Fiji Fashion Week launches with a focus on sustainability
Fiji Fashion Week 2022 (FJFW22) promises to be a year of fashion with a purpose, as it celebrates its 15th
Sera Tikotikovatu-Sefeti
Australia’s vaccine diplomacy in Pacific islands wards off Beijing: Morrison
Australia has been able to stop an “incursion” by Beijing into the Pacific islands by talking with leaders there weekly and offering vaccine aid, Prime Minister Scott Morrison
Breaking down barriers for women candidates in Tonga
The Tonga 2021 general election was one of the most eventful in the nation’s history as long dominant political parties were ousted by a new wave of independents. However, despite this political shift, women are
Tevita Tobeyaweni: Dancer, MATA founder
What began as a dance crew formed for an international competition in New Zealand and America in 2019, is now a fully-fledged hip-hop dance company in Fiji, MATA. Tevita Tobeyaweni, the 26-year-old Navosa
EU Council partially suspends Vanuatu visa waiver agreement
The Council of the European Union(EU) has decided to partially suspend the visa waiver agreement with Vanuatu due to what it says are risks posed by its investor citizenship schemes, also known as ‘golden passport’
ONOC steps in to support Pacific sports programs, hosts
Oceania National Olympic Committees President, Guam’s Ricardo Blas is hosting colleagues from across the region this week to discuss delivery of sport funding and programs. Blas recently told Islands Business that
Moana Pasifika vow to keep improving after physical debut surprises ‘clunky’ Crusaders
Moana Pasifika coach Aaron Mauger says there is much more to come from his side after they put down a marker in their first Super Rugby game on Friday. Moana Pasifika were aggressive and well organised, repeatedly
Fijiana Drua announce Super W arrival in style
Fijiana Drua have taken to Super W in scintillating fashion, destroying the Melbourne Rebels 66-5 in their competition debut. The new side have relocated from Fiji to the Gold Coast to be part of the six-team league,
Fijian Drua claim historic win over Melbourne Rebels
Fijian Drua have trampled the Melbourne Rebels’ season further into the ground, coming from behind to claim their first Super Rugby Pacific victory. The newcomers trailed 14-0 and were a man down thanks to a
Tonga domestic fibre optic cable may take year to replace
Tonga’s domestic telecommunications cable was torn apart by tremendous forces and deeply buried under volcanic debris on the ocean floor…and it may take up to a year to fix. Up to 110km of a special cable
UN experts sound alarm on serious West Papua abuses, call for urgent aid
UN human rights experts today expressed serious concerns about the deteriorating human rights situation in the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua, citing shocking abuses against indigenous Papuans, including
“Our ocean is not a nuclear dumpster” – USP students call for a nuclear free Pacific
Hundreds of students at the University of the South Pacific in Suva rallied to remember nuclear survivors around the region on 1 March, the anniversary of the US Bravo nuclear test on Bikini Atoll. Marching through
U.S eyes Yap for regional defence plans
The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a component of America’s homeland defence and Yap will play a role in the U.S. military repositioning in the region, according to FSM President David Panuelo. While there
Former PM Tuilaepa apologises in Samoa contempt of court case
Former Samoa Prime Minister apologises in contempt of court case Former Samoan Prime Minister and Leader of the Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and deputy leader Lauofo Fonotoe Pierre
Pacific Elders call halt to seabed mining
Pacific Elders’ Voice (PEV) calls for a halt in seabed mining until “proper regulatory instruments can be put in place,” and recommends a regional expert body be created to provide expert advice to Pacific Island
Leadership and the Pacific Way
Will the leadership tussle within the Pacific Islands Forum be resolved using the Pacific Way? Dr Henry Ivarature looks back to a previous era to see if it offers lessons on the current impasse. Reports indicating
Moana Minerals secures Cook Islands exploration licence
Moana Minerals Limited has been awarded an exploration licence by the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority. The exploration license grants Moana with exclusive rights for a period of five years to explore for cobalt-
Pacific Islands Forum may represent region at G20
Indonesia’s 2022 G20 Presidency will invite the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) to represent small island countries at various G20 meetings in the leadup to the main event in Bali later this year. The Caribbean Community
In our February issue
In this issue of Islands Business, lessons from Tonga where people continue to rebuild their lives after the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption and tsunami. Kevin McQuillan looks at movement to reopen the
Tongan resilience and lessons
Early recovery and reconstruction after the Hunga-Ha'apai-Hunga-Tonga volcano eruption and tsunami must incorporate ‘build back better’ standards to increase resilience in the restoration of physical infrastructure,
Panguna mine reopening
Landowners from the Panguna Mine area and the Autonomous Bougainville Government have reached a historic agreement to re-open the Panguna gold, copper and silver
America engages the Pacific
After a 38-year break from Fiji and a 10-year break from the Pacific, a United States Secretary of State has visited the region, committing to “a free and open Pacific” with promises to “respect core