In this bulletin:
1. FIJI — Fiji Military will not interfere in next election, says RFMF Commander
2. VAN — Vanuatu chiefs concern over use of name “Nakamal” in agreement
3. AUST — Australia’s Minister for Defence Industry Conroy welcomes historic Nakamal agreement
4. CHINA — Australia-Vanuatu treaty criticised by China
5. FIJI — PM Wale receives official welcome in Fiji ahead of Forum Troika meeting
6. MARSH — President Hilda Heine meets with Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General
7. PNG — PNG civil servants’ deadline set, resign by October to contest GE27
8. FIJI — Fiji launches landmark report to strengthen women’s role in peacekeeping
9. COOKS — ‘I didn’t lose hope’: how Cook Islands fisher survived eight days lost in the Pacific Ocean
10. PACNEWS BIZ — NZ hosts Pacific Fisheries Ministers for landmark Forum Fisheries committee meeting
11. PACNEWS BIZ — PNA Office and Forum Fisheries Agency strengthen Partnership to advance East New Britain Initiative
12. PACNEWS BIZ — PNG to help Solomon Islands develop mining policy
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — GEF approvals advance major Climate adaptation Investments across the Pacific
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — Pacific scholar reclaims history of regional resistance
FIJI – ELECTION/POLITICS: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Wed 01 Jul 2026
Fiji Military will not interfere in next election, says RFMF Commander
SUVA, 01 JULY 2026 (FIJI SUN) — The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) has assured the public it will not interfere in Fiji’s next General Election.
Commander Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai reaffirmed the RFMF’s commitment to remaining neutral throughout the electoral process.
Dismissing speculation about his own political ambitions, Major-General Kalouniwai said he had no intention of contesting the election.
“I’m not standing in for election, so I have nothing to say about the election,” he said.
He reassured the public there would be no military involvement despite the possibility of heightened political rhetoric and instability during the campaign period.
Major-General Kalouniwai said the RFMF would remain focused on its constitutional role.
“We will stay where we are now. There’s nothing for us to do,” he said.
He added that matters relating to the conduct and management of the electoral process rested with the relevant authorities and the Government of the day.
Major-General Kalouniwai said the military would continue to keep its distance from political affairs.
He stressed that the RFMF would remain “far away from all that”, reinforcing its position of non-involvement in Fiji’s democratic process.
The assurance comes as Fiji prepares for its next General Election, with political parties expected to intensify campaigning in the lead-up to polling.
Meanwhile, uncertainty over when the next general election will be held is creating difficulties for political parties planning their campaign strategies, the Electoral Commission says.
The issue was highlighted in the Commission’s submission to the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC).
Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Usaia Ratuvili said stakeholders had consistently raised concerns about the broad discretion available in determining election dates.
Under the current constitutional arrangements, Parliament can sit for between three-and-a-half and four years before a general election is called.
Justice Ratuvili said the lack of certainty affected campaign planning and resource allocation because political parties did not know when they would go to the polls.
He said international best practice also discouraged major changes to electoral laws during an election year.
The Commission recommended that significant electoral reforms should only take effect after an election, allowing election officials to focus on preparations rather than implementing new legislation during the campaign period.
The proposal was among several governance reforms presented to the CRC as it continues nationwide consultations on constitutional changes.
Justice Ratuvili said a more predictable election timetable would strengthen public confidence in Fiji’s electoral process and provide greater certainty for voters, candidates and political parties alike…. PACNEWS
VAN – POLITICS: VBTC PACNEWS 1: Wed 01 Jul 2026
Vanuatu Chiefs concern over use of name “Nakamal” in agreement
PORT VILA, 01 JULY 2026 (VBTC) — The President of the Malvatumauri Council of Chiefs, Chief Paul Robert Ravun, has raised concerns over the use of the name “Nakamal” in the agreement signed this week between Vanuatu and Australia in Canberra.
Chief Ravun says the term “nakamal” carries deep cultural and traditional significance in Vanuatu and should not have been used without proper and wider consultation with chiefs across the country.
He said the decision to use the name should have involved not only government leaders, but also the Malvatumauri Council of Chiefs and other key stakeholders.
“It must be consulted at the highest level, including members of the government executive, the Leader of the Opposition, chiefs, church leaders, women leaders, youth and children.”
This marks the second time for the Malvatumauri president to raise this concern. This concern was first raised after the initial signing of the agreement in Tanna last year.
Chief Ravun stressed that custom systems in Vanuatu are inclusive and national symbols or culturally significant terms should reflect collective agreement.
While the Nakamal Agreement was officially signed Monday in Canberra by the Prime Ministers of Vanuatu and Australia, he said the use of the word “nakamal” was not properly discussed with chiefs.
His comments come as the government continues to highlight the agreement as a major milestone in strengthening relations with Australia.
Meanwhile, the Intellectual Property Office has confirmed that no individual, community or organisation has registered the name “Nakamal” in Vanuatu.
