Pacific groups welcome call to ban deep sea mining
The Pacific Blue Line collective has welcomed the call by France for a ban on deep sea mining, a call that Pacific civil society groups and movements have been pushing for since 2012. French President Emmanuel Macron
‘Tears in our eyes’: Inside Samoa’s shot at history
“You’ve just made history, boys!” Samoan players were in tears after their 20-18 defeat of Tonga as coach Matt Parish told them that they were the first team from the Pacific nation to qualify for a World Cup
Fiji 2022 elections: the road to Dec 14
The count down is on. Fiji is heading to the polls on December 14, 2022. Nine registered Political Parties will be vying for a seat in the 55-member parliament. They are: All Peoples Party, FijiFirst, Fiji Labour Party,
The Pandemic, War and the Effect on Island Travel
It’s an early Tuesday morning in the seaside town of Levuka. A fish salesman is busy opening his doors to suppliers as they bring in their catch after the night’s fishing. A shop owner scurries around preparing to
Marshall Islands confirms membership in the Pacific Islands Forum
The Marshall Islands ended two years of being at the centre of controversy over the possible break up of the Pacific’s premier regional organisation when its parliament adopted resolutions reaffirming its membership
Vanuatu’s new cabinet named
Vanuatu Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau has named his cabinet after he was sworn in on Friday. The line up of ministerial portfolios saw a former Prime Minister and President of the People’s Progressive Party
COP27: leaders urged not to ‘backslide’ on commitments
World leaders have been urged not to backslide on commitments to cut emissions and to deliver on pledges to help smaller countries deal with the impact of the climate crisis. The messages came from speakers during the
New UN climate report ‘a chronicle of chaos’: UN chief
The latest report from the UN World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), released on Sunday, shows that the last eight years have been the warmest on record, fuelled by ever-rising greenhouse gas concentrations. The
Australia dominates Fiji to win Hong Kong 7s
Australia clinched a thrilling final 20-17 to claim the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens crown and bring to an end Fiji’s dominance that had seen them take the last five titles in Hong Kong. A pulsating end-to-end
Keeping the Paris promise alive: Henry Puna
The Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna says the pressure is on major emitters and all other G20 nations to ensure COP27 keeps the Paris promise alive. “More than any other COP since the 1.5 net zero
Pacific nations want compensation commitment at COP27, Samoa MP says
Samoa’s environment minister says Pacific island nations want the international climate talks in Egypt this month to establish a basis for compensating developing countries for losses caused by climate change. Pacific
Kalsakau elected new Vanuatu PM
After more than six hours of the first sitting of the new Vanuatu Parliament, former Vanuatu Deputy PM Ishmael Kalsakau was elected by an overwhelming majority of 50 out of 52 Members to be Prime Minister of the Pacific
Japan’s recycling town: Can it inspire the Pacific?
When the residents of Osaki in southern Japan were first told about new plans for waste management and recycling in their small town, some were unhappy. “They threw cans at us,” said the Assistant Section Chief and
Pacific Elders Group calls for action in Cairo
The Pacific Elders Group is calling for urgent action at upcoming climate talks in Egypt “to enable nations to implement the agreed goals and objectives of the Paris Agreement.” The group is calling for the
PIANGO: Prioritise progress on loss and damage
The Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (PIANGO) wants greater action on mitigation, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions ahead of the COP27 climate conference. PIANGO says this requires the
Three new MPs for Tongatapu decided in by-election
Three new Tongatapu People’s Representatives have been elected into the Legislative Assembly, after the by-elections on November 3. Electoral Commissioner Pita Vuki has announced the by-election results for the
Mark Robinson joins as new CEO of Bank South Pacific
Bank South Pacific Financial Group Limited has announced the appointment of Mark T. Robinson as Group Chief Executive Officer. Robinson is a senior financial services executive and globally experienced banking Chief
More funding needed for climate adaptation: UNEP
Countries must urgently ramp up action to adapt to the current and future impacts of climate change, as efforts now are too little and too slow, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said in its latest report, published
PNG to receive ‘biggest slice’ of Australian finance
Papua New Guinea has been allocated the biggest slice — around 70 percent — of the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP), according to the Australian government. Australia’s minister
Small island, big ocean: Niue makes its entire EEZ a marine park
When Niueans are babies, their parents traditionally take them down to the seashore and throw them in the water so they learn to swim, Mona Ainu’u told Mongabay. That’s more important in Niue than most places. The
‘Til death do us part: Village holds out against the waves
As the sun sets over Vanua Levu, Fiji’s second largest island, a gong sounds, calling the people to evening prayers. Waves crash on the shoreline, inching ever closer to the village and threatening their very
A Holy Vow: Churches attempt a lost cause
On the black sand a child ran, face turned upwards as he chased a butterfly. Oblivious to the encroachment of rising sea levels and the gradual erosion of his village, he ran back and forth - lost in this moment. Fifty
A cog in Fiji’s history: Site links ancient kingdoms
One account of the origins of Vunisavisavi begins with a young chief setting out from the pre-European kingdom of Verata which was, at the time, a dominant political force. With his retainers, the chief left his home on
