In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC— No risk to Palau Forum travel but NZ ready to step in if Pacific fuel pressure grows – NZ PM Luxon
2. PACIFIC — Middle East conflict chokes end of supply chain as lights go out in the Pacific
3. GUAM — Sinlaku downs power, water, telecom in Guam; 1,800 tourists stranded
4. PNG — PNGDF Chief orders one-month close camp on all establishments to contain internal crisis
5. SOL — Solomon Islands’ majority Coalition hails landmark Court ruling; Demands PM resign or face Parliament
6. PACIFIC — Asia-Pacific countries to meet in Jakarta to discuss security concerns related to nuclear weapons
7. FIJI — Fiji strengthens partnerships on gender, climate and youth initiatives
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji Airways adjusts flights amid rising fuel costs
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Gloomy outlook – Sharp downturn in Fiji tourist arrivals projected
10. PACNEWS BIZ — PNG hotel owner looks to sue Australian government for $11m in unpaid refugee accommodation costs
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Court initiates judicial process for Air Calédonie
12. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Pacific islands face a connectivity shock as oil prices surge
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — Tonga launches five-year multi-hazard strategy for risk communication and community engagement
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — New study ranks Hawaiian monk seal as marine mammal most at risk of extinction from Plastic pollution
PAC – DIPLOMACY: PMN PACNEWS 1: Thu 16 Apr 2026
No risk to Palau Forum travel but NZ ready to step in if Pacific fuel pressure grows – NZ PMLuxon
WELLINGTON, 16 APRIL 2026 (PMN)—New Zealand says there is no immediate risk to Pacific leaders travelling to Palau for this year’s Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).
But Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says support is ready if the region’s fuel pressures worsen although no leaders have requested assistance so far.
“At this point we don’t see any risk of that. There is no risk to any fuel disruption for us and that’s a good thing. But August is a long way away,” Luxon told the media.
The Forum leaders meeting is the region’s most important political gathering, bringing together leaders from across the Pacific to discuss shared challenges and priorities.
For many island nations, getting to Palau is not simple.
Leaders from countries like Sāmoa, Tonga, and Niue face long and complex travel routes, mostly relying on limited international connections through hubs such as Guam, Japan and the Philippines.
That has put a spotlight on how vulnerable Pacific travel can be especially when fuel supply becomes uncertain.
Palau’s President, Surangel Whipps Jr has also played down concerns, saying he does not expect the situation to worsen.
Whipps, who visited Aotearoa last week, told Pacific Mornings: “I don’t think that [the fuel crisis] should affect [leaders] coming to PIF but we’re very grateful to New Zealand, Australia and the United States who are willing to go around and pick up leaders and bring them to PIF.”
New Zealand has stepped in before to support Pacific travel. It helped transport leaders to the Forum in Tonga in 2024 and again in Honiara last September.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the upcoming meetings in Palau and New Zealand are an important moment for the region.
“The region faces a very challenging global strategic environment, and in this context, Pacific countries best advance our shared interests when we work together, showing strength through unity,” Peters said in a press release.
The government has yet to confirm who will attend the Palau Forum this year. New Zealand takes its turn next year with both countries forming part of the Forum’s leadership group.
While there is no confirmed disruption at this stage, the situation highlights a wider issue: how fragile travel links remain across the Pacific and how quickly small pressures can become big problems for island nations.
For now, leaders are expected to make the journey to Palau as planned. But with months to go, governments across the region will be watching closely and ready to step in if needed……PACNEWS
PAC – IRAN CRISIS/FUEL PRICE: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS 1: Thu 16 Apr 2026
Middle East conflict chokes end of supply chain as lights go out in the Pacific
SUVA, 16 APRIL 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE)—For Pacific Island countries, the Middle East crisis is not a distant geopolitical event. It is already showing up in higher fuel prices, electricity uncertainty and fears that communities sitting at the far end of global supply chains could be pushed into deeper economic insecurity.
“We are at the end of the supply chain,” Tuya Altangerel, a senior UN Development Programme (UNDP) official in the Pacific region, told UN News “so this energy crisis is really impacting our communities.”
With Fiji a significant hub in the Pacific Ocean, island nations that surround it extend thousands of miles into the world’s largest ocean, with the distance between some islands as much 3,000 miles.
Within this vast area, the isolation from the rest of the world is not only very challenging by also expensive.
From Fiji to Tuvalu, the Solomon Islands to the Marshall Islands, governments are moving to conserve fuel, protect families and the most vulnerable and keep essential services running.
The immediate concern is not only whether ships keep moving, but how quickly oil price spikes, freight costs and fuel-market disruptions in Asia ripple across some of the world’s most remote and import-dependent communities.
The Strait of Hormuz, which has largely been blocked for the last month, is a critical to global supply chains, with the waterway carrying around 20 per cent of the global seaborne oil and gas trade.
For the Pacific, the main risk is that energy disruption in the Strait drives up fuel prices, bunker costs and freight rates across Asia-Pacific supply chains.
That matters because Pacific small island communities shipping links are concentrated in Asia-Pacific markets. It is through those fuel and pricing channels that distant conflict can hit islands thousands of miles away.
Maritime transport is the lifeline of Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) but they have some of the weakest shipping connectivity in the world, according to UN trade and development agency (UNCTAD).
Pacific islands have much few direct connections, which means food, fuels and shipments are not received directly, but are moved from ship to ship which raises the price.
Pacific SIDS also receive very few container ship port calls, with some countries only receiving 40 to 50 shipments per year.
That weak connectivity matters because it translates directly into higher costs, particularly for fuel that comes from outside the region and requires ‘middleman’ fees for shipments to be transferred at ports abroad.
SIDS paid twice as much for international transport of imports as developed countries in 2022, according to the UN.
For countries at the edge of the system, that means little room to absorb new disruption.
The region’s exposure is amplified by its dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Transport consumes around 70 per cent of total fuel imported in the Pacific region, with sea transport the main fuel user in some countries.
That dependence leaves Pacific countries acutely vulnerable to any turmoil affecting global oil and gas flows, especially through Asian markets that supply or refine fuel for the region.