The confirmation comes following concerns raised by the Malvatumauri National Council of Chiefs over the Government’s use of the name for the recently signed Nakamal Agreement between Vanuatu and Australia.
Compliance Officer at the Intellectual Property Office, Harry Abong, said the word “Nakamal” falls under the country’s legal protection for traditional knowledge and expressions of culture.
“In relation to the word ‘Nakamal’, it falls under what we call expressions of culture. Vanuatu has various laws that protect intellectual property, and we also have legislation that protects our expressions of culture and traditional knowledge. Nakamal falls within that category.”
Abong said anyone who believes they have ownership or custodianship of the name can apply to register it through the Intellectual Property Office.
However, because the word is recognised as part of Vanuatu’s cultural heritage, the office would first seek advice from the Malvatumauri National Council of Chiefs before making any decision on an application.
“If someone applies to register the word ‘Nakamal’, the office will seek advice from the Malvatumauri Council of Chiefs. Once we receive that advice and ownership is verified, the office can issue a certificate of registration authorising the rightful owner of the name.”
The issue gained renewed attention after Malvatumauri President Paul Ravun expressed concern over the Government’s use of the name “Nakamal” for its bilateral agreement with Australia.
Ravun said the Council does not oppose the agreement itself but believes there should have been wider national consultation before using a culturally significant name.
“We are not disputing the agreement that the Government has signed. Our concern is the use of the name ‘Nakamal’. There should have been consultation involving the Government, Opposition leaders, chiefs, church leaders, women, youth and communities across the Republic of Vanuatu.”
Ravun said he had previously raised the matter several months before the agreement was signed but had not received a response from the Government.
Despite the concerns, Prime Minister Jotham Napat and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese formally signed the Nakamal Agreement in Canberra this week.
In a statement, the Office of the Prime Minister said the name was chosen because the agreement reflects the values and spirit of the traditional nakamal…. PACNEWS
AUST – DIPLOMACY/DEFENCE: VANUATU GOVT PACNEWS 1: Wed 01 Jul 2026
Australia’s Minister for Defence Industry Conroy welcomes historic Nakamal agreement
CANBERRA, 01 JULY 2026 (VANUATU GOVT) — Australia’s Minister for Defence Industry and Pacific Island Affairs, Pat Conroy has told the Australian Parliament that the newly signed Nakamal Agreement marks a historic step in Australia’s commitment to a safe, peaceful and prosperous Pacific.
Speaking during Question Time, Minister Conroy said the agreement reflects Australia’s approach to the region.
“Australia turns up in the Pacific. We listen and we act on Pacific priorities. As a proud member of the Pacific family, we support the collective security and prosperity of the entire region.”
Minister Conroy described Nakamal as “Australia’s first comprehensive bilateral agreement with Vanuatu ever.”
He noted the significance of the name: “Nakamal means it’s a traditional Vanuatu meeting place where communities come together,” and drew the parallel to Canberra, “where this name of this city comes from, the “Ngunnawal” word for meeting place.”
“Nakamal began with a request from Vanuatu, and both countries have taken the time to ensure it delivers for both parties,” he said.
“The agreement confirms that Australia is Vanuatu’s largest and most significant economic, security and development partner.”
Under the 10-year framework, Minister Conroy said Nakamal will build on Vanuatu’s strong participation in the PALM Scheme by establishing a traineeship programme with Australian recognised qualifications. It will also support Vanuatu’s participation in the digital economy and focus on Vanuatu’s development priorities. Recognising the existential threat posed by climate change, the Agreement will support access to on-grid and off-grid energy for Vanuatu communities.
Minister Conroy also highlighted the cultural foundations of the partnership, including actions to strengthen ties between Melanesian South Sea Islander and First Nations communities, “especially for those affected by the historical practice of Blackbirding.”
He confirmed that “as is right for good friends, in the event of a natural disaster, Australia through this treaty commits to supporting Vanuatu with humanitarian assistance.”
On security, Minister Conroy said the Agreement respects the sovereignty of both nations.
“This is an agreement that respects the sovereignty of both Vanuatu and Australia. It recognises that Pacific security is a shared responsibility of Pacific Islands Forum members. Nakamal formalises in a treaty Vanuatu’s sovereign decision to not permit its territory to be used for any foreign military base or infrastructure, and that Vanuatu’s critical infrastructure will remain free from militarisation and foreign interference.”
“At its heart, Nakamal is about respect, trust and understanding. It strengthens and formalises our partnership as we walk forward together as two sovereign nations,” Minister Conroy said.
