2022
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
Switching on renewables
The ambitious renewable energy targets set by many Pacific Island nations may be running behind schedule, but there is still a lot of activity and investment in the sector, pandemic
Tina Hydro on track
Work on the Tina River Hydropower Project in Solomon Islands is said to be progressing well despite the country’s war against community transmission of
Palau: Women in the house
By Sera Tikotikovatu-Sefeti Palau, much like other Pacific islands, is rich in tradition and culture, and its legal system is a blend of United States common law and indigenous customary law, which has constitutional
Australia’s investment in gender equity
The newly appointed Australian Ambassador for women and girls, Christine Clarke, has marked her debut press conference with a strong message against gender-based
France, the oceans and seabed mining
Pacific leaders have joined a major oceans summit hosted by the French government in the port city of Brest, addressing climate change, illegal fishing, ocean acidification and plastics pollution.
The track to the Paris 2024 Olympics
Pacific athletes are on track for the next Olympic Games in Paris in 2024. They will be hoping it is an easier path than the one they took to the delayed Tokyo Games, although top officials have concerns about the
A new Pacific consciousness
Kaliopate Tavola argues that the Pacific Elders Voice has the "soul of the region"
Legality is born to sing
Solomon Islands singer 'Legality' says singing has been part of her forever. She first performed when 9 years
The Lazy Little Frog
A new children's book from Papua New Guinea unfolds through the eyes of a little green tree
Whispers
Fisheries dramas The head of a major fisheries agency has survived a move to stop her from sitting a second term. The move was driven by New Zealand, with the support of Cook Islands, who wanted the membership to accept
Outlook 2022: The year in Pacific politics
By Sadhana Sen For the third year running, COVID-19 is defining and disrupting life, leadership and governance in the Pacific. Compounded by climate change-related flooding and the devastating
Tonga’s recovery effort
“The volcanic ash has settled into every crevice our lives and we still sleep in fear of another eruption. Yet through the ash, panic and chaos, I saw hope.” That was the testimony of Hon. Frederica Tuita, who
Solomon Islands’ juggling act
By Georgina Kekea Solomon Islands was COVID-19 free until December 2021. Despite recording positive cases in isolation centres, the spread to the community was avoided. It was not until January 2022 that Prime Minister
Low vax rates threaten PNG economy
By Kevin McQuillan COVID-19 will remain a threat to the Papua New Guinea economy throughout 2022, due to the low rate of vaccination and poor health infrastructure, compounded by a lacklustre foreign investment climate.
Class dismissed? Keeping Pacific classrooms open in 2022
Will Pacific Island school children get an uninterrupted year of face-to-face learning in 2022? Governments and their partners are working hard to open classrooms, and keep them open, but the spread of the Omicron
The tweeting teacher
Fijian teacher and storyteller Joji Raqio has provided some powerful insights into teaching in rural Fiji during the pandemic. His Twitter feed has entertained and educated people across the nation. Here he tells his
The classroom of the future may be truly global
By Yong Zhao School education has for a long time been one size fits all, criticised for its inability to meet the needs of all students. Reform measures have generally failed to improve learning in even the most basic
COVID closures and Fiji schools
By Epeli Krishan Sen Vakalalabure and Lotarakuita Anand Sen Saurara Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series notes that time is a mysterious thing and, when meddled with, could have severe