Meanwhile, many countries rely nearly entirely on fuel. “Tuvalu is definitely at the end of the supply chain and more than 90 per cent of its energy comes from diesel fuel,” Altangerel said.
She added that UNDP is looking at “solarisation of the entire island” as part of the longer-term response, stressing that the current shock underlines the urgency of reducing reliance on imported diesel.
Across the Pacific, UNDP said governments are already activating emergency measures.
In Fiji, the Government has warned citizens against panic buying and hoarding amid sharp rises in fuel prices.
As the supply chain continues to other Pacific nations from Fiji which is a regional fuel distribution hub, the impacts are even starker. Tuvalu announced a state of emergency on 14 April. The Marshall Islands has declared a 90-day economic emergency.
The Solomon Islands government said the country held between 40 and 50 days of fuel in-country.
Vanuatu has warned of electricity price rises, while Palau, Nauru and Kiribati are also weighing responses.
For households, the crisis is very real with many communities already seeing blackouts and service instability.
In Tuvalu, “we understood that already the communities are experiencing daily blackouts,” Altangerel said.
She added that blackouts are also affecting parts of Fiji, even though it is among the Pacific’s larger and relatively better-prepared economies.
These challenges are being compounded by recent cyclones that passed by Fiji and the Solomon Islands.
But the UNDP official warned that the bigger test may still lie ahead if prices rise further in May and beyond.
“The last thing that we want is because of this energy crisis that’s happening around the world, this critical work stops,” she said.
Speaking about Tuvalu’s Coastal Adaption Plan’s, which seeks to protect the island from rising sea levels, she said “it will definitely impact this important work that we doing.”
For Pacific Island countries, the message is stark: what begins as a crisis in a distant shipping chokepoint can quickly become a crisis of affordability and power supply, disconnecting vulnerable island communities from the rest of the world and alleviating their risk to climate pressures from rising sea levels and extreme weather events….PACNEWS
GUAM – WEATHER WATCH: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 1: Thu 16 Apr 2026
Sinlaku downs power, water, telecom in Guam; 1,800 tourists stranded
HAGATNA, 16 APRIL 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES)—Except for power engines that supply electricity to the hospital, hotel row and military installations, Guam Power Authority’s power plant units were knocked out by Super Typhoon Sinlaku late Tuesday night.
Guam remains on Condition of Readiness 1, with damaging winds and gusts of up to 75 mph still occurring throughout Wednesday morning. Typhoon watch is also still in effect.
About 1,800 tourists are stranded in Guam hotels, according to Guam Visitors Bureau spokesperson Lisa Bordallo.
Guam hotels are assisting these stranded guests throughout the storm, and GVB helps communicate updated information to them, she said.
Bordallo said most of the 700 international participants of last Sunday’s 2026 Ko’ko’ Road Race events were able to catch their flights out, but is unsure how many remained behind.
Low to no water pressure service was also reported in parts of Barrigada, Dededo, Maite, Mangilao, Sinajana, Yigo and Yona.
GPA said its crews are now scrambling to repair damaged substations and distribution lines to ensure all power plants are brought online as soon as possible, in an update today.
Early this morning, GPA crews were already out patrolling lines and clearing hazardous debris from lines and roads, even as strong winds and gusts of up to 75 mph continued to buffet the island.
GPA said the heavy winds prevented immediate repairs because it was unsafe to use their bucket trucks. Repair work will start once the winds subside.
GPA confirms it has enough stocks on hand, including poles, wires and transformers, as well as crews and equipment to complete repairs.
The first priority will be to repair transmission lines and synchronize the northern and southern systems, followed by restoring the island-wide transmission loop.
“This would bring power to all substations in sequence on both the eastern and western sides of the island,” GPA said. “There are 29 substations on the island.
Once the substations are energized, power can now flow to distribution feeders, which feed customers’ homes and businesses.
GPA does not expect any shortage in its capacity to generate enough electricity.
GPA said Super Typhoon Sinlaku did not cause an island-wide system blackout during the storm, but it split the power system into two—north and south.
GPA’s Dededo plant continued to supply power to northern loads, including the Guam Memorial Hospital, the Tumon hotel row underground system, Andersen Air Force Base and Camp Blaz Marine Base.
GPA’s Piti plant remained operational throughout the storm, delivering power to Naval Station Guam and other naval facilities.
The Ukudu Power Plant was operational through the storm until late Tuesday night. Other units at the plant were on standby.
GPA said it is aware of all customer outages throughout the island. It encourages its customers to limit their calls to critical issues such as down lines, blown transformers and low voltages.
“Please stay away from all down lines and equipment, as they may still be energized and can cause harm if you come in contact with the lines or equipment. Consider such situations as dangerous and life-threatening,” it added.
Although several villages in Guam have reported low or no water pressure, 72 of the Guam Waterworks Authority’s wells remain online, it said in a status update today. Of that number, six wells are operating on GPA electricity, while 66 wells are on generators.
The Ugum Surface Water Treatment Plant was placed back online. It is producing water using a generator.
GWA said it continues to assess its water and wastewater treatment plants, sewer lift stations, booster pumps, reservoirs and wells.
GWA has not received any report of sewer backups or overflows at this time.
GWA advises the community to conserve water as recovery efforts continue. It said the unnecessary use of water could place excessive stress on the pressure within the water distribution system.
“Refrain from washing vehicles and pressure washing or flushing driveways and sidewalks and limit water use in the kitchen and bathroom,” it said.
All of GTA’s six main locations in Guam are operational and running on generators. Fifty-five percent of its cell sites are operational.
GTA said it will be inspecting all landline and wireless networks starting today once winds have subsided, but its initial assessments indicate limited damage.
IT&E said it is also inspecting its fiber and mobility network to identify and address any damage. Technical teams have been deployed across the island.
Restoration efforts are focused right now on critical hubs and sites supporting government operations, healthcare facilities and first responders.
The community is reminded to remain indoors until Condition of Readiness 4 is declared.
