In this bulletin:
1. TUVALU — Tuvalu appoints first woman Governor-General
2. PACIFIC — Marshall Islands nuclear victims still seek justice 80 years after testing began
3. PACIFIC — When the ocean rises, 1.5°C becomes personal
4. FIJI — If Constitution Amendment Bill fails, we stop: PM Rabuka
5. PACIFIC — Pacific welcomes defence support, sovereignty first
6. FIJI — Fiji Police order nationwide drug, cash exhibit audit
7. FIJI — Graham Leung heads Fiji Law Society
8. AUST — Australia has access to best AI safeguards: top cyber spy
9. PACNEWS BIZ — World Bank Group to unlock private investments, create Jobs, and strengthen resilience in Tonga
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Pacific fisheries protection relies on people behind the scenes
11. PACNEWS BIZ — 350.org Pacific condemns massive NSW coal mine approval
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — SPREP and PICAN solidify commitment to protect and manage Pacific environment
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — A successful roadshow to strengthen our Pacific partnerships
TUVALU – GOVERNOR GENERAL: PACNEWS/TUVALU GOVT PACNEWS 1: Thu 01 Oct 2026
Tuvalu appoints first woman Governor-General
FUNAFUTI, 01 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS/TUVALU GOVT) — Tuvalu has inaugurated its first woman Governor-General, Temukisa Auina Penehuro Hauma, in a historic change of leadership on the eve of the country’s 48th Independence anniversary.
Hauma, 71, was sworn into office at Niutao Hall Wednesday, formally beginning her four-year term as Tuvalu’s Governor-General.
The Acting Chief Justice of Tuvalu, Sir John Muria, administered the Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance, as required under the Constitution.
Prime Minister Feleti Teo congratulated Hauma and said her appointment marked a significant moment for the country.
“It is a historic moment for Tuvalu, as she becomes the first woman to hold this position,” Teo said.
Hauma, who has family links to Vaitupu and Nanumaga, brings more than 30 years of experience in education to the office, including 12 years as a headmistress.
She holds a Bachelor of Education from the University of the South Pacific and a Master of Business Administration.
Hauma has also served as President of the Tuvalu National Council of Women since 2016 and has been involved in national initiatives including the review of the Constitution and work towards developing a Tuvaluan dictionary.
In her first remarks as Governor-General, Hauma thanked the Government and people of Tuvalu for the confidence placed in her.
“I look forward to leading the nation and empowering our people, especially the women of Tuvalu,” she said.
The ceremony included a Guard of Honour and General Salute by the Tuvalu Police Service, marking Hauma’s formal assumption of office.
Celebrations continued at Niutao Hall, with food provided by the Niutao community and fatele performances prepared by the Vaitupu and Nanumaga communities in recognition of Hauma’s heritage.
Teo also acknowledged the outgoing Governor-General, Reverend Sir Tofiga Vaevalu Falani, thanking him for his service to Tuvalu during his five-year term.
Hauma takes office as Tuvalu prepares to mark 48 years of independence today, with her inauguration becoming part of a significant milestone in the country’s national history……PACNEWS
PAC – NUKE LEGACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Thu 01 Oct 2026
Marshall Islands nuclear victims still seek justice 80 years after testing began
GENEVA, 01 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)—Eighty years after the first nuclear test was conducted in the Marshall Islands, survivors and their descendants are still seeking justice for the health, environmental, cultural and economic damage left by 67 nuclear tests.
The tests conducted by the United States between 1946 and 1958 had a combined explosive yield equivalent to more than 7,000 times the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, with impacts continuing across generations.
“Nuclear testing has been a part of our lives now, 80 years now, and it has become a sad reality for the people of the Marshall Islands,” said Randon John, director for education and public awareness at the Marshall Islands National Nuclear Commission (NNC).
John was speaking at a side event during the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on “Nuclear Justice and Transitional Justice: Addressing the Human Rights Implications of the Nuclear Legacy in the Pacific.”
A UN Human Rights report says nuclear justice remains incomplete, with affected communities continuing to seek truth, recognition, accountability, remedies and reconciliation.
The report documents the immediate and intergenerational human rights consequences of nuclear testing and identifies legal, institutional and resource barriers that continue to limit access to justice.
It calls for reparatory and restorative approaches grounded in Marshallese culture, traditions and community priorities.
Benetick Kabua Maddison, Executive Director of the Marshallese Educational Initiative, said the nuclear legacy remains an active issue.
“The nuclear legacy is an unfinished issue.
