In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — U.S links Pacific drug trade to Latin American networks
2. PACIFIC — Former Kiribati president says Pacific Islands Forum-Israel partnership not ‘morally defensible’
3. PACIFIC — Australia sees gains in contest with China for Pacific’s ‘great game’
4. S|KOREA — Green Climate Fund Board reappoints Duarte as Executive Director for second term
5. FIJI — “Cunning agenda” behind proposed Fiji Constitution – Chaudhry
6. TONGA — More cyclone and drought threat this season: Tonga Met Service
7. FIJI — Is Fiji ready for a non-iTaukei PM? – Tiko
8. SOL — RSIPF drone unit returns from Palau and Tuvalu deployments
9. NZ — NZ must be brave and decisive in world without Trump, US analyst says
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Pacific fisheries officials prepare united tuna management position ahead of WCPFC meeting
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Tonga signs aviation investigation agreement with Papua New Guinea
12. PACNEWS BIZ — Kiribati set for telecommunications boost
13. PACNEWS BIZ — Tonga arrivals and departures up in September
14. PACNEWS BIZ — Hawaii visitor spending falls 9 percent as hurricane damage hits tourism
15. PACNEWS DIGEST — Vanuatu urges sustained biodiversity financing and urgent climate action at CBD 17
16. PACNEWS DIGEST- –Funafuti study finds no detectable impact of rooftop solar harvested rainwater quality
PAC – DRUGS FIGHT: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Fri 30 Oct 2026
U.S links Pacific drug trade to Latin American networks
By Pita Ligaiula
LOS ANGELES, 30 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS) — The United States says Latin American drug trafficking networks are increasingly using contacts and distributors in Pacific Island countries to move and sell illicit drugs, prompting a US$4 million initiative to improve intelligence sharing between the two regions.
U.S Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Cartwright Weiland said authorities were still assessing which criminal organisations were operating across the Pacific but had identified links between Latin American groups and networks in island countries.
“We’re not seeing, for example, chapters of cartels sort of being established on these islands.
“It’s more along the lines of the cartels have interlocutors, have distributors, have contacts on the islands that they are able to rely upon to move the drugs or to sell the drugs,” Weiland said during a virtual press briefing.
Weiland said the situation was evolving and authorities had yet to establish the full extent of the presence of specific cartels, including Mexico’s Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation Cartel, as well as Ecuadorian criminal groups Los Lobos and Los Choneros.
He said the Pacific was confronting a relatively new threat that required closer cooperation between regional governments and international law enforcement agencies.
“This is such a new phenomenon that the islands have just never sort of seen before that we’re still — and by ‘we’ I mean both the United States and these nations — we’re still trying to wrap our heads around it,” he said.
Weiland highlighted the growing capability of semi-submersible vessels to transport drugs over long distances across the Pacific, including from the western coast of South America to Pacific Island countries.
He welcomed Ecuador’s participation in the first U.S-Pacific Islands Conference of Police Ministers (COPMIN) in Los Angeles last week, saying it demonstrated awareness of the maritime routes being exploited by criminal groups.
The U.S is also pursuing a regional intelligence-sharing initiative known as RIPTIDE, which Weiland described as the first coordinated effort to connect security assistance and law enforcement work in the Western Hemisphere and the Pacific.
The United States is investing US$4 million in the initiative to help countries share intelligence on drug trafficking organisations and their operations across both regions.
“RIPTIDE is the first coordinated effort against criminal enterprises that span those two regions,” he said.
The initiative will allow participating countries to help shape how intelligence is shared so that information gathered in one region can be quickly passed to law enforcement counterparts in the other.
Weiland said the programme would seek to connect national information-sharing systems and work with international partners, including Interpol and potentially the World Customs Organisation.
He said drug trafficking and organised crime in the Pacific could no longer be treated separately from developments in Latin America, as criminal networks increasingly operated across both regions.
“What we’re increasingly finding is that what’s happening in Fiji is frequently a reflection of what’s happening in the Western Hemisphere countries, especially when it comes to drugs and crime,” Weiland said.
The initiative forms part of wider U.S efforts to strengthen Pacific law enforcement capabilities through intelligence sharing, training, equipment and cooperation with regional partners.
The U.S official said the effectiveness of these efforts would depend on countries working together to identify criminal networks, track their movements and disrupt the supply chains they use to transport illicit drugs across the Pacific…. PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS 2: Fri 30 Oct 2026
Former Kiribati president says Pacific Islands Forum-Israel partnership not ‘morally defensible’
TARAWA, 30 OCTOBER 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC) — The chair of the Pacific Elders’ Voice (PEV) says the argument that religious affinity justifies the Pacific Islands Forum’s (PIF) partnership with Israel does not stack up.
The Forum’s recent decision to make Israel a sectoral partner has drawn widespread criticism by civil society in the region and is described as being in conflict with the Pacific’s commitments to human rights, self-determination and international law.
The Pacific Elders’ Voice – a group of former Pacific prime ministers, presidents, senior diplomats and academics – has also come out strongly against the move.
According to PEV chair and former Kiribati President Anote Tong, their position has been informed by a recent report from a Middle East fact-finding mission by the global Elders Group, including former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark and Pakistani human rights advocate Hina Jelani.
Their report concluded that Israel’s conduct was driving systematic occupation, annexation, and forced displacement of Palestinians amidts a prolonged campaign of violence.