“If movement is absolutely necessary, use extreme caution. Be aware of dangerous hazards, including downed power lines, damaged trees, and debris in the roadway. Assume all downed lines are live and dangerous,” said the Guam Police Department in an advisory…..PACNEWS
PNG – DEFENCE: AFP PACNEWS 1: Thu 16 Apr 2026
PNGDF Chief orders one-month close camp on all establishments to contain internal crisis
PORT MORESBY, 16 APRIL 2026 (THE NATIONAL) —Papua New Guinea Defence Force chief rear admiral Philip Polewara has ordered a one-month close camp on all PNGDF establishments around the country, as the defence hierarchy aims to stabilise an internal crisis within its rank and file.
The order restricts movement of personnel and civilians in and out of barracks and strengthens security around all armouries and magazines.
Polewara said this order was necessary to maintain strict security, personnel control and institutional stability during the ongoing recruitment saga.
He made the order after soldiers setup barricades into the PNGDF headquarters at Murray Barracks on Tuesday night, demanding answers into discrepancies in the recent recruitment process.
The security control measures are;
• Restrict movement in and out of barracks;
• Prohibit entry of civilians not residing within barracks;
• Deny access to unnecessary civilian vehicles;
• Authorise military vehicle use only with prior written approval;
• Strengthen security around all armouries and magazines; and,
• Suspend issuance of weapons and ammunition for the duration of the close camp.
“Unit commanders are to exercise firm command and control to ensure full compliance. Any breach of this directive will be treated as a serious disciplinary offence,” Polewara said.
“This order remains in force for one month from the date of issue, unless amended or extended by the Chief of Defence Force.”
The situation remains tense as soldiers protest the suspending of whistleblowers who exposed corruption within the PNGDF recruitment.
According to reliable sources, soldiers have demanded to dissolve the defence council, appoint a new chief of personnel, remove all charges against the suspended soldiers and demand an internal investigation.
This follows concerns into the PNGDF recruitment process that resulted in the cancellation of this year’s recruitment (first batch 2026), recruitment directorate being disbanded and Dr Billy Joseph stepping aside from his portfolio as defence minister.
Meanwhile, Police Commissioner David Manning said police were out in the city maintaining security presence for the safety of the public.
“Police will be showing presence and make sure students, working people and others move around safely,” he said.
Videos circulating on social media on Tuesday night showed soldiers, faced covered, blocking off areas leading towards the headquarters at Murray Barracks.
“There is a lot of faith put into the professionalism of our soldiers, our servicemen and women, and police members of the RPNGC,” Manning said.
“They (police) will continue to exercise professionalism in any situation within our respective disciplined forces, we are able to deal with it internally without involving the public.” he said…. PACNEWS
SOL – POLITICS: INDEPTH SOLOMONS PACNEWS 1: Thu 16 Apr 2026
Solomon Islands’ majority Coalition hails landmark Court ruling; Demands PM resign or face Parliament
HONIARA, 16 APRIL 2026 (INDEPTH SOLOMONS)—The 28 member coalition has welcomed the Solomon Islands High Court decision describing it as a decisive and historic affirmation of the rule of law, constitutional supremacy and parliamentary democracy.
In a statement the coalition said the ruling provides a very clear direction on the constitutional issues currently facing the country.
It adds the decision removes any reason for delay or continuing to rule with minority in our parliamentary democracy.
The coalition stated that the Prime Minister himself has publicly stated he will adhere to any decision of the High Court.
“We call on the Prime Minister to honour his public statement that he will adhere to any decision by the Court. Now that the court has made a decision he is obliged to comply with the Court’s ruling as he stated,” it said.
The statement adds the Court decision confirms what has always been clear in a parliamentary democracy and that is government must reflect the majority in Parliament.
“The Court ruling by the Chief Justice is very clear, resign or convene Parliament in the next three days,” it said.
The coalition further noted the Prime Minister’s statement last night to appeal the ruling.
The coalition said whilst the Prime Minister has the right to do so, it must not be intended to prolong minority rule, delay constitutional compliance and frustrate the clear and binding orders of the Court.
“The Prime Minister cannot speak of respecting the Court while also trying to delay its effect. He must commit to his own words and that is to adhere to the ruling,” it said.
The coalition said that the current situation has reached a critical constitutional point as alluded to by the Chief Justice in his ruling.
The statement adds the continuation of minority rule in these circumstances is untenable and contrary to democratic principles.
“We also reiterate our call for the Prime Minister to resign without further delay. This is in the best interest of the country, to allow Parliament to function in accordance with the clear majority and to restore stability, constitutional order and public confidence.”
“The most noble and responsible course is clear: comply with the Court, respect the majority, or resign,” the Coalition stated….PACNEWS
PAC – NUKE MEET: ICAN PACNEWS 1: Thu 16 Apr 2026
Asia-Pacific countries to meet in Jakarta to discuss security concerns related to nuclear weapons
JAKARTA, 16 APRIL 2026 (ICAN)—Government officials representing more than 20 nuclear-weapon-free nations in Asia and the Pacific will meet in Jakarta on Friday, 17 April 2026, to discuss the urgent need to eliminate nuclear weapons.
The one-day conference will be funded by Austria and co-hosted with Indonesia, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Discussions will focus on the universalisation and implementation of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and the threat facing all countries from nuclear weapons.
Indonesia served as a vice-president of the Bureau of the President of the negotiations during the General Assembly talks leading to the adoption of the TPNW in 2017 and ratified the TPNW in 2024. Austria chaired the first meeting of TPNW States Parties in 2022 in Vienna, coordinated the TPNW’s Security Concerns process and currently serves as a co-chair of its informal working group on universalisation.
The purpose of the conference is to take stock of the work achieved under the TPNW and advance the process of further states joining it, as well as raise awareness about the humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons.
Countries attending will include states parties and signatories to the TPNW, as well as those that have yet to sign the treaty.
Tri Tharyat, Director-General of Multilateral Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, said: “This Conference comes at a critical moment. With the Eleventh NPT Review Conference approaching and the First TPNW Review Conference later this year, the Conference can help shape both processes in a meaningful way.”
