In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Forum Troika Leaders meet in Suva on regional governance and strategic priorities
2. FIJI — Solomon Islands PM Wale, Rabuka call for stronger uninted voice
3. PACIFIC — Pacific nuclear justice delegation call on Australian PM to sign UN Nuclear ban treaty
4. PACIFIC — ‘Jellyfish babies’ and the treaty Australia won’t sign
5. PALAU — U.S deports first migrant to Pacific nation Palau
6. FIJI — Kalouniwai back for second term as RFMF Commander
7. PACIFIC — Pacific media sharpens skills for historic Forum as Palau prepares to host regional leaders
8. FSM — Micronesia Sun launches to deliver news across FSM, Palau and Marshall Islands
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Tonga ratifies 2024 U.S Treaty amendments
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Pacific Tourism’s biggest trade week returns to Fiji for SPTE and FTE 2027
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Community participatory audit to strengthen public trust in Solomon Islands
12. PACNEWS BIZ — SPTO shares sustainable tourism best practices at ecotourism Australia global Sustainable Tourism summit
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — Huge opportunity for Pacific media at COP31
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — Pacific Wave Makers dared to imagine transformative power of innovative climate solutions
15. PACNEWS DIGEST — SPREP’s PPIN Project delivers landmark Nature-based Solutions Policy tools for Customary land governance, Coastal resilience and Forestry in Fiji
PAC – DIPLOMACY: PIFS PACNEWS 1: Thu 02 Jul 2026
Forum Troika Leaders meet in Suva on regional governance and strategic priorities
SUVA, 02 JULY 2026 (PIFS) — Pacific Islands Forum Troika Leaders has met in Suva, Fiji, for strategic discussions on the future governance of the Pacific regional system and key regional priorities in the lead up to the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau.
The Forum Troika comprises the Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum and Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Matthew Wale, the Prime Minister of Tonga, Lord Fatafehi Fakafanua, and the President of Palau, Surangel Whipps Jr.
The meeting formed part of Prime Minister Wale’s first Official State visit to Fiji since assuming the Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum.
Opening the meeting, Prime Minister Wale emphasised the importance of ensuring that the Pacific’s regional institutions continue to evolve to meet an increasingly complex strategic environment.
“The question before us is not whether the region will change. It will. The question is whether we, as a region, are positioned to evolve quickly enough to continue serving our Leaders and our people in an agile and efficient manner,” said Prime Minister Wale.
Troika Leaders held frank and candid discussions on the continued strengthening of Pacific regionalism, including progress on the implementation of the Suva Agreement and the broader Review of the Regional Architecture reforms aimed at ensuring the regional system remains fit for purpose, responsive and Member-led.
Leaders also exchanged views on preparations for the region’s engagement in the lead-up to COP31, including Fiji and Tuvalu hosting of the pre-COP31 meeting later this year, recognising the importance of maintaining a strong and united voice on climate action and sustainable development.
Leaders also reflected on the progress of the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) and underscored the importance of engaging and advocating for its capitalisation with all genuine partners.
Preparations for the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, to be hosted by Palau from 31 August – 04 September also featured prominently in their discussions.
Throughout the meeting, Troika Leaders reaffirmed the value of the Forum as the region’s premier political institution and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining Pacific unity, strengthening regional governance and accelerating implementation of Leaders’ decisions.
The meeting in Suva was the third meeting of the Forum Troika in 2026 and reflects the Troika’s ongoing role in providing strategic guidance between annual meetings of Forum Leaders. …PACNEWS
FIJI – DIPLOMACY: SOL GOVT/FIJI GOVT PACNEWS 1: Thu 02 Jul 2026
Solomon Islands PM Wale, Rabuka call for stronger uninted voice
SUVA, 02 JULY 2026 (SOL GOVT/FIJI GOVT) — Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale and Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka have emphasised the importance of a stronger, more unified Pacific voice during their bilateral meeting in Suva Wednesday.
The two leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to regional unity and Pacific solidarity, emphasizing the need for collective leadership in addressing common challenges.
As current Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), Prime Minister Wale stressed that Pacific leaders must take a proactive and strategic approach in shaping the region’s future.
“Solomon Islands is committed to a secure and stable region through unity and Pacific solidarity,” Prime Minister Wale said.
Discussions also covered key issues within the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), with Prime Minister Wale acknowledging Fiji’s leadership as current MSG Chair.
On economic cooperation, Prime Minister Wale reaffirmed Solomon Islands’ support for ongoing discussions on the future direction of the MSG Trade Agreement.
“Solomon Islands supports and has signed the MSG Free Trade Agreement 3 concluded in 2016, which aims to establish MSG as a free trade area,” he said.
He noted that while the Agreement has served the region well over the past three decades, it must continue to evolve in response to changing economic realities and global trade patterns.
At the bilateral level, Prime Minister Wale recognised Fiji as a key strategic partner.
“Our friendship has been strengthened through close cooperation in education, security, health partnerships, and cultural exchange, underpinned by strong historical people-to-people connections,” he said.
Both leaders also agreed to further enhance air services between the two countries.
In response, Prime Minister Rabuka said the traditional welcome accorded to Prime Minister Wale was fitting for a leader deeply committed to the Pacific region.
He emphasised that the collective voice of Pacific leaders must continue to drive the aspirations of Pacific peoples.