“To Prime Minister Napat and your ministers, and through them to the people of Vanuatu, I say thank you tumas. Australia mo Vanuatu oli bambae friends forever. Australia and Vanuatu will forever be friends,” he said…. PACNEWS
CHINA – DIPLOMACY: AFR PACNEWS 1: Wed 01 Jul 2026
Australia-Vanuatu treaty criticised by China
BEIJING, 01 JULY 2026 (AFR) — China hit back at Australia’s new security treaty with Vanuatu, warning that bilateral agreements should not target third countries, as Beijing pursued its own pact with Port Vila and declined to say whether it would release the text once it was signed.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Vanuatu’s leader Jotham Napat signed the long-awaited Nakamal agreement in Canberra on Monday, a year after a planned signing ceremony in Port Vila collapsed over concerns Vanuatu would surrender too much sovereignty to Australia, particularly over foreign investment decisions.
Under the finalised Nakamal deal, Vanuatu has committed not to permit its territory to be used for any foreign military base and has recognised Australia as its primary policing partner, pushing back on China’s efforts to bolster its influence across the Pacific by training local police forces.
While Vanuatu will still be free to pursue Chinese investment in its critical infrastructure network, it has committed to consulting Australia, which will provide Port Vila with technical support to ensure safety and security on any future projects.
Asked about the Nakamal agreement on Monday, China’s foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said, “the co-operation should not target any third party, still less be used as an excuse for geopolitical contest”.
“We hope that the co-operation between relevant countries and Pacific nations will be truly conducive to the development and stability of the Pacific Islands region,” Guo said.
China is now in discussions with the Vanuatu government to sign its own agreement – the Namele agreement – though Napat has forcefully denied to local media that it would amount to a security deal. Vanuatu has a foreign policy of non-alignment.
Napat on Monday committed to sharing a copy of the Namele agreement once it had been signed with Beijing.
But Guo would not commit China to releasing the deal text, instead saying that “China always handles the documents on bilateral co-operation with Pacific island nations on the basis of friendly consultation”.
“China’s co-operation with Pacific island nations is fair and square. Our co-operation is not imposed on anyone, nor targets any third party, and has been received by the people in the region,” Guo said.
The Albanese government has tried to strengthen Australia’s ties with the Pacific after the Solomon Islands stunned the region in 2022 by striking a secretive defence pact with Beijing.
Solomon Islands’ new leader Matthew Wale said this month that he could not release details of the country’s security pact with China because of a non-disclosure clause in the agreement, even as he committed to negotiating a new strategic partnership with Australia.
To counter China’s influence, Canberra has signed far-reaching security agreements with Tuvalu and Nauru, giving it a final say over any other security deals the two nations might want to strike with other countries.
It has also inked a military alliance with Papua New Guinea and is finalising a security pact with Fiji, which Albanese is expected to sign in Suva next week…. PACNEWS
FIJI – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Wed 01 Jul 2026
PM Wale receives official welcome in Fiji ahead of Forum Troika meeting
SUVA, 01 JULY 2026 (PACNEWS) — Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale arrived in Fiji on Tuesday for the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Troika Meeting, receiving an official red-carpet welcome on his first visit to the country as Prime Minister and Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum.
Wale flew from Nadi to Nausori, where he was welcomed with a 50-member Guard of honour by the Fiji Military.
He was received by Fiji’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sakiasi Ditoka, and senior government officials.
The Government of Fiji has elevated Prime Minister Wale’s visit to an official visit in recognition of his role as Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum.
As part of the visit, Fiji will also accord Prime Minister Wale a traditional welcome ceremony.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Wale is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on the President of the Republic of Fiji, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, at State House.
He will also hold bilateral talks with Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
Prime Minister Wale is scheduled to return to Honiara on Friday, 03 July 2026…. PACNEWS
MARSH – DIPLOMACY: MARSHALL ISLANDS GOVT PACNEWS 1: Wed 01 Jul 2026
President Hilda Heine meets with Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General
MAJURO, 01 JULY 2026 (MARSHALL ISLANDS GOVT) — Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine last week met with Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Baron Waqa to discuss a range of regional priorities and ongoing Pacific Islands Forum matters.
The meeting included updates on the Micronesian Presidents’ Summit, along with discussions related to the Rarotonga Treaty and its associated documentation process.
Discussions also covered the Republic of the Marshall Islands’ contribution to the Pacific Resilience Facility, broader updates on the Facility with other partners, and outcomes of the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting including the interim appointment process for the Pacific Resilience Facility Board of Directors.
President Heine and Secretary General Waqa also discussed preparations for the upcoming Pacific Islands Leaders Forum Meeting in Palau.
The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange updates on key regional priorities and ongoing Pacific Islands Forum initiatives, reflecting the shared commitment to regional cooperation and collaboration…. PACNEWS
PNG – ELECTION/POLITICS: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS 1: Wed 01 Jul 2026
PNG civil servants’ deadline set, resign by October to contest GE27
PORT MORESBY, 01 JULY 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — 29 October 2026, is the deadline set for public servants – including officers and employees of the State as well as other public authorities – to resign if they want to contest seats in General Election 2027 (GE27).
Personnel Management Department secretary Taies Sansan, in a circular said: “Section 55 of the Public Services (Management) Act 1995 (as amended) requires that all public officers, including agency heads and heads of missions, wishing to contest in GE27 shall resign from office six months prior to the date of issue of writs by the electoral commissioner.”