DG Tharyat continued: “The reality we face is clear. Nuclear risks are rising, driven by heightened geopolitical tensions and the continued reliance on nuclear deterrence. For the Asia-Pacific, this is not a distant concern. It is a direct and growing security challenge. The TPNW offers a principled response. It reinforces the global disarmament architecture, complements the NPT, and places humanitarian considerations at the centre of security thinking. It also challenges us to rethink the role of nuclear weapons in ensuring security. “
Ambassador George-Wilhelm Gallhofer, Director of Disarmament, Arms Control and Non-proliferation at the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria, said: “In the current geopolitical climate with a renewed focus on nuclear deterrence and rearmament, the risk of nuclear weapon use is as high as it has ever been. Any such detonation – whether intentionally, by accident or inadvertently – would have catastrophic and far-reaching humanitarian and environmental consequences. The Pacific region has and continues to bear the consequences of large-scale nuclear testing. The only effective measure to eliminate the risk stemming from nuclear weapons is abolition. Five years ago, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) entered into force. Since then, it has reinforced the legal and normative taboo against the possession and use of nuclear weapons and given the majority of non-nuclear-armed states a united voice. The Treaty demonstrates that multilateral diplomacy can deliver and that we can make real progress towards a world without nuclear weapons through cross-regional cooperation.”
Ambassador Gallhofer continued: “I am therefore grateful for the in-depth discussions at the “Asia-Pacific regional conference on the TPNW and the security concerns related to nuclear weapons” in Jakarta with participants from 20 states. The Asia-Pacific and Central Asian regions brought their unique and important experience and perspectives to further our joint work towards a world free of nuclear weapons.”
Martin De Boer, the Head of the ICRC’s Regional Delegation in Jakarta, welcomed the meeting: “Nuclear disarmament is more than ever an urgent imperative. It is also a humanitarian duty and shared responsibility of the international community. The indiscriminate, disproportionate and long-lasting destructive power of nuclear weapons makes the use of these weapons’ incompatible with International Humanitarian Law. Simply put, the use of nuclear weapons cannot comply with the laws of war. The humanitarian impact of the use of nuclear weapons would indeed create a public health emergency of catastrophic, unimaginable and unprecedented proportions. We must not only remember the past but learn from it and take urgent action to prevent the unspeakable from happening again. The ICRC strongly encourages all States that have not yet done so to ratify or adhere to the TPNW without delay.”
ICAN’s Director of Government Relations and Advocacy, Céline Nehory, said that the Jakarta conference would help to solidify regional support for the TPNW at a crucial moment: “Building support for the treaty is more urgent than ever given the perilous state of the world, and the continued existence of more than 12,000 nuclear weapons in the hands of the nine nuclear-armed countries”.
Five of the world’s nine nuclear-armed nations are in Asia: China, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel. Most nations in Asia and the Pacific, however, are strongly opposed to nuclear weapons, having joined the TPNW and treaties that establish nuclear-weapon-free zones in Southeast Asia, Central Asia and the South Pacific.
In February, Indonesia’s president, Prabowo Subianto, warned that a war involving the use of nuclear weapons would have devastating, widespread consequences, including for nations with no direct involvement. He highlighted the potential for “nuclear winter” – a period of prolonged darkness, resulting in global agricultural collapse and famine – if a large number of nuclear weapons were used.
The TPNW was adopted by 122 countries at the UN in 2017 and came into force five years ago, in January 2021. It now has the support of 140 states in the UN General Assembly and more than half of the world’s states (99) have already signed, ratified or acceded to the treaty.
The states parties to the treaty held their first meeting in Vienna in 2022, where they issued a landmark multilateral condemnation of nuclear threats that are specifically banned by the treaty, and they also agreed upon the Vienna Action Plan to implement the treaty. In 2023 and 2025, the states met again in New York and among the measures they agreed was to call out nuclear deterrence doctrine as a threat to human security and an obstacle to nuclear disarmament.
In November and December 2026, the states parties will convene the treaty’s first Review Conference, under the presidency of South Africa, to evaluate the progress that states parties are making to implement the treaty.
Against a backdrop of increasing geopolitical tensions and the undermining of international law by some states, including nuclear-armed countries, the TPNW stands out as an example of successful multilateral cooperation where countries have come together to promote global security by working to end the existential threat to the whole world from nuclear weapons.
There will be opportunities to interview the representatives of international and regional organisations and participating governments…..PACNEWS
FIJI – GENDER/CLIMATE CHANGE/YOUTHS: FIJI GOVT PACNEWS 1: Thu 16 Apr 2026
Fiji strengthens partnerships on gender, climate and youth initiatives
SUVA, 16 APRIL 2025 (FIJI GOVT) —Commitment to strengthening collaboration on gender equality, climate resilience and youth engagement was reaffirmed during a courtesy visit by the Director and Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Pacific Island Countries Bidisha Pillai, to the Fiji Minister for Information, Environment and Climate Change Lynda Tabuya Wednesday.
With Fiji preparing to host pre-COP ahead of COP31, discussions also focused on leveraging existing partnerships to further integrate gender considerations into climate policies and programmes.
UNFPA also outlined plans to host a youth innovation challenge focused on climate change, and sexual reproductive health to develop community-based solutions addressing climate change and sexual and reproductive health issues. The initiative aims to empower young people, who make up more than half of the Pacific population, to develop community-based solutions addressing climate change and sexual and reproductive health issues.
The organisation also shared that preparations are underway to convene a pre-COP Youth Dialogue, which will provide a platform for young people to contribute to regional and global climate discussions.
Minister Tabuya welcomed the initiatives, emphasising the importance of amplifying youth voices through national platforms and the media, and ensuring inclusive participation in climate action.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration in advancing gender-responsive climate action and youth-led initiatives across Fiji and the wider Pacific region.
Meanwhile, efforts to amplify the voices of children and young people in climate action are gaining momentum, following discussions during a courtesy visit between Minister for Information, Environment and Climate Change Lynda Tabuya and UNICEF Pacific Island Countries Representative Hamish Young.
