In this bulletin:
1. FIJI — Israel opens Embassy in Suva as Fiji and Israel deepen relations
2. FIJI — Fiji PM Rabuka hails ‘golden era’ with Israel
3. AUST — Solomons PM to meet Albanese with China pact in focus
4. PNG — Dr Marat presents Bougainville Affairs Bipartisan report
5. FIJI — Fiji PM Rabuka eyes Israel help in war on drugs
6. PACIFIC — Solomon Islands opens third weather-ready Pacific steering committee meeting with a call for village-level warnings
7. FIJI — ‘Fijians should be ashamed’ — Non-Government Organisation Coalition Chair: Shamima Ali
8. PACNEWS BIZ — ‘Iran is responsible’: Israel minister
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji tightens grip on New Zealand eggplant market
10. PACNEWS BIZ — K2.7mil collected as green fees from international travellers: Official
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji biofouling workshop opems in Suva
12. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Pacific Power, how regional cooperation transformed the world’s largest tuna fishery
13. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Australia must engage with Solomon Islands with mutual respect, it’s about so much more than keeping Beijing at bay.
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — Five Asian solutions for new global guidance on dismantling gender stereotypes
FIJI – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Wed 03 Jun 2026
Israel opens Embassy in Suva as Fiji and Israel deepen relations
SUVA, 03 JUNE 2026 (PACNEWS) — Israel has officially opened its embassy in Suva, marking a new chapter in diplomatic relations between Fiji and Israel.
The embassy was formally opened on Tuesday by Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and Israel’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Gideon Sa’ar in a ceremony described by both leaders as a significant milestone in bilateral ties.
Addressing guests at the opening, Prime Minister Rabuka welcomed Israel’s decision to establish a permanent diplomatic presence in Fiji.
“You have blessed Fiji by deciding to open your Embassy here in Fiji,” Prime Minister Rabuka said.
He described the occasion as a landmark moment for the country.
“This is a proud moment for Fiji,” Prime Minister Rabuka said.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said the opening of the embassy reflected the growing partnership between the two nations.
Sa’ar said the opening of the Embassy would be remembered as a milestone in strengthening bilateral relations and reaffirming the shared commitment between the two nations.
Located on Level 9 of the Fijian Holdings Limited (FHL) Tower in Suva, the embassy will serve as Israel’s diplomatic mission in Fiji and a base for expanding engagement across the Pacific.
According to officials, the new embassy will focus on strengthening diplomatic relations, increasing economic cooperation and promoting closer people-to-people links between Fiji and Israel.
The opening follows a period of growing engagement between the two countries and signals a further commitment to deepening cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Ambassador Maya Yaron heads the Israeli Embassy in Suva…. PACNEWS
FIJI – DIPLOMACY: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Wed 03 Jun 2026
Fiji PM Rabuka hails ‘golden era’ with Israel
SUVA, 03 JUNE 2026 (FIJI SUN) — Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has labelled the opening of the Israel embassy in Fiji as the beginning of a “golden era” in relations between the two countries.
Rabuka made the remarks Tuesday at a joint press conference marking the first official visit to Fiji by Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gideon Sa’ar.
Sa’ar said the mission would strengthen ties between Israel and Fiji for generations to come.
“I thank you for your true friendship, for your hospitality,” Sa’ar said.
“I came from very far, but I feel very close and I feel at home.
“I came to inaugurate the Israeli Embassy in Fiji, the Pacific Islands in order to strengthen our great bilateral relations for the next generations.”
Sa’ar described it as an honour to be welcomed to Fiji and acknowledged the country’s traditions and heritage.
“It’s an honour to be greeted by your great tradition and heritage and to be accepted here in your distinguished country,” he said.
Prime Minister Rabuka said the opening of the Israeli Embassy in Suva completed a diplomatic milestone that began with Fiji establishing its own embassy in Israel.
“We have officially opened Fiji’s embassy there in Israel. The first time Fiji establishes a mission in the Holy Land and in doing so, Fiji became the seventh nation in the world to establish its embassy in Jerusalem and the 100th diplomatic mission in Israel,” Rabuka said.
“We come full circle, and Saar’s presence in Suva marks the reciprocal visit or reciprocal opening or reciprocation of that commitment as we gather to officially inaugurate the resident embassy of the State of Israel right here in the capital of Fiji, in Suva.”
Rabuka said the presence of Israel’s foreign minister underscored the growing importance of the relationship.
“His physical presence cements our ties and ushers in a golden era of our relations.”
The Prime Minister said discussions between the two countries had moved beyond historical and symbolic ties and were now focused on practical cooperation in areas critical to Fiji’s future development.
“Our discussion this afternoon proved that friendship between Fiji and Israel is no longer just a symbolic or historic relationship.
“It is dynamic, it’s tech-driven, and it takes on board today’s realities, the emerging issues of our time and a clear-eyed view of what is ahead of us.”
Rabuka said Fiji saw significant opportunities to work with Israel in areas where the Middle Eastern nation has internationally recognised expertise.
“These include cooperation in health, digital transformation, cyber security, where strengthening resilience and protecting critical national systems is important for Fiji and throughout and through Fiji for the region.”
He said agriculture and food security were also key areas for future collaboration.
