In this bulletin:
1. SOL — Solomon Islands PM Manele reshuffles Cabinet, insists ‘no crisis’ as government hold firm
2. FIJI — Fiji and Australia launch major Climate adaptation initiative to strengthen flood resilience
3. PACIFIC — Guam less than 1,000 miles away from Japan’s planned nuclear waste dump island Minamitorishima: Senator Parkinson
4. COOKS/NZ — Cook Islands to regain Auckland consul office & ease proof of identity woes – PM Brown
5. AUST — Bowen COPs it for being ‘part-time minister’ on fuel crisis
6. TAIWAN — Taiwan welcomes visit by Palau vice president
7. FIJI — Cyclone threat near Solomons unlikely to affect Fiji
8. KIRIBATI — Kiribati’s climate-smart marine governance indicators
9. NZ — Alfred Ngaro’s political comeback: The former Pacific minister joins NZ First for 2026 election
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Company that wants to mine ocean floor says it may have ‘overstated’ its growth potential
11. PACNEWS BIZ — PNG LNG Project delay to cost K25 billion more
12. PACNEWS BIZ — Digital monitoring push as Pacific fisheries talks ramp up
13. PACNEWS BIZ — Four Air Niugini engineers qualify for Airbus A220
14. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji Airports Aviation Academy hosts first-ever ACI–ICAO Annex 14 Workshop in Fiji
15. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Without planning, consultation or legitimacy, the U.S needs a lot of luck in Iran
16. PACNEWS DIGEST — Turning momentum into action: Reducing pain and cost from oral diseases across the Western Pacific
17. PACNEWS DIGEST — Migration is good for the Pacific
SOL – POLITICS: SOL GOVT PACNEWS 1: Mon 23 Mar 2026
Solomon Islands PM Manele reshuffles Cabinet, insists ‘no crisis’ as Government holds firm
HONIARA, 23 MARCH 2026 (SOL GOVT) — Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele, has announced a series of ministerial appointments to ensure continuity and stability in Government following recent changes within the coalition.
The appointments include Ministers, Acting Ministers, and Supervising Ministers to oversee key portfolios and maintain effective administration across all sectors.
●Manasseh Sogavare (MP for East Choiseul): Deputy Prime Minister; Minister for National Planning & Development Coordination; and Acting Minister for Commerce, Industries, Labour & Immigration.
●Trevor Manemahaga (MP for Gao/Bugotu): Minister for Environment, Climate Change & Disaster Management & Meteorology; and Acting Minister for Infrastructure Development.
● Alfred Tuasulia (MP for West Kwara’ae): Minister for Communication & Aviation.
● Nestor Giro (MP for Central Makira): Minister for Agriculture & Livestock Development.
● Mary Daniella Zae Garu (MP for West Guadalcanal): Minister for Traditional Governance, Peace & Ecclesiastical Affairs.
●Freda Tuki Soriocomua (MP for Temotu Vatud): Minister for Justice & Legal Affairs.
● Jimson Tanangada: Acting Minister for Mines, Energy, Rural Electrification.
● Rexson Ramofafia: Acting Minister for Rural Development.
● Bradley Tovosia: Supervising Minister for Health and Medical Services.
● Makario Tagini: Supervising Minister for Public Service.
●Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele: Supervising Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade.
“All Ministries are fully covered. Cabinet remains functional and continues to meet and take decisions necessary for the effective administration of Government,” Prime Minister Manele said.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the contributions of outgoing Ministers and reaffirmed that the Government for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) remains focused on its mandate.
“The mandate of GNUT transcends any single individual. Our focus remains on delivering for the people of Solomon Islands,” he said.
He added that the adjustments ensure stability in governance and continuity in service delivery across all ministries.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manele has reassured the nation that the Government remains stable, fully functional, and continues to operate in accordance with the Constitution despite recent political developments.
Manele said recent resignations of several Ministers and Members of Parliament, as well as a petition for a Motion of No Confidence, are part of normal democratic processes.
“Let me be absolutely clear: this is not a constitutional crisis. It is a process provided for under our Constitution,” Prime Minister Manele said.
He emphasised that the Government continues to hold office with full legal authority unless and until Parliament determines otherwise through a formal vote.
“A photograph is only a snapshot in time. The constitutional determination of leadership is made on the floor of Parliament,” he said.
Manele reaffirmed that public services remain uninterrupted and Government operations continue as normal.
“Leadership may change within certain portfolios, but the machinery of Government does not falter. Our people will continue to receive services without disruption,” he added.
The Prime Minister also confirmed that Parliament will be convened in accordance with constitutional processes, with all actions guided by the rule of law.
At the same time Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele, MP, called on all Solomon Islanders to remain calm, united, and responsible as the country navigates ongoing political developments.
He urged leaders across all sectors—including provincial governments, churches, civil society, and the private sector—to promote stability and national unity.
“To our citizens, I ask you to be responsible in what you share. Please do not spread rumours and respect one another’s opinions,” he said.
The Prime Minister commended the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force for maintaining public order and professionalism…. PACNEWS
FIJI – CLIMATE CHANGE: FIJI GOVT PACNEWS 1: Mon 23 Mar 2026
Fiji and Australia launch major Climate adaptation initiative to strengthen flood resilience
NADI, 23 MARCH 2026 (FIJI GOVT) — Fiji and Australia have launched a major new initiative to strengthen resilience to flooding across the country, marking a significant milestone in the two nations shared response to the escalating impacts of climate change.
The Fiji Climate Adaptation Programme (FCAP) represents a FJD$35 million (US$17.5 million) joint investment aimed at improving flood early warning systems, enhancing water management, and supporting community-led adaptation efforts across Fiji.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, while officiating at the event in Nadi, highlighted that this initiative aligns closely with Fiji’s national climate priorities and reflects the strength of the Vuvale Partnership between Fiji and Australia.
“Under this programme, we will strengthen governance systems for water and flood management, improve early warning systems, and support communities to implement practical adaptation measures,” Prime Minister Rabuka said.
“Importantly, the programme will also support nature-based solutions and community-level resilience initiatives that empower local communities to respond effectively to climate risks.
“The initial focus in the Nadi River catchment will allow us to pilot innovative approaches that can later be expanded to other flood-prone areas across Fiji.”
Australian High Commissioner to Fiji, Peter Roberts, said Nadi’s vibrancy and economic success are closely tied to its natural environment, while also highlighting the challenges posed by climate change.
“It is great to be in Nadi which is such a vibrant community. A large part of that vibrancy and economic success is due to the river flowing through Nadi. But that also makes Nadi a significantly climate-exposed community,” Mr Roberts said.
“Here, when heavy rain falls and the river rises, it brings a stark reminder: climate change is not a distant concern, but a daily reality. As nations in the Pacific, we share this experience, and we have seen how flooding has impacted our communities.