“The mission also cited reports of genocide, killings, and the harassment [of Palestinians],” Tong told RNZ Pacific.
“These are not speculative, these are reports coming from the people who actually went on the ground, people who have absolute credibility. These are leaders, former leaders.”
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog has categorically rejected what he called the one-sided criticism of Israel’s conduct by the Elders.
However, deep division over the Forum’s move has been reflected in the reaction to the Pacific Elders’ stance. While many took to social media to applaud the call, others were critical of it.
For some Pacific Islanders, Israel’s partnership with the Forum makes sense because many of them are influenced by Judeo-Christian, biblical narratives and Christian Zionism, and consider the Middle Eastern country as the Holy Land.
But for the Pacific Elders’ Voice, this does not justify bringing Israel into the Forum.
“To say that we have an affinity with Israel because of religion … there is nothing morally defensible by the actions that are being described, and so that kind of an argument supporting Israel against a very clear report doesn’t really stand in any way.”
The Pacific Elders Voice said the Forum’s decision raised questions about the consistency of the region’s positions on colonialism, human rights and self-determination.
Tong said he believed the Pacific Elders represent the views, principles, and moral standards common to Pacific Islands people.
“This is also important because in our advocacy on climate change, we’ve always emphasised the moral and the ethical perspective, which we are asking the world to step forward on climate action.
“I read the arguments that we need the technology that Israel is putting forward, but that does not give them the permit to do what it is that they are doing.
“We’re arguing exactly the same thing that the countries which are benefiting by the fossil fuel industry need to make sacrifices because what they are doing is immorally destructive.”
Tong said the Pacific Islands region should put substance to its new Ocean of Peace initiative.
“I don’t think we should be saying one thing and doing very opposite the next moment. I think it’s counterproductive.
“I guess as a non-political group of elders, we are not constrained by the political or the diplomatic constraints, and I think we can speak our mind, hopefully from from a moral perspective, more freely.”
A number of Pacific countries have recently forged closer ties with Israel’s Netanyahu regime, but Anote Tong says the Pacific should not be endorsing a government like that.
“I think it’s really the wrong time, given what is happening in that part of the world. It’s really the time to be very cautious to how we get involved with that region, particularly with some a country that is very much at the forefront of the conflict.”
Tong said that from his own experience, he knows of the strong lobbying that is levvied against Pacific governments.
“There is no doubt at all in my mind that this has been the case because there is no reason why we all need now to establish relations and put offices in Israel at this time.
“We should be very cautious about getting closer to a country that is now being declared a criminal administration.”
The Forum’s move has been met with strong criticism from civil society groups in the region, including the Pacific Council of Churches (PCC).
Tong said the PCC’s strong rebuke represented a different position from those arguing the Pacific’s religious connection to Israel justifies stronger ties to the Israel state.
“That kind of argument doesn’t stand in the face of what is happening, in the face of the findings that the Elders have come up with,” he said.
“I cannot imagine any moral human being saying that religious affinity is what needs to guide our decision.”
The Pacific Elders’ Voice said the PIF should review and reverse its partnership with Israel…. PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: BLOOMBERG PACNEWS 2: Fri 30 Oct 2026
Australia sees gains in contest with China for Pacific’s ‘great game’
CANBERRA, 30 0CTOBER 2026 (BLOOMBERG) — Australia’s “permanent contest” with China for influence in the Pacific region, a challenge compared to the 19th century’s Great Game, has made progress over the past few years, according to the official leading the charge against Beijing.
“I think we’ve done pretty well,” Minister for Pacific Island Affairs Pat Conroy said in an interview.
Yet Canberra now has to deliver on commitments it has made across the region if it wants to remain the partner of choice, he said, adding it’s his job to ensure “every Pacific nation that’s elevated their relationship with us sees the benefits of that.”
Since taking power in 2022, the centre-left government has focused its foreign and defence policies on China, rebooting ties with Beijing while also attempting to counter its growing sway across the region. Pacific island nations have been a particular focus of Canberra, which is working to undo China’s attempts to build security ties with the tiny states and replace them instead with stronger relationships with Australia, the U.S and New Zealand.
“We can’t rest on our laurels. It’s a permanent contest,” Conroy said late Wednesday in his office in Canberra, which is decorated with gifts from across the region gathered during his four years in the role.
“But if you think about what we’ve achieved since 2022 with the treaties with Tuvalu, with Nauru, with Fiji, PNG, Vanuatu, the two new alliances, the fact that we’re negotiating treaties right now with Solomons and with Tonga — I think this is one of the critical foreign policy achievements of the Albanese government.”
The attempt to overturn China’s pact with the Solomon Islands is emblematic of that effort.
In 2022, just prior to the Australian election that brought Conroy’s Labor party to power, the Pacific nation signed a security deal with China. Canberra has spent the past four years trying to reverse that accord and an “in principle” deal agreed last month with the Solomons’ new, Australia-friendly leader, is seen as a vindication of that effort.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Thursday he would meet with his Solomon Islands counterpart Matthew Wale next week at an international meeting, along with the leaders of Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tuvalu and Nauru.
While Australia is the largest development partner for Pacific island nations, according to the Lowy Institute in Sydney, it has failed to sufficiently promote those efforts and to emphasise the economic advantages of ties with Canberra compared with Beijing, Conroy said.
“Being very frank with you, we can do better on public diplomacy,” he said.
