In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Concern over organised crime networks in Pacific after Vietnam killing
2. FIJI — All tested Government MPs return negative drug results: Fiji PM
3. TAIWAN — Foreign Minister thanks Tuvalu for support, vows to deepen cooperation
4. PACIFIC — Hegseth tones down warnings about China but says U.S remains committed to Pacific security
5. SOL/AUST — Solomon Islands PM Wale arrives in Australia ahead of key Canberra Talks
6. UN — Banning children from social media is not enough, UN warns – platforms must be made safe by design
7. PACIFIC — Pacific language champions, sporting greats and community leaders honoured
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji Motorists face biggest fuel shock yet, diesel users hit hardest
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Reserve Bank of Fiji warns of rising economic risks
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Domestic market key, says Lulutai Airlines CEO
11. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Pacific youth are worried but want to engage
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — The Quad meets, Fiji waits outside
PAC – ORGANISED CRIME: TVNZ PACNEWS 1: Mon 01 Jun 2026
Concern over organised crime networks in Pacific after Vietnam killing
AUCKLAND, 01 JUNE 2026 (TVNZ)—New Zealand is among the countries facing growing concern a gang-related killing spanning multiple nations signals an escalation of organised crime networks across the Pacific.
Last week, two men living in Samoa were arrested in Vietnam following the killing of Australian gang “Coconut Cartel” leader Lamalu Lorenzo Tovia outside a Ho Chi Minh City restaurant. The shooting, captured on CCTV, left Tovia dead and an associate, Sauni Sam, in a critical condition.
Vietnamese police later arrested Samoan nationals Joseph Vaa, alleged to be the gunman, and alleged accomplice Steve Tofa near the Cambodian border.
Both suspects, surrounded by police, gave public confessions. Eight Vietnamese nationals were also arrested, accused of helping the pair flee after the killing.
Leading transnational crime expert Associate Professor Jose Sousa-Santos, from Canterbury University’s Pacific Regional Security Hub, says a red flag in this case is the degree of control and coordination by external forces within Australian and regional syndicates.
He said there was talk of up to $1.5 million (US$890,000) being offered as payment for the hit.
“This kind of money can get you influence at all levels of society in the Pacific — this shows you what level these cartels are playing at, and it also shows how difficult it will be for Pacific Island nations to counter criminal entities such as these which have such deep pockets.”
New Zealand Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, who had just returned from a transnational crime summit in Fiji which included police chiefs from around the region, told 1News it was very concerning that organised criminal networks continued to exploit the Pacific to further their own business model.
“We all agree that the enablers of organised criminal activity include technology, violence and corruption — which is a particular issue for the Pacific region — and so as chiefs we’ve been talking about what we can do differently to address some of those enablers,” he said.
“We have to work together, because no single Pacific nation is going to be able to deal with this threat on their own.’
Chambers had just returned from a transnational crime summit in Fiji which included police chiefs from around the region.
Sousa-Santos has been publicly warning about the growing influence of gang and cartel activity in the region for years.
“We have seen the development of the influence of external formal entities — cartels, the triads, Australian syndicates and New Zealand syndicates — in the Pacific over the last decade,” he said.
“What we are now seeing play out, which we’ve been raising the alarm about for five to ten years, is linked to the issues of deportees to the Pacific, drugs smuggling through the region, the growth of drug markets within the Pacific itself, and the fact that within Australia the larger syndicates have utilised Pacific Islanders as foot soldiers.”
Sousa-Santos said when these issues were raised five years ago there was time to put systems in place, but the Pacific regional security architecture was not strengthened as it should have been.
“So now we are playing catch-up, and we will be playing catch-up for the next decade. I think now is the time Australia, New Zealand, the U.S and France need to work with the Pacific and realise this is the final stretch in the game,” he said.
“Pacific governments and law enforcement have identified holes in their own institutions and in the security infrastructure. Australia and New Zealand need to listen and be able to assist in finding specific, partner-supported responses to these identified issues — and not push responses which might be a one-size-fits-all approach.”
Samoa Police are working with external law enforcement agencies on the Vietnamese killing. The Samoan nationals arrested in Vietnam travelled through Fiji to get there. Their bank accounts in Samoa have been frozen, along with others, including those linked to a luxury rental car company they were associated with.
Together with Vietnamese police, they now face the tough task of connecting the dots in what is proving to be a complex, multinational investigation….PACNEWS
FIJI – DRUGS FIGHT: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Mon 01 Jun 2026
All tested Government MPs return negative drug results: Fiji PM
SUVA, 01 JUNE 2026 (FIJI SUN)—All Government Members of Parliament who voluntarily underwent drug testing during the May sitting of Parliament have returned negative results, Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has confirmed.
A total of 37 of the Government’s 40 MPs, including the Prime Minister, Ministers and Assistant Ministers, participated in the testing exercise conducted by the Fiji Police Force medical team.
The announcement comes amid ongoing national concern over illicit drug use and follows months of allegations and speculation involving public figures.
Prime Minister Rabuka said the exercise demonstrated the Government’s commitment to accountability and transparency in the fight against drugs.
