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
Opinion: Bribe or gift … which one is it?
Much has been written and even more has been talked about on the “coconut wireless” in recent years about attempted bribes and other forms of corruption throughout these islands. Money and all-expenses-paid trips to
Where the buck stops: aid in Fiji
In the most aid-dependent region in the world, Fiji ranks consistently among the Pacific’s top five recipients of development financing. According to the newly released 2022 edition of the Lowy Institute Pacific Aid
Overcoming suspicion: reconciliation for Australia and Bougainville
The angry reaction to Richard Marles’ comments should be a warning to Canberra about the need to settle past grievances. During a visit to Papua New Guinea earlier this month by Australia’s Deputy Prime
Opinion: Labor reduces but does not eliminate Coalition aid cuts
This year’s aid budget (2022-23) has been increased from $4.55 billion under the Coalition to $4.65 billion under Labor. There are bigger increases in the forward estimate years (2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26),
Opinion: The Pacific, emerging from COVID, slowly
The impact of COVID-19 on the economies of the Pacific island region has been much more severe than on any other region or group of countries. The Pacific contracted by 5.4% between 2019 and 2021; other regions or
Opinion: A new climate for Australian aid
Australia has just been found to have failed to adequately protect the rights of Torres Strait Islanders from the impacts of climate change. In a landmark ruling, the UN Human Rights Committee heard arguments from
Fijian Drua: Six home games confirmed, new forwards coach
The Fijian Drua will mount its second Super Rugby Pacific campaign with six home games locked in for Fiji in 2023. Coming to Fiji next year are 2022 champions Crusaders, 2022 finalists Blues, Melbourne Rebels,
Opinion: The RSE scheme – raising standards to change the narrative
The annual Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) conference, this year held in Wellington under the banner ‘Voices of the Pacific’ (27-29 July), was likely the largest RSE conference to date. Over 400 attendees –
Opinion: Benchmarking microfinance
In the last few years we have seen a notably bleaker narrative around our efforts to end global poverty. Severe impacts of climate change, lingering effects of an unprecedented pandemic, and a looming food insecurity
Opinion: Shifting the dial on child malnutrition in the Pacific and Timor-Leste
As donors seeking to support development impact in the Pacific, the Australian government cannot afford to ignore the challenge of child undernutrition and its deep and long-lasting impacts on the Pacific region’s