Prime Minister Rabuka added that Fiji looks forward to supporting initiatives led by the current PIF Chair, which will be further discussed at the upcoming Forum meeting in Palau.
Meanwhile, Fiji President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, Wednesday received a courtesy call from the newly elected Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, Matthew Wale, at State House.
Welcoming Prime Minister Wale, President Lalabalavu said the longstanding relationship between Fiji and the Solomon Islands spans generations, founded on migration, shared traditions and enduring family ties.
He noted that Fiji remains proud to be home to Pacific communities, including descendants of Solomon Islanders who continue to contribute to the country’s development while preserving their cultural heritage.
President Lalabalavu also acknowledged the strong cooperation between the two countries in education, security and regional affairs, expressing confidence that the partnership would continue to grow.
Prime Minister Wale acknowledged Fiji for standing by the Solomon Islands during challenging times, describing Fiji as having played an “embracing role” in supporting the Solomon Islands and the wider Pacific region.
He said Pacific nations must continue working together to ensure the region’s voice remains strong on global issues while rediscovering the Pacific way in the modern era.
He also commended Fiji’s leadership in promoting regional unity through initiatives such as the Ocean of Peace Declaration, describing it as a valuable framework that helps articulate Pacific priorities and strengthen the region’s collective voice.
Prime Minister Wale’s visit marks his first official visit to Fiji since taking office, signalling another important step in strengthening cooperation between Fiji and the Solomon Islands while reinforcing the spirit of Pacific solidarity…. PACNEWS
PAC – NUKE TREATY: ICAN PACNEWS 1: Thu 02 Jul 2026
Pacific nuclear justice delegation calls on Australian PM to sign UN Nuclear ban treaty
CANBERRA, 02 JULY 2026 (ICAN) — A delegation of Pacific nuclear survivors and advocates was in Canberra Wednesday to call on the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
They are joined by Anangu-Yankunytjatjara woman and second-generation nuclear test survivor Karina Lester, and members of the Parliamentary Friends of the TPNW.
The visit falls during two significant anniversaries: 01July marks 80 years since the first U.S test detonation at Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands; 02 July marks 60 years since the first French test detonation at Mururoa Atoll, Mā’ohi Nui (French Polynesia).
The anniversaries were acknowledged in a motion put forward on Monday by Labor member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman, who said: “With the legacy of nuclear testing still felt deeply in Australia, our region and across the world, we want nuclear weapons testing to be relegated to history. […] I will continue to advocate for the importance of sustained international commitment to nuclear non-proliferation, including the Treaty on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.”
“The experiences of the Marshall Islands and other Pacific communities remind us that decisions made by powerful nations can have consequences that last for generations. We ask the world to remember our history, stand with survivors, pursue nuclear disarmament, and place human dignity, justice, and peace at the centre of global decision-making,” said Samuel Barton, Marshall Islands Student Association (MISA).
“In a region increasingly militarised through AUKUS, the Quad and great-power competition, signing the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons would be a clear commitment to a nuclear-free Pacific and a genuine Ocean of Peace,” said Reverend James Bhagwan, General Secretary, Pacific Conference of Churches.
“The Pacific demands and deserves complete freedom from nuclear weapons and their threat – not simply management, but total elimination. Australia has shown it can lead. Australia must match its history with urgent new action,” said Merewalesi Tuilau, Fiji Veterans and Families Association.
“Our lands, oceans and bodies carry the nuclear radiation scars and are further at risk to the climate impacts. The Pacific has carried this legacy for 80 years. Now we ask Australia to help carry the responsibility for ensuring it is never repeated,” said Frances Namoumou, Ecumenical Animator, Ecological Stewardship and Climate Justice, Pacific Conference of Churches.
The Parliamentary Friends of the TPNW is a cross-party forum, currently made up of 47 federal parliamentarians who meet and interact with nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation advocates on matters relating to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and to discuss ways to ensure the Treaty’s success into the future.
Federal Labor committed to signing the TPNW in 2018 but has yet to do so. The delegation is highlighting the urgent need for signature ahead of the ALP National Conference later this month.
The Canberra events are part of a wider lobby and advocacy tour to Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne running Monday 29 June to Friday 03 July, sharing testimony from communities affected by nuclear testing and calling for a Pacific that is decolonised, demilitarised, denuclearised and decarbonised.
Articles 6 and 7 of the TPNW on ‘victim assistance, environmental remediation, and international cooperation and assistance’seek to address ongoing and unresolved humanitarian, human rights, and environmental impacts from nuclear weapons…. PACNEWS
PAC – NUKE LEGACY: AAP PACNEWS 1: Thu 02 Jul 2026
‘Jellyfish babies’ and the treaty Australia won’t sign
CANBERRA, 02 JULY 2026 (AAP) — Samuel Barton began his journey from the Marshall Islands to the corridors of power in Canberra by enraging a schoolteacher.
As a student on the island nation, he gave a speech in class about the legacy of US nuclear tests in the region, in front of his then-teacher, an American, and his wife.
“The wife was visibly upset, you could see the frown on her face,” he told AAP.
“I went to their office and the wife was telling me all sorts of stuff: ‘Why did you say that about the Americans? Why did you do that speech?’
The Marshall Islands were where the U.S conducted the first peace-time nuclear test, on Bikini Atoll.
