Milk goats and soaps
From her garage-turned-lab, entrepreneur Beatrice Nast is creating Fiji’s first soap made from pure goat milk. The current president of the Society of Fiji Travel Associates, Nast has worn many hats during her tourism
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Movers and Shakers
NASFUND PNG’s longest serving CEO Ian Tarutia has announced his retirement in March 2023. For almost 35 years, Tarutia has served the fund and its predecessor, the National Provident Fund. Fiji-born Lisa Tai has
Forum stabilises, but hard problems remain
It was a busy time in Suva this month, as Presidents and Prime Ministers arrived in the Fijian capital for the 51st Pacific Islands Forum. Well, most of them – the absence of key Micronesian leaders and the withdrawal
Whispers
Communique semantics New Caledonia's delegation to the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting was not impressed when Australian officials tried to water down a resolution at the Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting,
“We want to engage with our neighbours”
New Caledonia at the Pacific Islands Forum “The future of New Caledonia is not in Europe – the future of New Caledonia is in the Pacific region.” That’s President Louis Mapou, the first pro-independence Kanak
PNG’s election woes
PNG: As Papua New Guineans followed the counting for the Port Moresby Northwest Seat this week, they were shocked to see a video of a machete-wielding mob attacking two men across the road from the counting centre.
Pirate Queens
The Seaka II pioneers When the ‘Seaka Pirates’ all-female deck crew cast off on their first fishing trip on a tuna longline vessel last month, they were fulfilling the ambitions of a program devised by the Pacific
A new chapter for tuna treaty
The United States has pledged to almost triple its funding to the region under the South Pacific Tuna Treaty. “I feel excited,” said Forum Fisheries Agency Director General, Dr Manumatavai Tupou-Roosen,
Skilled workers shortage worry
A growing shortage of skilled workers in Fiji is causing concern among members of the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF), and they want Government to increase the number of countries covered under its
No justice for West Papua at PIF
The plight of West Papuans received little focus at the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting this year, however independence leader, Benny Wenda remains confident their time will come. London-based Wenda recently
PICTA in the slow lane
My article published in this magazine in June 2021 was entitled ‘Fast-tracking PICTA’. This was a reference to the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement, a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) intended for the Pacific
Courage and impact
Lagipoiva honoured for climate coverage The editor of Pacific Environment Weekly in Samoa, Dr. Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson, became the first Pacific Island journalist to receive a ‘Journalists of Courage and
Commonwealth Games chances
South Pacific islands will be proudly represented at this month’s Commonwealth Games in the city of Birmingham. Yes, we have the usual rugby stars from Fiji who are still targeting their first Commonwealth Games gold
Precise Digital signs big Pacific names
New Zealand based company Precise Digital - a digital and online music distribution and publishing company - is concentrating on helping Polynesian and international artists to get full value from digital distribution
Movers and Shakers
Pacific health expert and Niue national Dr Collin Tukuitonga has been recognised with the Knight Companion of the New Zealand order of Merit in this year’s Queen’s Birthday honours. Dr Tukuitonga said: “It’s
“I thought there was a war happening”
A tsunami that swept over the Lauan island of Moce following a volcanic eruption in Tonga in January left villagers in wonder. As Nasau villager Cama Uluilakeba said: "At first I thought there was a war happening when I
Is Lau the Next Galapagos?
A huge conservation effort that could be the South Pacific's answer to the wildlife park-island of Galapagos is gaining momentum in Fiji. Under the Lau Seascape initiative, nearly 336,000 square kilometres of land and
Whispers
Lau in the spotlight A tug of war of mega proportions is underway in Suva’s corridors of power over an initiative by a group of islands in Fiji to preserve the largely pristine sea and land. Under their Lau Seascape
Fiji’s tourism comeback
But concerns remain over Pacific-wide labour shortages Travellers now want authentic and immersive vacation experiences, an analyst from international consulting firm Twenty31, told the recent Fiji Tourism Expo. Oliver
From Farm to Table to Memory
Hidden inside the golf course on Denarau is a burgeoning farm. Fiji National University graduate Shahil Ram has been managing the plot for the Marriott group for a year, and despite suffering a slight setback because of
Unplugging at Namosi Eco Retreat
Sustainability was the buzzword at the Fiji Tourism Exchange, and some of the industry’s quiet pioneers were glad to hear it. “The only way to survive the pandemic was through sustainability. The only way
Bleaching distress signal
Recently we heard that widespread coral bleaching has occurred on the Great Barrier Reef off Queensland for the fourth time in seven years. Scientists say the frequency of these bleaching events mean there’s
Micro plastics, macro problem
An estimated 150 million tonnes of plastic are circulating in our oceans, and that figure is growing by the equivalent of one-truckload every minute, the United Nations Environment Program says. Plastic pollution was a
