction of Hawaii’s almost 10 million visitors each year, but tourism is its top economic driver, with people coming from all over to take in its tropical landscapes, waterfalls and dramatic cliffs. Local estimates say tourism accounts for 4 out of every 10 jobs on the island.
The hurricane’s powerful storm surge buckled and washed away roads, knocked down the walls of homes and flooded resorts, sending rapids through a hotel lobby, overturning furniture and leaving debris everywhere. Extensive lines backed up at Kauai’s primary airport Thursday as people tried to depart the island.
Despite running a restaurant business, Kelly Kakalia, co-owner of The Musubi Truck, with three locations across Kauai, said she is not overly worried about the interruption to tourism.
“I would be silly to say tourism doesn’t drive our economy,” she said, but “our island needs time to rest and rebuild and make sure locals have power and water” before welcoming back tourists.
“If we take a little hit, that’s just part of it,” Kakalia said.
Democratic Governor Josh Green asked President Donald Trump last Wednesday to issue a major disaster declaration to expedite federal help for Kauai and Maui counties.
“We cannot wait for every damaged road, utility pole, harbor and public facility to be assigned a dollar value before asking the federal government to act,” Green said in making the request.
At Lanai’s main harbor, the storm opened a sinkhole, damaged part of the pier and scattered containers in the water, according to the state’s Transportation Department.
Planning was underway on other options to get supplies to the island, which sees only a few visitors. Billionaire Larry Ellison bought nearly all of the island in 2012 for about US$300 million from the owner of agriculture and real estate company Castle & Cooke Inc.
First responders on Kauai’s south end found the body of a 74-year-old man Wednesday near the shoreline. Authorities believe his death was related to the storm surge, police said.
Another man was killed on Oahu when a large tree fell on his tent Monday during the storm, the governor said. The man was homeless and living in a park…..PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PNG – INFRASTRUCTURE: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 14 Sep 2026
Bridges and roads represent hope: ADB
PORT MORESBY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2026 (THE NATIONAL)—Bridges and roads represent hope and an opportunity to improve the lives of the Papua New Guinea communities along the Highlands Highway corridor, an Asian Development Bank (ADB) official says.
ADB’s director general for Pacific Emma Veve said the bridges were more than steel and concrete.
“They represent hope and opportunity and the unwavering commitment of the government of Papua New Guinea and ADB to improve the lives of the communities along the Highlands Highway,” Veve said.
Veve is visiting the country this week, along with ADB’s country director Takafumi Kadono, on a mission to assess 71 bridges built under the Sustainable Highlands Highway Investment Programme (Ship).
“We’re proud to be a strong partner of the Government of PNG, which is implementing Connect PNG with the objectives of enhancing infrastructure for 13 major economic growth corridors to connect the country’s key economic regions,” she said.
Veve said ADB and the government rehabilitated and reconstructed 71 bridges along the 430.30 kilometre Highlands Highway stretching from the Nadzab Airport Junction in Morobe to the Kagamuga Airport Junction in Western Highlands.
Seventeen bridges were built in Western Highlands, 19 in Eastern Highlands and 35 in Morobe, Chimbu and Jiwaka.
All single-lane bridges along the highway were upgraded to meet the current national design standards with two lanes and have the ability to withstand extreme weather conditions.
Veve said the upgrade fell under one of the main three civil works contracts with the Sustainable Highlands Highway Investment Programme (Ship).
“ADB provided a US$325 million (about K1,4133 million) loan to the Government of Papua New Guinea and mobilised another US$50 million (about K217 million) from our friends at the OPEC Fund for International Development for this work,” she said.
“Prior to this Ship 2 project, we had provided another US$302 million (K1,313 million) for the rehabilitation and the upgrading of the road along the same sections of highways.
“Bridges are not much use if they don’t have roads to connect them. And this project also brought in US$11.5 million (about K50 million) co-financing from the government of Australia.