But that historic event was absent from Barton’s American-led education.
“I didn’t see one page (in the textbook) that specifically talks about nuclear legacy in the Marshalls,” the local student association president said.
Bikini Atoll’s residents were forcibly relocated prior to the tests and told the mushroom clouds were “God’s will”, Barton added.
Islander women later reported giving birth to “jellyfish babies”, infants whose contorted bodies were so transparent their organs were visible.
On Wednesday, the 80th anniversary of the first nuclear tests on the atoll, Barton is in Australia with the Pacific Peace Pilgrimage calling on the federal government to sign a treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons.
Labor unanimously agreed to sign and ratify the treaty in its party platform in 2018 but is yet to do so.
Since coming to power, the party has been hedging its commitment over a range of concerns, including that it was yet to be signed by any states that held nuclear weapons.
Defence Minister Richard Marles told Question Time the government wanted to ensure the ban could be enforced and that it didn’t clash with existing disarmament treaties.
The U.S has not revealed if B-52 bombers and submarines rotating through Australian bases carry nuclear weapons.
But Fijian James Bhagwan said carpeting the region with nuclear armaments would only put a target on the back of Australia and its neighbours.
“If the United States can use it as an excuse to go into Iran, what is holding China back?” he said.
“These chains of islands are being used as protective buffer zones. We are not somebody’s buffer zones, we are custodians of the ocean.”
The treaty is partly the brainchild of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), an Australian advocacy group that won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who brandished ICAN’s Nobel Prize at the party conference where he moved the adoption of the treaty, is one of 117 federal politicians who have pledged to work towards signing and ratifying it.
They include 91 Labor MPs and senators.
The treaty’s state parties include Pacific neighbours Tonga, Palau, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Kiribati, the Solomon Islands and Mr Bhagwan’s native Fiji.
“As a citizen of Fiji, which has a relationship with Australia, that’s called a ‘vuvale’ partnership … houses with the same spirit”, Bhagwan said.
“‘Join us’ is the invitation. As we join you, join us,” he said…. PACNEWS
PALAU – DIPLOMACY: AFP PACNEWS 1: Thu 02 Jul 2026
U.S deports first migrant to Pacific nation Palau
KOROR, 02 JULY 2026 (AFP) — The United States has started deporting migrants to a sparsely populated archipelago in the tropical Pacific, the island nation of Palau told AFP on Wednesday.
President Donald Trump has led a push to expel asylum seekers and undocumented migrants from the United States, dispatching them to places like El Salvador and Uganda.
Tiny Pacific nation Palau, by population one of the smallest countries in the world, agreed in December to resettle up to 75 deportees in exchange for US$7.5 million.
The office of Palau President Surangel Whipps said the first deportee had arrived in the country, a collection of coral atolls and volcanic isles scattered some 800 kilometres (500 miles) east of the Philippines.
“We welcomed our first individual at the airport in late May, brought him to his temporary residence and helped him connect his phone and settle in,” the Palau president’s office said in a statement to AFP.
The deportees are meant to settle down and find jobs in Palau, starting afresh in an unfamiliar place where they may have no family, friends or cultural connections.
But the first deportee barely lasted two weeks after touching down at the international airport near the main settlement of Koror.
“After about two weeks he decided not to remain,” Whipps’ office said.
Basic details about the man, including why he was deported and where he went after Palau, remain a mystery.
Whipps has previously praised the resettlement deal as a win-win for Palau and the United States.
“It’s about winning together,” he said at a signing ceremony in December.
“We help the United States, we help these nationals that need a place to go that’s safe.”
“And hopefully they can get jobs and be happy in Palau.”
The deal requires that all deportees have a clean criminal record and Palau retains full veto rights over who it chooses to accept.
In exchange, the United States pays Palau US$7.5 million to meet “public service and infrastructure needs”.
But critics have voiced deep concern, accusing the United States of using nations like Palau as a dumping ground for unwanted migrants.
Lawmakers from Palau’s senate lost a last-ditch legal challenge to stop the policy earlier this year.
“Palau’s sovereignty is disrespected at this time,” said senate leader Hokkons Baules in February.
“We feel they’re dumping their problems in Palau,” he told Australian national broadcaster ABC.
A spokesman for the U.S Department of State said the Trump administration was “unwavering in our commitment to end illegal and mass immigration and bolster America’s border security.”
“As a general matter, we do not comment on the details of our private diplomatic communications with other governments,” they told AFP.
With some 20,000 people spread across hundreds of volcanic isles and coral atolls, Palau is by population one of the smallest countries in the world.
It has long been one of the United States’ closest allies in the Pacific region, and is one of the few countries to recognise Taiwan over China.
Palau gained independence in 1994 but allows the U.S military to use its territory under a longstanding “Compact of Free Association” agreement.
In return, the United States gives Palau hundreds of millions of dollars in budgetary support and assumes responsibility for its national defence…. PACNEWS
FIJI – MILITARY CHIEF: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Thu 02 Jul 2026
Kalouniwai back for second term as RFMF Commander
SUVA, 02 JULY 2026 (FIJI SUN) — Fiji Defence and Veterans Affairs Minister Pio Tikoduadua has confirmed his support for the reappointment of Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Major General Jone Kalouniwai.
In a Facebook post, Tikoduadua said the Constitutional Offices Commission (COC) had formally consulted him on the appointment, as required under Section 131(4) of the Constitution.
