Pacific ports at a crossroads
Enhancing climate resilience and cybersecurity The Pacific region stands at a pivotal point in its quest to strengthen maritime infrastructure against climate change and bolster cybersecurity measures. As rising sea
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Turning the tide: Inside the longest strike in Fiji’s history
Thirty-three years after it started, Fiji’s longest strike by workers at the Vatukoula Gold Mines came to an end in June, with the Coalition government promising a payout of FJ$9.2 million (US$4.6 million) for the
Australia’s Pacific Engagement Visa: What’s Next?
On August 2, ballots for the Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) closed for eight participating countries, with the exception of the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau who each received a two-week extension. Whether
Restoring visions of paradise
“The meaning of my Japanese name is ‘naked autumn trees clothed by the falls of gentle snowflakes’,” says Samoan artist, Yuki Kihara. “It [speaks of] seasonal changes between autumn and winter, and I kind of
Water: A Connector, Not a Sector
Pacific water expert, Pitolau Lusia Sefo-Leau says the Pacific region is “far from achieving” the goal of having universal access to water and sanitation by 2030 or SDG6. “I feel that there is something very wrong
Addressing Kiribati’s ‘alarming’ water situation
In Kiribati, many people still struggle to get adequate access to safe, clean drinking water. But work is well underway to try and ensure more schools can provide this basic human need to students. “If you don’t
Briefs
Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands Star Marianas Air, a commuter airline that provides passenger and air cargo service in the Northern Marianas, plans to terminate its air services to these locations effective
Movers and Shakers
New Zealand’s first female Professor of Law of Pacific origin, and a former Supreme Court Justice from Samoa, Professor Tafaoimalo Tologata Leilani Tuala-Warren, has been appointed to lead the Te Piringa Faculty of
Hawaii Aloha: Honouring the “Hawaii Nation”
How do we assess the success of a cultural event? What metrics apply when you’re talking about dancers, artists and a host of creatives? That’s the challenge facing anyone who wants to determine whether the 13th
A meeting of culture, commerce and solidarity
At the halfway of the recent Festival for Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC), its operations director Makanani Sali described it as a “beautiful, chaotic mess” in an interview with local media. And that is how it
Eyes wide shut
Eighteen months after the end of 16 years of Fiji’s notorious two-man rule, the country’s political landscape is in the middle of another seismic shift. The former ruling FijiFirst Party (FFP), relegated to the
Whispers
Seabed issue turning into hotbedSeabed mining continues to divide the region as the International Seabed Authority prepares to meet in Jamaica at the end of July. Hawai‘i has just passed a law banning seabed mining in
Pacific nations stand firm on fisheries and oceans protection
For Pacific Island nations, marine conservation and sustainable fisheries management are crucial because the health of ocean resources deeply influences their economies and livelihoods. In recent times, contrasting
Tackling the Pacific’s plastics crisis
The Pacific Ocean Litter Project (POLP), an initiative under the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), is fighting the threat of single-use plastics to the Pacific coastal environment. With
Waqa takes the wheel at the Forum
Nearing the end of his term as Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Henry Puna travelled to Rarotonga in May and was feted by Mark Brown, Prime Minister of Cook Islands and the current Forum Chair. As the
Fiji positioned for growth in Asia Pacific real estate market
Fiji is on the brink of significant growth in the Asia Pacific real estate market, according to Nick Thompson, Hotels and Hospitality Director at JLL New Zealand. Speaking at a recent tourism investment conference,
Luxury tourism operator Vanua Ranch aims for 2026 opening
Vanua Ranch has revealed plans to open Fiji’s first boutique villa resort, blending farm-based experiences with high-end luxury, by 2026. Located in Uciwai, Vanua Ranch will feature 17 exclusive boutique villas
Wokbaot Wetem Kalja: Culture and Disaster Management in Vanuatu
“Climate displacement of populations is the main feature of our future. We have to be ready for it and plan for it now.” So said Vanuatu’s Minister for Climate Change, Ralph Regenvanu, when he took office in2022.
The perils of underinsurance
Underinsurance and the unawareness of insurance remain significant challenges say insurance providers in Fiji and the Pacific. Chief Executive Officer of Capital Insurance in Fiji, Tonga, and Vanuatu, David Ariff Chan,
Parametric insurance industry off to a rough start in Vanuatu
Two insurance companies have exited Vanuatu, impacting beneficiaries and the burgeoning parametric insurance industry. Noeline W. Viro of the Insurance Supervision Unit of the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu, says that while
Briefs
American Samoa Three doctors and one dentist have reportedly left American Samoa’s Department of Health and more may be leaving soon, as benefits under their contracts have not been honoured due to lack of funding.
Olympians advocate for Pacific wrestling potential
Three of Oceania’s five wrestling hopefuls for this month’s Paris Olympics are women. They are torch bearers for a sport whose profile in the Pacific is such that in the 61-year history of the Pacific Games, there