“I thank the Fiji Police Force medical staff for their assistance and professionalism. This exercise demonstrates our Government’s commitment to accountability, transparency, and leadership in the fight against illicit drugs,” Rabuka said.
He confirmed that the remaining three Government MPs were unable to participate because they were away on official duties and other commitments but would undertake testing in the coming week.
“Leadership begins at the top. If we expect our citizens, communities, and young people to stand against drugs, then those of us entrusted with public office must be prepared to lead by example.”
Rabuka said the voluntary testing initiative sent a clear message that there was no place for illicit drug use within Government ranks.
He said the results also addressed allegations and rumours that had circulated in recent months.
“Too often, disinformation and malicious speculation are spread without evidence in an attempt to undermine public confidence in institutions and individuals. The facts speak for themselves. Every Government MP tested has returned a negative result.”
The Prime Minister said the Government remained focused on addressing the broader drug problem affecting communities across the country.
“Our fight is not against each other. Our fight is against the drugs that are destroying lives, families, and communities. We will continue to support strong enforcement, prevention, rehabilitation, and public awareness efforts as part of a united national response.”
Rabuka said the Government remained committed to transparency, accountability and setting the standard expected of those holding public office…..PACNEWS
TAIWAN – DIPLOMACY: RADIO TAIWAN INTERNATIONAL PACNEWS 1: Mon 01 Jun 2026
Foreign Minister thanks Tuvalu for support, vows to deepen cooperation
TAIPEI, 01 JUNE 2026 (RADIO TAIWAN INTERNATIONAL) —Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung hosted a banquet for Tuvalu Foreign Affairs and Labor and Trade Minister Paulson Panapa last Thursday.
Both Lin and Panapa stated that the two allies will continue to deepen friendly relations and expand substantive partnership as outlined in a recently signed Treaty of Union and Prosperity.
Tuvalu is a key diplomatic Pacific ally of Taiwan, signing the Taiwan-Tuvalu treaty in 2025 alongside two other cooperative agreements.
In March, Lin visited Tuvalu as a special envoy to the president to witness the efforts of the plan. At the time, he was greatly impressed by what the two had accomplished so far, including the site of the new parliamentary building, which will be built with Taiwan’s help.
During the last Thursday banquet, Lin noted that Tuvalu immediately issued a statement supporting Taiwan after President Lai Ching-te’s trip to Eswatini was delayed by alleged Chinese interference.
He thanked Panapa for Tuvalu’s support, and said that the Foreign Ministry will continue work to deepen relationships and cooperation across various fields as outlined in the framework of the Treaty of Union and Prosperity.
Panapa said that the treaty has already elevated bilateral relations to a comprehensive partnership, pointing to future cooperation on climate resilience and Taiwan’s international participation.
He also said he hopes to maintain close cooperation in the areas of ICT, smart agriculture, energy, and healthcare, among others…..PACNEWS
PAC – DEFENCE: AP PACNEWS 1: Mon 01 Jun 2026
Hegseth tones down warnings about China but says U.S remains committed to Pacific security
SINGAPORE, 01 JUNE 2026 (AP)—- U.S Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth assured Pacific allies on Saturday that Washington remained committed to the region, but toned down previous comments calling China a threat.
Speaking to a group of world leaders, diplomats and top security officials at the Shangri-La defence conference in Singapore, Hegseth said that the region “has profound implications for U.S security and prosperity” and that Washington’s priority was to “achieve a lasting and favorable balance of power in the Pacific.”
It was his second time addressing the forum, hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Last year, he raised the ire of Beijing by warning of rapidly developing threats from China, particularly its aggressive stance toward Taiwan.
He said China is no longer just building up its military forces to take Taiwan, it’s “actively training for it, every day.”
This year, however, the meeting comes only about two weeks after U.S President Donald Trump visited Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, following which Trump called Xi a “great leader” and said that they were going to have a “fantastic future together.”
Hegseth, who was with Trump in Beijing, said the two leaders had agreed that China and the U.S should “build a constructive relationship of strategic stability, based on fairness and reciprocity, reaffirming that while our nations will vigorously protect our respective interests, we can secure practical, mutually beneficial agreements where our interests align.”
However, he said it was still an American priority to ensure that China is not allowed to dominate the Indo-Pacific.
“There is rightful alarm regarding China’s historic military buildup and the expansion of its military activities in the region and beyond,” he said.
“We share a clear-eyed assessment of that security environment and a mutual understanding that a Pacific dominated by any hegemon would unravel the regional balance of power and undermine the equilibrium we all seek to preserve.”
Later in the day, Chinese Maj. Gen. Meng Xiangqing praised Hegseth’s remarks about the meeting between Xi and Trump, saying the consensus the leaders reached “should provide strategic guidance for China-U.S relations over the next three years and beyond.”
“During his meeting with President Trump, President Xi Jinping made it clear that such constructive strategic stability should be a positive form of stability centred on cooperation, a healthy form of stability in which competition remains within reasonable bounds, a normal state of stability in which differences are managed and kept under control, and a lasting form of stability that offers the prospect of peace,” he said.