“Losses from floods and cyclones alone average around FJD$500 million (US$250 million) each year—approximately five percent of Fiji’s GDP—while events like Tropical Cyclone Winston have caused impacts equivalent to 20 percent of GDP.
“Fiji and Australia already have a long history of working together to prepare for and respond to severe weather events. Most recently, through our partnership with the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Risk Management, Australian-provided emergency supplies were pre-positioned and distributed by the Fiji Government to communities that needed them most.
“That was great work, and we should all be proud of it. Now, our ambition is to go beyond responding to these events and work together to prevent and mitigate their impacts before they occur.”
The launch also highlights progress toward the proposed Nadi Flood Alleviation Project a long-term initiative aimed at addressing one of Fiji’s most persistent climate challenges.
Planning for the project began decades ago, underscoring the importance of identifying sustainable and effective solutions for the Nadi floodplain. In December 2024, the Coalition Government endorsed in Cabinet the pursuit of the project and agreed to explore feasible solutions from a range of options identified in previous studies.
Australia, through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific, has worked closely with Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency, and Fiji to review options and identify key infrastructure solutions to reduce flood risks.
These proposed works include the construction of protective flood infrastructure to safeguard homes, businesses, infrastructure, and critical national assets — including Fiji’s international airport. They also include improvements to drainage systems and the development of a diversion channel designed to redirect excess water during major flood events.
As these infrastructure works continue to be designed, the Fiji Climate Adaptation Program will commence in the Nadi Basin, delivering strengthened environmental management, upstream revegetation, improved water governance, and enhanced early warning systems to help communities better prepare for and respond to flood events.
The initiative represents another important step toward securing a safer and more resilient future for Fiji — one where communities are better protected, more adaptive to climate risks, and supported through meaningful development partnerships…. PACNEWS
PAC – NUKE WASTE DUMP: GUAM PACIFIC DAILY NEWS PACNEWS 1: Mon 23 Mar 2026
Guam less than 1,000 miles away from Japan’s planned nuclear waste dump island Minamitorishima: Senator Parkinson
HAGATNA, 23 MARCH 2026 (GUAM PACIFIC DAILY NEWS) — Guam Senator Will Parkinson is concerned about the potential fallout effects to Guam over reports that Japan plans to designate its distant island of Minamitorishima as a potential final disposal site for high-level radioactive waste.
Guam is less than 1,000 miles away from Minamitorishima, Parkinson said.
Concerned about the potential risks to Guam and the CNMI and having “many unanswered questions,” Parkinson wrote a letter to the Japan Consulate of Guam, seeking further clarification of waste inventory, disposal plan, and communication and transparency with local governments.
The Japan Consulate confirmed it had received the letter but has yet to provide an official comment.
Parkinson told the Pacific Daily News he also shared a copy of the letter with Governor Lou Leon Guerrero.
According to Nikkei Asia, Minamitorishima Island, about 1,900 kilometers southeast of central Tokyo, has no civilian population, with its only inhabitants being Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force members and government personnel.
Parkinson learned of the situation through “recent public reporting” in world and Japanese news media, where he read that Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry requested for Ogasawara Village to accept a literature survey concerning Minamitorishima as a possible site in the selection process of a final disposal site for high-level radioactive waste.
NHK World Japan reported that Mayor Shibuya Masaaki of Ogasawara Village, the municipality that administers the Ogasawara Islands, including Minamitorishima, received the literature survey on March 3.
The amount of radioactive waste to be disposed of or when the disposal would happen has not been specified.
However, NHK Japan reported that “roughly 2,500 canisters of vitrified high-level radioactive waste were being temporarily stored at Japan Nuclear Fuel’s plant in Aomori Prefecture and Japan Atomic Energy Agency’s facility in Ibaraki Prefecture” as of March 2025.
Parkinson’s letter said it is important for the public to understand what kind of material is at issue.
He wrote that according to technical materials published by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, “Japan’s fuel cycle policy envisions spent nuclear fuel being reprocessed, after which the resulting high-level radioactive liquid waste is mixed with glass material, vitrified into a stable solid form, sealed in stainless steel containers, stored for approximately 30 to 50 years to cool, and then emplaced in a deep underground geological repository at a depth of at least 300 meters using a multi-barrier system that combines engineered barriers with natural geologic barriers.”
That description is significant, Parkinson said, because it clarifies the material is not ordinary low-level waste and explains why the hazard horizon is measured in millennia, not years or political terms.
Referencing U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission background materials, the senator also pointed out the risk of radionuclides from such waste entering groundwater or rivers and moving into food chains, especially when “some of the principal radionuclides associated with long-term hazard, such as plutonium-239, remain dangerous over extremely long time periods.”
“It concerns high-level radioactive waste requiring deep geologic isolation over extraordinary timescales…high-level wastes are dangerous because they can produce fatal radiation doses during short periods of direct exposure,” Parkinson wrote.
Parkinson said Minamitorishima may be remote from Japan’s main population centres, but it is not remote from the Mariana Islands in any meaningful Pacific sense.
“Minamitorishima is roughly 800 to 950 miles from Guam…and within comparable range of major population centres in the Northern Mariana Islands…the issue is not ordinary commerce or tourism, but the long-term handling, transport, storage, and possible burial of the most persistent and hazardous radioactive wastes created by human industry,” Parkinson wrote.
Depending on the Japan Consulate’s response, Parkinson said the matter may necessitate a substantive resolution voted on and duly adopted by the entire Guam Legislature “to express how the people of Guam feel once we have all the facts.”
Parkinson cautioned the radioactive waste dump plan as a repeat of unfavorable history in the Pacific region, how the Marshall Islands and French Polynesia were subjected to repeated nuclear testing.
Additionally, the National Academy of Science classified residents of Guam as “downwinders,” subject to the nuclear fallout from those tests in the form of dust particles carried 1,200 miles south to the island, Parkinson said.
The lingering contaminants continue to place Guam residents at high risk for serious illnesses, PDN archives show.
Parkinson said the Pacific has “too often been treated by great powers as a convenient place for what was too dangerous, too destructive, or too politically difficult” for domestic metropolitan centres.
He said the region continues to live with the legacy and looming threat of contamination and waste containment disputes.
“The broader Pacific remembers fallout, displacement, medical uncertainty, environmental harm, and the long afterlife of decisions made by distant governments that regarded oceanic islands as strategically useful but politically expendable. That memory is not ideological. It is historical fact,” Parkinson said.
Parkinson’s letter to the Japan Consulate included five specific requests for clarity, public accountability, diplomacy, transparency, and environmental responsibility.
The senator first requested formal clarification of what stage the Japanese government believes Minamitorishima has entered in its selection process for a disposal site, what a literature survey does and does not authorize, and what criteria would terminate the proposal at an early stage if serious concerns were identified.