During the meeting, Young reaffirmed their commitment to working closely with the Government to ensure that children remain central to climate discussions, particularly in the lead-up to upcoming global climate negotiations.
He highlighted that climate change is increasingly being recognised as one of the greatest threats facing children globally, with Pacific Island countries among the most vulnerable.
A key initiative discussed was the proposed Australian-Pacific Youth Climate Dialogue, which will bring together young people from across 14 Pacific Island countries, along with participants from Australia, New Zealand and other regions.
The dialogue is expected to take place ahead of pre-COP discussions, providing a platform for adolescents and youth to share perspectives and contribute to regional and global climate agendas.
Minister Tabuya welcomed the initiative and emphasised the importance of including children’s perspectives, noting that young people must not only be heard but actively engaged in shaping solutions.
The Minister proposed expanding participation through school-based competitions and national campaigns to capture ideas from primary and secondary school students across Fiji.
Discussions also explored linking youth engagement with ongoing national efforts, including waste management and anti-litter campaigns in schools.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration, with a shared focus on empowering children and youth as agents of change in climate action and sustainable development…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
FIJI – AIRLINE: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 16 Apr 2026
Fiji Airways adjusts flights amid rising fuel costs
SUVA, 16 APRIL 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—Fiji Airways has announced temporary schedule adjustments on selected international routes in response to rising fuel prices and ongoing global geopolitical pressures.
The airline said the changes are aimed at maintaining reliable and sustainable operations, with most of its network remaining unaffected.
From 25 April, Brisbane services FJ922 (Nadi to Brisbane) and FJ923 (Brisbane to Nadi) will be temporarily suspended, with a daily service continuing to ensure connectivity.
On the Dallas–Fort Worth route, Fiji Airways will maintain two weekly services between May 5 and June 16, with Tuesday flights (FJ891 and FJ890) paused for about seven weeks.
The airline said affected customers will be contacted and offered alternative travel arrangements as it works to minimise disruption.
“Fiji Airways remains committed to transparent communication and to supporting our trade partners in delivering the best possible outcomes for our shared customers,” said Fiji Airways…..PACNEWS
FIJI – TOURISM INDUSTRY: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 16 Apr 2026
Gloomy outlook – Sharp downturn in Fiji tourist arrivals projected
SUVA, 16 APRIL 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—A sharp downturn in tourist arrivals is looming for Fiji, as global instability and rising costs driven by the Middle East conflict persist.
This projection was highlighted in the Asian Development Outlook 2026 released by the Asian Development Bank, which assessed the potential economic fallout of rising geopolitical tensions on small, tourism-dependent economies like Fiji.
Speaking to the Fiji Times on the issue, Tourism Action Group (TAG) chair Damend Goundar said the anticipated downturn is already being factored into their planning.
Goundar said industry players had expected disruptions and were working collaboratively with government to cushion the impact.
“The short term is the protection of all the bookings that are already in and coming in,” Goundar said.
“And then for the mid to long term, particularly into the second quarter and early 2027, we are looking at what needs to be done to stimulate bookings.”
Goundar noted that the crisis was expected to persist, with ripple effects likely to intensify over time, particularly through rising fuel costs and supply concerns.
“Our biggest concern is the availability of fuel in the country.
“While fuel remains accessible, conservation measures are being encouraged as a precaution.”
He also warned that further fuel price increases were likely, which could place additional pressure on airlines and travel affordability, key factors influencing tourist arrivals. “There may be others that would come, so we all have to be prepared for that.”
The Tourism Action Group was reactivated in March this year as a coordinated response mechanism to address emerging risks posed by the escalating Middle East crisis on Fiji’s tourism industry…..PACNEWS
PNG – LAW SUIT: ABC PACIFIC PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 16 Apr 2026
PNG hotel owner looks to sue Australian government for $11m in unpaid refugee accommodation costs
PORT MORESBY, 16 APRIL 2026 (ABC PACIFIC) —A hotel in Papua New Guinea is attempting to sue the Australian government for $11 million (US$7.89 million) in unpaid accommodation costs for refugees previously detained on Manus Island.
The hotel’s case was heard in the National Court of Papua New Guinea today, after the owner tried to get the money from the PNG government, which argued Australia was responsible.
Port Moresby-based lawyer Ralph Saulep, who represents the hotel, says the Australian public deserves answers.
“A large sum of money has been released or was released by Australia and given to Papua New Guinea,” he said in an exclusive interview with the ABC.
“I would suggest to Australian taxpayers that they ought to be asking themselves what Papua New Guinea has done with the money.”
The case came after allegations about the misuse of Australian refugee funding, which pushed the PNG government to announce a forensic investigation in 2023.
The findings have not been made public and the Australian government has continued to give undisclosed sums of money to PNG for refugee management since then.
Greens senator David Shoebridge says the hotel’s court case may finally provide answers.
“I’m hoping that the PNG courts now will force some transparency and force Australia to accept the responsibility they’ve always had,” he said.
The case stems from an agreement made between the hotel, Lodge 10, and Australian Border Force officials in 2017, when Australia began moving refugees from Manus Island to Port Moresby.
Hotel owner Mose Kopyoto said his facility was selected to accommodate some of the refugees and that the Australian government paid him directly for the first few years.
“We have no problem. Business is smooth, normal. We’re all happy,” he said.
But in 2021 Australia announced it was ending its offshore processing arrangements in the country and transferring responsibility for the remaining refugees to the PNG government.
Kopyoto said that was when the payments stopped, despite the refugees continuing to live at his hotel.
He now claims he is owed more than $11 million (US$7.89 million).
“It’s really painful. It’s really unfair. This can’t operate like that. We can’t operate,” Kopyoto told the ABC.
He launched a civil case against the PNG immigration department last year in a bid to recover the outstanding money, but the department argued Australia was responsible.
On Wednesday Justice Pauline Bre adjourned an application to make the Commonwealth of Australia and the Australian Department of Home Affairs defendants in the case.
If it is approved, it would open the door for Kopyoto to pursue the Australian government for the unpaid fees.