“We’ve been focused on delivering projects that have the best value for our partner countries, rather than getting credit for it. And that’s obviously something that comes at a cost for us. So, we need to get better at the public diplomacy aspect of it.”
Another area where the government has sought to roll back Beijing’s influence is by reducing the presence of Chinese contractors in the construction phase of development activities across the region.
“Too often, there are projects around the Indo-Pacific, but particularly in the Pacific, that are funded by countries like Australia and Japan, that because the tendering process has been flawed, and they’ve chosen the lowest bidder rather than the best quality, have gone to a state-owned enterprise of China,” Conroy said.
“Then the Chinese state-owned enterprise has branded it with their branding, and people assume China is funding the project, when it’s taxpayers of Japan or Australia,” he said.
Chinese SOEs win a substantial amount of the contracts from multilateral development banks, according to Lowy, although these institutions have acknowledged complaints from Australia and others, according to Conroy.
He said the World Bank is moving the fastest to change its procurement practices to prioritise quality and local content over cost.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is also improving, but “I’d still like them to do better in terms of choosing tenderers who prioritise local content,” Conroy said.
“If a project’s good enough to be in the Solomons, it’s good enough to use Solomons companies and Solomons workers rather than shipping them all in.”
Australia’s drive in the Pacific has elicited some pushback from China, according to Conroy. While declining to detail the specific countermeasures Beijing has used, he reiterated that “we’re in a permanent state of contest. We expect every move we take to advance our partnerships to be tested by other countries who want to be the primary partner, said Conroy…. PACNEWS
S|KOREA – GCF BOSS: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Fri 30 Oct 2026
Green Climate Fund Board reappoints Duarte as Executive Director for second term
SEOUL, 30 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS) — The Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board has unanimously reappointed Executive Director Mafalda Duarte for a second four-year term, endorsing her reform agenda as the Fund continues to expand climate finance and improve access for vulnerable countries.
The reappointment follows a Board meeting that highlighted reforms introduced under Duarte’s leadership, including improvements to accreditation, project due diligence and financial management, alongside record levels of funding and project approvals.
Duarte said the Board’s decision reflected confidence in the direction of the organisation and its efforts to improve the delivery of climate finance.
“I am deeply grateful for the Board’s unanimous support in asking me to serve as Executive Director of GCF for a second term
“I see it as an unequivocal vote of confidence in our reform agenda and overall ambition for the Fund,” she said.
Duarte said reforms implemented over the past three years had begun delivering results, including a more efficient accreditation framework, streamlined project due diligence and improved balance-sheet management.
She said the changes had been implemented while the Fund reached record levels of financing and approved projects in countries that remained inadequately supported by climate finance.
“We will continue to build on this momentum and consolidate the reforms, while ensuring the organisation is equipped to deliver at a higher scale and with a clear focus on the greatest systemic impact,” Duarte said.
She credited the GCF Board and staff for supporting the reform programme.
“None of this would have been possible without the strong support of the Board and the unwavering commitment and hard work of GCF staff,” she said.
The second four-year term will allow Duarte to continue overseeing the Fund’s efforts to increase the scale and effectiveness of climate finance, strengthen access to funding and mobilise private sector investment.
The GCF is a key international climate finance institution supporting developing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen resilience to climate change…. PACNEWS
FIJI – CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM/POLITICS: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 2: Fri 30 Oct 2026
“Cunning agenda” behind proposed Fiji Constitution – Chaudhry
SUVA, 30 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI TIMES) — Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry has accused the Government of pursuing a “very cunning agenda” through the proposed Constitution, claiming its provisions could allow those in power to remain in office without holding an election.
Speaking at the Fiji Media Association (FMA) town hall meeting in Nasinu Thursday night, Chaudhry questioned the proposed return of the Senate, transitional provisions and changes to electoral constituencies.
“As I said, it’s a manipulative constitution. You got to look deep into it. Right? There is a very cunning agenda here, but it’s exposed now,” he said.
Chaudhry claimed the proposed Senate was designed to shift political power away from ordinary citizens and into the hands of a privileged few.
“We don’t need the Senate,” he said.
“Absolutely, we’re a small country, less than a million people.
“What do you need the Senate for? Will it add value to the Parliament? No, it won’t add value. As I say, the Senate is being created to transfer power from the people to the elite.”
He insisted that the proposed upper house was part of a wider political agenda, despite assurances from government leaders.
“That’s the clear agenda. However much the Deputy Prime Minister tries to convince us that no, that there is no agenda. That is the agenda.”
Chaudhry also raised concerns about transitional provisions in the proposed Constitution, alleging they could enable the current Government to continue in office without facing voters.
“When you look at the transitional provisions of the Bill, and I’ve raised this question, they can slide into power without holding an election, how do you explain that?”
He questioned why provisions allowing the current Parliament to continue had been included in the draft.
“What was the need for that? Such a provision was never in any other constitution before.”
Chaudhry further criticised proposed electoral arrangements, particularly the treatment of Yasawa under the proposed constituency boundaries.
He questioned why Yasawa would be placed within a maritime constituency rather than remain with Ba Province.
“Yasawa is a part of Ba. It has always been a part of Ba. Why are you trying to divide the province of Ba?”
Chaudhry maintained that the combined proposals raised serious questions about the Government’s intentions.
He urged the public to examine the draft Constitution closely rather than accept assurances about the proposed changes.
“Don’t try and fool the people,” he said.