“It is obviously ongoing, environmentally, medically as well as culturally. It is a legacy that we are still trying to fight to seek justice, that our people rightly deserve,” Maddison said.
The consequences include displacement, loss of traditional livelihoods, radioactive contamination and continuing uncertainty over whether land and locally produced food are safe.
The UN report notes that Bikini and Enewetak atolls suffered extensive environmental destruction, while radioactive contamination left Marshallese communities exposed to concerns over the safety of food from fishing and farming.
The economic and social impacts have also continued. Communities dependent on natural resources have faced restrictions on selling products from Enewetak and Rongelap because of radiation concerns, affecting their ability to participate in and benefit from economic, social and cultural development.
The Marshall Islands established the NNC in 2017 to address the continuing consequences of the nuclear legacy, including health impacts, displacement, cultural loss and environmental damage.
Since 2023, the UN Human Rights Office has provided technical assistance and capacity-building to support implementation of the NNC’s Nuclear Justice Strategy for Coordinated Action.
Heike Alefsen, UN Human Rights Regional Representative for the Pacific, said the support includes strengthening institutions, raising community awareness and helping the Marshall Islands engage with international human rights mechanisms.
“This is very practical work: raising awareness in communities, strengthening institutional capacity, providing legal guidance, and supporting engagement with international human rights mechanisms.
“Reporting and technical cooperation complement one another. They are not separate aspects of the mandate because our work on the ground helps identify opportunities, capacities and barriers to justice,” Alefsen said.
Alefsen said justice must extend beyond courtrooms and include education, customary law, art and Indigenous practices.
“The continued denial of an effective remedy is itself an ongoing human rights violation,” she said.
For Marshallese families, the nuclear legacy is also about the loss of ancestral lands.
Alice Ward, a youth representative of the Marshallese diaspora, said she cannot return to her home island of Bikini because of radiation concerns.
“Knowing that I can’t go back to my homeland Bikini due to the radiation … There’s no way I can go back and live where I belong,” Ward said.
The UN Human Rights Council has mandated the UN Human Rights Office to provide technical assistance and capacity-building support to the Marshall Islands and report every two years on progress towards a human rights-based approach to the nuclear legacy.
Marshallese representatives say justice must include acknowledgement, accountability, reparations, truth-telling, healing, remembrance and reconciliation.
They are also using their experience to warn against any repeat of the harm caused by nuclear weapons.
Speaking on the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons on 26 September, NNC Commissioner Alson Kelen urged the international community to confront the continuing consequences of nuclear testing.
“Look at us, when you talk of the nuclear legacy in the Marshall Islands.
“Look at us, look at what we have been through and what we are still going through and what we will go through,” Kelen said.
Kelen said most Marshallese either have relatives who have suffered illnesses such as cancer or know families affected by illnesses associated with the nuclear testing legacy.
For the Marshall Islands, the nuclear issue is therefore not confined to history. Eight decades after the testing began, communities continue to seek remedies for harms that remain part of everyday life…..PACNEWS
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: SPREP PACNEWS 1: Thu 01 Oct 2026
When the ocean rises, 1.5°C becomes personal
NEW YORK, 01 OCTOBER 2026 (SPREP)—The message came in the middle of the night.
Waves whipped up by a hurricane thousands of miles away, near Hawaii, were washing over a dock in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), a dock built to withstand higher seas.
This is what 1.5 degrees Celsius looks like for Kristina Stege, the Pacific Climate Envoy from RMI. “In the Pacific, 1.5°C is not an abstract benchmark. Fighting for 1.5 is the fight for our homes and our communities.”
Across the region, the climate crisis is not a future scenario. It is already here, in coastlines washing away, in warming seas, and in damaged ecosystems where communities live and work.
That is what makes the call to keep 1.5°C or below so urgent. But ambition alone will not protect vulnerable communities. Investment has to reach the places where climate impacts are already being felt.
That gap is the focus of Ruel Yamuna, the Pacific Climate Envoy for Access to Climate Finance. He said the world needs to rethink how climate finance reaches frontline countries.
“The problem is not simply whether climate finance exists. It is whether countries and communities on the frontline can actually access it.”
For Pacific island countries, the obstacles are many from complex application processes, fragmented funding systems, limited capacity, high transaction costs to the realities of remoteness. Any of them can stand between a global funding pledge and the project it was meant to pay for.
“Ultimately, success is not money approved in Washington, New York or elsewhere. Success is finance reaching communities and changing lives on the ground.”
And so often, what that finance protects is tied to the ocean.