Parkinson then requested a clear and public explanation of the potential waste inventory being contemplated for disposal, “including the expected waste form, radionuclide profile, estimated total volume, cooling assumptions, and whether the proposal concerns vitrified high-level waste alone or any related transuranic or associated materials.”
His third request was for a site-specific explanation of how a high-level radioactive waste disposal concept would function on a small coral island with low elevation, typhoon exposure, salt corrosion pressure, and limited land area, the geological conditions of Minamitorishima.
“This explanation should include surface infrastructure requirements, port and transport requirements, handling protocols, emergency planning, and the implications of climate and marine hazards over both operational and post-closure horizons,” Parkinson wrote.
The fourth request was that the government of Japan commit to consultation with the government of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and other potentially affected Pacific stakeholders before any step beyond preliminary paper review is undertaken.
Parkinson said consultation should occur as early as possible and should include technical briefings by appropriate Japanese experts.
His final request was for a statement of how Japan intends to satisfy regional duties of transparency, notification, and cooperative engagement should any radiological accident, transport incident, or marine contamination scenario occur and how it would affect neighbouring Pacific jurisdictions…. PACNEWS
COOKS/NZ – DIPLOMACY: TAGATA PASIFIKA PACNEWS 1: Mon 23 Mar 2026
Cook Islands to regain Auckland consul office & ease proof of identity woes – PM Brown
AUCKLAND, 23 MARCH 2026 (TAGATA PASIFIKA) — In meet-and-greet with Cook Islands community elders in Auckland on Friday, Cooks PM Mark Brown articulates his vision for his people in Aotearoa and the Ipukarea
Auckland-based Cook Islanders have been told the hunt is on for a new consular office in Auckland, with bureaucratic proof of identity processes also set for streamlining in 2026.
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown shared the news at a Friday community gathering at the Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) Pasifika Community Centre in South Auckland.
The PM’s visit, which included a meeting last week in Wellington, focused on reconnecting with Cook Islanders living in Aotearoa while reinforcing the enduring Cook Islands-New Zealand relationship.
The Auckland event, from ceremonial welcome to closing prayer, was delivered in reo Māori and included a direct state-of-the-nation update from the leader.
Setting the pace, Brown addressed both the lack of a physical Auckland consular presence – closed in 2020 because of Covid-19 – and the cumbersome paperwork required for Cook Islands proof-of-identity for diaspora travellers.
The PM continued the 60-year anniversary threads from his Wellington session, speaking to identity, economic resilience, and the need to strengthen links between the pa enua, the capital, and the Cook Islands diaspora.
A key aspect of those links is the budget-breaking cost of travel by sea and air. The Cooks will soon welcome a new vessel for inter-island shipping, touted by Brown as a key update on travel costs, which continue to be a burden for those living in the most remote communities, or pa enua, of the 15-island nation.
Auckland-based Pa Enua Tokerau communities’ number in the tens of thousands, with many already saving for travel once the new vessel and Manihiki Airport upgrade become reflected in ticket prices.
From education to tourism, health, and workforce opportunities, there is much work to be done, and more diaspora hands needed, PM Brown and other speakers noted.
The call to Cook Islanders to make the most of opportunities in New Zealand, Australia, and beyond, while also looking homewards, was echoed by new Foreign Affairs and Immigration Secretary Elizabeth Wright-Koteka and the President of the House of Ariki, Te Kaumaiti Travel Tou Ariki. Te Kaumaiti especially welcomed the inclusion of Tereora College youth at the community event.
On NZ–Cook Islands relations, Brown said conversations with Wellington are continuing, with a brief, joint statement released on Friday following an informal meeting with NZ Foreign Minister Winston Peters earlier that day. The release noting no further statements would be made.
On seabed mining, Brown reiterated that it would be for Cook Islands legislation—not any government or other party—to decide. He stressed how legislation already embeds the values of resource protection, and that legal frameworks, including the precautionary principles in Cook Islands law safeguarding the nation’s ocean heritage, would continue to guide any decision on seabed activity beyond exploration…. PACNEWS
AUST – CLIMATE CHANGE: SKY NEWS PACNEWS 1: Mon 23 Mar 2026
Bowen COPs it for being ‘part-time minister’ on fuel crisis
BRISBANE, 23 MARCH 2026 (SKY NEWS) — Australian Shadow home affairs minister Jonathon Duniam says Chris Bowen’s decision to attend a climate conference in the middle of the petrol crisis shows Australia has a “part-time energy minister.”
The criticism comes after Bowen travelled to Brisbane last week to attend a climate meeting linked to the upcoming global COP summit, despite mounting pressure on fuel supplies.
The event, which brought together ministers from across the Pacific, focused on emissions reduction and climate cooperation.
Duniam said the timing of the trip raised serious concerns about Bowen’s priorities.
“He’s part-time energy minister, part-time climate champion, and chair of the COP programme,” he told Sky News on Friday.
“He can only devote so much of that part-time work to dealing with this crisis, which he told us only seven days ago was not a real thing.”
Two weeks ago, Bowen told reporters Australia had in reserve “36 days’ worth of petrol, 34 days’ worth of diesel, and 32 days’ worth of jet fuel”.
According to the shadow home affairs minister, the claim there is no petrol supply issue, highlights the delusion from this government.
“Every time someone asked a question in parliament, we were accused of spreading misinformation and whipping up fear and panic around fuel supplies,” he said, regarding the fuel shortage.
“But today, here I am in Sydney … I was told that there were 100 petrol stations in Sydney today that are coming close to running out of fuel.
“That does not sound like a normal situation to me.”
The fuel squeeze has been felt most in regional areas, where diesel prices have climbed sharply, in some cases pushing beyond $3(US$2.10) a litre.
The government has acknowledged pressure on supply chains but has maintained the situation remains under control.
Duniam rejected that assessment, arguing the response had been inadequate and that Mr Bowen should focus more on his position as energy minister.
“They’ve lost the plot, and he should get back on the job he was elected to do.”
The criticism echoes concern from the opposition that the government is attempting to manage a complex energy challenge while balancing international climate commitments.
Bowen has played a key role in global climate discussions and is expected to attend the COP summit, further fuelling debate about whether his focus is divided.
The shadow minister argues travelling to Brisbane to reduce climate emissions is not in the national interest at the minute.
“To have a minister fluffing around in Brisbane, talking about bringing down climate emissions, well, how on earth is that in our national interest?” he said.
For Duniam, the fuel crisis reflects a deeper problem with priorities at the highest levels.
“So, we’ve got parliament next week, and I expect they’ll want to bring in laws, but you’d think a government seriously interested in national security would have a plan on the table today to assure Australians there’s no risk,” he said.