“You are playing with the lives of the people in this country.”
Meanwhile, National Federation Party (NFP) leader Professor Biman Prasad has written to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka outlining his party’s concerns over the rushed constitutional reform process and proposing changes to the current arrangements.
Speaking at the FMA town hall meeting in Nasinu last night, Prof Prasad said the NFP remained opposed to the tight timeline for public consultations and the proposed implementation of constitutional changes.
“The timeline is too tight. The process is rushed, and I can confirm today that I have this afternoon written to the Prime Minister the party’s position on the process, and we’ve made certain proposals and suggestions,” he said.
Prof Prasad stressed that being part of the Coalition Government did not mean the NFP was required to support every government decision.
“Coalition doesn’t mean we have to agree with everything in government, so that’s the first point.”
He said the party had made its position clear even before the constitutional reform report and draft Bill were presented to Parliament.
The NFP, he said, would not support rushed public consultations or the hurried implementation of constitutional changes.
Prof Prasad said the party had consistently raised concerns about the process, including during parliamentary debate on the Bill.
While acknowledging that the consultation process had allowed political leaders, non-governmental organisations, institutions and members of the public to express their views, he maintained that the timeline remained inadequate.
He also revealed that the NFP would announce its next steps at a press conference on Saturday.
“And on Saturday, we will hold a press conference to inform the people and the media what NFP will do in terms of going forward.”
Prof Prasad reiterated that coalition membership did not prevent the NFP from taking an independent position on constitutional reform…. PACNEWS
TONGA – WEATHER WATCH: TALANOAOTONGA PACNEWS 2: Fri 30 Oct 2026
More cyclone and drought threat this season: Tonga Met Service
NUKU’ALOFA, 30 OCTOBER 2026 (TALANOAOTONGA) — Tonga could be affected by two to four tropical cyclones during the 2026–2027 season, while worsening drought threatens water supplies, agriculture and livelihoods across the Kingdom.
The Tonga Meteorological Service’s seasonal outlook released this week warns of a moderate to high chance of at least one severe tropical cyclone, with the greatest risk expected between January and March 2027.
Communities are being urged to prepare for both extreme weather and prolonged dry conditions.
Below-average rainfall is forecast from November 2026 to January 2027, as a very strong El Niño event is expected to peak around December.
The Meteorological Service warns that continued dry conditions could increase pressure on water supplies, agriculture, health and household livelihoods.
Drought declarations remain in force for Tongatapu, ʻEua, Haʻapai and Niuatoputapu. Vavaʻu and Niuafoʻou remain under drought warning and alert, respectively, with a high likelihood of both being upgraded to drought declarations by the end of December.
The outlook highlights the challenge facing communities that must manage water shortages while preparing for the possibility of damaging storms.
The highest cyclone risk is expected between January and March 2027, when tropical cyclone activity typically peaks in Tonga.
Potential impacts include damaging winds, heavy rainfall, coastal flooding and hazardous sea conditions.
Although the outlook identifies a seasonal risk, it does not mean a cyclone is currently approaching Tonga. Communities should continue monitoring official forecasts and warnings as conditions develop.
The World Meteorological Organisation has also warned that El Niño is strengthening and is expected to influence weather patterns into early 2027, increasing the risk of drought and other extreme weather in affected regions.
The Tonga Meteorological Service advises the public to conserve water, use supplies wisely and review cyclone and drought preparedness plans.
Households should consider their drinking-water storage, emergency supplies and arrangements for protecting family members, property and livelihoods.
Farmers and other communities dependent on rainfall should also prepare for the possibility of continued dry conditions.
The outlook is a reminder that Tonga faces two different hazards this season: a shortage of rainfall in the coming months and the potential for destructive storms during the cyclone season.
Residents are encouraged to follow official Tonga Meteorological Service updates for the latest forecasts, warnings and preparedness advice…. PACNEWS
FIJI – POLITICS: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 2: Fri 30 Oct 2026
Is Fiji ready for a non-iTaukei PM? – Tiko
SUVA, 30 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI TIMES) — “Let the people decide.”
That was Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry’s response when 2000 coup convict Varina Tiko questioned whether Fiji was ready to accept a non-iTaukei prime minister.
The exchange took place during the Fijian Media Association town hall meeting in Nasinu last night, where members of the public gathered to discuss the proposed constitutional changes.
Tiko said he wanted a straightforward answer to a question he believed was central to Fiji’s political future.
“My simple question is this, and I want you to honestly answer this: Yes or no? Is the country ready for a non-iTaukei prime minister?”
He said the repeated discussion of coups continued to reopen painful wounds for many Fijians.
“I believe everyone is fed up of the word coup,” he said, adding that hearing the term brought back difficult memories.
Tiko drew parallels between the current constitutional reform process and the political climate surrounding the 1997 Constitution.
“This is the same thing that happened in ’97, when the Constitution was rushed, the people were complaining,” he said.
“They were not happy with what Rabuka was doing.”
He also questioned proposed constitutional provisions relating to the military and Cabinet, raising concerns about how the military would respond in the event of political unrest.
“What happens if the people rise up and arrest the Cabinet? Who will the military listen to?”
Tiko warned that public dissatisfaction could grow if people later discovered that the constitutional changes did not deliver what they had been led to expect.
He also raised concerns about the translation of the proposed legislation and whether communities fully understood its implications.
Returning to his original question, he directly challenged Chaudhry.