Inia Seruiratu, the Pacific Climate Envoy for Oceans, said the ocean cannot be treated as separate from climate, resilience or human security. “In the Pacific, the ocean is not simply an environmental issue or a sector of the economy. It is who we are.”
The ocean feeds families, sustains livelihoods, supports economies and cultures, and helps regulate the global climate. Yet it is under mounting pressure from warming, sea-level rise and the loss of ecosystems.
That is why the Pacific wants investment that does more than protect communities from climate impacts. It is calling for money that backs what the ocean itself can offer which is from resilient fisheries and sustainable ocean management to clean shipping, renewable energy, conservation and nature-based solutions.
“Protecting the ocean means protecting people,” Seruiratu said.
As the UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) approaches, the Pacific is bringing a message grounded in lived experience: climate finance must move from commitments to communities, 1.5°C must remain the guiding ambition, and the ocean must be recognised as part of the solution.
For Seruiratu, the measure of success at COP31 is simple. “Success is no more dialogue. We need to go into implementation. Dialogue will not save the planet – we need to go into action. Action now, so we will save the world and leave it a better place for our children in years to come.”
The waves that washed over that dock in the middle of the night were a warning. They were also a reminder of what is at stake, and that is the reason the Pacific will not wait.
The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly and Climate Week New York was held from 20 to 28 September 2026….PACNEWS
FIJI – CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Thu 01 Oct 2026
If Constitution Amendment Bill fails, we stop: Fiji PM Rabuka
SUVA, 01 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI SUN) —Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says Fiji will go straight to an election if Parliament fails to pass the Constitution Amendment Bill 2026 by a two-thirds vote at tomorrow’s second reading.
“If it fails, we stop. That’s it. We go to election,” Rabuka told this masthead during a press conference in Parliament after the Bill’s first reading.
He said there was no backup plan, but he was confident he had the numbers.
“From today’s (Wednesday) numbers, I am confident that we will get the two-thirds,” he said.
MPs Wednesday voted 36 to 13 to suspend Standing Orders so the Bill could proceed.
If the Bill passes its second reading, a joint select committee will have 30 days to review it.
A third reading would require another two-thirds majority before a referendum.
Rabuka said the Bill differed from the Constitution Review Commission report on age and term limits.
Qoliqoli ownership would extend to the exclusive economic zone.
The immunity provisions would remain, he said, because of the Supreme Court’s directive.
Rabuka said he personally believed a two-term limit for prime ministers was “a good provision”, but the Bill does not include one.
What the Bill says
*Only the President and Vice-President are capped at two four-year terms.
*Immunity: Chapter 14 keeps coup immunity. It also grants “absolute and unconditional” immunity to the President, Ministers, military, police, judiciary and public servants from 5 December 2006. Some Crimes Act offences are excluded. Courts cannot hear challenges.
*FICAC: Clause 229 repeals the FICAC Act 2007.
*COC: The Prime Minister chairs the six-member Constitutional Offices Commission, which advises on the Police, Corrections and RFMF heads.
*BLV: It gets its own chapter and advises the President on 14 of 23 senators.
*Christianity: “Christianity and family values” is the first founding value, but all religions are treated equally.
*Start date: The new Constitution starts on 31 March 2028, but the President can set an earlier date. Government has previously said it wants it in force by 24 December….PACNEWS
PAC – DEFENCE MEET: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 1: Thu 01 Oct 2026
Pacific welcomes defence support, sovereignty first
SUVA, 01 OCTOBER 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) —Pacific defence leaders have signaled openness to deeper security cooperation with partners across the Indo-Pacific, while making clear that national sovereignty must remain at the heart of any expanded foreign military presence.
The position was reinforced by Australia’s Assistant Minister for Defence Peter Khalil and Fiji’s Defence Minister Pio Tikoduadua in their closing remarks at the South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM), as regional leaders stressed collective responsibility and practical cooperation in securing the Blue Pacific.
Responding to questions from Islands Business on the potential for greater involvement by countries such as Japan, Indonesia and Taiwan, Khalil said countries bordering the Pacific were already making constructive contributions to regional security.
“The countries that you mentioned are very much engaged in the Pacific,” Khalil said. “All of our member nations here work constructively and cooperatively with Japan and Indonesia, and they have a presence here in the region.”
He said greater coordination across the Indo-Pacific and Southeast Asia was centred on maintaining “a free, open, stable and secure Pacific” where independence and sovereignty were protected, and people could trade and engage peacefully.