U.S Senator Tammy Duckworth, part of a congressional delegation to the conference, accused the Trump administration of “cozying up” to China.
“I worry that this administration is being distracted into wars that they’ve started in other parts of the world at the expense of our commitment here in the Indo-Pacific,” the Illinois Democrat told reporters on the sidelines.
“I am concerned that it seems like our president is entering into, you know, policies where he’s doing what Beijing wants him to do,” she added.
After the meetings between Xi and Trump, the American president raised questions about Washington’s willingness to defend Taiwan, calling a new US$14 billion arms package that he has yet to greenlight “a very good negotiating chip for us” with China.
China claims the democratic self-governing island as its own, and Xi has not ruled out using force to take it. The U.S is required by law to help provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, though follows a policy of “strategic ambiguity” on whether it would intervene militarily if China were to attack the island.
Hegseth told the forum that there was “no change in our status” toward Taiwan, but would not comment on the arms deal.
“Any decision about future Taiwan arms sales, as the president said, will rest with him,” he said.
He underscored the Trump administration’s insistence that allies increase defence spending, saying “we need partners, not protectorates.”
He lauded several countries in Asia for their efforts, while reiterating criticism of European allies, without naming names, who he suggested got “distracted by empty globalist rhetoric about the rules-based international order.”
“Our partners in Asia have long understood that the bedrock of a durable partnership is not based on idealistic values but on the concrete alignment of national interests,” he said.
“When our interests diverge, we adjust pragmatically, without the drama or the moralising,” he added. “I think Western Europe might take note — this is a mindset we fully embrace.”
Hegseth did not mention either the war in Ukraine or Iran war in his speech. When asked about Iran, he only said that Trump had assured him that when negotiations with Tehran had concluded, “any deal will be a good deal.”
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles, whose country was among those Hegseth praised for increased military spending, said that while the international rules-based order is not perfect, the “task before us, all of us, including the great powers, is the renovation of that order, not its dismemberment.”
“When the rules apply, smaller states have agency,” Marles said in a speech that followed Hegseth’s. “When the rules yield to power, sovereignty becomes, as others have put it, the purview of the powerful, and no state in this room today, whatever its size, is well served by that outcome.”
At an event held outside the conference, Hegseth, Marles and British Defence Secretary John Healey announced a new initiative in their AUKUS partnership, whose primary focus has been the development and construction of nuclear-powered submarines.
Under the so-called second pillar of AUKUS, the three said they would together invest in the development of improved capabilities for underwater drones.
“Together we produce a range of cutting-edge sensors or weapons systems for undersea drones,” Healey said, adding it will help detect threats including to underwater cables and pipelines…..PACNEWS
SOL/AUST – DIPLOMACY: SOLOMON STAR PACNEWS 1: Mon 01 Jun 2026
Solomon Islands PM Wale arrives in Australia ahead of key Canberra Talks
BRISBANE, 01 JUNE 2026 (SOLOMON STAR)—Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has arrived in Brisbane, Australia, ahead of his official visit to Canberra later this week.
The Prime Minister is expected to travel to Canberra today, where he will engage in high-level discussions with Australian leaders.
These include a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, as well as meetings with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and other senior Cabinet ministers.
Australian Opposition Leader Angus Taylor is also scheduled to make a courtesy call on Prime Minister Wale during his stay in Canberra.
Following the Australia leg, Prime Minister Wale and members of his delegation will travel to New Zealand for the second phase of the visit.
In New Zealand, Prime Minister Wale will meet with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to further deepen bilateral relations and enhance cooperation on key development programmes between the two nations.
Accompanying the Prime Minister are:
*Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Rick Hou.
*Minister for National Planning and Development Coordination, Peter Kenilorea Jnr.
*Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional Services, John Tuhaika Jnr.
*Minister for Infrastructure Development, Rick Fuo’o.
*Minister for Education and Human Resource Development, Stephen Kumi.
Minister for Finance and Treasury, Gordon Darcy Lilo, is expected to join the delegation in Canberra later in the week.
UN – SOCIAL MEDIA: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS 1: Mon 01 Jun 2026
Banning children from social media is not enough, UN warns – platforms must be made safe by design
GENEVA, 01 JUNE 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE)—Blocking children from social media is no substitute for making platforms safe in the first place, the UN human rights office warned Friday, as it issued a 10-point framework urging governments and tech companies to go further and faster to protect children online.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said the harms children face in digital spaces – from addictive design features to privacy violations – were not inevitable, but the result of deliberate commercial choices.
“Online harms to kids’ safety, privacy and wellbeing result from design choices and business practices that undermine safety, including addictive design features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, and persistent notifications,” he said.
The guidelines, titled Getting Children’s Safety Online Right, come as age-based social media restrictions proliferate worldwide.
Australia barred children under 16 from platforms in December 2025, with Indonesia and Malaysia following suit, and more than a dozen other countries weighing similar moves.
Türk cautioned that such bans can be easily circumvented and risk pushing children towards riskier, less monitored spaces.