“The electoral commissioner has declared that the writs for GE27 will be issued on 29 April 2027, and the date six months prior to the issue of writs is 29 October 2026.
“Therefore, all aspiring candidates shall tender their notice of resignation to take effect no later than 29 Oct 2026.
“This means public servants intending to contest GE27 can start giving notices for resignation to their employers as of the notice of this circular instruction up to Oct 29, 2026.”
In February, acting electoral commissioner Margaret Vagi announced the tentative dates for GE27:
*Issue of writs and nominations open – 29 April, 2027;
* Nominations close – 06 May, 2027;
* Polling starts – 26 June, 2027;
* Polling ends – 09 July, 2027; and,
* Return of writs – 30 July, 2027.
Sansan clarified that the amendment to Section 55 of the principal legislation passed by Parliament in 2021 which sought to have public servants resign 12 months prior to the issue of writs, had been nullified by the Supreme Court.
“Note that circular instruction No.27 issued on Sept 21, 2021, is hereby recalled, as the Public Services (Management) (Amendment) Act 2021 (Amendment No.11 of 2021) was nullified by the Supreme Court (SCCA No 3/2023),” she said.
“Hence, provisions in law prior to this annulled amendment are retained.”
Sansan also advised that resignation notices must be headed “Resignation to contest the 2027 National General Elections” and addressed in the following manner:
*Officers and employees submit resignation notices to their respective agency heads;
*Agency heads to submit the resignation notices to their respective portfolio ministers, provincial governors or board chairman;
*and, Copies of such notices must be sent to the Personnel Management Department secretary.
Sansan said those unsuccessful in GE27 would not be re-admitted to the public service, but could apply for re-appointment through the normal selection and recruitment process under the Public Service General Orders.
She said each employing agency should retain proper records of resignation documentation for an officer who resigned to contest an election, “for the purpose of administering pay out of service-related entitlements and other related purposes”.
“Further circular instructions will be issued from now onwards until the end of the election period,” she said…. PACNEWS
FIJI – PEACEKEEPING: FIJI GOVT PACNEWS 1: Wed 01 Jul 2026
Fiji launches landmark report to strengthen women’s role in peacekeeping
SUVA, 01 JULY 2026 (FIJI GOVT) — Fiji’s Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs has launched the Gender Barriers Assessment Project Report, a landmark study that will help shape Fiji’s future participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations by identifying practical ways to strengthen the meaningful participation of women in the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) and the Fiji Police Force.
Using the internationally recognised Measuring Opportunities for Women in Peace Operations (MOWIP) methodology, the assessment was conducted in partnership with the Elsie Initiative Fund, with technical support from Cornell University’s Gender and Security Sector Lab and Ethos CRS.
Fiji is the first Troop and Police Contributing Country in the South Pacific to complete and publish a MOWIP assessment, reinforcing its leadership on the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.
Minister for Defence and Veterans Affairs, Pio Tikoduadua said the report provides an important roadmap for building stronger and more effective security institutions.
“Fiji has a proud legacy in peacekeeping, and these reports confirm our commitment to strengthening that legacy through greater and more meaningful inclusion.
By addressing the barriers identified, we will ensure that all members of the RFMF and FPF, women and men alike, can contribute fully to international peace and security efforts,” he said.
The assessment highlights practical areas for improvement, including expanding recruitment and career opportunities for women, improving childcare support and workplace facilities, strengthening transparency in deployment processes, and addressing harmful gender norms to create a more inclusive working environment.
The Ministry also acknowledged the support of the Elsie Initiative Fund, UN Women, the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, the Fiji Police Force, Cornell University’s Gender and Security Sector Lab, Ethos CRS and all participants whose contributions made the project possible.
The report marks another important step towards building stronger, more inclusive and capable security institutions that will continue serving Fiji with distinction at home and on peacekeeping missions around the world…. PACNEWS
COOKS – RESCUED FISHERMEN: THE GUARDIAN PACNEWS 1: Wed 01 Jul 2026
‘I didn’t lose hope’: how Cook Islands fisher survived eight days lost in the Pacific Ocean
PUKAPUKA, 01 JULY 2026 (THE GUARDIAN) — For eight days drifting alone in the vast Pacific Ocean, Junior Apiuta Apiuta battled towering waves, bitter cold and not knowing if he would ever see his family again.
Twice he was thrown into the ocean by huge swells that threatened to overwhelm him. “Big waves, way higher than the boat, slammed [me] from both sides … but I wasn’t scared because I never lost faith and stopped praying,” he says.
As Apiuta sat in his small fishing boat, with only a few supplies and that faith to keep him going, the fisher from a tiny atoll in the Cook Islands said the hardest part was not knowing where the ocean would take him. But he never believed he was finished.
“I didn’t lose hope. I just felt sad,” Apiuta says.