“But here we are more worried about climate change and votes in certain communities and getting things right,” said Duniam…. PACNEWS
TAIWAN – DIPLOMACY: TAIWAN NEWS PACNEWS 1: Mon 23 Mar 2026
Taiwan welcomes visit by Palau vice president
TAIPEI, 23 MARCH 2026 (TAIWAN NEWS) — Palau Vice President Raynold Oilouch is visiting Taiwan to mark the arrival of the traditional sailboat Alingano Masu, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
The ship docked in Kaohsiung and Taitung in March as part of a four-month Pacific tour.
Vice Foreign Minister Ger Baushuan welcomed Oilouch at a luncheon Friday, according to a ministry statement.
Ger mentioned the progress in relations between the two countries achieved under the “integrated diplomacy” programme implemented by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung. The vice minister also thanked Oilouch for speaking out in support of Taiwan at the World Health Assembly in his capacity as Palau health minister.
Oilouch said his country was eager to learn from Taiwan’s successful experience in developing its healthcare system. Cooperation between the two nations should help upgrade Palau’s own healthcare, the minister said.
The presence of Oilouch at the sailboat’s visit was an example of the friendship between Taiwan and Palau expressed through their common traditional sailing culture, according to the ministry…. PACNEWS
FIJI – WEATHER WATCH: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 1: Mon 23 Mar 2026
Cyclone threat near Solomons unlikely to affect Fiji
NADI, 23 MARCH 2026 (FIJI TIMES) — A tropical disturbance south of the Solomon Islands is expected to intensify into a cyclone within the next 24 hours, but it is not expected to directly impact Fiji.
The system, identified as TD10F, is currently producing winds of 45 to 55 kilometres per hour, with central pressure estimated at around 1001 hectopascals.
Weather conditions remain favourable for further development, with low wind shear, strong upper-level outflow and warm sea surface temperatures of 28 to 29 degrees Celsius supporting intensification.
Satellite observations confirm a well-defined circulation, with winds of around 45 kilometres per hour recorded on the system’s eastern side.
Forecast models indicate the system will continue tracking southwards while gradually strengthening.
Authorities say that while the disturbance is being closely monitored, current projections show it will not have any direct effect on Fiji…. PACNEWS
KIRIBATI – CLIMATE CHANGE: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 1: Mon 23 Mar 2026
Kiribati’s climate-smart marine governance indicators
TARAWA, 23 MARCH 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) — A recent national workshop in Tarawa brought together diverse stakeholders to establish monitoring frameworks for Kiribati’s marine spatial planning initiatives.
This collaborative effort focused on designing specific indicators that track the intersection of climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable ocean governance.
By engaging various government agencies and local organisations, the programme ensures that future maritime decisions are based on transparent data and cultural values.
The new data is intended to align with existing national policies to promote long-term economic prosperity and environmental health for the Kiribati people. Ultimately, the initiative empowers the nation to balance human activity with the preservation of its vital oceanic resources.
“Marine spatial planning aims to find a balance across human activities in the ocean space; therefore, the fact that people are at the core of the MSP process cannot be overstated,” national CaB-Smart MSP Coordinator, Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Kaiea Awira said.
“For Kiribati, MSP should deliver a healthy, resilient, and thriving ocean by balancing sustainable use with the conservation of our natural, historical, and cultural heritage, for the benefit of I-Kiribati now and in the future.”
A key part of the workshop was the open sharing of perspectives, interactive discussions, and practical group work, where participants utilised a set of prioritisation criteria to evaluate potential indicators based on aspects such as relevance, feasibility, data availability, data collection and monitoring capacity, and cultural significance.
Awira added, “I am happy to have contributed to the good discussions and practical activities during the workshop, particularly around co-developing relevant and realistic indicators for measuring how well our MSP process is meeting its objectives, through effective cross-sectoral coordination, ensuring the good health of our marine resources and long-term prosperity of our communities.”
The workshop was co-organised by the Kiribati Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources (MFOR), the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development (MELAD) under the umbrella of the Kiribati National Marine Spatial Planning Coordinating Committee (KMSPCC), and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). It is a key output of the Climate and Biodiversity-Smart Marine Spatial Planning (CaB-Smart MSP) Programme, funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and implemented by SPREP.
“The workshop followed a user-friendly format and a provided an enabling space for Kiribati MSP stakeholders to discuss, debate, and reach consensus on a preliminary set of indicators and I am pleased to note that this has fostered active participation in and ownership of the indicator co-development process over the last 3 days,” Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Adviser, SPREP Vainuupo Jungblut said…. PACNEWS
NZ – POLITICS: PMN PACNEWS 1: Mon 23 Mar 2026
Alfred Ngaro’s political comeback: The former Pacific minister joins NZ First for 2026 election
AUCKLAND, 23 MARCH 2026 (PMN) — The former National MP and one of New Zealand’s most prominent Pacific political figures will stand for NZ First in the 2026 general election.
The move marks a major shift in his political journey.
Ngaro’s return signals a party switch and comeback from a leader who has long positioned himself around faith, family, and community, now taking a new path back into Parliament.
Ngaro, New Zealand’s first MP of Cook Islands heritage, served three terms in Parliament from 2011 to 2020 and was Minister for Pacific Peoples between 2016 and 2017.
After leaving National, he led the NewZeal party in the 2023 election. But the party secured less than one percent of the vote, well short of the five percent needed to enter Parliament.
NewZeal has confirmed his move to New Zealand First, describing it in a statement as a “strategic step” to build stronger influence.
“Seasons change. The mission doesn’t,” Ngaro said in the statement.
Stuff reports that speaking at New Zealand First’s State of the Nation event in Tauranga alongside party leader Winston Peters, Ngaro framed his return as a response to what he sees as growing concern among New Zealanders.
“Right now, there’s a quiet uncertainty in this country,” Ngaro said. “People are working hard but wondering, are things going to get better?”
He says the deeper issue facing the country goes beyond policy. “The question is not simply what do we fix? It’s who are we as a nation, and what are we building for?”
Ngaro first entered Parliament as a list MP in 2011 and built a profile on social development, faith-based advocacy, and Pacific community engagement.
Before politics, he worked as a pastor and community leader, focusing on youth, family wellbeing, and addressing social inequality, themes that continue to shape his message.
He left Parliament after the 2020 election when he was ranked too low on National’s party list to return, later signalling interest in forming a political movement grounded in Christian values.
His re-emergence under the New Zealand First banner signals a more pragmatic approach, aligning with an established party as he seeks a path back into Parliament.
But his return has not been without challenges.
At the Tauranga event, Stuff reports the crowd response was mixed, with light applause and some attendees calling out: “Sorry, but who are you?”