“Simply limiting access to platforms that remain unsafe cannot stand as the endpoint,” he said.
Peggy Hicks, OHCHR Director of Thematic Engagement and Special Procedures, said tech companies now face a clear choice.
“Change how their platforms are designed and operated to better protect children’s rights and safety – or be forced to do so through increasingly restrictive legislation and regulatory fines,” she told reporters in Geneva.
The guidelines call for safety to be embedded into platform architecture from the outset, rather than leaving parents and children to manage risks themselves.
They also recommend mandatory child rights impact assessments, tightly regulated age verification to guard against privacy risks, and meaningful consultation with children themselves when crafting regulatory responses.
Hicks stressed that the rapidly evolving digital landscape – including the rise of AI and chatbots – made agile, evidence-based policymaking essential.
“We need to collect the evidence and adapt quickly to what we learn,” she said…. PACNEWS
PAC – HONOURS LIST: PMN PACNEWS 1: Mon 01 Jun 2026
Pacific language champions, sporting greats and community leaders honoured
WELLINGTON, 01 JUNE 2026 (PMN)—Pacific leaders, educators, sports figures and community advocates are among the 178 people recognised in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours List.
Twelve Pasifika have been honoured for decades of service across Aotearoa and the wider Pacific community.
They include leaders from the Sāmoan, Tongan, Tokelauan, and Niuean communities, all recognised for work spanning generations.
Leading this year’s Pacific recipients is Beatrice Faumuinā, who has been made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for services to sports and governance.
The former discus champion represented New Zealand at four Olympic Games and five Commonwealth Games, while also holding leadership roles across sport, business and international relations.
She has helped shape athlete-wellbeing programmes and has continued advocating for Pacific voices through media and governance work.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said all the recipients had helped make New Zealand “a stronger, better place”.
“The achievements and service of every New Zealander honoured on this list have helped make our country a stronger, better place, and I would like to thank them for their contributions,” Luxon said in a statement.
Among those appointed Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) is former Kiwis captain Freddie Ah Kuoi for services to rugby league and the community.
Ah Kuoi led the Kiwis in the 1980s and became the youngest Pasifika player to captain the New Zealand side.
He later helped establish programmes supporting young players and mentoring young offenders through fitness and life coaching.
Tokelau community leader Okesene Seanoa Faraimo was recognised for services to the community and Tokelau language and culture.
His work has focused on education, social work, Pacific wellbeing and preserving Te Gagana Tokelau.
Tongan language educator Fane Fusipongi Ketu’u was honoured for more than 40 years promoting Lea Faka-Tonga in schools, churches, and cultural events including her long-running involvement with ASB Polyfest.
Inspector Neru Grant Leifi received recognition for services to New Zealand Police and the community including Pacific policing partnerships, family violence prevention work, and peacekeeping efforts in the Solomon Islands.
Niuean educator and language advocate Tofa Robertina O’Halloran was recognised for more than six decades supporting Vagahau Niue through teaching, writing and cultural preservation.
Pacific fashion designer Filomena Loheni, founder of Mena Designs, was honoured for services to Pacific fashion after helping bring Pacific design to international runways while mentoring young creatives.
Veteran firefighter Leota Pauga Esitone Pauga received recognition for more than 40 years of service with Fire and Emergency New Zealand and for helping establish Afi Pasefika while supporting Pacific representation within the service.
Kathleen Tuai-Ta’ufo’ou was recognised for services to the Pacific community through her leadership in health, housing, Whānau Ora and family violence prevention initiatives.
Former Black Fern Vania Wolfgramm was honoured for services to rugby, particularly her work developing women’s and Pasifika rugby pathways and leadership programmes.
Two Pacific recipients were awarded the King’s Service Medal (KSM).
Tapita Taia Ching was recognised for services to the Pacific community and education in Nelson through cultural education, youth support and church leadership.
Niuean elder Vaitoelau Kumitau also received the KSM for decades of work preserving Vagahau Niue and supporting Pacific families and students in Dunedin.
Several recipients were recognised for protecting and teaching Pacific languages, as communities continue efforts to preserve culture for younger generations born in Aotearoa.
Across the honours list, many recipients were recognised not only for professional achievement but for protecting Pacific languages, mentoring young people, and strengthening communities across Aotearoa.
Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka said the honours reflected “decades of leadership, service, and commitment to strengthening Māori communities, language, education, and governance.”
The government said this year’s Pacific recipients reflect the growing influence of Pacific communities across sports, education, emergency services, language revitalisation, health and the arts, while also highlighting the generations of often unseen community work that continues to underpin Pacific life in Aotearoa.
The honours are administered through the New Zealand Government and Governor-General system. The New Zealand honours system is overseen by the Honours Unit within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Nominations are reviewed before recommendations are made, with the final honours list announced each year around King’s Birthday and New Year.
To celebrate the honours and mark the King’s Birthday, 01 June 2026 is a public holiday…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
FIJI – FUEL PRICES HIKE: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 01 Jun 2026
Fiji Motorists face biggest fuel shock yet, diesel users hit hardest
SUVA, 01 JUNE 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Diesel users have been hit with the biggest fuel price increase in Fiji’s latest fuel review, with prices climbing by as much as 80 cents a litre from today as global market turmoil continues to drive costs higher.