Apiuta was rescued on 18 June after his four-metre aluminium skiff suffered an engine failure on a solo fishing trip. He was eventually located by the New Zealand air force and later rescued by a Taiwanese fishing vessel.
His ordeal started on 11 June on his home island of Pukapuka, about 1,140km (708 miles) north-west of Rarotonga, halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii. After playing volleyball, he went home and prepared his fishing gear and headed out to sea.
The wind was strong, and he followed some birds flying above the water as it signalled fish were nearby. Not long after, his engine began to fail. It spluttered – “sounded like coughing” – cutting in and out. By that point he had reeled in a handful of fish but as darkness fell, the engine went dead. Apiuta didn’t have the tools to fix it and the wind was picking up.
“I thought, ‘should I jump in the water and swim to the island?’ I don’t think I would make it.” So, he stayed on the boat.
Slowly, the lights on Pukapuka faded into the distance. That first night alone his mind was occupied with thoughts of what to do next and how to survive. “My first night wasn’t as bad as the next days that awaited me,” he says.
The next days that followed were the worst, he says, as he encountered raging seas, biting cold and constant rain. As waves crashed over him, Apiuta sat low down to stop himself from being swept away.
“The waves were huge,” he says. During the rough seas, all he could do was keep the boat balanced and bail out water that came inside.
He survived with what he had onboard: two bottles of water, a bucket, fishing gear, a chilly bin and a sheet.
He ate small pieces of raw fish he caught and collected rainwater in the bucket.
To protect himself from the cold, he used the sheet and chilly bin. “Night-time, I [couldn’t] do anything. I was freezing out there.”
Throughout the ordeal, he prayed. He asked for a sign – a fishing boat or yacht – anything that could bring help.
On the third day, after his evening prayer, he saw a light in the distance: a fishing vessel. The 42-year-old says he was “so happy” at the sight and paddled desperately towards it. But the wind pushed him away and the boat disappeared.
The days stretched on and he focused on conserving water, staying warm and keeping his boat afloat. On the eighth day, he heard a plane and the sky cleared. “I said to myself, ‘could be my rescue.’”
The New Zealand air force plane circled above, and alerted fishing vessels to move into the area to search for him.
A Taiwanese vessel approached, and Apiuta whistled until one of the crew heard him and shone a torch towards his boat. After seven nights and eight days alone, Apiuta was found.
Safely onboard he showered, ate and contacted his family. The first person he called was his partner. The first thing that came out of my mouth was, ‘Darling, I’m okay.’”
Apiuta was taken to New Zealand and will soon travel home. He says of course he will return to fishing, but with more caution.
“Don’t forget about your torch, life jacket. Don’t forget the raincoat. Say your prayer before you start going fishing,” he said…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PAC – FISHERIES: FFA PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 01 Jul 2026
New Zealand hosts Pacific Fisheries Ministers for landmark Forum Fisheries Committee meeting
WELLINGTON, 01 JULY 2026 (FFA) — Fisheries Ministers, senior officials and delegates from across the Pacific gathered in Aotearoa New Zealand Tuesday for the 25th Annual Forum Fisheries Committee (FFC) Ministerial Meeting, where leaders will discuss the future of the region’s fisheries and strengthen cooperation on the sustainable management of the Pacific Ocean’s most valuable resource.
Hosted by the Government of New Zealand, the meeting opened with a traditional Māori pōwhiri at Te Papa Tongarewa, New Zealand’s national museum. The formal welcoming ceremony brought together Members, development partners, observers and delegates in a powerful expression of partnership, respect and shared purpose.
The pōwhiri, which included traditional speeches and waiata from both hosts and visitors, welcomed delegates onto the marae and into the meeting space. The ceremony reflected the deep cultural connections shared by Pacific peoples and their ocean, while reinforcing the collective responsibility to sustainably manage the region’s fisheries for future generations.
Opening the meeting, FFA Director-General Noan Pakop thanked New Zealand for its warm hospitality and acknowledged the significance of the welcome.
“We are honoured by this expression of manaakitanga, which reminds us that our work is grounded in friendship, mutual respect and our shared commitment to the peoples of the Blue Pacific,” he said.
Pakop also congratulated New Zealand’s Honourable Shane Jones on assuming the Chairmanship of the Forum Fisheries Committee Ministerial and thanked senior fisheries officials for their work in preparing recommendations for Ministers.
“The careful deliberations of our senior officials have laid a strong foundation for the important decisions Ministers will make over the coming days,” he said.
Over the course of the meeting, Ministers will consider several strategic issues that will shape the future of Pacific fisheries, focusing on three key priorities: sustaining and strengthening fisheries management, increasing the economic and social benefits from the region’s fisheries resources, and ensuring regional institutions remain strong and responsive to Members’ needs.
Among the key agenda items is the proposed South Pacific Albacore Allocation Arrangement, which aims to provide greater long-term certainty for one of the region’s most important tuna fisheries while reaffirming the leadership of Pacific coastal States in managing the resource.