“We see immense opportunities in agriculture and food security, particularly in enhancing productivity, climate resilience and innovation, particularly in our private sector.”
Rabuka added that Fiji valued continued support in diplomatic training, human resource development and institutional capacity building.
He also highlighted security cooperation as an area of growing importance, particularly as Fiji confronts rising threats from illicit drugs and organised crime.
“We recognise the importance of security cooperation, including institutional linkages and capacity building that support national and regional stability, and Fiji’s fight against illicit drugs, transnational organised crime, will benefit from Israel’s depth of knowledge and technology-based solutions,” he said…. PACNEWS
AUST – DIPLOMACY: AAP PACNEWS 1: Wed 03 Jun 2026
Solomons PM to meet Albanese with China pact in focus
CANBERRA, 03 JUNE 2026 (AAP) — A treaty between Australia and the Solomon Islands is on the cards as the Pacific nation’s new prime minister prepares for talks with Anthony Albanese.
Matthew Wale is in Canberra for his first overseas trip since he was elected by his country’s parliament in May.
Wale has long been an advocate for diplomatically tying his country to Australia, but it’s the Pacific nation’s relationship with China that has drawn attention.
The Solomon Islands and China signed a security pact in 2022, which partially eclipsed the bilateral security arrangement Australia has had with its Pacific neighbour since 2017.
Wale has been critical of the Solomons’ relationship with China, using the 2024 elections to accuse his political opponents of “sleazing up” to Beijing.
He promised to release details of the secretive 2022 security pact if elected, although the information is yet to be made public.
The Solomons and Australia will likely sign an agreement to set aside $190 million (US$136 million) for expanding and training the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.
A further deal between the countries is also expected to be discussed, but details have not been released.
Australia has in recent times finalised treaties with Tuvalu, Nauru and Papua New Guinea, while a security pact with Fiji is in the works.
A wide range of topics were likely to be canvassed during the visit, Australian National University Pacific scholar Anouk Ride said.
“Anything substantive, we are going to have to wait a while to see,” she said.
The Solomons is the only Pacific country to sign a security deal with China, so the visit remains significant regardless of diplomatic milestones reached.
“Maybe his early visit here is sending a signal of who he wants to engage with,” Dr Ride said.
“We will have to wait to see how deep that relationship goes and if it supersedes that of other countries.”
Albanese said the decision of Wale to visit Australia as his first destination emphasised the importance of ties between the two nations…. PACNEWS
PNG – BOUGAINVILLE REPORT: TVWAN PACNEWS 1: Wed 03 Jun 2026
Dr Marat presents Bougainville Affairs Bipartisan report
PORT MORESBY, 03 JUNE 2026 (TVWAN) — Chairman of the Bipartisan Parliamentary Committee on Bougainville Affairs, Dr Allan Marat, presented the Report on the nationwide public consultation regarding the Bougainville Referendum in Papua New Guinea Parliament Tuesday.
This report is a significant step in fulfilling Parliament’s ongoing responsibilities under the Bougainville Peace Agreement and the Constitution of Papua New Guinea.
The nationwide consultations were designed to gather a comprehensive understanding of the perspectives and sentiments of the Bougainvillean people concerning their future governance and potential independence.
Dr Marat highlighted the importance of involving the public in this critical decision-making process, as it aligns with the principles of peace, democracy, and self-determination outlined in the peace agreement.
He detailed the key findings of the consultations, emphasising the diverse opinions expressed by different groups across the country.
Dr Marat noted the need for transparency and thorough consideration of these views as the government moves forward with discussions about Bougainville’s political status and its relationship with the national government.
“First, there was strong recognition across all consultations of the importance of maintaining peace and stability.
“Participants frequently referred to the legacy of the Bougainville conflict and emphasised the need for Parliament to approach its consideration with care, responsibility, and a clear commitment to preserving the peace achieved through years of dialogue and reconciliation.
“Second, many participants highlighted the importance of constitutional process.
“There was a strong emphasis on the expectation that Parliament’s consideration of the referendum outcome will proceed transparently and in accordance with the Constitution and the Bougainville Peace Agreement, recognising that clarity and openness in the process can help foster public understanding and confidence.
“Third, consultations highlighted the need for careful planning in considering future arrangements. Participants raised issues related to governance capacity, economic sustainability, and institutional development, emphasising the importance of managing any transition in an orderly and responsible manner.”
The report not only serves as a reflection of the people’s voices but also as a guide for policymakers as they navigate the complexities of Bougainville’s future.
Dr Marat called for ongoing dialogue and collaboration between the national government and Bougainville’s leadership to ensure a peaceful and inclusive process moving forward.
In conclusion, he reaffirmed the commitment of the Parliamentary Committee to uphold the rights of the Bougainvillean people and to support their aspirations in line with the frameworks set forth in the Bougainville Peace Agreement.
He urged all stakeholders to engage constructively in this pivotal phase of Bougainville’s journey.
Many Members of Parliament during the debate called for deferral of the debate to another session of Parliament as leaders want to have a clear understanding on the report presented.
Consultations were held in five locations representing all major regions of the country: Goroka (Highlands), Lae (Momase), Kokopo (New Guinea Islands), Port Moresby (Southern), and Buka and Arawa (Autonomous Region of Bougainville).