He said he fully supports Major-General Kalouniwai continuing in the role when his current five-year term expires later this year.
“I am glad to inform the people of Fiji that the Constitutional Offices Commission has consulted me on the matter and I have indicated my strong support for the reappointment of Major-General Kalouniwai,” Tikoduadua said.
The Minister confirmed that he met with the RFMF Commander and conveyed his support during the meeting.
He also extended his best wishes to Major-General Kalouniwai as he continues in his duties.
Tikoduadua said the Commander plays a critical role in ensuring the safety and security of the Fijian people.
Prime Minister had revealed that the COC had decided to offer Major-General Kalouniwai an extension to his term.
Rabuka said the Commander had already indicated earlier that he was willing to be considered for an extension.
Meanwhile, RFMF Commander Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai says strong public support influenced his decision to accept another five-year term.
He pledged to maintain stability and continue reforms in the military over the next five years.
Speaking after the announcement of his reappointment Wednesday, Major-General Kalouniwai said he had been given time to consider whether he wanted to continue in the role but was ultimately encouraged by the overwhelming backing he received from ordinary Fijians.
He said messages of support through social media, emails and other platforms reflected the high expectations the public had of the military’s leadership.
“I haven’t met many of the people who have sent messages, but it shows there is a huge expectation from where we are sitting,” he said.
“The challenge for us is to ensure we meet those expectations.”
Major-General Kalouniwai said the military had established a benchmark over the past five years and his focus would now be on building on that progress rather than changing course.
He said continuity would remain the cornerstone of his leadership, with efforts already underway to review the organisation to improve its effectiveness and strengthen its role in serving Fiji.
“We will continue with what we are doing and, as much as possible, improve the way we do things,” he said.
“There are many things we are looking at within the organisation that will make the RFMF a much better institution while fulfilling the responsibility we have to Fiji.”
He added that his priority was to ensure ongoing reforms were completed while providing stability for officers serving within the force.
The announcement of his reappointment was met with widespread public support on social media.
Among those commenting on the Fiji Sun Facebook page, Imanueli Mat Qereqeretabua described Major-General Kalouniwai as “a humble and visionary leader”, while Rohit Chandra said he deserved another tenure, praising what he described as his “steadfast” leadership.
Semisi Natava said: “Ratu Jone Kalouniwai deserves this extension based on his performance. Thank you very much, Sir, for your humility and loyal service. Congratulations…. PACNEWS
PAC – MEDIA TRAINNING: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 1: Thu 02 Jul 2026
Pacific Media sharpens skills for historic Forum as Palau prepares to host regional leaders
KOROR, 02 JULY 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) — Journalists, government communications officers and media representatives gathered this week for an intensive training workshop designed to sharpen their coverage of one of the region’s most significant diplomatic events — the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting.
The PIF Reporter Workshop, held at the Palau Civic Centre from 29 June to 03 July, is organised by Pasifika TV, the regional television network of Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited (PCBL), at the invitation of the Palau Media Council.
Trainers Tia Soakai, Regional Content Manager, and Stefan Armbruster, Regional News Development Lead, are leading participants through a curriculum covering everything from the mechanics of the Forum itself to field reporting techniques and broadcast production skills.
“As this year’s host nation, Palau has a unique opportunity to share its leadership, culture and hospitality with audiences across the Pacific,” Armbruster said.
The programme spans a full day Monday, two half-days Tuesday and Wednesday, an optional support session Thursday, and a specialised broadcast session Friday for journalists and presenters planning video coverage of the Forum.
Sessions cover topics including Pacific Islands Forum governance and history, Palau’s role in Micronesian and regional leadership, key regional issues on the Forum agenda, how to read and report on the Leaders’ Communiqué, story sovereignty and Pacific journalism values.
The workshop structure was designed to accommodate the realities of small Pacific newsrooms, with optional afternoon sessions allowing participants to tailor their training to individual needs.
Pasifika TV, supported by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), works with more than 30 broadcast partners across the Pacific region and will serve as host distributor of PIFLM55 coverage.
The 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting, themed “Building Economies: Life. Action. Unity” (BELAU), is set to bring together heads of government from Forum member nations to address Pacific priorities…. PACNEWS
FSM – MEDIA: PACNEWS/MICRONESIA SUN NEWS PACNEWS 1: Thu 02 Jul 2026
Micronesia Sun launches to deliver news across FSM, Palau and Marshall Islands
PONPHEI, 02 JULY 2026 (PACNEWS/MICRONESIA SUN NEWS) — A new regional media platform dedicated to covering the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Palau and the Marshall Islands has officially launched.
“We are pleased to announce the official launch of the Micronesia Sun LLC, a new media and communications services platform dedicated to delivering timely, reliable, and high impact news
about the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Palau and Marshall Islands,” Micronesia Sun News said in a statement.
Based in Pohnpei, FSM, Micronesia Sun LLC aims to provide timely, reliable and high-impact reporting on issues affecting the three Freely Associated States, while connecting their citizens and global diaspora through its online platform, www.micronesiasun.com.
Operating under the slogan “Brighter News from the Deep Pacific,” Micronesia Sun will report on developments in Palau, FSM and the Marshall Islands, while also covering their engagement with the wider Pacific, including Polynesia, Melanesia, the French Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, as well as their work through the United Nations and diplomatic missions worldwide.