The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) announced the new fuel and LPG prices effective 01June, saying unprecedented volatility in international fuel markets, rising freight costs and geopolitical uncertainty were behind the increases.
On Viti Levu, diesel has jumped from $3.82 (US$1.91) to $4.58(US$2.29) a litre, an increase of 76 cents (US$$0.38cents), while motorists outside the three-kilometre public road zone will pay $4.63 (US$2.31) a litre, up 77 cents (US$0.38). In Vanua Levu and Ovalau, diesel has risen by 77 cents (US$0.38). to as much as $4.65 (US$2.32) a litre, while Rotuma records the highest increase of 80 cents (US$0.40), taking diesel to $5.21(US$2.60) a litre.
Petrol prices have also surged by around 80 cents a litre nationwide, pushing the cost of motor spirit to between $3.93(US$1.96) and $4.54 (US$2.27) a litre depending on location.
FCCC said fuel prices had now reached their highest recorded levels despite efforts to cushion the impact on vulnerable consumers.
“Even with these measures in place, global market conditions continue to push prices upward. As a result, fuel prices in Fiji have now reached their highest recorded levels, driven by sustained increases in international refined fuel prices, freight costs and exchange rate movements.”
The commission said it deliberately moderated increases for products heavily relied upon by maritime users, outer-island communities and low-income households.
Kerosene rose by only 14 (US$0.06 to 15 cents (US$0.07) a litre, while premix increased by 29 to 31 cents US$0.14 – US$0.15) a litre.
LPG users will also feel the squeeze. A standard 12kg cylinder on Viti Levu and Vanua Levu has increased by $9.02 (US$4.51) to $46.60(US$23.30), while a 4.5kg cylinder now costs $17.48(US$8.74), up $3.39(US$1.69).
FCCC attributed the increases to sharp rises in international fuel and LPG prices, freight charges and ongoing supply disruptions linked to geopolitical tensions.
The commission said maintaining a continuous fuel supply remained a national priority despite the challenging global environment.
FCCC said the June price adjustment reflected unprecedented volatility in international fuel markets over the past two months.
“The June 2026 adjustment reflects unprecedented volatility in international fuel markets over the past two months, driven by global forces beyond Fiji’s control.”
The commission said fuel prices had now reached their highest recorded levels due to sustained increases in international refined fuel prices, freight costs and exchange rate movements.
According to FCCC, LPG prices were driven higher by a sharp rise in international butane contract prices and increased freight costs.
The regulator noted that butane prices surged from US$540 per tonne to US$800 per tonne, while international freight rates also increased significantly.
Despite the increases, FCCC said it had taken steps to cushion the impact on vulnerable consumers, particularly by limiting increases on products such as kerosene and premix that are widely used in maritime and rural communities.
The commission said maintaining a continuous and sustainable fuel supply throughout Fiji remained a national priority amid ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainty….PACNEWS
FIJI – ECONOMIC RISKS: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 01 Jun 2026
Reserve Bank of Fiji warns of rising economic risks
SUVA, 01 JUNE 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—The Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) has warned that risks to the country’s economic outlook remain tilted to the downside, citing elevated global fuel prices, higher electricity costs and softer travel demand as key concerns.
In its May 2026 Economic Review, the central bank said external pressures continue to pose challenges to Fiji’s economic recovery, particularly as major trading partners maintain tighter monetary conditions.
“Key external risks stem from elevated global fuel prices and tighter monetary conditions in Fiji’s major trading partner economies, potentially impacting the already moderating travel demand,” the RBF said.
The bank also highlighted growing domestic pressures following Energy Fiji Limited’s recent tariff increase, warning that higher electricity costs could affect business operations across the country.
“Domestically, the recent increase in electricity tariff by EFL is expected to increase operating costs for businesses, disrupt production, and weigh on economic activity,” the review stated.
Despite these challenges, Fiji’s foreign reserve position remains strong for now.
The RBF reported that foreign reserves stood at approximately $3.4 billion(US$1.7 billion) as of 28 May, enough to cover 4.9 months of retained imports.
“Foreign reserves stood at around $3.4 billion(US$1.7 billion) (as of 28 May), sufficient to cover 4.9 months of retained imports and are currently projected to remain adequate in the medium term,” the bank said.
However, the central bank cautioned that this position could come under pressure if global energy and freight costs remain volatile.
“Downside risks persist, as ongoing volatility in global fuel prices and freight costs may exert earlier-than-anticipated pressure on reserves,” the RBF warned.
The central bank said it will continue to closely monitor developments both at home and abroad and stands ready to respond if economic conditions deteriorate.
“The RBF will continue to closely monitor evolving economic conditions and stands ready to implement appropriate measures, as needed, to preserve macroeconomic stability in line with its mandate.”