Participants included a broad cross-section of society, such as community leaders, church representatives, women and youth groups, civil society organisations, academics, legal practitioners, former and current public officials, and members of the general public.
The diversity of participants ensured that the consultations captured a wide range of perspectives, experiences, and concerns…. PACNEWS
FIJI – DRUGS FIGHT: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Wed 03 Jun 2026
Fiji PM Rabuka eyes Israel help in war on drugs
SUVA, 03 JUNE 2026 (FIJI SUN) — Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says Fiji will benefit immensely from the presence of Israel in Fiji through development and tackling organised crime threats.
“We believe that there is significant potential to expand our engagement beyond traditional areas into new places emerging field where Israel’s technology, where Israel has globally recognised expertise and the Fiji has growing national demand, they just dovetail very well together,” Rabuka said.
“These include cooperation in health, digital transformation, cybersecurity, where strengthening resilience and protecting critical national systems is important.”
Rabuka said there was opportunity for Fiji and the region to benefit in areas such as agriculture and food security, “We recognise the importance of security cooperation, including institutional linkages and capacity building that support national and regional stability.
And Fiji’s fight against illicit drugs, transnational organised crime will benefit from Israel’s depth of knowledge and technology-based solutions.”
Rabuka said the Pacific Islands Forum welcomed constructive international partnerships that support peace, stability and sustainable development in the Pacific.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar said the opening of the embassy clearly expressed Israel’s intent to deepen friendship with Fiji and the Pacific Island countries.
“Your bold decision reflects your friendship, moral leadership and deep connection to the Holy Land.”
Sa’ar said Israel was opening new embassies to deepen relationships and expand outreach, emphasising that the new embassy would serve as a springboard for the Pacific.
“My foreign policy is we invest in our friends and Fiji is a true friend of Israel. We appreciate Fiji’s friendship and support in multilateral forums. We want to share Israel’s innovation and knowledge with Fiji in agriculture, water, energy, technology and more.
“We also view the Pacific region as strategic, a friendly area with huge potential. We want to deepen our connections and investment here.”
Israel has offered Fiji various options in areas of cooperation following the opening of Israel’s new embassy in Suva Tuesday.
Israel’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar did not give any indication of the value of any technical support in agriculture, technology, security or defence, but assured his country’s commitment in collaboration.
“We have a history here in this country. We train here and also in Israel, many people from Fiji in the past. Now we have come with a book. I gave the book to the Prime Minister and Fiji will choose,” he said.
“Now we have an embassy here. We will be able to do things more rapidly that will work. And I also instruct them on a new (Israeli) development agency here in Fiji. So, I’m very optimistic that this golden era that Prime Minister has spoken about will be implemented by contents which will benefit our both nations.”
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said there would be negotiations, led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on areas Fiji needed assistance on, including the current drug crisis.
“As we move along, we will show them these are the problem and through their own diplomats here who will be communicating with our foreign affairs office.”
Rabuka assured Fiji that the opening of the embassy did not signal the militarisation of Fiji or the Pacific, but instead Fiji’s development.
“They are capable of giving us the development we need. Right now, we have some young people undergoing training in Israel. There’s are a lot of our people who have had the benefit of the hospitality of the people and state of Israel over the years through peacekeeping.
“So, I give you my assurance that this government will not move into militarising this relationship and it will go against what we are trying to do – that is the Ocean of Peace,” he said…. PACNEWS
PAC – WEATHER READY MEET: SOL GOVT PACNEWS 1: Wed 03 Jun 2026
Solomon Islands opens third weather-ready Pacific steering committee meeting with a call for village-level warnings
HONIARA, 03 JUNE 2026 (SOL GOVT) — Solomon Islands Tuesday opened the third Weather Ready Pacific Steering Committee Meeting in Honiara with Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster and Meteorology Wayne Osopo Ghemu calling for early warning systems that “reach the village level”.
Speaking to Pacific Meteorological Directors, SPREP, WMO, development partners and technical agencies, Minister Ghemu said the true test of Weather Ready Pacific would be whether warnings reach mothers preparing food, fishermen at sea, teachers with children at school, and communities on the most remote islands.
“Early warning must reach the village,” the Minister said. “That is the true value of Weather Ready Pacific.”
The Minister declared Honiara “a home for Weather Ready Pacific” as delegates began two days of talks focused on governance, sustainability and last-mile warning systems for Pacific communities.
He highlighted Solomon Islands’ ranking as the 2nd most at-risk country globally in the 2025 World Risk Index. He noted recent impacts from Tropical Cyclones Lola, Jasper and most recently Tropical Cyclone Maila, plus flooding, landslides, drought and marine hazards.
Returning this weekend from Choiseul and Western Provinces, where TC Maila caused widespread damage, Minister Ghemu said he met communities whose food gardens, homes, schools, churches and health facilities were impacted.
“Early warning must reach the village. It must reach the mother preparing food for her family. It must reach the fisherman deciding whether to go to sea,” Minister Ghemu said.
“That is the true value of Weather Ready Pacific.”
SPREP’s Director of Climate Science and Information, Salesa Nihmei, told delegates that Weather Ready Pacific extends beyond technical upgrades.