The publication says Micronesia remains one of the world’s most underreported regions despite its growing strategic importance in areas such as climate change, maritime security and economic development.
Stretching more than 2,500 miles from Palau to the eastern Marshall Islands, the three nations occupy a vast area of the North Pacific and are linked to the United States through the Compact of Free Association.
Micronesia Sun plans to publish news Monday through Friday, focusing on issues including tropical cyclones, regional security, illegal fishing, drug smuggling and maritime affairs, while highlighting practical solutions and stories of communities and leaders addressing regional challenges.
In addition to daily news coverage, the platform will offer business and travel reporting, monthly business and travel newsletters, quarterly white papers, annual planning publications, travel guides, communications and public relations services, business intelligence and risk analysis, consulting, and photography services.
The publication says its goal is to strengthen public awareness, encourage informed discussion and foster stronger connections among the people of FSM, Palau and the Marshall Islands.
Micronesia Sun is owned by FSM citizens and is edited by Christopher Cottrell, an Indo-Pacific analyst, communications strategist and journalist with 26 years of experience covering the Pacific Islands, East Asia and Southeast Asia.
The publication says it welcomes stories highlighting the achievements, cultures and people of the Freely Associated States and looks forward to engaging with readers across the region and around the world…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PAC – TUNA INDUSTRY: FFA PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 02 Jul 2026
Tonga ratifies 2024 U.S Treaty amendments
WELLINGTON, 02 JULY 2026 (FFA) — The Kingdom of Tonga has taken another important step in strengthening regional fisheries cooperation, with Viliami Sisifa, Tonga’s Minister for Fisheries, signing and depositing the instrument of ratification for the 2024 Amendments to the Treaty on Fisheries with the Government of the United States of America.
The signing took place Wednedsday on the margins of the FFCMIN25 marking Tonga’s acceptance of the 2024 Amendment which involved changes to Annex II (Access and Fees) of the Treaty.
The amendments introduced updated arrangements for licensing, access fees and fishing days, providing greater flexibility and improved economic opportunities for Pacific Island Parties.
The signing, witnessed alongside Papua New Guinea in its role as Depositary of the Treaty, reflects the continued commitment of Pacific Island countries to working together to strengthen the regional fisheries agreement.
Tonga’s deposit of its Instrument of ratification of the 2024 Amendment will make it the eighth party to ratify such Amendment, leaving eight more parties to the Treaty to similarly do so, including the United States.
The updated commercial arrangements support sustainable access to Pacific tuna fisheries while delivering long-term economic benefits to Pacific Island Parties through a modernised framework that runs through to 2033…. PACNEWS
FIJI – TOURISM INDUSTRY: SPTO PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 02 Jul 2026
Pacific Tourism’s biggest trade week returns to Fiji for SPTE and FTE 2027
SUVA, 02 JULY 2026 (SPTO) — The Pacific’s biggest week in tourism trade, return to Fiji in 2027, with the South Pacific Tourism Exchange (SPTE) set to take place in Nadi from 05–06 May, followed by the Fiji Tourism Exchange (FTE) on 7-8 May 2027.
The announcement follows consultations between SPTO and Tourism Fiji.
The week will commence with the Pacific Tourism Organisation’s (SPTO) Board meeting on 03 May, followed by the SPTO Industry Day on 04 May, bringing together regional tourism leaders, government representatives, development partners and industry stakeholders to discuss emerging trends, opportunities and priorities shaping the future of Pacific tourism.
Creating a week-long programme of business networking, knowledge sharing and trade engagement.
Anchored by SPTE—the Pacific’s premier tourism marketplace—the week will connect international buyers with tourism operators and National Tourism Offices from across the region, showcasing Fiji and the wider Pacific while driving visitor demand, strengthening industry partnerships and creating new business opportunities for Pacific tourism stakeholders.
Held consecutively, the events enable international buyers to engage with Fiji’s tourism industry and the wider Pacific in a single visit, maximising business outcomes while delivering greater value and efficiency for buyers, sellers and industry partners alike.
SPTO Chief Executive Officer Christopher Cocker noted: “SPTE is one of the Pacific’s most important tourism platforms, and Fiji has consistently demonstrated its capability to host high-quality regional events that deliver real value to the tourism industry.”
Tourism Fiji Chief Executive Officer, Dr Paresh Pant, added: “Fiji is proud to host the South Pacific Tourism Exchange once again alongside the Fiji Tourism Exchange, strengthening our position as the Pacific’s tourism and aviation hub, and our proven capability to deliver world-class regional events. Bringing these events together creates greater value for international buyers and industry partners, while providing a powerful platform to showcase not only Fiji, but the incredible diversity of experiences across our Pacific neighbours. As a region, we are stronger when we work together.”
The combined hosting of FTE and SPTE in May 2027 will reinforce Fiji’s position as a key regional hub, while showcasing the Pacific’s collective strength in sustainable tourism development, destination marketing, and global competitiveness…. PACNEWS
SOL – AUDIT: UNDP PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 02 Jul 2026
Community participatory audit to strengthen public trust in Solomon Islands
HONIARA, 02 JULY 2026 (UNDP) — The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) of the Solomon Islands Government has recently launched the Community Participatory Audit (CPA) programme in Honiara.