“Are we ready for a non-iTaukei prime minister, Chaudhry? What is your answer?”
Chaudhry responded briefly.
“Let the people decide. Let the people decide,” he said…. PACNEWS
SOL – POLICE DRONES: SOLOMON TIMES ONLINE PACNEWS 2: Fri 30 Oct 2026
RSIPF drone unit returns from Palau and Tuvalu deployments
HONIARA, 30 OCTOBER 2026 (SOLOMON TIMES ONLINE) — Officers from the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Drone Support Unit (DSU) have returned from deployments supporting security operations in Palau and Tuvalu, bringing back operational experience and specialist skills, the RSIPF said.
Police said the deployments were supported through the RSIPF and Australian Federal Police Policing Partnership Programme (RAPPP) and gave the officers a chance to use their drone skills alongside police from the region and overseas.
The DSU went to Palau in August and September 2026 with the Pacific Policing Support Group (PPSG) during the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, police said. Officers flew surveillance, kept watch over the main venues and helped with the security put in place for visiting leaders and their delegations.
They also tracked other drones in the air and ran a live video feed into the Police Operations Centre, working with the Palau Bureau of Public Safety, PPSG command staff and United States Army counter-drone teams. Palau and partners in the region spoke well of the deployment, according to the RSIPF.
In October 2026, DSU personnel deployed to Tuvalu for PPSG operations linked to PRE-COP31. There the team carried out venue surveillance, security assessments and aerial monitoring, and supported communications and information sharing. Alongside Tuvalu Police and Tuvalu Aviation, it supplied live aerial footage for commanders and security planners.
Police said the two deployments show Solomon Islands officers are doing more for security across the region, and that the experience can be put to use at home during big events, emergencies, national security operations and everyday policing…. PACNEWS
NZ – DIPLOMACY: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS 2: Fri 30 Oct 2026
NZ must be brave and decisive in world without Trump, US analyst says
WELLINGTON, 30 OCTOBER 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC) — In a world without U.S President Donald Trump New Zealand will have to show courage and decisiveness, says an American foreign policy and national security analyst.
Dr Zack Cooper, in the country as the midterm elections loom in his homeland, and giving lectures as the Sir Howard Kippenberger visiting chair, said these were two features of war hero ‘Kip’s’ approach that were “incredibly important for New Zealanders today”.
“Courage is needed in this world now more than ever, including from small countries,” said Cooper, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute who also teaches at Princeton University.
“New Zealand will have to be remarkably decisive to have the effects that it can and should have.”
It had a crucial role to play; he told an audience at Victoria University.
“We’re in a more dangerous world, a world that is growing more multipolar, and also highly fragmented. This is not a world that rewards countries for sitting back quietly and seeing what comes.”
The country came naturally to this more flexible role as it had always been set a bit apart from the US hub-and-spoke system, he said.
“But I think New Zealand will have to do it with courage and avoid passivity in this new world.”
Being quiet while Trump had been on tariff hook had worked.
“But there will be a time post-Trump for very active engagement and that time is not far off,” said Cooper who previously worked at the National Security Council and in the Office of the Secretary of Defence.
“What’s so critical is the moment in which New Zealand is going to be able to effect outcomes are infrequent and they close quickly…
“Wellington has a crucial role to play in keeping the U.S headed in the right direction and reminding us of what our principles should be. That window may not be open now, but it will be open in the future.”
Dr Zack Cooper said these were two features of war hero ‘Kip’s’ approach that were “incredibly important for New Zealanders today”.
One thing New Zealand could offer as the U.S moved post-Trump to rebuild alliances, was expertise in the Pacific Islands that was sorely lacking in Washington, Cooper said.
Post-Trump, he believed there would be a huge push from U.S leaders to re-engage with big countries – Canada, Europe, India, Japan, Korea.
“It would be easy in that world for the Pacific Islands to be sort of forgotten by Americans. And I think that would be a mistake.
“And so, I hope that that’s a moment where we can see some decisive leadership from New Zealand to remind Americans why it’s important to be here.”
He envisaged a U.S pivot away from the Middle East and towards Asia, foreseen in a key speech by President Barack Obama 15 years ago but waylaid more recently, might resume.
It had been “shocking” that the debate about Asia had become about how much to pull back, he said.
Meantime, the U.S needed the Middle East less for energy now than in past decades, and Washington would struggle to make the case to spend billions rebuilding US facilities in the region struck during the Iran war.
“I think part of the challenge for Americans is the American president going forward is going to have to answer the question for Americans of why we are in the Middle East,” he said…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PAC – FISHERIES: PACNEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 30 Oct 2026
Pacific fisheries officials prepare united tuna management position ahead of WCPFC meeting
HONIARA, 30 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS) — Pacific fisheries officials have advanced regional proposals on tuna allocation, bigeye tuna management and fisheries compliance ahead of next month’s Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting in Vanuatu.
The discussions took place during the 22nd Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Management Options Consultation (MOC22), which concluded after four days at FFA headquarters in Honiara.
FFA members considered key fisheries management priorities, including allocation arrangements for South Pacific albacore tuna and a proposed management procedure for bigeye tuna.
They also discussed measures to strengthen fisheries monitoring, compliance and reporting, as well as ensuring Pacific Island countries’ development needs and special requirements are recognised in regional fisheries management decisions.