“Weather Ready Pacific is not just a technical programme. It is a regional commitment to the aspirations of our Leaders. It responds directly to the call by Pacific Leaders for a safer, more resilient, and more secure Blue Pacific,” Nihmei said.
He added the programme supports the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent by strengthening regional cooperation, protecting people, investing in science and technology, and building resilience to climate change and disasters.
“It is also very timely as the world looks toward COP31 and the Pacific’s important role in ensuring that the voices, realities and priorities of our island communities remain at the centre of global climate action,” Nihmei said.
“Weather Ready Pacific provides a practical example of what climate adaptation looks like in action. It is about saving lives. It is about protecting livelihoods. It is about ensuring that warnings reach the last mile, and that communities can act before hazards become disasters.”
Minister Ghemu outlined key progress for Solomon Islands under the Weather Ready Pacific programme, including:
*The weather radar under construction near the Honiara International Airport to improve severe weather monitoring and warnings
*Staff training for Solomon Islands Meteorological Service forecasters
*Starlink kits deployed to improve connectivity for early warning and disaster response in remote areas
While welcoming infrastructure investments, the Minister urged the Steering Committee to focus on sustainability: maintenance plans, national ownership, regional coordination, and long-term financing.
“We need to ensure that the first metre of observation is connected to the last mile of community action,” he said. “Weather Ready Pacific must not become a programme known only in regional meeting rooms. It must be felt in our villages, provinces, schools, churches, markets, harbours and homes.”
Nihmei said Weather Ready Pacific has set out an ambitious decadal programme of investment of approximately US$191 million but stressed this is only the beginning.
“Reaching this level of investment is not the end point. It is the beginning of a long-term effort to modernise our National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, strengthen early warning systems, close observation gaps, improve forecasting, build national capacity, and ensure that our systems are sustainable,” he said.
“Sustainability must remain at the heart of our discussions. We cannot afford systems that work only while a project is active. We cannot afford equipment that cannot be maintained. We cannot afford training that is not institutionalised. We cannot afford fragmented investments that do not strengthen national services.”
“Weather Ready Pacific must help us build systems that last. Systems that are owned by countries. Systems that are supported by the region. Systems that continue to serve communities long after individual projects have ended.”
The Minister thanked SPREP for coordination, Pacific Meteorological Directors for regional leadership, and the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service and National Disaster Management Office for their service…. PACNEWS
FIJI – EMBASSY PROTEST: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Wed 03 Jun 2026
‘Fijians should be ashamed’ — Non-Government Organisation Coalition Chair: Shamima Ali
SUVA, 03 JUNE 2026 (FIJI SUN) — Close to 100 people gathered at the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (FWCC) in Suva Tuesday to protest the opening of the new Israel Embassy at the Fijian Holdings Limited Tower, directly opposite the FWCC office.
Members of the Non-Government Organisation Coalition for Human Rights, and Fijians for Palestine held up placards and displayed banners that spelled out free Palestine.
Coalition chairperson Shamima Ali says Israel is a rogue country that’s committing genocide and is under scrutiny from the International Criminal Court.
“And we continue to support Israel and giving it such prominence and having it in our country. We are against it. We are for humanity. We are against genocide that is happening,” Ali said.
Police, including the K9 unit, were present at the protest site, with officers advising the protesters to stay inside the FWCC compound.
“We believe that this is going to cause instability. Fiji should be ashamed of ourselves because we are only one of three countries that have turned down what the United Nations had said against genocide, ceasefire.”
Ali said the Fijian people should not be carried away by emotions.
“The Fiji Government should stay within the boundaries of international law.”
When asked on how does Fiji balance the concept of a region of peace with the opening of the new embassy on the backdrop concerning human rights, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said: “That is none of our business.
“We deal with them at diplomatic level we are dealing with members of the United Nations in setting up and allowing them to set up their embassy here. The human rights violations are being dealt with in the appropriate court of the United Nations and we have our representative and our submission will go there.”
Israel’s Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa’ar urged those protesting to do something positive with their time.
Sa’ar said there was a good and positive relationship between Israel Government and the Fiji counterparts.
Regarding the issue of Palestine, Sa’ar said: “The problem of our Palestinian neighbours was always the same, they were never to have their own state as much as they were eager to destroy ours.
“As you know United Nations resolution from 1947 suggested partition of the land to the states, they refused. Arab countries invaded they lost the war. When they had opportunities during their history to take care of their interest, they choose this destructive path to try to destroy our state instead of caring for their own future,” he said…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
FIJI – IRAN CRISIS/FUEL PRICES: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 03 Jun 2026
‘Iran is responsible’: Israel minister
SUVA, 03 JUNE 2026 (FIJI SUN) — Iran is responsible.
That’s the firm message from Israel’s Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa’ar when asked in Fiji about Israel’s involvement in the on-going geopolitical tension in the Middle East against Iran that’s caused global shock in fuel prices.
“People should thank Israel and the United States for taking upon themselves this challenge,” Sa’ar said, pointing to the two countries mission to eliminate any nuclear weapons in Iran.
As a result of the war, Iran had used its strategic leverage to close the Strait of Hormuz, declaring it a military zone.