Ministers will also discuss ways to maximise the value of Pacific fisheries through initiatives such as the East New Britain Initiative (ENBi), which supports greater domestic participation in the tuna industry, stronger local economies, employment opportunities and improved food security.
The meeting will also consider the future of the Fisheries Treaty with the United States, a partnership that has supported sustainable fisheries management and delivered economic benefits to Pacific Island countries for more than three decades.
Pakop said Pacific tuna resources remain among the healthiest and most valuable in the world because of the collective stewardship and leadership demonstrated by FFA Members.
“Our challenge is not only to sustain healthy fisheries, but to ensure they continue to create jobs, strengthen domestic industries, improve food security and deliver lasting prosperity for Pacific communities,” he said.
Another major focus of the meeting is the new FFA Strategic Plan, which will guide regional fisheries cooperation over the coming years. Ministers will also consider ongoing Secretariat reforms aimed at strengthening institutional effectiveness, ensuring sustainable funding and enhancing the Secretariat’s ability to respond to Members’ priorities.
Recognising the importance of regional collaboration, Pakop welcomed Pacific Community (SPC) Director-General Dr Paula Vivili and Deputy Director-General Andrew Jones to their first FFC Ministerial Meeting, noting that strong partnerships between regional organisations will be critical as fisheries governance continues to evolve.
He also acknowledged the continued support of FFA’s development partners, whose longstanding partnerships help strengthen regional capacity and enable Members to deliver lasting benefits to Pacific communities.
“The decisions taken during this meeting will help shape the future management of our fisheries, maximise the value of our ocean resources for Pacific people and strengthen the regional institutions that support our members for generations to come,” Pakop said.
New Zealand also reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to Pacific fisheries through a significant package of support announced during the welcome ceremony at the Beehive at the Parliament House on Monday evening.
Speaking as Chair of the 25th Forum Fisheries Committee Ministerial Meeting, New Zealand’s Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, Shane Jones, announced increased funding for the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) to strengthen regional efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, build fisheries capacity across FFA Members and support the long-term sustainability of the region’s fisheries resources.
The funding will also support the Pacific Islands Tuna Ventures Programme (PITVP), an initiative aimed at helping Pacific Island countries capture greater value from their tuna resources through innovation and product diversification.
New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters, said the Pacific supplies more than half of the world’s traded tuna, yet Pacific nations do not always receive a fair return from this globally important resource.
He said New Zealand’s investment reflects its commitment to helping Pacific countries strengthen domestic fisheries industries, create jobs and increase economic returns for coastal communities.
As host of this year’s meeting, the first time in 18 years New Zealand has welcomed Pacific Fisheries Ministers for the Forum Fisheries Committee Ministerial – New Zealand’s support underscores the importance of regional cooperation in ensuring Pacific fisheries continue to deliver sustainable economic and food security benefits for generations to come.
The annual Forum Fisheries Committee Ministerial Meeting is the Pacific’s highest-level fisheries meeting, bringing together Fisheries Ministers from FFA Members to provide strategic direction on the conservation, sustainable management and development of the region’s fisheries resources…. PACNEWS
PAC – FISHERIES: PNA PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 01 Jul 2026
PNA Office and Forum Fisheries Agency strengthen Partnership to advance East New Britain Initiative
WELLINGTON, 01 JULY 2026 (PNA)—The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) Office have reaffirmed their commitment to sustainable fisheries management through the initialing of an addendum to their existing Memorandum of Understanding.
Through the updated agreement, both organisations will work closely to advance priority areas under the East New Britain Initiative.
The addendum formalises enhanced collaboration between the two organisations in implementing the East New Britain Initiative Strategic Implementation Plan, a key regional effort aimed at strengthening sustainable tuna fisheries, improving economic returns for Pacific Island countries, and building on the successes of fisheries management in the region.
The signing ceremony captured the heads of both organisations, PNAO CEO, D. Sangaalofa Clark and FFA DG, Noan Pakop, initialing the addendum, underscoring a shared vision for deeper cooperation and coordinated action.
The partnership builds on longstanding collaboration between FFA and the PNA Office, aligning technical expertise, policy support, and regional strategies to deliver tangible outcomes across member countries…. PACNEWS
PNG – MINING POLICY: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 01 Jul 2026
PNG to help Solomon Islands develop mining policy
PORT MORESBY, 01 JULY 2026 (THE NATIONAL) —Papua New Guinea has offered to the Solomon Island its experience in mining policy and resource governance to develop a modern mining regime that maximises benefits for its people.
Prime Minister James Marape, during talks with his counterpart Matthew Wale in Port Moresby on Friday, said PNG had learnt valuable lessons over decades of resource development – both successes and mistakes – and was ready to share those experiences with its Melanesian neighbour.
“As you develop your mining laws, it is important to get them right from the beginning,” he said.
“PNG is still refining its own resource laws, but we have accumulated decades of experience.