“The Highlands Highway is an economic lifeline for more than 40 percent of Papua New Guineans.
“That’s 40percent of the population which live along this stretch of road.
“It connects communities, markets, and opportunities across this beautiful nation.
“For far too long, deteriorating infrastructure has held back economic growth and limited access to services like education, healthcare, markets for local produce.”
Veve said this project should turn this around, reduce travel time, make roads safer, and provide improved access to all those basic services that everybody needed to live a well and happy life.
“I’d like to thank the Department of Works and Highways for their professionalism and hard work to make the vision a reality,” she said…..PACNEWS
FIJI – TAX: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 14 Sep 2026
Tax kava, alcohol, junk food: Doctors propose
SUVA, 14 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FIJI SUN) —The Fiji College of General Practitioners wants a 5percent tax on kava, alcohol, sugary drinks and junk food to help fund healthcare, instead of making Fijians pay directly for hospital services.
The proposal came during a panel discussion on the Ministry of Health’s Strategic Plan 2026-2031 at the Fiji Medical Association (FMA)’s Annual General Meeting in Pacific Harbour.
College president Dr Dhirendra Lal said supermarkets were filled with unhealthy options.
Asked whether urban residents should start paying for health services, Dr Lal said no.
“We are already in crisis,” he said. “There should be a 5percent tax on Kava, alcohol, sugary drinks, and junk food.”
“You just enter a supermarket, top to bottom is all junk food.”
Former Health Minister Ifereimi Waqainabete disagreed with charging people based on where they lived, saying rural Fijians who could fish and farm should not be treated the same as poor urban families.
“I don’t think it’s fair. Equity, maybe tax might be useful, but not geographical location,” he said.
FMA president Dr Ronal Kumar said Fijians who could afford insurance should take responsibility for their own health costs instead of relying on the public system.
Former Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum warned that rising living costs were already pushing families towards cheap, unhealthy food.
He proposed means-testing wealthier patients for procedures such as heart surgery instead of taxing everyone equally…. 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
Pacific in Progress: Country achievements from the Pacific Met Council
NUKU’ALOFA, 14 SEPTEMBER 2026 (SPREP)—– Across the Pacific, meteorological services and disaster preparedness systems are being strengthened to help communities better prepare for extreme weather and climate change.
The 8th Pacific Meteorological Council (PMC-8) Meeting brought Pacific nations and development partners together to share the progress they have made in strengthening weather services, early warning systems and climate information, and several achievements stand out.
The PMC is a subsidiary body of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and has provided a platform for coordination and development Pacific National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS) for over a decade.
Day two of PMC-8 was opened with the highly anticipated country reports, where council members were given the opportunity to share what they have been able to achieve since the last convening of the PMC in 2024.
Tonga has completed construction of its new Joint Multi-Hazard Early Warning Services Centre and approved national policy and roadmap for managing weather and natural hazards. While Kiribati has achieved independence in weather forecasting and secured funding to upgrade 14 surface weather stations, and three upper-air observation systems. And Tuvalu, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into daily forecasting and severe weather monitoring has resulted in faster, more accurate predictions.
Across the region, in the Cook Islands, the Rarotonga Upper-Air Observation Station was restored, while the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) has become the first Pacific nation where all four states have achieved United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation – Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC) Tsunami Ready recognition. In Fiji, the advancement of the Regional Training Centre (RTC) and Regional Instrumentation Calibration Centre (RICC), that will strengthen technical capacity and the integrity of weather equipment across the Pacific.
In French Polynesia, funding has been secured for an identified site for a new weather radar – increasing the number of radars (existing and those in construction/pipeline) up to 15 systems across the Pacific region. These investments are expanding the network to strengthen weather monitoring, early warnings and preparedness for extreme events.
Marshall Islands have expanded monitoring through new automatic weather stations (AWS), and Nauru has strengthened its meteorological services through new legislation. In New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna, rainfall data is being used to monitor landslide risk, and Niue has established a three-station network using AWS and wave buoys.