Khalil said military and security cooperation also had an important role in protecting trade, sea lanes and sovereignty, with regional partners expected to operate within agreed rules and a shared normative framework.
“We welcome efforts by all the countries of the region to contribute positively in that respect,” he said.
Tikoduadua also responded to Islands Business on the implications of a larger foreign military presence in Pacific countries, saying cooperation between Pacific nations and partner forces was already well established.
He pointed to the role of Pacific personnel alongside allies in global conflicts, peacekeeping missions and regional stabilisation efforts.
“We do a lot of work together here, and one of the best ways that we can work together is to be seen together,” he said.
He said such cooperation helped strengthen personal relationships and build deeper connections around shared interests and responsibilities.
However, Tikoduadua stressed that any foreign military cooperation in Fiji must put national sovereignty and the security of Pacific people at the forefront.
“The protection of Fiji’s sovereignty must remain the primary consideration for foreign forces operating in Fiji, he said.
The two ministers’ responses highlight a regional approach that remains open to defence partnerships and practical cooperation, while placing sovereignty, national interests and the security of Pacific communities at the centre of regional defence engagement….PACNEWS
FIJI – DRUG MISSING: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Thu 01 Oct 2026
Fiji Police order nationwide drug, cash exhibit audit
SUVA, 01 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Police stations across Fiji are being audited for drugs and cash held in custody as Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu moves to centralise drug exhibits following concerns over exhibit security.
Tudravu confirmed that a special team had been carrying out checks across all divisions for almost three weeks.
“I can comment on the Fiji Police. There’s a special team that is already out there. It’s almost three weeks now to follow up with the investigation and the checks that have been made in all divisions, based on two things: drugs, cash that are within our custody.
“There is an audit team that is going around all police stations.”
Asked whether he was concerned about the exhibits, Tudravu said: “I’m concerned.”
He said drug exhibits were now being centralised at Police stations with vaults.
“What I’ve directed is that we centralise all the drug exhibits to the police stations that have their vaults, like Nadi, Lautoka, Totogo, and Police Mobile. So these are the only places where the drugs are placed.
“That is the strategy that we have followed, so that they are not at individual police stations, like the practice before. So there are some measures that we have taken.
“But I cannot comment on what the Judiciary would do.”
The move comes as Police investigate two cases involving cocaine missing from court exhibits.
Police confirmed that about 12 kilograms of cocaine from the Nikolic case was missing, while cocaine exhibits from the Rahman case were also found to be missing or tampered with.
Tudravu said discussions had taken place with the Attorney-General, Acting Director of Public Prosecutions and Permanent Secretary for Justice on improving security arrangements.
“That is part of our discussion on the way forward. You know that we had a discussion with the Attorney-General, Acting DPP, the PS Justice, and there was some discussion on how we can improve the security arrangement as our way forward.”
Police officers have also been deployed to secure and guard Government Buildings in Suva.
“There was a request done and I approved that our police officers be deployed to secure and guard the Government complex.”
Asked whether the Police deployment would continue,Tudravu said: “Yes, definitely, there will be.”
He said decisions on future security measures would involve other stakeholders.
“This incident has already been done. We are investigating it. But the way forward, all these things will be taken into consideration.
“And it’s not only the Police that will do that. We have all stakeholders, which need to agree and decide and have a way forward on the things that need to be done. We have other stakeholders.”
Poolice also confirmed that most of the CCTV cameras and the biometric security system at the High Court vault were not operating as Police investigate missing and tampered cocaine exhibits, Police have confirmed.
Acting Director Criminal Investigation Department A/SSP Peni Tuivaga confirmed the security systems were not fully operational.
“There was CCTV installed at the vault at the High Court, but most of it were not in operation. So was the biometrics.”
The revelation comes as Police investigate cocaine exhibits that had been deposited at the High Court vault on 25 March 2021.
Police said records established that the drugs initially tested positive for cocaine during confirmatory tests in February 2019.
Another purity test conducted on 26 July 2019, at the request of the court, also returned positive for cocaine.
Police said seven bars were later found missing and the remaining parcels were tested, returning negative for any traces of illicit drugs.
Tudravu said investigators were now trying to establish when the CCTV stopped operating and what happened to the biometric system.
“It is in the line of our investigation. Because that is given, that is given. The Judiciary are the ones that are, once we hand over, they are the ones that normally do the checking or anything. It’s not us.
“So that is why we would like to, part of our investigation is to ascertain the sequence of visits that was done there. And when was this CCTV not in operation? How does the biometric machine was unplugged? So all these things will come in.”