The Australian High Commission was served the application on 17 March but Australian government lawyers did not attend court on Wednesday.
Justice Bre said it was appropriate for the Australian government to have legal representation in the matter.
Saulep said someone needed to front up with the money.
“You can’t just walk away. You can’t bury your head in the sand and say, ‘Look, if I ignore this long enough, it will go away’. It’s not going to happen like that,” he said.
The case has raised broader questions about the use of Australian taxpayer money overseas.
“I think there’s an issue of Papua New Guinea having to account for significant funds that have been channelled from Australia to Papua New Guinea,” Saulep said.
“Why do we have a situation where the main provider looking after the refugees is still not being paid?”
While the exact amount of money given to the PNG government for refugees has not been disclosed, Senator Shoebridge expects the figure to be substantial.
“What we do know from history, whether it’s Manus Island or Christmas Island or Nauru … is that the so-called Pacific Solution costs hundreds of millions here, billions of dollars there,” he said.
In 2023, the PNG government announced a “forensic investigation” after allegations that the PNG refugee programme contracted businesses linked to a woman charged with attempting to import $15 million (US$10.76 million) worth of methamphetamine to Australia.
It followed separate allegations by a whistleblower within the PNG immigration department about the misuse of refugee funds.
The findings of the probe have not been made public, and the PNG government did not respond to the ABC‘s questions.
The Australian Department of Home Affairs did not address specific questions about the unpaid hotel fees and misuse of funding, but said the PNG government assumed full and independent management of individuals remaining in PNG in January 2022.
“The Australian government does not have any role in the ongoing management of, or service delivery arrangements for, individuals remaining in PNG,” a spokesperson said.
Senator Shoebridge said Australian taxpayers deserved answers.
“I have repeatedly asked the Albanese government, through Senate estimates, through official questions, through correspondence to the ministers, ‘How much money has Australia given to the Papua New Guinea government for this cohort of men and their families? And what is it that we’re meant to be seen in return?’’ he said.
“Now we may finally get some insight into those two key questions, not through the Albanese government responding to senators and the Australian Parliament, but through court proceedings commenced in Papua New Guinea.”
But Justice Bre said the matter may be resolved through mediation.
Senator Shoebridge said Australia should take responsibility for the refugees remaining in PNG.
“They are there because of decisions and actions taken by the Australian government, and the Australian government should be responsible for their ongoing management and care,” he said.
A number of refugees residing at Lodge 10 told the ABC of serious medical issues but said their hospital cover had been cut off and they could not afford treatment.
The ABC saw copies of a doctor’s report from February that said one refugee previously detained on Manus Island was suffering medical and psychiatric disorders as a result of his refugee status and that proper support for his conditions was not available in PNG.
Iranian refugee Saeid Hadyghy said he was still living in limbo, but Lodge 10 had been a lifeline for him and others.
“We came here and we stay in here … and management looked after us,” he said……PACNEWS
NEW|CALE – AIRLINE: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 16 Apr 2026
Court initiates judicial process for Air Calédonie
NOUMEA, 16 APRIL 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC)—A Commerce Tribunal in New Caledonia has started a judicially-supervised recovery process for domestic airline Air Calédonie on the verge of bankruptcy.
Faced with a serious financial situation and ongoing blockades of its airports between the capital Nouméa and New Caledonia’s outer Loyalty Islands (northeast of the main island), Air Calédonie filed its case for recovery at the end of March 2026.
The protest movement was initiated by groups of angry outer islands customers who intended to oppose the company’s decision to move Air Calédonie’s operations from the Nouméa Magenta airport to New Caledonia’s international La Tontouta base, more than 50km away from Nouméa city.
The smaller airport of Magenta, until now dedicated to domestic traffic, is located closer to Nouméa.
The protest movement started 02 March and has been ongoing since.
It effectively grounded all Air Calédonie aircraft to and from the Loyalty Islands destination.
Another round of talks held over the weekend with the leaders of the blockade collective – on the three Loyalty Islands group of Maré, Lifou and Ouvéa – and French State representatives failed to produce any progress.
The Loyalty ‘customary” leaders have once again voiced their strong opposition to any other outcome than the return of the flights back to the small airport of Magenta.
The blockade movement has also severely aggravated Air Cal’s financial situation with an estimated accumulated loss of over 256 million French Pacific Francs (CFP, around US$2.5m) and about US$100,000 per day, making the company virtually unable to pay its staff in the short term.
Nouméa Commerce Tribunal, which is now effectively in charge of Air Cal’s affairs in judicial management mode, has on Tuesday provided a few details as to what the next steps could be.
Under the procedure, this could involve approving a salvage plan for the embattled airline, Public Prosecutor Yves Dupas said in a release on Tuesday.
This process was initiated at the company’s request following its latest Board meeting on 27 March.
Air Calédonie earlier decided to place about half of its 220 staff on a temporary employment mode and on a part-time pay, as another provisional cost-cutting measure.
A similar measure was already implemented in the wake of the May 2024 post-riots crisis, when some 155 staff were laid off, resulting in savings of about US$10m.
The recent crisis situation was also compounded by the insurrectional riots that broke out in New Caledonia (mainly in the capital Nouméa and its surroundings) starting in May 2024. ……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 islands face a connectivity shock as oil prices surge
By Jake Hamstra
SYDNEY, 16 APRIL 2026 (THE INTERPRETER) —The Pacific’s energy crisis isn’t just economic – it’s a geopolitical opening that outside powers will be competing to fill.
Spiking global oil prices and shipping insurance costs threaten to create a connectivity crisis for the Pacific Islands region. Higher fuel and freight rates will make shipping and aviation more expensive and less frequent, undermining the transport links that underpin trade, tourism and public services.
This will be felt in day-to-day life. Pacific economies rely heavily on imported fuel and long‑distance transport, with about 80% of their energy supply and most electricity generation coming from petroleum products. When oil and insurance costs rise, so do food and transport prices, utility charges, and the cost of all imported goods.