Through the Vaka Pasifika project, funded by the European Union (EU), support to the OAG and the UN Development Programme has helped develop the CPA approach and prepare its first application through technical assistance and capacity-building.
The CPA brings together government institutions, constituencies and civil society to strengthen transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.
One of the first participatory audit initiatives of its kind in Solomon Islands, the CPA enables citizens and civil society organisations to participate in the audit process, complementing existing oversight mechanisms through community feedback and local knowledge. The pilot focuses on Constituency Development Funds (CDFs), which support local development priorities across the country’s 50 constituencies and are subject to audit under the CDF Act 2023.
Speaking at the launch, Auditor General David Dennis said the CPA marks a shift towards a more participatory approach to public accountability.
“Effective oversight cannot remain confined to our offices in Honiara. With CPA, communities themselves become part of the accountability process, providing the local knowledge and evidence needed to ensure public resources deliver real benefits where they matter most,” he said.
In his keynote address, Minister for Rural Development, Daniel Waneoroa, said transparency and accountability are essential to building trust and ensuring that public resources deliver meaningful benefits to communities.
“We must open our doors and open our books. By working with the audit process, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that CDFs remain a trusted engine for growth and development,” he said.
With around SBD$250 million (US$30.88 million) allocated annually across constituencies, CDFs play an important role in supporting livelihoods and delivering services at the community level.
Sharing lessons from East Are’are, Minister of National Planning and Development Coordination, Peter Kenilorea Jr. said community ownership ensures development initiatives remain responsive to the diverse needs of communities.
“These are not the Member of Parliament’s funds, they are public funds. Communities themselves are best placed to know who needs support and to help ensure resources are used in ways that genuinely improve people’s lives,” he said.
UNDP Pacific Office Team Leader for Effective Governance Rustam Pulatov said the CPA reflects the importance of citizen participation in strengthening transparency and public trust.
“Community participation is at the heart of stronger institutions. Through the CPA, citizens and civil society become active partners in promoting transparency and accountability, helping ensure that public resources reach the communities they are intended to serve,” he said.
The pilot audit covers the 2024 and 2025 financial years, with the Ministry of Rural Development selected for the first application. It contributes to ongoing efforts to strengthen public financial management and accountability around CDFs.
A representative from the European Union Delegation to the Pacific added: “This initiative fits closely with EU priorities to promote good governance, transparency and accountability by enabling citizens and civil society organisations to take part directly in the audit process, alongside public institutions. By opening the audit process to community feedback and local knowledge, the CPA helps ensure that public funds are used for their intended purpose and deliver real benefits to communities, while also reinforcing public trust in government and strengthening civic participation in oversight.”
UNDP has supported the OAG in developing the CPA approach and preparing its first application, including through technical assistance and capacity-building.
This support helped transform the concept into a practical mechanism for citizen participation, bringing communities, civil society and institutions together to strengthen accountability, public trust and citizen voice…. PACNEWS
PAC – TOURISM INDUSTRY: SPTO PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 02 Jul 2026
SPTO shares sustainable tourism best practices at ecotourism Australia global Sustainable Tourism summit
GOLDCOAST, 02 JULY 2026 (SPTO) — The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) participated in the Ecotourism Australia Global Sustainable Tourism Summit, held on the Gold Coast, Australia, from 02–05 June 2026.
The biennial summit brought together industry leaders, governments, academics, non-government organisations, consultants and international partners from across the globe, including Slovenia, Borneo, Saudi Arabia and Fiji, to advance dialogue on sustainable tourism.
SPTO was represented by Sustainable Tourism Manager Christina Leala Gale, who was invited to present the Pacific’s pioneering work in phasing out single-use plastics (SUPs) across the tourism sector.
Her presentation showcased how Pacific-led solutions are helping shift businesses away from the traditional “take-make-waste” model towards circular economy practices through the Sustainable Tourism Standards and Certification Framework. This initiative embodies the sector’s aspirations in a Decade of Action that has been designed through the Australian Government Funded Pacific Ocean Litter Project (POLP) implemented by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) in partnership with SPTO.
The presentation positioned the Pacific as an emerging contributor to global sustainable tourism and circular economy best practices.
The Summit also reinforced several important priorities for Pacific tourism. With new European Union sustainability regulations requiring verified environmental claims, the discussions underscored the growing importance of third-party certifications for the Australian tourism industry, as businesses targeting European markets must act now to prepare for the shifting market expectations.
The message from Paralympics Australia was clear: that truly inclusive and accessible tourism destinations take a holistic, strategic approach by designing for everyone, everywhere, all the time.
The dialogue also highlighted a growing trend toward positioning cultural tourism as a premium offering—one that elevates indigenous leadership and honours core values of relationship, respect, and reciprocity.
On the environmental front, WWF emphasised the global target of protecting 30 percent of the world’s oceans by 2030, while stressing that developing green skills through staff training, engagement, and the integration of sustainability into organisational performance is essential to achieving long-term resilience.
Discussions on climate resilience highlighted that investing in nature, culture and local communities strengthens both business performance and long-term destination resilience.