Asked whether the CCTV cameras and biometric system had been deliberately tampered with to prevent people from being tracked, Tudravu said the investigation would determine that.
“As of now, these are our findings and it will be confirmed by our investigations through our line of investigation.”
Police have identified six persons of interest and recorded statements from 37 people as investigators establish who had direct access to the exhibits.
The Digital Forensic Unit is also working to extract available CCTV footage and biometric records.
Tudravu said Police did not guard the exhibits once they were deposited at the Suva High Court.
“Well, I can confirm that once it was deposited at Suva High Court, the exhibit room, we are not there to guard them. They have their own special security arrangements, with CCTV, the biometrics that was there, how they entered that exhibit room.
“And also, they have an SOP that, when somebody wants to go into the exhibit room, there is something that is written to the Chief Registrar. That is what I was briefed on.”
Asked whether there was any Police security once exhibits entered the court exhibit room, Tudravu said: “Yes, I can confirm that.”
Asked whether Police relied entirely on the Judicial Department, he said: “Yes.”
Police have since deployed Totogo Police Station personnel to provide security at Government Buildings.
Meanwhile, Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry has demanded a high-powered independent inquiry into how 39kg of cocaine worth $31 million (U$15.5 million) disappeared from High Court custody and was replaced with flour.
Chaudhry criticised the Government over the disappearance of the cocaine, saying Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka must take immediate responsibility.
He called for a high-powered, independent inquiry into how the cocaine could have been removed from judicial custody and replaced with flour.
Chaudhry questioned security arrangements at the High Court exhibit room, particularly given what he described as a history of thefts from the facility.
He also questioned the silence of the Chief Justice and Chief Registrar, saying senior Judiciary officials should be held accountable for the security lapse.
Chaudhry claimed the investigation had reportedly been under way since the beginning of the year, yet no one had been charged.
He further claimed that some senior Judiciary officials may be implicated and referred to a media report alleging that a Judiciary official wanted for questioning had left Fiji.
Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu confirmed during a media briefing that the investigation into the matter began on 16 September, while a separate issue also involving missing cocaine has been under investigation since March.
Chaudhry said the incident undermined Fiji’s efforts to combat drug trafficking……PACNEWS
FIJI – FIJI LAW SOCIETY PRESIDENT: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 1: Thu 01 Oct 2026
Graham Leung heads Fiji Law Society
SUVA, 01 OCTOBER 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) —Former Attorney-General Graham Everett Leung has been elected president of the Fiji Law Society.
Leung is a senior lawyer with an extensive career in legal practice, public service, and diplomacy.
Earlier in his career, he was managing partner at Howards, a commercial law firm in Suva, and served as Chairman of the Electoral Commission.
He was an inaugural member of the newly established Human Rights Commission and also served as Judge Advocate of a Court Martial involving soldiers convicted in connection with the 2000 coup.
His professional career has extended beyond Fiji, including appointments and legal advisory roles in the Solomon Islands, Nauru and the Cook Islands, as well as work supporting constitutional development and human rights across the region.
Leung has been a prominent advocate for the rule of law, democratic governance, human rights, and judicial independence. Following the 2006 coup, he became an outspoken critic of military rule and undertook extensive international advocacy on issues concerning constitutionalism and the rule of law.
His regional and international contributions include service on the Council of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, senior leadership within LAWASIA, and involvement with the International Bar Association’s Pro Bono and Access to Justice Committee.
He has contributed to legal education and professional capacity-building, including work in international human rights law and support for constitutional reform in Kenya.
Leung was dismissed as Attorney-General by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka while he was on a work trip in Hong Kong on 30 May 2025……PACNEWS
AUST – ARTIFICIAL INTELIGENCE: AAP PACNEWS 1: Thu 01 Oct 2026
Australia has access to best AI safeguards: top cyber spy
CANBERRA, 01 OCTOBER 2026 (AAP)—Australia has access to some of the best artificial intelligence safeguards in the world and should be using them to help the rest of the world, the nation’s top cyber spy says.
Abigail Bradshaw, Australian Signals Directorate director-general, said her team had been working with non-publicly available AI software for more than six months to strengthen government systems – something many other developed countries had not been able to do.
The ASD had access to private security measures to ensure the 2026 census was secure, and was now helping other government departments, she told ABC News Breakfast on Wednesday.
“Australia can participate in developing new norms, new behaviours, and new protocols which are beneficial to Australians and are shaping norms which will impact people around the world,” she said.
Her directorate had been working with other Five Eyes countries since June to ensure Australia was on the frontier of security movements.