The fiscal consequences could be severe. Small governments with narrow tax bases have limited room to absorb cost spikes and raise spending. Households already face high living costs, and rising prices for food, fuel, electricity, and transport are already triggering demands for relief measures. Governments may respond by cutting fuel taxes, subsidising utilities or delaying tariff adjustments – all of which would push costs onto public finances or state‑owned utilities. With imported fuels already costing Pacific Island states more than US$6 billion a year and net fuel imports averaging 5-15 percent of GDP, even a modest sustained oil‑price increase will worsen trade deficits and strain budgets.
The politics of the region will also become more fragile as the shock persists. Higher food, transport, and utility costs risk eroding public support for governments, especially in countries where leaders have promised to improve living standards. In tourism‑dependent Palau, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu, a prolonged fall in visitor numbers could destabilise budgets and undermine public‑sector wages. In Papua New Guinea, higher oil prices will boost export revenues but also exacerbate foreign‑exchange shortages and long‑standing structural weaknesses.
Already the Marshall Islands has declared a 90-day economic emergency. But the oil shock will not be limited to a short burst of inflation. Fuel imports account for 16-24 percent of the total imports of Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Palau, the Solomon Islands and Kiribati. The more fuel‑dependent an economy is, the more exposed it is to higher crude and freight costs. Even the most diversified Pacific economies, such as Fiji, will still face higher power and transport costs. Smaller states such as Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu and Palau are likely to face fewer flights and more expensive shipping.
What makes the oil shock particularly damaging is the way it is transmitting through connectivity. Higher jet‑fuel prices translate into more expensive airfares and thinner flight schedules, eroding tourism receipts. Pacific tourism depends almost entirely on air travel and tourism generates a major proportion of GDP in Fiji (26 percent), Samoa (25 percent), Tonga (11 percent), Vanuatu (23 percent) and Palau (38 percent). If flights become scarcer or more expensive, these tourism‑dependent economies will suffer deeper and longer‑lasting downturns. Domestic mobility will also be severely affected as inter‑island shipping firms cut sailings or raise freight rates.
These factors will also make it harder for Pacific governments to combat the existential threat that climate change poses to the region. According to IMF estimates, Pacific countries need infrastructure investment of around US$1 billion a year for climate change adaptation. By increasing economic and fiscal strain, higher oil prices illustrate how fossil-fuel dependence and climate change are compounding vulnerabilities.
Geopolitically, a prolonged energy crunch would deepen Pacific states’ dependence on external partners. As budgets come under pressure, governments will look to Australia, New Zealand, the United States, China, Japan and multilateral lenders for budget support, emergency fuel supplies, concessional finance for infrastructure, and assistance to accelerate renewable‑energy projects. The region’s strategic value has already attracted heightened competition among these powers, and higher energy stress will only widen opportunities for influence. External support could help to finance renewable‑energy transitions and improve inter‑island connectivity, but it could also intensify rivalries if aid and loans are tied to broader geostrategic goals.
The risk is that elevated oil and freight prices will produce a permanent connectivity shock. This would keep inflation high, erode real incomes, and force governments into uncomfortable trade‑offs between fiscal sustainability and political stability. Yet persistent high fuel costs could also accelerate investment in renewables and more efficient shipping and aviation. They strengthen the case for renewable energy, food security, and resilient infrastructure to be central to economic policy rather than treated as separate climate agendas.
Such transitions will take years. Until then, the Pacific islands face not just an energy shock but a comprehensive disruption of the transport and utilities that sustain their economies. …. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Tonga launches five-year multi-hazard strategy for risk communication and community engagement
NUKU’ALOFA, 16 APRIL 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) — The Kingdom of Tonga has taken a significant step toward strengthening its preparedness for public health emergencies with the launch of its second Multi-Hazard Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Strategy 2026–2030.
Led by the Ministry of Health and with support from WHO, the launch reflects a continued commitment to a more proactive, coordinated and community-centred approach in managing health risks and emergencies.
A shift toward partnership and preparedness
The strategy, which builds on the foundation laid by Tonga’s first multi-hazard RCCE strategy 2024–2025, reinforces a whole-of-society approach, bringing together government agencies, civil society, faith leaders, and communities to ensure that health information reaches people in ways that are culturally appropriate, accessible and actionable.
The strategy guides how information is shared before, during and after emergencies, ensuring timely, consistent and evidence-based communication.
“This is about putting the power of information in the hands of our communities … building a culture where people are informed, engaged, and ready to face any challenge,” said Chief Executive Officer for Health Dr Reynold ‘Ofanoa.
Speaking at the launch, Chief Medical Officer for Public Health Dr ‘Ofa Tukia emphasised that effective emergency response depends on collaboration across all levels of society: “We are moving from a reactive, top-down approach toward a proactive partnership – one that recognises that effective health emergency response requires the involvement of everyone.”
Lessons from recent emergencies
The updated strategy builds on lessons learned from Tonga’s recent public health challenges, including one of the most severe dengue outbreaks in the past decade. During the 2025 outbreak, which lasted nearly 6 months, RCCE played a central role in the national response.
Through coordinated efforts with WHO and partners, the Ministry of Health delivered information via multiple channels – including radio, television, SMS, social media and community outreach – helping communities take early action by recognising warning signs and seeking prompt diagnosis and life-saving care.
These experiences helped refine coordination mechanisms, clarify roles and responsibilities, and strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders such as schools, churches, and community leaders.
Tackling misinformation and building trust
A key feature of the 2026–2030 strategy is its strong focus on managing “fake news,” rumours, and misinformation (collectively known as infodemic management). During COVID-19, the recent dengue outbreak, and previous HPV vaccination campaigns, misinformation created uncertainty around public health measures.
The new strategy incorporates tools such as online and offline community feedback mechanisms as well as practical templates to better identify and respond to misinformation.
In particular, the strategy emphasises working closely with the media to ensure accurate, timely health information reaches communities. This supports the dispelling of rumours and misinformation while strengthening overall health literacy and public trust in health leaders.
Inclusion of media counterparts was crucial in strategy development, and media representatives participated in the launch-day training and simulation exercises.