SPTO’s participation strengthened the Pacific’s profile as a global leader in sustainable tourism by connecting regional priorities with international best practice. Through knowledge exchange and strategic partnerships, SPTO continues to champion tourism as a driver of regeneration, resilience and responsible development across the Blue Pacific…. PACNEWS
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Huge opportunity for Pacific media at COP31
AUCKLAND, 02 JULY 2026 (PASIFIKA TV) — In what is a golden opportunity for Pacific journalists to tell the stories of the region, Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited (PCBL) is inviting expressions of interest (EOI) from Pacific media professionals to be a part of its Pacific Journalist Training and Coverage Programme.
In partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), PCBL is inviting journalists and editors across the Pacific to register for the programme in preparation for the pre-COP31, in Fiji and Tuvalu from 5-9, 2026 and COP31, in Antalya, Türkiye from 09-20 November 2026.
Delivered by SPREP, this is a free, virtual training series on climate change, the COP process, and how to cover it effectively.
The training is open to all Pacific media professionals who want to develop their climate journalism skills.
However, only journalists and editors currently belonging to a PCBL-affiliated broadcaster will be eligible for selection to attend pre-COP31 and COP31 as part of the official Pasifika TV Pacific coverage team.
Four participants will be selected in total, including two editors and two journalists.
Building on our shared experience at COP28, PCBL and SPREP are committed to ensuring Pacific voices, Pacific stories, and Pacific perspectives are at the centre of global climate coverage.
Pacific stories, told by Pacific people.
Together, PCBL and SPREP have co-designed a structured training programme that builds real capability — not just awareness — in Pacific media professionals covering climate negotiations.
Selected participants will also attend pre-COP31 before travelling to Türkiye for COP31.
Training is delivered by SPREP across four virtual sessions, held weekly via Microsoft Teams. Each session runs approximately two hours and will focus on:
*Climate Change 101: Understanding the Basics
*Climate Change Science, 1.5°C and Loss & Damage
* Pre-COP31, COP31 and the Pacific’s Priorities
* COP Negotiations — Hearing from the Pacific’s Own
Registration is required before the first virtual session on 07 July 7, 2026….PACNEWS
Visit HERE https://pasifikatv.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/COP31_EOI_Pasifika_TV_FINAL.pdf for more information.
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Pacific Wave Makers dared to imagine transformative power of innovative climate solutions
PORT VILA, 02 JULY 2026 (SPREP) — Wave Makers at the inaugural Pacific Innovation Forum for Climate and Environment (PIFCE) 2026 in Vanuatu have been dared to imagine the transformative power of concrete innovative solutions and collective actions to build the Pacific’s resilience against the threat of climate change.
The challenge was offered at the official opening of PIFCE in Port Vila Wednesday. The Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Jotham Napat, opened the three-day Forum at the Warwick Hotel, following a traditional welcome.
“Innovation in the Pacific must be grounded in our realities and guided by our values. It must connect science with traditional knowledge. It must empower communities, strengthen institutions, protect ecosystems, and create sustainable economic opportunities for future generations,” said Napat.
“True innovation is not measured only by technological advancement. It is measured by its ability to improve lives, reduce vulnerabilities, strengthen resilience, and deliver sustainable development outcomes for our people.”
PIFCE was originally fostered through a proposal developed jointly by Minister Ralph Regenvanu, Minister of Climate Change, and the Vanuatu-based charitable association V-Lab. Guided by the theme “Champions of Innovation for Sustainable and Resilient Futures: Harnessing Ideas and Knowledge to Advance Pacific Solutions”, the Forum is attended by Government Ministers, officials, entrepreneurs, non-governmental organisations, civil society groups, private sector leaders, and academic institutions.
Prime Minister Napat reminded that innovation cannot be confined to laboratories or policy documents.
He urged: “Innovation must reach villages, islands, schools, farmers, fishers, women entrepreneurs, and young leaders. It must support locally led adaptation. It must strengthen indigenous knowledge systems.
“It must enable communities to become active architects of resilience rather than passive recipients of assistance. The most effective climate solutions often emerge from the lived experiences of our people.
“Our responsibility is to create enabling environments where these solutions can be nurtured, scaled, and shared throughout the Pacific. As we begin this Forum, I encourage all participants to think boldly and act collectively.”
PIFCE is co-organised by the Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC)/Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). SPREP Director General, Sefanaia Nawadra, congratulated the Government of Vanuatu for their leadership in climate action, and hosting a showcase of the Pacific people’s creativity and resilience through innovation and climate action.
“The Pacific does not wait to be saved. It leads,” said Nawadra.
“Imagine if after this forum, every Pacific nation agreed to take ownership of one climate solution and share it freely with all the others. Imagine if every climate policy affecting the Pacific had to be co-designed with the women on its frontline before it could be signed.
“Imagine if the ancestral knowledge that Pacific communities have held for generations was formally woven into every climate model, every scientific report, and every policy decision made about this region.
“Imagine if every solution, innovation, and idea shared at this forum became part of a permanent Pacific Climate Solutions Library, free and open to every government, school, community, and researcher across the region. Imagine if no Pacific family ever had to leave their home because of climate change.
“Our knowledge, shared. Our solutions, multiplied. No more starting from scratch. No more reinventing the wheel on 22 different islands. Just the collective intelligence of a region that learned, finally, to move as one.
“Let us use this forum as a foundation for concrete solutions and collective actions to build our resilience against the against the existential threat of climate change through innovation and climate action.”