The reaction highlights both the challenge and opportunity facing Ngaro as he attempts a political comeback under a new party banner.
The 2026 election is expected to test whether experience, values-based messaging, and cross-party realignment can resonate in a shifting political landscape…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
CANADA – DEEP SEA MINING: FINANCIAL POST PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 23 Mar 2026
Company that wants to mine ocean floor says it may have ‘overstated’ its growth potential
VANCOUVER, 23 MARCH 2026 (FINANCIAL POST) — A Vancouver-based company that aims to mine the ocean floor for critical minerals is removing a series of promotional materials from the web after the British Columbia Securities Commission raised questions about their accuracy.
Deep Sea Minerals Corp. said it was launching a review of “all investor relations materials” to ensure they contained “balanced disclosure.” That review extends to its own corporate presentations and social media posts, as well as a series of posts it paid an outside company to create through a contract worth US$400,000.
The company said in a press release that it “may have overstated (its) growth potential and the certainty of (its) trajectory, omitting underlying assumptions and risks.”
Chief executive James Deckelman did not provide comment.
Some of the material Deep Sea is removing occurred in a corporate presentation published last month in which it compared itself to other companies that already hold mining concessions — essentially licences to explore the seabed — and to companies that hold patents for subsea mining technology. Deep Sea has now said it does not hold either.
“Furthermore, if the company acquires mineral rights, achieving commercial operations, if ever achieved, will require significant time and capital expenditures,” it said.
Clicking on “Projects” on the company’s website led to a “Page not found” error as of Wednesday morning. The company’s stock price declined almost 23 percent on Wednesday morning to 91 cents per share on the Canadian Securities Exchange.
Deep Sea said it has “commenced early-stage engagement with selected governments and regulatory bodies in the Pacific Ocean region to assess potential pathways for future exploration initiatives.”
Subsea mining is a still-emerging technique in which robotic machinery would be used to scoop or pump critical minerals, such as nickel and manganese, from deep inside the ocean floor.
Although there isn’t any commercial-scale mining of the seabed yet, the International Seabed Authority has granted dozens of exploration licences. Much of the attention has focused on polymetallic nodules that can be located several kilometres below the ocean floor.
The proposed process has attracted controversy, particularly from environmental groups that say it could damage pristine ecosystems by creating sediment plumes or spreading toxic metals or creating noise disturbances. Others say the ocean floor ecosystem is still poorly understood, so it’s difficult to predict the long-term consequences of subsea mining.
In February, Deep Sea said it raised approximately US$4 million through a non-brokered private placement. Later that month, it announced it would pay US$400,000 to Vancouver-based Capital Gain Media Inc. to help market the company to investors over a period of four months.
That same month, Capital Gains began creating posts. On Wednesday, as part of its review, Deep Sea said it instructed Capital Gain Media to remove at least five posts. It did not say whether it would continue to retain Capital Gain’s services or how much it had paid the company yet…. PACNEWS
PNG – LNG: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 23 Mar 2026
PNG LNG Project delay to cost K25 billion more
PORT MORESBY, 23 MARCH 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — The seven-year delay in the construction of the Papua LNG project is projected to cost an extra US$6 billion (about K25 billion) more, according to former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.
O’Neill said the project had become so expensive to start up that the promoters TotalEngergies and ExxonMobil had asked for US$3 billion (about K12.4 billion) more in new concessions before it could be moved to the financial investment decision (FID) stage.
In Parliament last week, O’Neill advised the Government to hold a firm line in its negotiations with TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil, and not to give in to the new concessions.
“The time for going cap-in-hand to multinational corporations is over,” he said.
“Reports of the Government offering billions in additional concessions to keep the Papua LNG project on life support are deeply concerning.
“We cannot afford to negotiate to their advantage at a cost of US$3 billion to our own people.”
O’Neill said the current geopolitical climate gave Papua New Guinea a position of strength, not weakness.
“TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil are heavily exposed to Middle East conflicts that have stalled projects in Qatar, Iraq and offshore United Arab Emirates,” he said.
“TotalEnergies has already seen 15 percent wiped off its production and a 10 percent reduction in upstream cash-flows.
“Instead of ceding more ground, PNG should be leveraging its status as a stable, non-conflict zone to demand better terms, not giving away more concessions we can ill afford.”
O’Neill said that the original 2019 agreement was “a good deal”, and a binding agreement already signed which was commercially viable and fair to the State.
He added that by trying to “take back PNG”, the Marape administration instead caused a seven-year delay, with estimates now pointing to a total project cost of US$18 billion (about K75 billion) – up from US$12 billion (about K50 billion) in 2019.
“The delay alone has cost PNG billions in earnings replaced by expensive loans of now over K60 billion (US$13.92 billion).”
O’Neill said the 2019 Papua LNG agreement included 22.5 percent equity to the people of PNG – a generous reservation of gas for domestic power and a project that would double PNG’s LNG export capacity by adding 5.6 million tonnes per annum.
“The Papua LNG project would have boosted the PNG economy by K35 billion (US$8.12 billion) with the construction phase as early as 2021-2022, with production and major revenue following in 2024-2025,” he said.
“The Marape government induced delays means this economic harvest has been pushed back by a decade.”
The latest intel on the US$3 billion in concessions to project developers was to cover the cost blowouts attributed to Government stalling…. PACNEWS
PAC – FISHERIES: PACNEWS/FFA PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 23 Mar 2026
Digital monitoring push as Pacific fisheries talks ramp up
HONIARA, 23 MARCH 2026 (PACNEWS/FFA) — Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) pre-meetings for the 29th Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Working Group focused on electronic monitoring, with Pacific countries stepping up efforts to use digital tools to track fishing activity.
The workshop, led by Forum Fisheries Agency Compliance Policy Advisor ‘Ana Taholo, reviewed past regional electronic monitoring initiatives and mapped out upcoming work. Members shared national experiences, while technology providers presented new systems and tools aimed at improving surveillance at sea.
Countries reported steady progress, with several already running electronic monitoring systems and others preparing trials in 2026. There is also growing interest in using artificial intelligence to cut costs and boost efficiency.
Participants also prepared key inputs for the electronic reporting and monitoring intersessional working group, focusing on audit, assurance and verification processes to strengthen data quality and regional standards.
The workshop is part of the lead-up to the 29th Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Working Group meeting, scheduled for 23–27 March 2026 at the Forum Fisheries Agency headquarters in Honiara.
Meanwhile, Pacific fisheries priorities were also pushed on the global stage during the Second FAO Committee on Fisheries Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management meeting in Reykjavik, Iceland.
Forum Fisheries Agency Fisheries Management Advisor Marina Abas joined representatives from Australia, New Zealand and Tonga in technical and policy discussions on global fisheries management.