“We are prepared to send our resource lawyers and technical experts to work with your team so that together we can develop policies that deliver long-term benefits for our people.”
Marape also welcomed the invitation from Wale for PNG’s mining companies to participate in developing resource projects in the Solomon Islands.
“I have tasked Kumul Minerals Holdings Limited and Ok Tedi Mining Limited to examine opportunities in the Solomon Islands and engage with their counterparts on potential mining partnerships,” he said.
“PNG’s resource policy seeks to ensure the State receives at least 55 percent of the total economic benefits generated from major mining projects through an appropriate combination of corporate tax, equity participation, royalties, levies and other fiscal arrangements.
“Investors must make a reasonable return because they bring capital, technology and expertise.
“At the same time, the country that owns the resources must also receive a fair and equitable share of the benefits.”
Marape said that the country’s resource reforms had been shaped by difficult historical lessons, particularly the Panguna mine in Bougainville.
“The Bougainville crisis remains a lasting reminder of what can happen when resource development is not perceived as fair by the people who own the land,” he said.
“Our biggest lesson is this: if you do not get the relationship with customary landowners right, the project will ultimately fail.” …PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
GEF approvals advance major Climate adaptation Investments across the Pacific
SUVA, 01 JULY 2026 (GEF)—As Pacific Island Countries confront accelerating climate impacts, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) has approved four new climate adaptation projects through its Trust Fund, Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF).
The approvals will enable UNDP and the governments of Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Tuvalu and Vanuatu to develop initiatives that will help communities, critical infrastructure and ecosystems withstand flooding, sea-level rise, coastal erosion and other climate threats.
Together, the four projects represent approximately US$14 million in GEF grant financing, alongside more than US$43 million in expected co-financing. The approvals enable the next stage of project development, providing the resources needed to prepare detailed technical studies, stakeholder consultations and project design before the proposals are submitted to the GEF for final approval.
The approvals come as climate change continues to intensify risks across the Pacific. The recently released Pacific Security Outlook Report 2026 identifies climate change as the region’s greatest security threat, underscoring the urgent need to strengthen resilience in communities already facing rising seas, more frequent extreme weather and other climate impacts.
The approvals also reflect growing international recognition of the Pacific’s adaptation priorities, coming as Fiji and Tuvalu prepare to host the 2026 Pre-COP and Leaders’ Event this October. The event will provide world leaders and negotiators with the opportunity to witness firsthand the impacts of climate change in the Pacific.
In Fiji, the proposed Climate Adaptation in the Rewa Delta (CARE) project will strengthen resilience in one of the country’s most flood-prone and economically important river catchments through climate-resilient infrastructure, ecosystem restoration, improved water management and stronger institutional capacity. The project will help safeguard communities, critical infrastructure and water resources in the Rewa Delta while creating a model for other vulnerable catchments.
In the FSM, the project will strengthen climate-informed early warning systems, last-mile communications and community preparedness across Kosrae State, selected outer islands in Pohnpei and priority locations in Yap and Chuuk. Building on existing disaster management investments, it will improve the reliability of warning systems and help vulnerable communities receive timely warnings and take early action ahead of climate-related hazards.
In Tuvalu, the Vaitupu Coastal Adaptation Project will reduce the growing risks posed by sea-level rise, wave-driven flooding and coastal erosion through hybrid nature-based and engineered coastal protection measures, while restoring ecosystems that provide critical natural coastal defences. The project will also strengthen local planning and community stewardship to support long-term resilience on one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable atoll nations.
In Vanuatu, the Sustainable Climate-Resilient Electric Power Systems (SCREPS) project will help climate-proof renewable energy infrastructure and strengthen the resilience of electricity systems to cyclones, flooding and other climate impacts. By integrating climate risk into energy planning and investment, the project will help ensure the country’s transition to renewable energy remains resilient as climate impacts intensify.
For UNDP, the approvals reinforce its longstanding partnership with Pacific governments to expand access to international climate finance through adaptation planning and the preparation of high-quality funding proposals.
They also highlight the continued importance of dedicated adaptation finance for countries on the frontlines of climate change. The SCCF provides a dedicated financing window for Small Island Developing States, while the LDCF remains the only multilateral climate fund exclusively focused on the adaptation needs of Least Developed Countries. Together, with support from the GEF Trust Fund, they help countries implement practical adaptation solutions that protect lives, livelihoods and development gains while advancing the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Over the coming months, UNDP will work with governments and partners to develop the projects through the Project Preparation Grant phase, ahead of their submission to the GEF for final approval…. PACNEWS
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Pacific scholar reclaims history of regional resistance
Pacific historian returns to Waipapa Taumata Rau after receiving PhD from University of Oxford.
AUCKLAND, 01 JULY 2026 (AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY) — A Pacific scholar has uncovered how something as everyday as bananas helped shape political power across the region – from resistance movements in Sāmoa to the foundations of today’s Pacific Islands Forum.