The comments came after every government department was ordered to fast-track throwing away old cyber systems to mobilise against malicious artificial intelligence.
The directive to start a rapid stocktake and refresh comes days after a Medicare portal became the first known Australian government system to fall victim to an AI hack.
The break-in occurred on 18 June, but made global headlines when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese informed the public on Thursday.
It took five days for ASD to receive word of the Medicare breach after OpenAI’s notification landed in a public social services department inbox on 10 September.
The home affairs department-driven push to mothball old systems announced on Wednesday tracks with a sweeping government cybersecurity overhaul slated for completion by 2030.
Government systems “need to keep up”, acting Home Affairs Minister Richard Marles said in a statement.
“We can’t wait for an old system to fail before replacing it,” he said.
“We need to identify vulnerabilities and deal with them before they can be exploited.”
More important systems will go under the knife first. Ms Bradshaw urged government departments to turn off any platforms that did not need to be online, which may mean Australians do not have access to old sites.
In May’s budget, Labor earmarked $160 million (US$111 million) to upgrade Services Australia’s cybersecurity, and since the Medicare breach has pledged to accelerate decommissioning ageing platforms.
The government was wrestling with an array of systems needing protection against a new, far-reaching threat, former Australian Federal Police high-tech crime centre head Nigel Phair told AAP.
For the sake of feasibility and transparency, it was useless to try and put everything in a locked box, he argued.
“The reality is you can’t secure all data. You don’t have the time, the money or the effort,” Phair said.
He said government systems were “probably more antiquated than you think”, and stressed firming them up was not a box-checking exercise.
“(Improving defences) is easy to say, harder to implement … cybersecurity is not a binary yes or no,” he said…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
TONGA – INVESTMENT/JOB CREATION: WORLD BANK PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 01 Oct 2026
World Bank Group to unlock private investments, create Jobs, and strengthen resilience in Tonga
NUKUʻALOFA, 01 OCTOBER 2026 (WORLD BANK)— The World Bank Group has approved support for a package of policy measures in Tonga that is expected to generate hundreds of additional, better-paying jobs while helping create new opportunities across the economy.
The programme aims to strengthen the foundations for private sector-led growth, expand economic opportunities for Tongans, and help country make better use of its public, human, and natural resources.
Economic opportunities remain limited, with more than one in four young Tongans not in employment, education or training, underscoring the need for action to boost productivity, strengthen resilience, and help more people participate in the economy.
The Tonga First Growth and Jobs Development Policy Financing is the first in a two-part program supporting reforms to expand access to digital payments and financial services, strengthen workforce skills and apprenticeships, improve conditions for private investment and business growth, and enhance the management of Tonga’s ocean resources.
‘This initiative is about creating more opportunities for Tongans while simultaneously putting systems in place to amplify the resilience of our people and our economy,” said Sivoki Lavemaau, Tongan Minister of Finance.
“This programme will help people create jobs, support businesses to grow and thrive, strengthen assistance provided for vulnerable families when it’s needed most, and ensure our ocean resources continue to be protected and support future generations.”
These policy measures also support new approaches to marine spatial planning and ocean management to help balance conservation, livelihoods, and economic opportunities. These measures are expected to support the sustainable development of fisheries, tourism, and other ocean-based industries while safeguarding Tonga’s ocean resources for future generations.
“The people of Tonga have shown remarkable resilience in the face of significant economic and disaster-related challenges,” said Tatiana A. Proskuryakova, World Bank Division Director for the South and North Pacific.
“By supporting private sector development, skills development, financial inclusion, and sustainable management of natural resources, these reforms can help created more opportunities for Tongans and lay foundations for stronger and more resilience growth.”
The new operation is supported by a US$15 million grant from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s fund for low-income countries….PACNEWS
PAC – FISHERIES: PACNEWS/FFA PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 01 Oct 2026
Pacific fisheries protection relies on people behind the scenes
HONIARA, 01 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)—Protecting Pacific fisheries from illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing depends on a regional network of people working across borders, agencies and surveillance systems.
Every day, fisheries compliance officers, surveillance and intelligence analysts, maritime officers, police and security personnel work to detect, deter and respond to fishing violations and strengthen maritime domain awareness across the Pacific.
At the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency’s (FFA) Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre (RFSC), that work is brought together through the sharing of information, intelligence, technology and surveillance capabilities among FFA members and partners.
The regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) system has been operating for more than 47 years and is built around people working across the fisheries sector.