Both Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Vanuatu have achieved their Civil Aviation Authority Part 174 certification, with the latter completing cost recovery policy and building a backup Centre in Luganville, Santo. Samoa has modernised its observation infrastructure and preparing to move to a new site.
In Solomon Islands, its first weather radar is planned for commissioning before the end of the year, through the Weather Ready Pacific (WRP) Programme, and another huge milestone was achieved this year in Tokelau, through the WRP Joint-Mission to the remote atoll island nation that provided the opportunity for Tokelau to host its first National Climate Outlook Forum (NCOF) this year.
While the achievements vary, the purpose is shared: better information, earlier warnings and stronger decisions for Pacific communities. These investments help governments, farmers, fishers, businesses and families prepare for cyclones, tsunamis, droughts, floods, landslides and other climate impacts.
“The progress of the PMC is measured by the progress of its members. I commend our National Meteorological and Hydrological Services and their governments for their continued commitment to strengthening services that protect our communities and economies,” said Salesa Nihmei, Director of the Climate Science and Information Programme at SPREP.
“Development is guided by the Pacific Islands Meteorological Strategy as a clear roadmap for development, and the country reports demonstrate the significant progress achieved across the region. This progress has been supported by strong Pacific-led collaboration, our development partners, regional organisations and programmes working alongside Members. Together, these achievements show how far we have come and strengthen our collective commitment to safer and more resilient Pacific communities,” said Nihmei.
The progress also demonstrates the value of Pacific-led collaboration and sustained support from development partners, including Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, and other regional organisations who also contribute towards Pacific NMHS development. As climate change increases weather-related risks, stronger meteorological and early warning services are an essential foundation for safer, more resilient Pacific communities.
The Pacific Meteorological Council is a specialised subsidiary body of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) established to facilitate and coordinate the scientific and technical programme and activities of Pacific National Meteorological and Hydrological Services.
The eighth meeting of the Pacific Meteorological Council (PMC-8) is held from 10 – 14 September 2026 in Nuku’alofa, Tonga. It follows a series of pre-meetings which starts on 7 September 2026 and will conclude with the convening of the fourth Pacific Ministerial Meeting on Meteorology (PMMM-4) on 16 September 2026.
The PMC-8 and PMMM-4 are made possible through the partnership and collaboration between the Government of Tonga, SPREP, World Meteorological Organisation-Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (WMO-CREWS) project, United Kingdom-Weather and Climate Information Systems (UK-WISER), Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), Weather Ready Pacific Programme (WRPP), European Union-funded Intra-ACP Climate Services and Applications programme (ClimSA), Climate and Oceans Support Program in the Pacific (COSPPac), Republic of Korea-Pacific Islands Climate Prediction Services Phase 3 project (ROK-PI CliPS 3), Apec Climate Centre (APCC), and the Pacific Community (SPC).
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
World titans clash in the Pacific
By Anna Fifield
WELLINGTON/KOROR, 14 SEPTEMBER 2026 (NEWSROOM)—America’s being told it could improve its standing in the Pacific by being more present.
The United States has no resident ambassador in any of the 14 Pacific Island countries, at a time when the geopolitical giants are jockeying for power and influence in the region.
Charles Edel, the Australia chair at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank, believes the US could do more to prove it’s committed.
Over the past 10 years it’s paid just “episodic attention” to the region, says Edel, in spite of considering itself a Pacific nation. Now that other big guns are getting a look in – notably China – it’s voicing its concerns about that country’s growing ambitions.
Earlier this month senior officials from both the United States and China showed up at the Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ meeting in Palau and tried to present themselves as the better friend to the region.
U.S deputy secretary of state Christopher Landau made his third trip to the Pacific in less than two years, and announced a total of NZ$257 million (US$149 million) in investments into the region, including a US$100m port project in Penrhyn, in the Cook Islands.
“We have come with a lot of very specific projects we’d like to work with our Pacific partners on,” Landau told One News.