“Iran is responsible for its behaviour. It attacked more than 10 states during the last war, including Arab states in the Gulf, attacked civilian infrastructure, energy infrastructure. And also, they haven’t delivered on what they said, not to have nuclear weapons.
“Speaking about peace is not a theoretical thing. If a radical, the most extremist regime in the world, can have nuclear weapons, this is very bad news. This will be very bad news for world peace and for world order.”
Sa’ar said over the years, Israel had only targeted nuclear sites of extremist regimes.
“Think about 1981, when Israel attacked the nuclear reactor of Saddam Hussein in Iraq. Afterwards, the whole international community went to a war against Iraq.A decade and two decades afterwards, what would happen if Sadam Hussein would have nuclear weapon? If Israel wouldn’t destroy his nuclear problems, probably he will still be in power until today threatening all the region and all the world.
“Then in 2008, Israel attacked Bashar Assad’s nuclear problem. I remind you that Bashar Al Assad afterwards used chemical weapons against his own people. And during the civil war in Syria, he slaughtered a large amount of people. What would happen if Israel wouldn’t destroy his nuclear program? Probably he would be until today in power. So, what I want to say is a very simple thing. Those who usually condemn what Israel is doing are the same that enjoy from Israel.”
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said Fiji continued to follow the security development in the Middle east with very deep concerns.
“We recognise Israel’s legitimate security concerns and reaffirm its sovereignty and its sovereign right to protect its people against terrorism and threats to its very existence.
“At the same time, Fiji continues to support dialogue, diplomacy and a peaceful resolution to the conflict in accordance with international law and the principles of the United Nations.
“Fiji’s hope is for a stable and peaceful Middle east where all nations and communities can co-exist in safety and prosperity,” he said…. PACNEWS
FIJI – AGRICULTURE EXPORT: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 03 Jun 2026
Fiji tightens grip on New Zealand eggplant market
SUVA, 03 JUNE 2026 (FIJI TIMES) — Fiji has cemented its position as the dominant supplier of imported eggplant to New Zealand, accounting for virtually 100 percent of all imported eggplant entering the market between 2021 and 2024.
According to Pacific Trade Invest New Zealand (PTI NZ), Fiji’s success has been driven by consistent quality, growing demand and favourable market conditions that continue to create opportunities for Pacific exporters.
Import values of Fiji-grown eggplant increased steadily from NZ$1.15 million (US$681,000) in 2021 to NZ$1.79 million (US$1.09 million) in 2024, highlighting strong growth in the sector.
PTI NZ said Fiji’s performance was particularly impressive given the significant increase in prices achieved over the four-year period.
“Even more telling is the price story: eggplants from Fiji fetched NZ$6.86 (US$4.06) per kilogram in 2024, up from NZ$3.99 (US$2.36) in 2021 – a 72 percent price increase in just four years.”
“That’s not luck; it’s the reward for consistent quality.”
The organisation noted that Fiji’s exporters have been able to capitalise on supply gaps in the New Zealand market.
While local production exists, PTI NZ said a single glasshouse operation near Auckland supplies around 80 percent of New Zealand’s domestically grown eggplant, leaving significant off-season opportunities for imported produce.
“Domestically, a single glasshouse operation near Auckland supplies around 80 percent of locally grown eggplant, leaving off-season windows wide open for Pacific exporters.”
PTI NZ also pointed to changing consumer preferences as another factor supporting future growth.
Demand for plant-based foods continues to rise across New Zealand, increasing the use of eggplant in a variety of products and meals.
“Add growing consumer demand for plant-based ingredients from baba ganoush to vegan burger patties and the case for expanding Pacific eggplant exports to New Zealand has never been stronger.”
The findings highlight the growing importance of horticultural exports as a source of foreign exchange and economic opportunity for Fiji’s agricultural sector.
PTI NZ believes the combination of market dominance, rising prices and increasing consumer demand presents a strong platform for Fiji to further expand its presence in New Zealand’s fresh produce market…. PACNEWS
PNG – GREEN FEES: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 03 Jun 2026
K2.7mil collected as green fees from international travellers: Official
PORT MORESBY, 03 JUNE 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — Almost K2.7 million (US$619,036) in green fees has been collected from international travellers since last October, according to Papua New Guinea Climate Change Development Authority (CCDA) acting managing director Debra Sungi.
But Sungi said that no project had been funded yet as the Government was setting up a trust account to manage the money. Sungi said the green fee was charged at the departure lounge of the Jackson International Airport.
“It targets outbound travellers to offset emissions from air travel, air conditioning and other carbon-producing activities linked to tourism.” Sungi explained that the fee was not a tax.
The fees go into the consolidated revenue at the Department of Finance.
The CCDA does not control or manage the fees.
PNG charges international travellers a K50 (US$11) green fee at the airport.
The CCDA said the trust account, once established, would fund grants for marine protected areas, biodiversity, terrestrial protected areas and sustainable tourism.
PNG has set a target to expand protected areas and boost nature-based tourism.
The CCDA said the green fee was designed to mobilise domestic climate finance rather than relying solely on international pledges.
“We can go and pledge and come in and have targets to say that we will be getting this number of protected areas but if we don’t have the incentive to sustain this progress, it is just useless,” Sungi said.