Key issues included conserving fish stocks, managing multispecies fisheries, tackling fishing fleet capacity, and strengthening regional governance. Talks also highlighted the role of regional fisheries bodies and cooperative surveillance systems in tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
The meeting noted that tuna regional fisheries management organisations oversee the world’s main tuna stocks, with most catches coming from sustainable sources.
For the Pacific, discussions reinforced the importance of science-based management, precautionary approaches and strong regional cooperation, including ongoing work to develop harvest strategies for key tuna stocks.
The Forum Fisheries Agency says it will continue supporting members to strengthen sustainable fisheries management and keep Pacific voices visible in global discussions.
The FAO meeting was held from 23–27 February 2026…. PACNEWS
PNG – AIRLINE: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 23 Mar 2026
Four Air Niugini engineers qualify for Airbus A220
PORT MORESBY, 23 MARCH 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — Four Air Niugini licensed aircraft maintenance engineers have been granted their licence for Airbus A220-type ratings by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (Casa) in Port Moresby.
Air Niugini chief executive officer Alan Milne said that the achievement represented Air Niugini and the PNG aviation industry in their commitment to world-class engineering standards, safety excellence and the development of national capacity.
The four are the first licensed engineers for the Airbus A220 aircraft type.
They are mechanical engineers for airframe and power-plant John Pidik and Henry Kaunger, and avionics engineers for electrical instrument radio Abraham Gena and Edward Polau.
Meanhile, Air Niugini is closely monitoring developments in the Middle East amid growing concerns about potential impacts on global fuel supply and pricing, says chief executive officer Alan Milne.
“The airline acknowledges that the evolving situation has raised questions about possible fuel price increases and supply constraints across the aviation industry,” he said.
Milne said the airline was working closely with relevant stakeholders to assess any potential impacts.
“At this stage, there has been no impact on our operations, and fuel supply remains stable,” he said.
“We are assessing any potential changes in fuel pricing or supply volumes and will continue to work with our suppliers and partners to ensure continuity of operations.”
Milne said Air Niugini’s services were operating as normal, and there were currently no disruptions to flight schedules as a result of the situation.
“We want to assure our customers and stakeholders that, at this point in time, our operations continue as normal,” he said.
“We remain focused on maintaining safe, reliable, and efficient services while closely monitoring the situation as it evolves.”
Milne said: “This is a proud and defining moment for Air Niugini and for Papua New Guinea.
“These four engineers represent the very best of our national talent and are the first fruits of our investment in advanced training and capacity development.
“Their achievement demonstrates that Papua New Guineans can meet and exceed global aviation standards.”
Pidik said that it took the team a lot to achieve the certification.
“We started in late January (last year),” he said.
“It was a lot to achieve in a short time, so we had to put in a bit of hard work.”
Their Airbus A220 training started in January 2025 in Port Moresby followed by specialised overseas training in Singapore and Canada…. PACNEWS
FIJI – AIRPORT: AIPORTS COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 23 Mar 2026
Fiji Airports Aviation Academy hosts first-ever ACI–ICAO Annex 14 workshop in Fiji
NADI, 23 MARCH 2026 (AIPORTS COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL) — Fiji Airports is strengthening its role in regional aviation development through its Aviation Academy, which last week hosted the Pacific’s first Airports Council International & International Civil Aviation Organisation (ACI–ICAO) Annex 14 Regional Workshop in Nadi.
ICAO Pacific Small Islands Developing States liaison officer Kyal Barter facilitates at the opening of the ACI-ICAO Annex 14 workshop at the Fiji Airports Aviation Academy in Nadi.
The week-long workshop has brought together technical personnel from Fiji Airports and aviation representatives from Kiribati, Vanuatu, and Tuvalu for specialised training on ICAO Annex 14 standards for aerodrome design and operations.
Hosted at the Fiji Airports Aviation Academy (FAAA), the workshop highlights the Academy’s growing role as a regional centre for aviation training, technical upskilling, and knowledge-sharing for Pacific Island countries.
Annex 14 is critical because it guides daily airport operations, safety inspections, audits, and emergency preparedness. It is the foundation of safe airport operations worldwide and is especially important in the Pacific, where consistency across airports supports stronger regional collaboration.
For many Pacific nations, aviation is a critical lifeline that supports connectivity, trade, tourism, and access to essential services. By building technical capability across the region, the Academy is helping to strengthen safer, more efficient, and more resilient airport operations throughout the Blue Pacific.
The workshop was officially opened by ICAO Pacific Small Island Developing States Liaison Officer, Kyal Barter, who said regional collaboration was key to supporting safe and sustainable aviation systems.
This workshop represents a vital step forward for Pacific aviation. By strengthening understanding and implementation of Annex 14 standards, we are supporting safer, more resilient aerodrome operations across our island nations,” Mr Barter said.
“Collaboration at this level ensures that no state is left behind in meeting global aviation requirements.”
Fiji Airports Chief Executive Mesake Nawari said the Aviation Academy was becoming an important platform for building regional aviation capability.
“Hosting this inaugural ACI–ICAO Annex 14 Workshop at the Fiji Airports Aviation Academy demonstrates our commitment to building technical capacity and supporting the development of safe, compliant, and efficient aerodrome operations across the region.”
Nawari said the Academy continued to play a key role in developing aviation professionals and supporting closer cooperation among Pacific Island countries.
“We are proud to welcome our colleagues from Kiribati, Vanuatu, and Tuvalu. The Fiji Airports Aviation Academy provides a valuable platform to exchange expertise, strengthen partnerships, and collectively enhance aviation safety standards throughout the Blue Pacific.”
Airport Vanuatu Limited Safety and Compliance Officer Adrian Hake said the workshop had provided valuable knowledge that participants could apply in their home countries.
“Upskilling our staff is a key part of our business plan, and this workshop has provided valuable knowledge that I can take back home and gradually implement within our operations and technical teams,” Hake said.
“One of my core responsibilities is conducting audits, and the insights gained here will greatly enhance that work. We sincerely appreciate Fiji Airports for extending this opportunity to their Pacific brothers to participate.”
The ACI–ICAO Annex 14 Regional Workshop forms part of Fiji Airports’ broader efforts to grow the Fiji Airports Aviation Academy as a leading training hub for the Pacific and to support the region’s alignment with international aviation standards.
“For Fiji and many of our Pacific neighbours, aviation is not just a mode of transport? it is a lifeline,” Nawari said.… PACNEWS
PACNEWS In Focus
PACNEWS DIGEST
Without planning, consultation or legitimacy, the U.S needs a lot of luck in Iran
By John Frewen
WASHINGTON, 23 MARCH 2026 (THE STRATEGIST) — U.S President Donald Trump’s handling of the Iran crisis and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz underlines an old lesson: force without planning, consultation and legitimacy rarely ends well. History tells us that the effective use of force requires clear, limited objectives; legality; prior planning; committed partners; and, even then, a measure of good luck. Today, the United States is leaning heavily on that last ingredient.