The consultation included engagement with Japan and Pacific territories on shared fisheries management priorities ahead of the commission meeting.
FFA said the discussions reinforced the importance of regional cooperation and a common Pacific position in negotiations to secure sustainable tuna fisheries and greater economic and social benefits for Pacific people.
Following MOC22, a special Forum Fisheries Committee (FFC) Officials meeting will consider and finalise the consultation outcomes, including draft proposals and common regional positions for submission to the WCPFC.
The outcomes will guide FFA members’ collective engagement at the commission’s 23rd regular session, scheduled for 30 November to 5 December 2026 in Port Vila, Vanuatu.
The WCPFC is responsible for managing tuna and other highly migratory fish stocks across the western and central Pacific, a region critical to the economies, food security and livelihoods of Pacific Island countries…. PACNEWS
PNG – AVIATION: TALANOAOTONGA PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 30 Oct 2026
Tonga signs aviation investigation agreement with Papua New Guinea
NUKU’ALOFA, 30 AOCTOBER 2026 (TALANOAOTONGA) — Tonga has signed an agreement with Papua New Guinea to strengthen aircraft accident investigations, with the partnership intended to improve access to technical expertise, training and investigative resources.
The Ministry of Infrastructure said the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in Port Moresby on Wednesday by Tonga’s Minister for Infrastructure, Tevita Fatafehi Puloka, and Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Civil Aviation, Douglas Tomuriesa.
The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation between Tonga’s Civil Aviation Office and Papua New Guinea’s Accident Investigation Commission (PNG AIC).
According to the ministry, the partnership will cover the sharing of specialist expertise and investigative resources, professional training, technical assistance and capacity building.
The cooperation will follow Annex 13 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which sets international standards and procedures for investigating aircraft accidents and incidents.
The purpose of these investigations is to identify safety lessons and help prevent future accidents, rather than determine blame or liability, according to ICAO.
The ministry described the agreement as an important step in strengthening Tonga’s national aviation safety framework.
In remarks at the signing, Puloka highlighted aviation’s importance to Tonga’s geographically dispersed communities, connecting the islands and supporting economic development and tourism.
The ministry also said Tonga had completed its first aircraft accident investigation conducted in accordance with ICAO Annex 13. Further details of that investigation were not included in the statement.
The agreement supports Tonga’s stated commitments under the Tonga Strategic Development Framework 2035, the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and ICAO’s No Country Left Behind initiative.
The ministry has not specified when training or technical assistance will begin, which investigations might involve PNG AIC, or what resources will be committed under the agreement.
The practical value of the partnership will depend on how the two countries translate the agreement into operational support and stronger investigation capabilities.
For Tonga, effective accident investigations are important not only for understanding what went wrong, but also for identifying safety improvements that can protect passengers, crews and communities across the Pacific…. PACNEWS
KIRIBATI – STARLINK: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 30 Oct 2026
Kiribati set for telecommunications boost
TARAWA,30 OCTOBER 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) — Customers in Kiribati can look forward to a much-improved telecommunications performance.
This comes after Vodafone Kiribati announced that it has been designated as authorised reseller for Starlink in the country.
It comes as a plus for Kiribati given the widely dispersed nature of the Pacific country.
The partnership, announced in September, will see Vodafone providing access to low-Earth orbit satellite services to government, businesses and other organisations across the country’s 33 atolls.
It will help fill in the gaps for the many regions of the country that remain inaccessible with traditional telecommunications infrastructure.
Vodafone CEO Kamlesh Sharma said being able to work with Starlink was an important step in achieving the company’s goal of expanding innovative connectivity solutions throughout Kiribati.
“Becoming an authorised Starlink reseller is another important step in Vodafone Kiribati’s journey to connect more people, businesses and communities across our widely dispersed islands,” Sharma said.
“Starlink’s satellite technology will complement our existing network capabilities, and help us deliver reliable, high-speed connectivity in locations where conventional infrastructure remains challenging to deploy.”
The addition of Starlink services will complement Vodafone Kiribati’s existing mobile, 4G+, fibre, and enterprise portfolio.
Customers will have the flexibility to use satellite connectivity as a primary service or as a resilient backup connection, strengthening business continuity and operational performance.
As an authorised reseller, Vodafone Kiribati will provide local support including service consultation, deployment coordination, network integration, and ongoing customer assistance.
Sharma said the development strengthens the company’s commitment to bridging the digital divide and supporting greater access to essential services, education, healthcare, government services, and economic opportunities throughout Kiribati.
The partnership supports Vodafone Kiribati’s broader network transformation programme, which includes investments in mobile coverage, fibre connectivity, and improved services across South Tarawa and the outer islands.
By combining Vodafone Kiribati’s local presence and technical expertise with Starlink’s advanced satellite technology, customers will have access to more resilient and flexible connectivity solutions suited to Kiribati’s unique geographical environment. PACNEWS
TONGA- VISITOR ARRIVALS: TALANOAOTONGA PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 30 Oct 2026
Tonga arrivals and departures up in September
NUKU’ALOFA, 30 0CTOBER 2026 (TALANOAOTONGA) — Tonga recorded 12,099 international arrivals and 11,780 departures in September 2026, as visitor numbers increased compared with the same month last year, according to the Tonga Statistics Department.
The figures represent an increase of 8.9 percent in total arrivals and 12.6 percent in departures compared with September 2025, highlighting continued movement across Tonga’s borders.