“And that’s the reason why this green fee is for that,” she said…. PACNEWS
FIJI – BIOFOULING: MSAF PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 03 Jun 2026
Fiji biofouling workshop opems in Suva
SUVA, 03 JUNE 2026 (MSAF) — A crucial technical workshop on the in-water cleaning of ships’ biofouling opened Tuesday in Suva to protect the nation’s marine ecosystems and prepare for upcoming international compliance standards.
Delivered by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre (MTCC) Pacific, and the Pacific Community (SPC), with the support of the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF), the event brings together senior government officials, biosecurity experts, port authorities, and maritime stakeholders to establish a coordinated national framework for managing the accumulation of aquatic organisms on vessels.
The Acting Chief Executive Officer of MSAF Sereana Lalakobau said as an island nation, Fiji’s economy, food security, tourism, and culture are deeply tied to the health of its ocean.
Lalakobau said that domestic and international shipping however pose an ongoing risk of introducing invasive aquatic species through biofouling. If left unmanaged, biofouling degrades vessel performance and severely threatens local fisheries, marine biodiversity, and port infrastructure.
“Biofouling is more than a technical maritime issue,” she said.
“Our systems, procedures, and people must be ready to respond effectively while protecting the marine environment and supporting safe and sustainable maritime operations.”
This workshop marks the next phase of Fiji’s multi-year strategy to combat marine biosecurity risks.
The country previously served as a Lead Partnering Country in the global GloFouling Partnerships Project, which concluded in May 2025. Current capacity-building efforts have transitioned to the IMO-Norad TEST Biofouling Project, which included a successful national technology demonstration conducted in Fiji in October 2025, laying the technical foundation for the current workshop’s focus on safe, localized in-water cleaning operations.
“The workshop arrives at a critical juncture as global maritime authorities advance toward a potential legally binding international convention on biofouling management. MSAF is utilising this forum to ensure Fiji’s maritime sector proactively understands and integrates these future international requirements into national policy early.”
Biofouling management cannot be achieved by a single entity, therefore MSAF emphasised that the primary goal of the week’s sessions is to foster strict, ongoing collaboration among maritime safety, biosecurity, environmental agencies, and private vessel operators…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS In Focus
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Pacific Power, how regional cooperation transformed the world’s largest tuna fishery
HONIARA, 03 JUNE 206 (UNDP) — The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) has released a major report documenting two decades of transformative work in tuna fisheries management – a story of unprecedented collaboration between scientists, government officials, fisheries workers, NGOs, and international development partners.
Pacific Power: A 20-Year Journey of Regional Leadership in Tuna Fisheries distils hard-won lessons from the Oceanic Fisheries Management Project, revealing how regional solidarity and science-based decision-making have turned the Western and Central Pacific Ocean into a global model for sustainable fisheries governance.
The achievements are remarkable: all four economically important tuna stocks – skipjack, yellowfin, bigeye, and South Pacific albacore – remain healthy and sustainably fished, making the Pacific the only ocean basin tuna fishery to achieve this milestone. The region now accounts for 54% of the world’s tuna catch, generating an average of US$480 million annually in licencing and access fees for Pacific governments over the past five years.
From Fragmentation to Regional Unity
Pacific Power chronicles a fundamental shift in how Pacific Island nations manage their most valuable marine resource. Ludwig Kumoru, director of fisheries management at FFA and former CEO of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement, recalls the early days: “In the beginning, every country tried to do their own thing. With the help of FFA, and eventually, the Commission, we were able to push ideas through as a bloc” he noted.
This unity empowered Pacific nations to negotiate collectively, shifting control from distant-water fishing nations to local hands.
“People began to really take ownership… If we were to benefit, we had to step up,” says Kumoru.
The establishment of coordinated regional frameworks through the FFA, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, and sub-regional bodies like the PNA, enabled Pacific nations to speak with unified voices in international negotiations.
This unity delivered tangible results. The pioneering Vessel Day Scheme, introduced by PNA members in 2015, quadrupled purse-seine revenues within a single year by setting hard caps on fishing days based on scientific advice about stock health. Employment in the tuna sector grew 44% between 2015 and 2022, directly supporting nearly 28,000 Pacific livelihoods.
Ten Lessons for Sustainable Fisheries
Pacific Power distils over two decades of collective Pacific experience into ten key lessons, grouped under three themes: foundations for success, managing for resilience, and enabling long-term change.
Regional cooperation emerges as the most powerful driver of progress, but one that requires sustained commitment, trust-building, and carefully structured processes. Coordination mechanisms such as the ‘Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Working Group’, and pre-meeting consultations, have been central to aligning national priorities and strengthening collective oversight.
Science-based management has proven effective, but only when understood and applied in context. Targeted investments in stock assessment workshops, technical exchanges, and long-term scientific positions have enabled Pacific nations to engage confidently with complex models and incorporate scientific advice into decision-making. This is where OFMP has played an important role over two decades: supplying funding, scientific expertise, and capability-building programmes and expertise to help support sustainable tuna fisheries.