Coalition building has never been easy, but when done well it is enormously powerful.
The Allied coalition in World War II, culminating in the Normandy landings, remains the benchmark for complex, combined operations planned painstakingly over years. The First Gulf War had a clear UN mandate, defined objectives and broad coalition. It showed how military force, properly framed and prepared, could reset a regional balance without becoming an open‑ended occupation.
For Western democracies, war as an instrument of policy should be a last resort, not a first impulse. War is, by definition, a failure of diplomacy and almost never ends as quickly or as cleanly as its architects hope. Even when initial objectives are achieved, unintended consequences can take years or decades to work through the international system. Those longer‑term costs are usually borne by allies, partners and civilians far from the initial decision‑making table.
That is why the use of force is the most serious order any government can give. In my experience, the threat of latent force—credible capability clearly aligned to political aims—is often more powerful than actual force. Once force is used and fails to achieve its aims, enemies tend to harden their resolve, publics polarise and conflicts become protracted. The decision to cross the threshold to the use of force should therefore be tied tightly to narrowly defined objectives and a plausible path back to diplomacy.
Force is best employed in support of diplomatic and negotiated outcomes with clear, limited aims. The First Gulf War remains a good example: the objective was to eject Iraqi forces from Kuwait and restore its sovereignty, not to march on Baghdad. Similarly, more recent, tightly scoped operations—such as targeted, time‑bound interventions to support political settlements in the Americas—have demonstrated how calibrated force can reinforce diplomacy rather than replace it. The test is always whether the operation supports a political strategy, not the other way around.
Legitimacy is central, especially for coalition operations. For democratic partners, effective use of force must comply with international law and the recognised rules of war if it is to be sustainable at home and credible abroad. Potential contributors will want to understand the legal basis for action, the arrangements that will grant their forces appropriate immunities and protections, and the parameters under which their troops will operate before they commit. These are the foundations upon which trust between governments, militaries and publics is built.
Australia’s leadership of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands is instructive. Even with a direct request from Honiara for military and police intervention to restore law and order, Australia and its partners sought the endorsement of the Pacific Islands Forum, relevant Solomon Islands legislation and the support of the United Nations before deploying. This careful attention to legality and legitimacy at the low end of the conflict spectrum gave partners confidence that their forces were being committed to a just and properly constituted mission, even though the operation contemplated the potential use of force.
The present US operations in Iran sit much closer to the high end of the conflict spectrum but appear to lack a comparable foundation in international law and legitimacy. They also appear to have proceeded with minimal prior consultation with key allies who are now being asked, after the fact, to join a mission to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. This is a poor basis upon which to build a coalition, particularly when significant and arguably foreseeable second‑order effects have already materialised, including the disruption of a waterway that carries around one fifth of the world’s oil.
Military operations of this scale require detailed planning to ensure that force is applied legally, ethically and in a way that has a realistic chance of achieving the desired policy outcomes. Planning is a crucial military asset. Good planners think not only about the most likely outcome but also about the most dangerous plausible outcome. In the current case, it is hard to imagine any responsible planning process that did not identify the closure—or effective closure through threat—of the Strait of Hormuz as both likely and dangerous. That, in turn, raises hard questions about the extent and quality of the contingency planning undertaken and about why close allies were not brought into that planning well before the first strikes were ordered.
Those questions are not academic. The U.S decommissioned its last dedicated mine countermeasures ships in the Middle East in 2025 and is still in the early stages of deploying new mine countermeasure capabilities on littoral combat ships and unmanned systems. Britain, by contrast, maintains advanced minehunting capabilities and is now weighing the deployment of minehunter drones and naval assets to help reopen the strait at the US’s request. Asking allies to fill critical capability gaps after operations have commenced, and after global fuel prices have already spiked, is not a formula for enthusiastic burden‑sharing.
The domestic repercussions for the US are also likely to be significant. Rising global oil prices have already translated into sharply higher fuel prices for American consumers, and this is one issue on which US public opinion is remarkably united. Meanwhile, major strategic competitors stand to benefit from higher energy prices and further distraction of US attention and resources.
Effective use of force rests on five pillars: clear and limited objectives, legal and moral legitimacy, rigorous prior planning, genuinely committed partners and, inevitably, some good luck. History suggests that when the first four are in place, nations can often make their own luck. In the ongoing Iran crisis, Trump will need a great deal of good luck to prevent events in and around the Strait of Hormuz from sliding further out of control, because the other four pillars appear worryingly weak…. PACNEWS
Lieutenant General John Frewen (retired) is a senior fellow at ASPI. From 2021 to 2024, he was the Australian Defence Force’s Chief of Joint Capabilities.
PACNEWS DIGEST
Turning momentum into action: Reducing pain and cost from oral diseases across the Western Pacific
MANILA, 23 MARCH 2026 (WHO)—A child missing school because of tooth pain, an older adult unable to eat the food they enjoy, a family struggling with cost to treat oral diseases. These everyday experiences show why oral health matters.
Across the WHO Western Pacific Region, countries and areas are taking practical and impactful steps to make essential oral health services more accessible and affordable through a primary health-care (PHC) approach, contributing towards achieving universal health coverage (UHC).
Why oral health matters
In the Western Pacific, about 960 million people – 43 percent of the population – live with untreated oral diseases.
It’s a little-known fact that oral diseases are the most common noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). These include dental caries, periodontal disease, tooth loss and oral cancer. These conditions can reduce confidence, limit social participation and affect quality of life. When untreated, oral diseases often lead to missed school or work and create a significant financial burden for families.
Regional momentum: Oral health becomes a Western Pacific priority for the first time
In 2025 at the 76th WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, Member States endorsed the Western Pacific Regional Implementation Plan for the Global Strategy and Action Plan on Oral Health.
The implementation plan sets two regional targets and five acceleration projects to translate the global plan into action on the ground. WHO recently launched a regional dashboard to support countries in tracking progress.
“There is no health without oral health,” says Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. “Addressing this avoidable burden requires concrete commitments to integrate essential oral health services into national universal health care benefit packages through primary health care. WHO in the Western Pacific stands ready to support countries in achieving oral health for all by 2030.”
Country initiatives leading the way
Malaysia: Regional and global leadership elevating oral health as a priority
Malaysia has demonstrated strong regional and global leadership in raising the visibility of oral diseases within NCD and UHC agendas. The country has been playing a key role in high-level advocacy, including hosting oral health side events in 2025 during the UN high-level meeting on NCDs in New York and at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, as well as participating in the high-level segment of the WHO Global Oral Health Meeting in Bangkok in 2024. These advocacy efforts reflect a strong commitment to elevating oral health as a public health priority.