However, the monthly totals include different categories of travellers and should not be interpreted as a direct measure of permanent migration or population growth.
The Statistics Department recorded 7,495 air visitors in September, up 14.4 percent from 6,550 in September 2025.
Holiday and vacation travel accounted for 5,427 visitors, or 72.4 percent of all air visitors.
A further 847 visitors, or 11.3 percent, came to visit relatives and friends, while 593 travelled for training or conferences.
New Zealand remained the largest source market, accounting for 2,279 visitors, followed by Australia with 1,757 and the United States with 942.
The figures underline the importance of tourism and travel connections with countries that have established links to Tonga.
The bulletin recorded 3,919 returning residents arriving by air in September, down 4.3 percent from 4,094 in September 2025.
Meanwhile, 3,793 resident air departures were recorded, an increase of 2.9 percent compared with the same month last year.
These figures show movements by people who identified Tonga as their permanent address for more than six months of the year. They do not establish how many people permanently left the country or settled overseas.
The department has identified Tonga’s longer-term net migration loss as an important issue for population estimates and planning.
Yacht arrivals rose to 475 in September, compared with 464 a year earlier and 286 in August.
The department attributed the increase partly to the Vava’u Sailing Festival, held from 25 September to 2 October.
Cruise ships also accounted for 210 arrivals and 210 departures in September…. PACNEWS
HAWAII – TOURISM INDUSTRY: PACNEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 30 Oct 2026
Hawaii visitor spending falls nine percent as hurricane damage hits tourism
HONOLULU, 30 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS) — Visitor spending in Hawaii fell nine percent to US$1.41 billion in September 2026, as tourist arrivals declined and hurricanes disrupted travel and damaged infrastructure, particularly on the island of Kaua‘i.
Preliminary figures from Hawaii’s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) show 672,990 visitors arrived during the month, down 3.6 percent from 697,986 in September 2025.
The decline followed the passage of Hurricane Lowell near the Hawaiian Islands from 06 – 08 September, bringing strong winds, flooding and power outages and causing extensive damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure.
Hurricane Nolo also passed south of the islands later in September, bringing heavy rain to Kaua‘i and slowing recovery work following the earlier storm.
DBEDT said visitors were affected by flight cancellations, diversions and delays, while cruise passengers were unable to visit some scheduled ports.
Despite the fall in overall spending, average daily visitor expenditure increased 5.4 percent to US$283 per person compared with the same month last year.
However, visitors stayed for fewer days. The average length of stay dropped from 8.25 days in September 2025 to 7.39 days in September 2026.
The average daily number of visitors present in Hawaii fell 13.7 percent to 165,770, compared with 191,994 a year earlier.
Visitors from the U.S West remained the largest market, with 344,176 arrivals, down 1.4 percent year-on-year. Spending by this group declined 8.9 percent to US$674 million, although daily expenditure rose 5.7 percent to US$278 per person.
Arrivals from the U.S East fell 1.3 percent to 161,854, while spending dropped 8 percent to US$403.1 million. Average daily expenditure increased 5 percent to US$314 per person.
Japanese arrivals declined 8.1 percent to 67,527, with spending falling 6.7 percent to US$102.7 million. Daily expenditure by Japanese visitors rose 2.3 percent to US$248 per person.
Canadian arrivals dropped 4.6 percent to 16,177, although spending increased slightly to US$38.5 million from US$38.3 million a year earlier.
Visitors from other international markets, including Oceania, other parts of Asia, Europe, Latin America, Guam and the Pacific Islands, totalled 65,783, down 16.3 percent from September 2025.
Air capacity also declined slightly. Hawaii recorded 4,439 transpacific flights in September, up 0.1 percent from a year earlier, but the number of available seats fell 1.3 percent to 969,292.
DBEDT Director James Kunane Tokioka said recovery efforts were underway on Kaua‘i to restore visitor infrastructure and support businesses affected by Hurricane Lowell.
The state government and DBEDT have funded a business recovery grant programme administered by the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, offering US$5,000 and US$10,000 grants to eligible non-agricultural small businesses and non-profit organisations affected by the storm.
Tokioka said community partners had also provided emergency supplies, temporary housing and direct assistance to affected families, while additional support was being directed towards island-wide recovery efforts.
The September figures highlight the impact of extreme weather on Hawaii’s tourism sector, a major contributor to the state’s economy, as communities continue to repair storm damage and restore services…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Vanuatu urges sustained biodiversity financing and urgent climate action at CBD COP17
PORT VILA, 30 OCTOBER 2026 (SPREP) — “The Pacific Islands have affirmed time and again that climate change remains the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of the peoples of the Pacific.”
This was stressed during the high-level segment of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity by Ralph Regenvanu the Minister for the Ministry of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology and Geo-Hazard, Energy, Environment, and Disaster Management of Vanuatu.
“In this era of overshoot, climate change is also the single greatest threat to biodiversity. Without deep and sustained cuts to greenhouse gas emissions – specifically by all countries taking concrete actions to implement an immediate transition away from fossil fuels – we cannot address biodiversity conservation by ourselves,” stated Minister Regenvanu as he called for world leaders and ministers to eliminate, phase out or reform perverse incentives, including subsidies harmful to biodiversity, as soon as possible.
“If taxpayer money continues to endanger our natural livelihood and security, our money is working against our people and our common interests. Only if money is supporting a healthier relationship with nature is it in the common interest of us all. We need to take the money out of the bad and put it into the good.”