Beijing also sent a representative to the meeting in Palau, one of just 12 nations to have diplomatic relations with Taiwan over China.
Qian Bo, China’s ambassador to the Pacific, threatened there would be ramifications if Palau allowed Taiwan to play a role in the forum.
Beijing warned Chinese citizens against visiting the tropical island, citing theft, robbery and dangerous marine life. That could be devastating for a country that relies on tourist dollars.
Surangel Whipps Jr, the president of Palau and the host of the forum, accused China of “weaponising tourism”.
This comes just a few months after China launched a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile into the South Pacific’s nuclear-free zone.
On The Detail Edel talks about how the region is becoming the focus of geopolitical rivalry.
“Over the last 10 years, and this has become an area of increased attention because as the United States has paid episodic attention, others have keyed into the region too,” said Edel, who is based in Canberra and follows events in the Pacific closely.
“Primarily China, which actually exercises and excites how Americans think about this, but others too. So all of a sudden it’s kind of moved from peripheral to increasingly closer to the centre of how America thinks about not the world, but certainly the Indo-Pacific region,” he said.
China has a security agreement with the Solomon Islands and policing initiatives with countries including Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Vanuatu.
Naoero, formerly Nauru, and Kiribati are particularly closely aligned with China.
Kiribati’s President, Taneti Maamau, did not attend this year’s forum, and Naoero “dissented” from the section in the communique criticising China’s missile test.
The United States is increasingly concerned that its allies and partners – notably Australia – could be cut off if China acted more offensively in the region, or that China could otherwise “interpose” itself between the U.S and Asia.
“The United States, for a long time, has been a supporter of democratic governments around the world,” Edel said.
“Obviously, this looks a little bit different under the Trump administration, but a Chinese state that is using its influence to increase corruption around these states, is a concern for the United States.”
Asked why it was acceptable for the United States to project its influence into the region but not for China to do the same, Edel says that Washington had long done this “in accordance with the wishes of the Pacific”.
The U.S’ reputation in the region has been undermined by President Donald Trump’s actions in his second term – notably his aversion to renewable energy projects and international efforts to limit climate change, his termination of international aid programmes, and his war on Iran and the resulting energy crisis, which has hit the small isolated islands hard.
But Edel says the U.S could better prove its sticking power by engaging with the Pacific “consistently and across the range of interests that are important to them”.
This meant issues that matter to the Pacific – not just military security – and being more present, Edel says.
“Another one which we’re hearing consistently from the region, is the huge spike in transnational crime … and the expansion of the narcotics trade across the Pacific.
“There are some really good steps that we actually heard announced at the Pacific Island Forum this past week.”
Part of the U.S funding pledged to the region was for enhanced aerial surveillance and more training for police and border officials……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
Communities Leading Conservation: Vanuatu’s Fight Against Invasive Species
NOUMEA/PORT VILA, 14 SEPTEMBER 2026 (SPREP)—As Pacific leaders, practitioners and community champions gather for the 11th Pacific Islands Conference for Nature Conservation and Protected Areas in Nouméa, stories from Vanuatu highlight how community-led action is delivering meaningful conservation outcomes.
Across the country, communities, conservation rangers, government agencies and regional partners are working together to tackle one of the Pacific’s most significant environmental threats: invasive species.
From the sacred forests of North Tanna to community conservation areas across the provinces, Vanuatu is demonstrating that invasive species management is about far more than protecting biodiversity. It is also about strengthening cultural identity, building resilience and empowering local people to take ownership of their natural heritage.
At the Nusumetu Community Conservation Site on Tanna Island, a community-driven restoration programme is helping revive a landscape that is both ecologically and culturally significant. Identified as a priority ecological site under the community’s management plan, Nusumetu was selected to pilot invasive species management activities aimed at restoring ecosystem health and supporting the reintroduction of native species.