The region has also pioneered advanced monitoring systems: 100 percent observer coverage on PNA-licensed purse seiners, electronic reporting technologies, and satellite-based vessel tracking have significantly reduced illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
The adoption of harvest strategies represents a fundamental shift from reactive, year-by-year negotiations to pre-agreed, science-based rules that guide management responses to stock changes. As Kumoru explains: “What used to happen is that we would negotiate every year what could be taken. But with harvest strategies, we have to agree well in advance.”
Climate Change and Equity at the Forefront
The report emphasises that climate change is no longer a future threat but a pressing reality requiring immediate action. While Pacific nations contribute minimally to global carbon emissions, they face disproportionate risks as ocean warming alters tuna distribution, potentially shifting access rights and revenues between countries. The report calls for climate considerations to be embedded in harvest strategies, access agreements, and governance systems, with Pacific nations playing meaningful roles in shaping global responses.
Gender and social inclusion emerge as critical priorities requiring structural change beyond participation targets.
“One of the key lessons from OFMP is that gender equality in fisheries is not just about participation numbers,” writes Lisa Buchanan, Chief Technical Advisor, OFMP3, in Pacific Power.
“Real progress requires addressing influence, safety, and opportunity across the value chain, and removing structural barriers through intentional policy, systems, and programme design from the outset.”
The report highlights that women and marginalized groups play vital roles across the tuna value chain, particularly in processing, administration, informal trade, and compliance functions. These contributions have not always been reflected in formal policy and planning. To be successful, effective initiatives must intentionally incorporate specific goals for women and marginalized groups into activity design, addressing barriers such as safety, leadership access, and decision-making power.
Looking Ahead to 2050
The report underscores that the region’s most important resource is people. The strength of Pacific tuna governance comes from skills, experience, and relationships built across national and regional institutions over many years. Long-term professional development, consistent training grounded in Pacific contexts, and knowledge-sharing across countries and generations have reinforced regional identity, peer learning, and shared ownership of outcomes.
Building on these foundations and maintaining a focus on evidence-based fisheries management and regional collaboration will be crucial as the Pacific tuna fisheries face pressures from climate change, growing demand, and geopolitical uncertainty.
As Midori Paxton, Global Head, Ecosystems and Biodiversity, Planet Hub, UNDP, notes in the report’s foreword, the learnings captured are “not only a record of what has been achieved, but also a roadmap of next steps”.
Pacific Power demonstrates that sustainable fisheries management underpins food security, creates economic opportunity, and helps sustain cultural identity across the 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
Australia must engage with Solomon Islands with mutual respect
A change of government in Honiara is not just a development in regional competition with China
By Connor Graham
CANBERRA, 03 JUNE 2026 (THE GUARDIAN) — When Matthew Wale won a parliamentary vote to become Solomon Islands’ prime minister last month, the questions came quickly: What does this mean for Beijing? Is this good news for Australia? When will the new PM tear up the 2022 security pact with China, sever ties with Beijing and declare Australia Solomon Islands’ best friend in perpetuity?
This pervasive framing treats a change of government in Honiara primarily as a development in Australia’s competition with China – a mistake Canberra should not repeat when Wale arrives for talks with Anthony Albanese on Wednesday. The important question is this: how can Australia be the partner Solomon Islands needs?
Wale’s choice of Canberra as his first official destination is being read as a signal – proof that Solomon Islands is tilting back toward Australia. But the destination choice is probably less revealing than it appears. Wale’s predecessor, Jeremiah Manele, who was a central figure in negotiating the 2022 security pact and was among Beijing’s most reliable allies in Pacific politics, also made Australia his first stop as prime minister, visiting Canberra in June 2024.
It’s true that Wale has spent years as a thorn in the side of his predecessors’ China policy. He criticised the 2022 security pact as “counterproductive to the security interests of Solomon Islands and the region” and called for transparency on Chinese police deployments.
But that scepticism has softened considerably. He led a delegation to Beijing last year, his party affirmed the one-China principle, and he has said he will only “look at” the pact rather than dismantle it. His appointment of former prime minister Rick Hou as foreign minister over the more openly China-critical Peter Kenilorea points in the same direction: Wale intends to manage the relationship with Beijing, not rupture it.
Australia has been called out by Wale himself for viewing Solomon Islands primarily through a geopolitical lens. When Australia donated rifles to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force in 2022 – widely understood as a counter to China’s own police engagement – Wale was direct: “It is clear Australia is anxious that if they do not supply guns the China will. Geopolitical interests have surpassed national interest in this country and it is a sad state of affairs”. He had previously warned that Australia risked behaving like an “ATM machine” – a partner that expected influence to flow automatically from transactions, rather than one that has invested in genuine trust.
The concern is not that Australia has been too present in Solomon Islands, it is that too much of that presence has been shaped by what Australia wants to keep China out of, rather than what Solomon Islands actually needs. Vanuatu’s PM Jotham Napat has recently made the same point, stalling Australia’s long-delayed Nakamal Agreement over language Vanuatu feared would undermine its sovereignty.
Australia has demonstrated it is capable of more effective partnership. Australian-supported health programs helped drive malaria in Solomon Islands down dramatically in the 2000s and early 2010s – by focusing on what Solomon Islanders needed rather than what signal was being sent to Beijing. That kind of investment builds the durable trust that security agreements alone cannot buy.