As it faces growing pressures from climate change, natural disasters, unsustainable resource use and limited financial and technical capacity, Vanuatu has taken great strides in implementing the Convention of Biological Diversity integrating the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework into national policies and strategies.
Vanuatu has invested over USD$20 million from its national budget into natural resources management and conservation across the last five years. It submitted its Seventh National Report to the CBD in February this year.
Through the National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan Early Action support fund, Vanuatu has also mainstreamed biodiversity across Government, including in the sectors of health, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, ocean, and also in the private sector, including the development of sub national biodiversity strategy plans.
“Vanuatu has submitted its revised and costed National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan for 2026 to 2030, aligned to the Kunming-Montreal Framework requiring USD 22.8 Million dollars to fully implement its activities,” stated Ralph Regenvanu the Minister for the Ministry of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology and Geo-Hazard, Energy, Environment, and Disaster Management of Vanuatu.
Minister Regenvanu addressed world leaders and ministers during the CBD COP17. He highlighted the whole-of-Government, whole-of-society approach to biodiversity protection and restoration is reflected in its National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan stressing the figures and actions demonstrate both Vanuatu’s ambition and scale of resources needed to turn commitments into action.
“We are working to strengthen domestic financing and engage international partners and the private sector. However, developing island nations cannot deliver these global commitments alone,” said Minister Regenvanu.
“We call for predictable, adequate, accessible and sustained biodiversity finance, alongside capacity building and technological transfer, to ensure that countries like mine – with very limited resources – can implement national plans effectively.”
“Vanuatu’s ambition is clear. But our success will not be measured by strategies and commitments alone. It will be measured by healthier ecosystems, sustainable livelihoods, resilient communities, and the tangible benefits reaching our people.”
Ralph Regenvanu the Minister for the Ministry of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology and Geo-Hazard, Energy, Environment, and Disaster Management of Vanuatu presented before world leaders and ministers on 27 October 2026 during the High-Level Segment of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity hosted in Yerevan, Armenia from 19 to 30 October 2026…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Funafuti study finds no detectable impact of rooftop solar on harvested rainwater quality
FUNAFUTI, 30 OCTOBER 2026 (SPREP) — A study conducted on Funafuti Island, Tuvalu’s administrative, economic and population centre, has found no statistically detectable difference in stored rainwater quality associated with rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, while identifying microbial contamination as a key water safety concern.
The findings were presented at a validation workshop in Funafuti on 21–22 October 2026, where government agencies, community representatives and key stakeholders reviewed recommendations to protect water security while supporting the country’s transition to renewable energy.
The study, Assessing the Impacts of Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems on Rainwater Harvesting in Funafuti, Tuvalu for Climate Resilience and Water Security, was implemented by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), through the Regional Pacific Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Hub, in partnership with the Tuvalu Climate Change Department, with technical support from Teulava Consultancy.
The study examined whether rooftop solar PV systems have any measurable impact on the quality of rainwater harvested from rooftops in Funafuti. The assessment found no statistically detectable difference in stored rainwater quality associated with rooftop solar PV systems. All measured heavy metal levels were below applicable World Health Organisation (WHO) benchmark values.
Participants discussed the study’s key finding that water safety risks identified during the assessment were primarily linked to microbial contamination rather than the presence of solar PV systems. The study detected Escherichia coli (E. coli) in a significant proportion of harvested water samples, highlighting the importance of improved catchment hygiene, water treatment practices and regular monitoring.
Opening the validation discussions, representatives from the Government of Tuvalu emphasised the importance of the study in addressing community concerns while supporting the country’s transition towards renewable energy.
According to Mervina Paueli, “This study provides important evidence from Funafuti, where population density and infrastructure developments are concentrated, to help Tuvalu balance two national priorities: expanding renewable energy and protecting the quality of harvested rainwater that our communities depend upon. The findings will help guide future policies, investments and practical actions to strengthen both water security and climate resilience.”
Recommendations presented at the workshop included strengthening water-quality monitoring, improving rainwater catchment management and first-flush systems, establishing standards for point-of-use water treatment devices, enhancing PV installation and inspection procedures, and developing safety protocols for rooftop solar systems.
Principal Consultant Dr Kakau Foliaki of Teulava Consultancy thanked the Government of Tuvalu, participating agencies and communities for their contributions throughout the study and validation process.
He emphasised that collaboration between government agencies, technical experts and communities was essential to ensuring the final recommendations reflected local knowledge, national priorities and practical implementation needs.
The project team acknowledged the support and cooperation of households, schools, public institutions and community members who participated in field sampling and consultations carried out in Funafuti during July 2026. Their contribution was essential in assessing harvested rainwater quality in locations with rooftop solar installations.
The validated findings and recommendations will inform the finalization of the case study report and support future government decision-making for Tuvalu. While the study focused solely on Funafuti, the findings provide an important evidence base for considering water security and renewable energy development across Tuvalu.
This assignment was funded through the Regional Pacific NDC Hub and implemented in partnership with the Government of Tuvalu as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen climate resilience, renewable energy development and water security across the Pacific….PACNEWS
For more information: Vanda Faasoa-Chan Ting, Climate Change Mitigation Advisor, SPREP – vandac@sprep.org
Toiata Apelu-Uili, Pacific NDC Technical Officer, SPREP – toiatau@sprep.org