Dr KDee-Aimiti Maʻiaʻi (Fasito’outa, Sapapali’i, Penicuik) was conferred her PhD from the University of Oxford last month. Her thesis, Fa’i Pasifika: Regional Agricultural Development in a Changing Pacific, 1915–1975, examines how a single crop became central to power and politics across the Pacific.
On the back of becoming the first Pacific woman awarded a Rhodes Scholarship, KDee has already stepped into a new role: Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland’s Te Tomokanga postdoctoral Fellow.
“It still feels surreal,” she says, reflecting on a journey that took her between the United Kingdom and the Pacific to undertake her research.
The scholar comes from a family of academics. Her late grandfather, respected Sāmoan physician Papaliʻi Dr Semisi Maʻiaʻi, was a pioneer in Pacific healthcare and the first Sāmoan doctor to graduate from the University of Otago Medical School.
KDee seemed destined to follow a similar path, until she left school at 16 while attending Avondale College. She worked full-time for four years before eventually returning to study.
Enrolling in the University of Auckland’s New Start course, she excelled – going on to complete her degree, an honours year, and earning the Rhodes Scholarship in three years.
“I know it looks really flash,” she says. “But I didn’t finish high school, I did ‘New Start’ when I was an adult – this could be anyone.”
That lived experience now shapes how she approaches Pacific history – looking for the stories embedded in everyday lives rather than elite narratives in isolation.
A story hidden in plain sight
At the heart of KDee’s research is a deceptively simple question: what if agriculture, not diplomacy or geopolitics, sits at the centre of Pacific regionalism?
Her answer begins with a photograph.
An image of her grandmother – a baby at her knees, holding an enormous bunch of bananas – discovered through her grandfather’s autobiography, became a turning point.
“I realised there was this massive story in bananas that we don’t know,” she says.
What followed was years of research into Sāmoa’s banana export industry and its wider political ripple effects, from local resistance movements to the emergence of key regional institutions.
Bananas as resistance, strategy and unity
KDee’s thesis traces four interconnected stories, each demonstrating how agriculture shaped Pacific political life.
In the early 20th century, Sāmoans were already politicising bananas. During the Mau movement, banana plantations became sites of resistance – with growers halting exports, sabotaging shipments, and using production as leverage against colonial administration.
“The bananas were never apolitical,” she explains.
From there, her research follows the regional ripple effects – including the spread of the rhinoceros beetle, an agricultural pest that inadvertently triggered the involvement of global development organisations such as the United Nations in the Pacific.
She also documents the establishment of the region’s first agricultural college in Sāmoa, now part of the University of the South Pacific – an early experiment in regional education and cooperation.
One of the most striking threads is the story of the Pacific Island Producers Association, a collective of Pacific governments that lobbied New Zealand’s state-endorsed private monopoly for fairer banana trade conditions.
“This wasn’t plantation agriculture,” she explains. “Anyone and everyone could participate – villages came together to export collectively.”
That collective political action would go on to reshape regional relationships.
“We wouldn’t have the Forum if it weren’t for bananas,” she says, pointing to the way shared trade struggles brought
Challenging narratives in Pacific History
Beyond its historical insight, KDee’s work challenges how Pacific stories are framed and retold. “We’re often told what Pacific history is,” she says. “There are these really particular stories that get prioritised.”
Too often, those narratives centre on struggle and deficit. Her research instead highlights Pacific innovation, agency, and strategic thinking.
“The Pacific was saying: we’re going to be part of the global world – but on our own terms.”
It’s a reframing that resonates strongly with Pacific communities navigating identity today – particularly across the diaspora, where questions of belonging and historical visibility remain constant.
Returning home to share the work
KDee returned to the region to present her work at the Pacific History Association Conference in Sāmoa in December 2025. Her presentation titled ‘Fa’i Pasfika’ was awarded the PHA Teresia Teaiwa Prize whilst her accompanying essay was awarded the JPH Gunson Essay Prize. It was a “full circle moment” she says. An opportunity to share her work with the people and the region that made it all possible.
Now back in Aotearoa, KDee is energised by her new role.
The Te Tomokanga postdoctoral fellowship in Pacific Studies marks a return to the department where she once studied and taught.
Her focus for the next two years is clear: making the research accessible.
She is working to transform her thesis into a book, a public history exhibition, and even a children’s book – alongside developing teaching resources for schools.
“I really believe in it as a story of importance,” she says. “But it’s also just a really cool story.”
Reclaiming what has always been ours
KDee’s work is about reclaiming Pacific narratives – bringing overlooked histories to the surface. It is also a reminder that all Pacific stories have value and importance even if they may not immediately appeal to contemporary trends in Pacific thought.
Stories of farmers, families, and communities who used what they had – land, crops, and collective strength – to shape political futures.
Stories that remind us of the Pacific has never been passive.
And sometimes, those stories begin with something as everyday as a bunch of bananas…. PACNEWS
Media contact: Kim Meredith | Pacific media adviser
274 357 591