The assessment comes as Fiji grapples with a prolonged fuel supply crisis and rising operating costs, while tourism growth and consumer spending show signs of moderating after several years of strong post-pandemic recovery….PACNEWS
TONGA – AIRLINE: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 01 Jun 2026
Domestic market key, says Lulutai Airlines CEO
NUKU’ALOFA, 01 JUNE 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS)—Ensuring they keep the local market connected tops the list of priorities for Tonga’s domestic airline, Lulutai Airlines.
Responding to queries on the issue, CEO Clive Fua was unequivocal.
“As the only domestic carrier here in Tonga, our key aviation development should focus on reliability, resilience, and affordability,” he said, “especially for outer-island services where demand may be thin… but the social and economic need is high. Moreover, we have a responsibility to serve our outer islands as an essential service for our people.”
It’s no easy task for an airline relatively new to the game, having commenced operations in 2020. Their predecessor Real Tonga had struggled to keep its head above water financially, particularly in the wake of COVID-19 – and with another crisis of a similar magnitude on the horizon given events in the Middle East, Lulutai is being proactive.
“Our response has been to strengthen operational discipline by making sure that we fill in each domestic flight, safety oversight and risk management, and business continuity planning that align with the fuel crisis impact scale in the Pacific,” Fua said.
“In practical terms, our initiatives are to closely monitor the JETA1 fuel availability and operating cost exposure, maintain close coordination with our regulators and our fuel suppliers (Pacific Energy and Tonga Airports), protect schedule reliability where possible, and ensure that any decisions made are guided first by safety, compliance, and continuity of essential air services here in Tonga.”
In order to fully meet the domestic demand, Fua believes a lot needs to be done in terms of improvement to infrastructure and links with others.
“The key developments needed are improved airport infrastructure… our domestic airports, our domestic fleet and potential partnerships,” he said.
“I strongly believe, a great domestic operation here in Tonga will be crucial for our tourism industry development and our economy,” he said…PACNEWS
PACNEWS In Focus
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Pacific youth are worried but want to engage
SUVA, 01 JUNE 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) —A survey of young people across four Pacific Island nations has produced telling results.
Youth are not that happy with the distribution of development benefits, don’t really trust those with their hands on the reins, and harbor serious concerns about human rights protections. There is reason for optimism though; they still are up for engaging in the political process.
The survey, conducted between March and April of 2026, gathered data via an online questionnaire from citizens across Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Samoa. The overwhelming majority of respondents at the younger end of the scale—18 to 25 years—offering a window into the views of the Pacific’s next generation of voters and leaders.
Development benefits concentrated in urban areas
Nearly six in 10 respondents—59 percent—disagreed that development benefits had been fairly distributed across their countries. Only 15 percent agreed.
“The benefits of development have not been fairly distributed,” one respondent from the Solomon Islands wrote.
A respondent from Fiji stated: “Rural and remote island communities are left behind. Development is mostly done in urban areas.”
The perception of inequality was strongest in the Solomon Islands, where 71 percent of respondents disagreed that development benefits are shared fairly. In Fiji, 57 percent disagreed; in Tuvalu, 55 percent; and in Samoa, 46 percent.
Asked whether their governments have taken adequate measures to combat poverty, 62 percent of all respondents said no.
“The government only favours the top,” a Fijian respondent wrote. “Poor people are left behind.”
Human rights protections weak, culture seen as barrier
Only 32 percent of respondents believe human rights are protected in their country. 43 percent said they are not protected, while 25 percent were unsure or didn’t know.
Despite 86 percent of respondents defining human rights as “rights and protections for all human beings,” the gap between definition and reality was stark. The single biggest challenge to human rights, cited by 32 percent of respondents, was culture and tradition.
“Elders and matai take advantage of their titles to silence the rights of the young,” a Samoan respondent wrote.
Another from the Solomon Islands added: “Human rights and cultural beliefs aren’t the same thing. People should be made aware.”
Lack of education was the second most cited barrier at 24 percent, followed by lack of political will at 15 percent, and gender discrimination at 11 percent
Women’s participation in civic and political affairs was rated as fair, poor, or very poor by 69 percent of all respondents. Only seven percent rated it as “very good.”
Political leaders seen as self-serving
More than half of respondents — 56 percent — said political leadership in their country makes them feel that leaders are only looking after themselves or the rich.
This sentiment was highest in the Solomon Islands at 67 percent, followed by Fiji at 56 percent, Samoa at 55 percent, and lowest in Tuvalu at 39 percent.
When asked who has a say in what happens in their country, 56 percent said only a few people — identifying politicians, wealthy business owners, chiefs, and members of parliament as the decision-makers.
“Politicians and members of parliament,” a Fijian respondent wrote.
“People with deep pockets who know the right people,” said another. In Samoa, respondents named “matai (chiefly title holders) and the wealthy” as the gatekeepers of political power.
Only 44 percent felt that everyone in their country is encouraged to participate in political processes.
Mixed ratings for Prime Ministers
Ratings for current Prime Ministers varied significantly by country.
In Tuvalu, 48 percent rated their Prime Minister as good or very good — by far the highest of the four nations. Respondents praised the leadership for its transparency in particular.