They monitor Pacific waters, analyse intelligence, conduct aerial surveillance missions, patrol at sea, board and inspect fishing vessels and coordinate responses to suspected illegal activity.
Others develop surveillance systems, train fisheries officers, support industry compliance and ensure knowledge and expertise are passed on across generations.
The RFSC serves as a regional hub, linking these capabilities and helping countries coordinate surveillance and enforcement activities across the Pacific.
FFA said the cooperation between national agencies and regional partners is critical to protecting shared fisheries resources and strengthening maritime security.
The work takes place across the region — at sea, in the air and through surveillance and intelligence operations on shore.
It involves people working across different agencies and jurisdictions towards a common objective: protecting Pacific fisheries and ensuring fishing activities comply with regional and national rules.
The FFA is highlighting the people behind this work through a new video recognising fisheries officers, surveillance teams, analysts, maritime personnel and other partners involved in regional fisheries monitoring and compliance.
Their work often takes place away from public view, but forms a critical part of efforts to protect one of the Pacific’s most important shared resources…..PACNEWS
PAC – COAL MINE: 350.ORG PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 01 Oct 2026
350.org Pacific condemns massive NSW coal mine approval
SYDNEY, 01 OCTOBER 2026 (350.0RG)—The NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) has approved the largest coal mine expansion ever proposed in New South Wales – Glencore and Yancoal’s Hunter Valley Operations Continuation Project (HVO).
350.org Pacific and other communities made over 4000 submissions opposing the extension, which will release 800 million more tonnes of climate pollution.
The catastrophic level of emissions will drive already intensifying climate disasters in the Pacific, with the world already set to exceed the 1.5 degree limit in the next decade.
Jacynta Fa’amau, 350.org Campaigner said, “We are horrified. I joined thousands of others in submitting our objection to this carbon bomb, but our testimonies have fallen on deaf ears. It’s not just the Pacific that will suffer. The science has made it very clear that whether Australia burns its coal at home or overseas, the wildfires, floods and droughts will remain at their front door. The billions will sit with Glencore while the fallout will land on everyday people.”
The project still requires Australian federal environmental approval, with the Albanese Government just days from leading as COP31 President of Negotiations at the Pre-COP minister meetings in Fiji. Pacific leaders have made it clear that keeping the 1.5 degree limit within reach is a top priority, and Australian coal expansion continues to undermine the scientific, legal and moral requirements to limit global warming.
Fenton Lutunatabua, 350.org Pacific & Caribbean Programme Manager said: “We are days away from Pre-COP in Fiji, and Australia will unfortunately enter these discussions with an 800 million-tonne shadow over them. Every promise from Australia will be measured against their decisions to either lock us into decades of climate pollution, or shut down coal expansion once and for all. It’s not rocket science – you cannot come to the Pacific, witness the severity of our climate impacts, and go home and approve a giant coal mine. We will be watching very closely.” …PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
SPREP and PICAN solidify commitment to protect and manage Pacific environment
NADI, 01 OCTOBER 2026 (SPREP)—The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network (PICAN) have cemented a shared commitment to protect and manage the environment and natural resources of the Pacific.
On the margins of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) pre-COP31 meeting at the Tanoa International Hotel, Nadi, SPREP and PICAN signed a Memorandum of Understanding, providing a framework of co-operation between the parties on issues of mutual concern to strengthen systems, institutions, organisations and individuals concerned with environmental protection in the Pacific region.
SPREP is a regional, intergovernmental organisation comprising 26 members consisting of 21 Pacific Island Countries and Territories and five developed countries with direct interests in the Pacific region.
SPREP Director General, Sefanaia Nawadra, welcomed PICAN to the Secretariat’s growing list of partners it continues to work with to build a resilient Pacific environment.
“SPREP is extremely grateful on behalf of our Pacific members to be able to sign this most important memorandum with PICAN,” he said.
“This signing is especially timely with the PSIDS pre-COP31 meeting today because it’s another assurance that SPREP has many great partners to help us do this work. We welcome PICAN and we look forward to working with you to serve our Members and Pacific communities.”
James Perez Viernes, Principal Advisor — Strategy and Regional Affairs, PICAN, expressed gratitude to SPREP for the opportunity to strengthen the commitment to work together.
“PICAN and SPREP are certainly not strangers,” said James Viernes.
“We have worked together for many years to support PSIDS delegates and negotiators through the UNFCCC and other processes, ensuring we drive our collective ambition as Pacific peoples in addressing the climate crisis.