PIFCE is supported by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, British High Commission Port Vila and the United Kingdom Development from the UK Government. Ambassador of Japan to Vanuatu, His Excellency Naohisa Okuda said Japan is proud to support the aspirations of PIFCE efforts through its partnership with the Pacific region.
“Let us take inspiration from the idea of wave maker,” said Okuida. “Let us ensure that the ideas shared here create momentum, that partnerships formed here generate impact, and that the energy of this forum carries forward beyond these days.
“Together, we can turn ideas into action, innovation into impact and collaboration into lasting resilience.”
NextGen Youth Ambassador, Miss Vepaiamele Trief, also addressed the plenary, reminding: “Children will be most affected by climate change, and our voices must be central to climate discussions shaping our future. We are asking for the space, agency, and resources to lead solutions in our own Pacific way.”
The inaugural Pacific Innovation Forum on Climate and Environment (PIFCE) is held in Port Vila, Vanuatu from 01–03 July 2026.
Attended by government Ministers, officials, entrepreneurs, non-governmental organisations, civil society groups, private sector leaders, and academic institutions from across the Pacific, PIFCE is an initiative of the Government of Vanuatu.
It is co-organised by the Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC)/Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and V-Lab Vanuatu.
It is supported by Japan International Cooperation Agency, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, British High Commission Port Vila and the United Kingdom Development from the UK Government. …. PACNEWS
To find out more, visit: https://pcccinnovation.com/pifce2026/
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
SPREP’s PPIN Project delivers Landmark Nature-based Solutions Policy Tools for Customary Land Governance, Coastal Resilience and Forestry in Fiji
DEUBA, 02 JULY 2026 (SPREP) — The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), through the Promoting Pacific Island Nature-based Solutions (PPIN) Project, has successfully completed and officially handed over three major policy outputs to support the mainstreaming of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) within Fiji’s policy and governance systems.
The policy outputs were formally launched during the SPREP-PPIN Regional Reflection and Fiji Policy Handover Event in June. Together, they provide new tools to strengthen customary land governance, coastal resilience, forestry planning, and environmental decision making.
“These three policy outputs reflect years of collaboration between government agencies, customary land institutions, technical experts, communities and development partners,” said Amena Yavouli, SPREP Director of the Fiji Office and Biodiversity Conservation during the handover ceremony.
“The launch represents an important milestone in advancing Nature-based Solutions policy in Fiji. Together they provide practical guidance to strengthen environmental governance and support more resilient and sustainable development across Fiji.”
The three policy outputs comprise:
•Natural Resource and Environmental Management Policy for the iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB).
•National Policy Framework Assessment on Nature-based Solutions for Coastal Resilience and Forestry Sectors in Fiji; and
•Policy Briefing Paper on the National Policy Framework Assessment for Nature-based Solutions in Fiji.
Collectively, these support the integration of Nature-based Solutions into policy, planning, investment, and land management across multiple sectors, while supporting Fiji’s climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development objectives.
Yauvoli noted that while the formal handover marks the completion of the PPIN policy development process, the real value of the work will be realised through implementation.
“The value of these outputs will be realised through their application, helping to inform policy, planning, investment and land management decisions in the years ahead.”
A key highlight of the event was the official handover of the Natural Resource and Environmental Management Policy to the iTaukei Land Trust Board.
The policy represents a significant institutional milestone as the first dedicated Natural Resource and Environmental Management Policy developed by TLTB in its 86-year history. It also marks a regional first for SPREP through the PPIN Project, representing the first Nature-based Solutions policy developed specifically for a customary land management institution in a Pacific Island country.
Developed under the SPREP component of the PPIN Project, the policy provides a framework for integrating Nature-based Solutions into the management of iTaukei land, which accounts for approximately 91 percent of Fiji’s land area. It will support environmental stewardship while embedding environmental safeguards across land leasing and natural resource management.
“Being a statutory body, TLTB has proudly developed its own policies for the past 86 years, yet this new policy is the first in which the Board has opened its doors to formal collaboration and partnership in the development of this Policy,” said Solomoni Nata the Chief Executive Officer of TLTB.
Nata said the policy reflects the Board’s commitment to balancing sustainable development with responsible environmental stewardship for the benefit of both iTaukei landowners and tenants.
“At TLTB, our business involves leasing iTaukei land and herein lies our need to have a policy that will provide a reference tool for the governing and the administration of all natural resources on iTaukei land.”
In a recorded message, John Clemo, Senior Development Adviser, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade reaffirmed New Zealand’s commitment to strengthening Nature-based Solutions across the Pacific through the PPIN partnership.
“New Zealand recognises that it is more important than ever to safeguard our natural resources and build resilience. “There is a huge, missed opportunity if we do not embed Nature-based Solutions and climate resilience across all sectors of our economy.”
He commended SPREP and the PPIN partnership for delivering practical policy tools that will support countries to continue mainstreaming Nature-based Solutions into national planning and decision making.
The launch and handover ceremony of the three policies took place on 26 June 2026 at The Pearl Resort in Fiji.
The Promoting Pacific Island Nature-based Solutions (PPIN) project works across Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu. It is funded by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). PPIN seeks to support the development of policy and legislation for Nature- based Solutions (NbS), build regional awareness and capacity, and strengthen regional cooperation amongst Pacific Island countries on NbS. PPIN is managed by IUCN in partnership with the Pacific Community (SPC), the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)…. PACNEWS