In contrast, 53 percent of Solomon Islanders rated their prime minister (Jeremiah Manele) as bad or very bad. “Same old situation,” one wrote. “Nothing has changed.”
In Samoa, 45 percent rated their leader as bad or very bad, with one respondent calling the Prime Minister “a hypocrite who talks about the law but breaks it.”
In Fiji, 34 percent rated Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka as bad or very bad, while 25 percent rated him as good or very good. “He has re-established traditional pathways,” one supporter wrote. A critic countered: “He doesn’t know what he’s doing.”
Public funds: widespread dissatisfaction
A majority of respondents — 54 percent — said they are dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with the management of public funds in their country. Only 15 percent expressed satisfaction.
56 percent disagreed that public funds are managed efficiently.
When asked where governments should spend more public funds — a multiple-selection question — the top three priorities were clear:
*Healthcare and hospitals – selected by 74 percent of respondents
*Education – selected by 69 percent
*Infrastructure and roads – selected by 52 percent
Rural and outer island development was also a priority, cited by 46 percent.
In what areas should governments spend less? An overwhelming 73 percent named politician salaries, travel, and allowances. Overseas trips and unnecessary meetings were cited by 56 percent, while 43 percent pointed to festivals, pageants, and other non-essential events.
“Instead of focusing money on building embassies in countries committing genocide, spend it on health and education,” a respondent wrote.
Judiciary and media: low trust
Trust in the judicial system remains low. Forty percent of respondents rated trust in their judiciary as low or very low, while only 21 percent rated it as high or very high.
More than half of the respondents (53 percent) said political influence affected judicial decisions in their country. Only 17 percent said judges were often free from pressure.
The media fared no better. Only 18 percent rated their media as independent, while 24 percent said it is not independent. The remaining 58 percent were neutral or didn’t know.
Despite discontent, most plan to vote
Despite widespread dissatisfaction with development, human rights protections, political leadership, and public funds management, 71 percent of respondents said they plan to vote in their country’s next election.
“It is my right as a citizen,” a Fijian woman wrote.
“My vote counts and adds to a better future,” said another.
“Every vote carries immense weight,” a Tuvaluan respondent added.
However, 16 percent said they will not vote, and 13 percent were unsure. Reasons included corruption, lack of worthy candidates, and a belief that the system is rigged.
“Elections are just changing clowns in the same circus,” one respondent wrote. “The whole system is rigged anyway.”
An aware generation
With 67 percent of respondents under 26 years old, the survey captures a generation that is educated, connected, and increasingly dissatisfied with the status quo.
They see development being unequal. They see self-serving leaders. They see human rights undermined by culture, ignorance, and political will. And yet, they still intend to participate.
“Education is key,” a Fijian respondent wrote. “Awareness down to the grassroots level,” said another from the Solomon Islands.
“It is my right,” a young Tuvaluan wrote. “It is my responsibility.”
Whether their governments will listen remains to be seen…..PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
The Quad meets, Fiji waits outside
By Michael Field
AUCKLAND, 01 JUNE 2026 (DEVPOLICY.ORG)—From Berlin to Delhi, powerful nations still decide Pacific futures without Pacific voices in the room.
The Quad’s latest Fiji port announcement is being sold as development assistance. But to many in the Pacific it looks uncomfortably familiar: distant powers gathering behind closed doors, shaping regional futures and expecting island nations to accept decisions already made elsewhere.
Like a diplomatic masonic lodge, “the Quad” — Australia, India, Japan and the United States — gathered its foreign ministers in New Delhi this week and calmly made decisions concerning another nation, Fiji, which was neither represented at the meeting nor, days later, entirely clear on what had been decided in its name.
The 26 May Delhi meeting carries an uncomfortable echo of the 1889 Berlin Conference, where Germany, Britain and the United States deliberated over the fate of Samoa without a single Samoan in the room. Fiji, likewise, was absent from the Quad’s table.
The age of empire may officially be over, but for South Pacific states the pattern remains stubbornly familiar: distant powers still confer, strategise and decide their futures with little consultation, and even less representation. Increasingly it looks as if Australia has acquired a sense of ownership over the region.
Making decisions for the Pacific were Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
They announced several concrete decisions directly affecting Fiji and the wider South Pacific — none of which involved Pacific representation. The Quad unveiled its first-ever joint infrastructure project, a new port in Fiji, aimed at addressing insufficient port capacity across Pacific Island nations. The project is framed as a demonstration of “high-quality, resilient infrastructure” delivery in the Pacific.
To be fair, the port plan is not and could never be entirely an external imposition. Fiji has been actively shopping a Suva port redevelopment for years. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka pitched the project — covering port and shipbuilding upgrades — to Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2023, and Fiji Ports Corporation, which is 41 percent government-owned, has more recently held talks with US officials about a US$181 million upgrade as well as a more ambitious US$1.82 billion plan to relocate Suva Port. Rabuka has also struck a deal with the US Millennium Challenge Corporation for a feasibility study on port development. In that sense, the Quad’s announcement takes something from an existing Fijian wish-list rather than appearing out of nowhere.