The work goes beyond weed control. At Nusumetu, conservation is deeply rooted in culture and traditional knowledge. The site is renowned for the sacred “white-spotted yam” story, a cultural narrative that has helped protect the forest for generations and continues to guide community stewardship today.
Building on the success of Nusumetu, Vanuatu has expanded its efforts through a growing network of community conservation rangers. Rangers from multiple provinces have participated in the PRISMSS Resilient Ecosystems, Resilient Communities Rangers Network Exchange Programme, sharing experiences, strengthening practical skills and developing action plans for invasive species management in their own conservation areas.
The programme combines traditional ecological knowledge with modern conservation science, ensuring that solutions are both culturally appropriate and technically effective. Participants received training in invasive weed management, site restoration, predator control and community engagement approaches that can be applied within their local contexts. Most importantly, communities remain at the centre of decision-making, helping ensure that conservation actions reflect local priorities and values.
According to Ms Mimosa Bethel, Invasive Species Officer with the Vanuatu Department of Environment, invasive species remain one of the greatest threats facing the country’s biodiversity and livelihoods.
“Invasive species are one of the biggest threats to Vanuatu’s biodiversity and the livelihoods of our people. By sharing knowledge and working together, we have strengthened our ability to control and manage these pests before they cause lasting damage.”
Bethel emphasised that effective management depends on collaboration between communities, government agencies and development partners.
“Across Vanuatu, invasive plants continue to spread through forests, agricultural lands and waterways, affecting biodiversity, food security and ecosystem resilience and communities are often the first to observe environmental changes and therefore play a critical role in early detection, monitoring and management of invasive species.”
“Invasive species management is not simply a conservation activity. For us in Vanuatu, it is a Nature-based Solution that helps restore ecosystem functions, supports the return of native species, strengthens resilience to climate change and safeguards our cultural and natural values that communities depend on.”
“When communities lead these efforts, the benefits extend far beyond biodiversity and contribute directly to stronger, more resilient landscapes and livelihoods.”
She further highlighted that some of the most effective conservation outcomes occur when traditional ecological knowledge is combined with scientific approaches. Community elders, customary landowners, women and youth contribute generations of knowledge about local ecosystems, while science provides tools and methods to better understand threats and guide restoration activities.
“Science provides us with the tools and evidence to understand invasive species and their impacts, while traditional knowledge provides the context, history and connection to place that helps guide successful action.”
“When these two systems work together, communities are better equipped to protect their biodiversity and strengthen their resilience.”
The experience at Nusumetu demonstrates the value of this approach. Community members are combining cultural values, local stewardship and modern invasive weed management techniques to restore a site that is both environmentally important and central to local identity with positive impacts being noticed in identified management zones.
“Partnerships between communities, provincial authorities, government agencies, conservation organisations and regional initiatives such as PRISMSS are ensuring that local action is supported with the expertise, training and resources needed for long-term success.”
A key part of this effort is the support being provided through the Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS), led by SPREP in partnership with the Vanuatu Department of Environment Protection and Conservation (DEPC). Through hands-on training, technical support and the provision of equipment and resources, communities are being equipped to safely manage invasive weeds threatening native forests and biodiversity.
The experiences emerging from Vanuatu closely align with the objectives of the 11th Pacific Islands Conference for Nature Conservation, which highlights the importance of community leadership, nature-based solutions, biodiversity conservation and the integration of traditional knowledge into environmental management.
Vanuatu’s communities are demonstrating that conservation succeeds when local people are equipped with the knowledge, tools and support to lead action themselves. Their work illustrates how invasive species management can restore ecosystems, strengthen cultural connections and build resilience to a changing climate.
The 11th Pacific Islands Conference for Nature Conservation and Protected Areas is held from 7 to 11 September 2026 at the Tjibaou Culturel Centre in Noumea New Caledonia. Bringing together over 400 delegates from across the Pacific, the conference is organised by New Caledonia, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, and the Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation with the support of partners…..PACNEWS
For more information please visit : https://www.pacificislandsroundtable.com/pacific-nature-conference