“Around the world, we see a growing challenge of misinformation, which can spread quickly and undermine trust during emergencies,” said Sophie Genay-Diliautas, WHO Deputy Representative to the South Pacific and Acting Country Liaison Officer for Tonga, highlighting the importance of trust. “Public health communication is not only about delivering messages – it is about listening, building trust, and empowering communities to be part of the response.”
From strategy to action
The launch was followed by an RCCE training session and a simulation exercise, designed to translate the strategy into practice, with more than 20 participants from various sectors testing tools and approaches in real-time scenarios.
Participants engaged in practical sessions on message development, infodemic management, and social listening, before taking part in a multisectoral simulation exercise based on a One Health emergency scenario, integrating human, animal and environmental health.
Alongside the Ministry of Health, participants included representatives from the:
*Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests
*Ministry of Internal Affairs
*Tonga National Broadcasting Corporation
*Tonga National Council of Churches
*Civil Society Forum of Tonga
*Tonga Police
*Tonga Red Cross Society.
Simulation exercises like this help strengthen coordination, test response mechanisms, and build confidence across sectors.
With continued collaboration between the Ministry of Health, other Government ministries, civil society, communities, WHO and partners, and funding support from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Tonga is reinforcing a critical foundation for protecting health: one built on trust, timely information, and community engagement……PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
New Study ranks Hawaiian monk seal as marine mammal most at risk of extinction from Plastic pollution
3 in 4 marine mammals most at risk from Plastic Pollution already recognised as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered
WASHINGTON, 16 APRIL 2026 (OCEAN CONSERVANCY) —-A new study released in Conservation Biology today and co-authored by scientists at Ocean Conservancy, Arizona State University and Shaw Institute is the first to rank marine mammals based on their vulnerability to macroplastic pollution (any plastic piece larger than 5mm, roughly the width of a pencil eraser).
The study, A global ranking of the relative vulnerability of marine mammals to macroplastic pollution, found that Hawaiian monk seals, African manatees, Australian sea lions, vaquita porpoises, and Mediterranean monk seals are the five marine mammals most at risk of population declines from plastics ingestion or entanglement. When the results are assessed at the level of order instead of individual species, sirenians, which include manatees and dugongs, are the most vulnerable to plastic pollution.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies 125 species as marine mammals, of which 8 were excluded from the study because they live primarily in freshwater habitats (like hippopotamuses) or live most of their life on land (like polar bears). Of the 117 marine mammals evaluated, more than 1 in 3 are red-listed as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered according to the IUCN; and of the 22 marine mammals in the highest-risk group, 17 are vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered.
“All marine mammals are affected by plastic pollution, but we wanted to understand: which ones should we be most worried about? Which populations are most at risk?” said Dr Erin Murphy, Ocean Conservancy’s manager of ocean plastic research and co-author of the study. “Knowing the answer to these questions can guide our efforts and add urgency where it’s needed most.”
To get their results, the researchers scored species according to 11 different traits reflecting the animals’ likelihood of exposure, relative sensitivity to plastics, and population resilience (the ability to bounce back from stressors); then ranked their vulnerability as high, medium-high, medium, medium-low and low.
The following specific species across mammal types and geographies landed on the highest risk list:
* Hawaiian monk seal
* African manatee
*Australian sea lion
*Vaquita (porpoise)
*Mediterranean monk seal
* West Indian (Florida) manatee
*Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin
*Sei whale
* North Atlantic right whale
* Hector’s dolphin
* Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin
* Dugong
*Gray whale
*North Pacific right whale
*Irrawaddy dolphin
*Atlantic spotted dolphin
*Atlantic humpback dolphin
*Risso’s dolphin
* Common bottlenose dolphin
*Baird’s beaked whale
*Arnoux’s beaked whale
*Indo-Pacific finless porpoise
“It is not surprising that Hawaiian monk seals emerged at the top of this list because they are curious fish-eaters that have been found tangled in fishing gear,” said Murphy. “They also have a small population located near the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, exposing them to a lot of plastic. Local organisations have been conducting targeted debris removal programs to help protect the Hawaiian monk seal, and studies have shown that this has helped the population rebound. This gives us a lot of hope for how to protect the species at the top of the list.”
Murphy, alongside Ocean Conservancy colleagues Dr Britta Baechler and Nicholas Mallos, co-authored a complementary study published in November 2025 that quantified the extent to which a range of plastic types result in the death of seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals that consume them. Drawing on data from more than 10,000 necropsies, or animal autopsies, the study found that even relatively small amounts of plastics can be deadly when ingested: ingesting less than a sixth of a soccer ball’s worth of plastics kills one in two harbor porpoises, the smallest of marine mammal species. Out of approximately 7,000 marine mammals in the study that had plastics in their guts at their time of death, 72 percent had consumed fishing debris, 10 percent soft plastics, 5 percent rubber, 3 percent hard plastics, 2 percent foam, and 0.7 percent synthetic cloth.
“You can’t fix a problem you don’t understand and that’s why Ocean Conservancy is committed to not only solving the ocean plastics crisis through prevention and cleanup but also advancing research,” said Dr. Britta Baechler, Ocean Conservancy’s director of ocean plastics research. “And it’s been energising to see the impact our research has made, from inspiring volunteers to influencing policymakers to take action.”
An estimated 11 million metric tons of plastics enter the ocean each year, the equivalent of one garbage truck’s worth every minute. In addition to conducting original plastics research, Ocean Conservancy advocates for solutions to plastic pollution that prevent it from reaching beaches and waterways in the first place. Ocean Conservancy has advocated for policies at the local, state, federal and international levels such as California’s SB54, Florida’s balloon release ban, the Farewell to Foam Act, the UN Plastics Treaty and more.
Ocean Conservancy is also home to the International Coastal Cleanup – the largest single day beach and waterway cleanup in the world, mobilizing hundreds of thousands of volunteers annually to remove millions of pounds of trash – and the Global Ghost Gear Initiative, the largest international alliance dedicated to solving the issue of lost or abandoned fishing gear, also known as ghost gear, which is pound for pound the deadliest form of plastic pollution to marine life…. PACNEWS