Even so, it seems the Quad wants to experiment on Fiji, which has the attraction, for high-paid experts, of luxury resort hotels. Details are sparse, and it is still unclear how the Quad’s “first-ever joint infrastructure project” maps onto the plans Fiji has been developing, or how much say Suva residents have had in what is now being announced on their behalf from New Delhi.
Under the “Ports of the Future” partnership, Fiji becomes the pilot site for a Quad-led port upgrade and capacity-building program. Wong described the plan as the Quad’s “strongest ever commitment” to the Pacific, adding: “I was in Fiji just a couple of weeks ago, and I know how important this will be to that country.” It is a remarkably thin level of engagement for a project that risks turning Fiji into a quasi-Quad maritime base. And what is not clear here at all is what this means to Fiji’s sovereignty, what’s in the fine print and the terms and conditions. What’s the price Fiji pays for a Quad port?
The Quad also launched a new framework to coordinate investment in critical minerals supply chains, including mining, processing and recycling. The framework does not explicitly mention seabed minerals, but nor does it exclude them — and its emphasis on “supply resilience across the Indo-Pacific” aligns with recent US moves to accelerate deep-sea mining in a region that includes Pacific Island states with significant seabed mineral potential. As is being seen with the Cook Islands, Tonga and Nauru, among others, some Pacific states are already keen to sell the sovereignty of the ocean to the United States.
Some of the Delhi meeting was more security directed, including a call to expand work on maritime domain awareness.
Fiji’s response to the announcement has been cautious and, at times, caught off guard. Speaking in parliament on Monday 26 May, Rabuka said it was unclear whether the Quad initiative would slot into Fiji’s existing port plans or whether Fiji would press ahead separately.
“Whether we can fit it into that or we will still move ahead looking for public-private participation, [it will be] based on the plans we already have,” Rabuka said.
Those existing plans centre on Rokobili, at the northern end of Suva harbour, which Fiji Ports Corporation and the Asian Development Bank have shortlisted for the long-mooted relocation of Suva Port. Rabuka had earlier told parliament that the government backed a “mega port” there and had already developed a plan for a container terminal at the site. Also in 2025, he told the Fiji Times the port development was purely for development and not military purposes — a stance he has not walked back since the Delhi meeting.
“They want to help us so that we get up to the various targets that have been set by the international community on how nations tackle the challenges of the Millennium,” Rabuka said at the time.
Defence Minister Pio Tikoduadua has likewise insisted the Quad plan has nothing to do with China.
“It’s a port facility — it’s good for the development of Fiji and the region … (It) allows Fiji to support all of the functions of the state in developing the economy and security.”
Ironically, the Berlin Conference was itself partly triggered by dreadful port facilities in Apia, Samoa. In the 1880s imperial Germany and the United States were competing for control of Samoa, with Britain taking something of an interest. Mostly the competition involved creating civil wars in Samoa. As I describe in “Looking up Samoa on the map”, the high chief Mata’afa Iosefo inflicted a heavy defeat on German forces in the first Battle of Vailele in 1888 (10 years later in the battle’s second edition, he did the same to allied British and American forces). This prompted a build-up of naval forces parked in Apia harbour, an exposed and dangerous port, and on 15 March 1889, a cyclone hit. Six ships were wrecked and 146 crew killed. The great powers, having created chaos, then sought “order” — and convened the Berlin Conference.
Fiji writer Charlie Charters, commenting on the Quad, reached back to Berlin and its times:
“The Berlin meeting produced the 1889 Tripartite Declaration — cleaving the Samoan islands into a German colony [now Samoa] and an American one [American Samoa]. A disfiguring that continues to this day. No actual Samoans were recorded as being present at either meeting.”
The 1889 Berlin Treaty established a tripartite protectorate, with Germany, Britain and the United States exercising joint influence over a nominally independent Samoa. The formal partition into German Samoa and American Samoa came a decade later, under the 1899 Tripartite Convention — but the point is right: the architecture for that later carve-up was built in Berlin, by outsiders, without Samoans at the table.
Fiji’s people might find the comparison with 1889 Samoa uncomfortable, but the parallel is clear: powerful states making decisions that affect Pacific nations without those nations present.
Of course, the contexts differ. The Berlin Conference produced a binding condominium-style arrangement that set the terms for Samoa’s eventual partition in 1899. The Quad’s statements are political commitments among its members. Berlin shaped Samoa’s political fate; the Quad meeting determined infrastructure and security initiatives that will shape Pacific regional dynamics.
Pacific Island societies have long histories of colonial partition, strategic competition and outsiders imposing their own geopolitical aims on them.
At best it can be said the Quad is not dividing territory, or imposing governance, yet.
And places like Samoa and Fiji are sovereign and independent, and while Australia and others seek dominance, they do belong to international and regional institutions.
The Quad style of meeting and statements is a critique of great-power behaviour in the Pacific. It highlights a recurring pattern where powerful states make decisions about the Pacific without Pacific participation. It is far from “Pacific-led, Pacific-owned” decision-making….PACNEWS