“Most significantly, this MOU is a testament to SPREP and PICAN answering the long-going call for greater and more meaningful integration of Pacific civil society into policy and decision-making spaces. As civil society, we are at the frontlines of climate change—often among the first to respond to its impacts. But apart from simply responding, we also represent rich and diverse expertise, weaving together Indigenous and traditional knowledge, scientific and technical expertise, and the lived experiences of our communities.
“Through this MOU, we have an opportunity to bring that collective knowledge and expertise together with the strengths of SPREP and its member countries.”
PICAN is the Pacific regional hub of Climate Action Network International (CAN), the world’s largest network of over 2,500 non-profit organisations and civil society groups dedicated to tackling the climate crisis.
Within the Pacific, PICAN unites over 260 diverse organisations, fostering a powerful collective voice for climate action……PACNEWS
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A successful roadshow to strengthen our Pacific partnerships
Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University has marked a significant milestone in its international engagement through its first Vice-Chancellor-led delegation to the Pacific, visiting Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands
SUVA/ RAROTONGA/ APIA/NUKU’ALOFA/PORT MORESBY, 01 OCTOBER 2026(MASSEY UNIVERSITY) —Building on Massey’s longstanding research and educational connections across the region, the delegation met with government representatives, university partners, industry leaders and alumni to strengthen relationships and explore new opportunities for collaboration.
The visit highlighted shared priorities in agriculture, education, health, aviation and sustainable development.
Led by Vice-Chancellor Professor Pierre Venter alongside AVC Pacific Professor Tasa Havea and representatives from Massey’s Global Engagement team, the Pacific Roadshow provided an opportunity to deepen existing relationships and establish new connections that support the university’s goal of creating meaningful impact across the Pacific.
A key outcome of the tour was the establishment and renewal of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with leading Pacific tertiary institutions. The trip included signing ceremonies to formalise new MoUs with The University of Papua New Guinea and Tonga National University, and the renewal of the longstanding partnership with National University of Samoa. These agreements create a platform for future collaboration in teaching, research, staff and student mobility, and capacity building.
The delegation also met with partners at the University of the South Pacific and Fiji National University to explore opportunities to expand existing collaborations and develop tangible outcomes for students, researchers and communities across the region.
Agriculture emerged as a significant theme throughout the trip. Meetings with government agencies, research organisations and industry leaders identified opportunities to leverage Massey’s expertise to support Pacific food systems, agribusiness development and climate resilience. Discussions included collaboration with the Pacific Community’s Land Resources Division, the regional centre for agricultural research and innovation, as well as engagement with agricultural producers and government agencies in Samoa and Tonga.
In Samoa, conversations with Pouli Dr Keneti Faulalo, Chief Executive Officer of the Samoa Export Authority and a Massey alumnus, highlighted opportunities to connect the university’s strengths in agriculture and agribusiness with local value chains and export development. In Tonga, visits with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food and leading producer Nishi Trading provided insights into the challenges and opportunities facing Pacific agricultural sectors.
The roadshow further strengthened industry connections in sectors critical to regional economic growth. Engagements with Air Niugini in Papua New Guinea and Air Rarotonga in the Cook Islands explored opportunities to support aviation education and workforce development. With new direct flights between Port Moresby and Auckland set to commence from November 2026, aviation presents a growing area for business collaboration and knowledge exchange between New Zealand and the Pacific.
Meetings with New Zealand High Commissioners and diplomatic representatives in Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga provided valuable insight into regional development priorities and opportunities for Massey to align its expertise with initiatives in areas such as education, agriculture and health.
The trip also showcased the impact of Massey’s alumni network across the Pacific region. Massey’s alumni working in leadership positions across government, industry and community organisations shared perspectives on emerging opportunities and future workforce needs that Massey could help address. Meetings included organisations such as PNG Power, Fiji Rugby Union, BSP Life and the Samoa Export Authority.
A series of Massey Friends and Alumni receptions held in each destination brought together more than 140 alumni, government representatives, university leaders, students and industry partners. The gatherings celebrated the university’s growing community in the Pacific, while creating new opportunities for connection. The reception events in Tonga and the Cook Islands marked Massey’s first ever alumni engagements in these countries.
In Fiji another significant milestone was marked: the announcement of the first Massey Alumni Ambassador in the Pacific, Maria Elder.
The roadshow reflects Massey’s enduring commitment to the Pacific and its role as New Zealand’s university for the region. By working alongside Pacific universities, governments, industry and communities, Massey aims to support knowledge exchange, develop future talent and contribute solutions to shared challenges across the region…..PACNEWS