The model Australia should be reaching for is its relationship with Papua New Guinea. The Pukpuk Treaty, signed in 2025, is the most significant security commitment Australia has made in decades. What made it achievable was not the particulars of the security arrangement – it was the breadth of the relationship established underneath it, built on partnerships across health, education, infrastructure and sport. When PNG PM, James Marape, signed the treaty, he described it as a product of “geography, history, and the enduring reality of our shared neighbourhood” – not geopolitics. That framing reflected years of investment in partnership that Papua New Guinea felt it owned.
Wednesday’s meeting is an opportunity to start building something similar with Solomon Islands. Wale governs on a slim majority, managing a fractious coalition while confronting pressures that have nothing to do with Beijing – a young underemployed population, a buckling health system, a logging industry in terminal decline, and a public debt that has nearly tripled since before the Covid-19 pandemic. Wale has long advocated for free education and improved healthcare as the foundations of a more stable Solomon Islands.
An Australia that shows up ready to engage with that agenda – on education, health, economic diversification and climate resilience – rather than to leverage security cooperation against Chinese influence, is one that will earn the kind of relationship it is looking for.
Australia is already Solomon Islands’ largest development partner by a considerable margin. The question on Wednesday is not whether Australia gives enough – it is whether what Australia gives is shaped by what Solomon Islands needs, or by what Australia fears. Wale has told Australia the type of partner Solomon Islands needs. If Australia heeds the call, it will do more to secure the relationship than any amount of reactive China-proofing ever could…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Five Asian solutions for new global guidance on dismantling gender stereotypes
BANGKOK, 03 JUNE 2026 (UN WOMEN) — Gender stereotypes are among the most pervasive and complex forms of discrimination impacting women’s rights – and dismantling them isn’t easy. To guide countries on just how to address them, using the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the CEDAW Committee periodically issues General Recommendations.
To this end, from 2–3 April 2026, 30 experts, academics, activists and civil society representatives from across Asia gathered in Bangkok for a Regional Consultation on CEDAW General Recommendation No. 41 on gender stereotypes.
“This recommendation is intended as a practical tool for holding States accountable on gender stereotypes,” explained Bandana Rana, a CEDAW Committee Member from Nepal.
“Gender stereotypes are structural drivers of discrimination that affect the full spectrum of human rights,” added Katia Chirizzi, Deputy Representative of the UN Human Rights Regional Office for South-East Asia, which co-convened the consultation with the CEDAW Committee and UN Women.
Drawing on their diverse expertise and lived experiences, participants provided concrete, practice-based and solutions-oriented inputs to strengthen the draft recommendation.
Educate families
Participants highlighted the role of family structures in shaping gender norms from an early age.
“Gender stereotypes are learned early in the family and carried throughout life,” said Jaya Luitel, Co-founder and President of The Story Kitchen in Nepal. “Change happens when we shift who gets to speak and who gets listened to.”
Reform institutions
Participants emphasised that gender stereotypes are sustained by power and institutions.
“Addressing gender stereotypes requires changing how institutions work, not just attitudes,” said Miura Mari, Professor of Political Science at Sophia University in Japan.
“Real change came when institutional reforms made transgender women visible within State systems,” added Nayyab Ali, Executive Director, Transgender Rights Consultants in Pakistan. “Now people are seeing a transgender woman in police uniform, which has an impact.”
Empower women economically
Participants also discussed how economic systems influence opportunities.
“When women were given access to loans, it changed how institutions saw them and what they were capable of,” said Naila Kabeer, feminist economist from Bangladesh.
“States need to recognise, reduce, redistribute and reward care work to address economic stereotypes,” added Lai Suat Yan, Senior Lecturer in Gender Studies at the University of Malaya in Malaysia.
Engage media
Participants further explored the role of media in reshaping narratives.
“Changing who tells the story and how it is told is key to challenging gender stereotypes in media,” said Sushmita S. Preetha, Associate Coordinator at Nijera Kori in Bangladesh.
Shift social norms
Participants called-out culture and norms as evolving and no excuse for stereotypes.
“Many so-called traditions are not actually ancient cultural practices,” said Jelen Paclarin, Executive Director of the Women’s Legal and Human Rights Bureau in the Philippines, reflecting on how gender stereotypes are often incorrectly justified in the name of religion and culture.
UN Women’s new social norms framework, Ideologies, Institutions and Power: Addressing Discriminatory Social Norms, also helped frame these discussions, detailing how discriminatory norms underpinning gender stereotypes are produced and perpetuated.
Speaking at the event, Christine Arab, Regional Director for UN Women Asia-Pacific, said: “This consultation reflects the level of investment needed to address gender stereotypes at their root, and the strength of dialogue across the region shows how urgent and shared this agenda is.”
The consultation is part of an ongoing process by the CEDAW Committee to develop General Recommendation No. 41, which includes regional consultations alongside a global call for written inputs.
In 2025, the CEDAW Committee also consulted with Pacific stakeholders on the draft during its first Pacific Technical Cooperation Session, in partnership with the Pacific Community, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, UN Human Rights and UN Women. Contributions from these regional consultations will inform the final text of Recommendation 41, which is expected to be adopted in 2026…. PACNEWS