Malaysia has also strengthened its own oral health system through the National Oral Health Policy and the National Oral Health Strategic Plan 2022–2030, which focus on prevention and integration into primacy care, partnership collaboration, standards and monitoring, research and development, as well as digital innovation. Malaysia is further advancing regional collaboration by hosting the 15th Asian Chief Dental Officers’ Meeting in Sabah in 2026, reinforcing its role as a regional convenor and catalyst for accelerating oral health integration into PHC across Asia.
“Let us be bold. Let us be strategic. Let us turn data into action and commitments into measurable outcomes. Because the price of inaction is far greater than the cost of prevention. Malaysia stands ready to collaborate with governments, WHO and civil society, to build a future where every smile is a symbol of health and dignity,” says Dato’ Dr Ahmad Faisal bin Muhamad, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the United Nations.
Solomon Islands: Building primary health-care capacity for oral health
With WHO support, Solomon Islands has begun training primary health-care workers to deliver essential oral health services as part of routine care. With only 50 dentists in a country of approximately 850 000 people spread across multiple islands, this approach helps address a burden that cannot be met by the oral health workforce alone.
The training focuses on oral examinations, hygiene counselling, fluoride with varnish applications, silver diamine fluoride to halt tooth decay, fissure sealants, screening, age‑appropriate counselling and restorative care using glass ionomer cement, in line with WHO guidance and including referral pathways for timely follow‑up. The training contributes to the regional goal of embedding oral health in primary health systems, and the insights gained will help inform an updated WHO training toolkit for oral health.
“We are often the first point of contact for families, especially in remote areas,” says Allen Aluta, a nurse at Kukum Area Health Centre in Solomon Islands. “With these new skills, we can help prevent pain, identify problems early and support communities that dentists simply cannot reach on their own. This makes oral health more accessible for everyone.”
During the WHO Executive Board’s February 2026 session, Board Member Dr Paul Popora Bosawai, the former Solomon Islands Minister of Health and Medical Services, said: “The highest burden of oral diseases and their shared risk factors with NCDs makes oral health a cross-cutting issue for both NCDs and healthy ageing. Guided by the WHO Global Oral Health Strategy and Action Plan 2023-2030 and the Bangkok Declaration in 2024, we are advancing a regional implementation plan to strengthen policies, integrate oral health with primary health care and universal health coverage, expand workforce capacity and scale up prevention.”
Tonga: Using essential dental medicines to address caries among children
Tonga is championing the use of silver diamine fluoride in preschool oral health programmes through the Malimali Project. “Malimali” meaning “smile” is a school-based programme teaching children how to brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste with 1000-1500 ppm and use mouth rinses with fluoride to improve oral health in children.
Silver diamine fluoride is an essential dental medicine and a cost‑effective, non‑invasive treatment for stopping tooth decay. It can be applied easily in primary health-care settings without special equipment, helping to reduce tooth decay at a young age and prevent more complex conditions later in life.
“Using silver diamine fluoride in preschools makes a real difference,” explains Dr Sisilia Fifita, Chief Dental Officer, Ministry of Health of Tonga. “It helps to stop the progression of tooth decay, avoiding unnecessary treatment costs. This works well because we can also address the risk factors, such as reducing sugar intake and promoting the use of fluoride toothpaste with 1000-1500 ppm.”
Caries rates among children dropped from 90 percent in 2001 to 68 percent a decade later. Nearly all primary schools in Tonga now participate in the Malimali programme which has become part of the curriculum, ensuring sustainable oral health education.
Cambodia: National action plan for oral health development for stronger governance
Cambodia was one of the first countries to develop a national action plan for oral health aligned with the Global Strategy and Action Plan on Oral Health 2023–2030. This involved coordination with stakeholders from institutions with the Ministry of Health, academics, nongovernmental organisations and partners to identify priority areas, focusing on what is feasible and achieving quick wins.
In collaboration with WHO, Cambodia also conducted dissemination and adaptation of the National Action Plan for Oral Health 2023-2030 at the provincial and local levels. Together with the functional action plan and the Oral Health Bureau within the Ministry of Health, the country is strengthening governance to continue implementing the Action Plan.
The Oral Health Bureau emphasised that the National Action Plan provides a strong foundation to guide implementation nationwide, underscoring the focus on practical steps and measurable outcomes while maintaining alignment with global and regional priorities.
Moving forward
Across the Western Pacific Region, practical high‑impact actions are taking place. Countries are using essential dental medicines, expanding the scope of primary health-care workers to include oral health in their portfolios, and strengthening regional leadership for oral health.
Together, these efforts are accelerating progress towards the ambitious yet achievable goal of universal health coverage for oral health by 2030, contributing to achieving WHO’s overarching vision and mandate of Health for All…PACNEWS
Migration is good for the Pacific
By Stephen Howes
CANBERRA, 23 MARCH 2026 (DEVPOLICY.ORG) —The debate over whether migration is a positive or negative for the Pacific is a long-standing one. Bernard Poirine’s 1995 paper “Should we love or hate MIRAB” set out both sides of the argument, and why he thought both migration and foreign aid were positives for the Pacific.
Naren Prasad’s blog “The Pacific’s remittance dependence: labour out, cash in “, published on this site on 6 February, is the latest contribution to this debate. Prasad echoes many of the arguments summarised by Poirine and made more recently on this blog by David Abbott and Steve Pollard (based on their 2019 “Mired in MIRAB” paper). Prasad argues that the Pacific is at a worrying turning point and that its growing remittance dependence is bad because it threatens the viability of Pacific Island economies and reduces the political urgency for reform.
I disagree with Prasad and in this rebuttal, I argue that he ignores the facts, puts forward weak analysis and fails to provide useful migration policy guidance to Pacific governments.
First, the facts. There are only four high-income Pacific countries (excluding colonies) in the Pacific, and three of them have had massive out-migration: Cook Islands, Niue and Palau. If migration is so bad for you, how have these three countries been so successful?
At the same time, the poorest countries in the Pacific (Solomon Islands and Kiribati) are among the ones that have had the least out-migration.
Also, as I have shown in my analysis with Rubayat Chowdhury, in the 2010s the Pacific island region was the fastest growing region in the world — in part because of growing remittances. So where is the worrying turning point that Prasad is talking about, and why does he paint such a bleak future?
Second, the analysis. Prasad focuses on remittances. The three high-income Pacific countries I mentioned above — Cook Islands, Palau and Niue — all got rich by migration (as well as by tourism and rents), but not by remittances. None of them has a high ratio of remittances to GDP. Rather migration helped them get rich by increasing income for those left behind. Tourism cannot expand indefinitely in most Pacific countries and income sources such as fishing licence revenue and foreign aid are largely or completely independent of population. So, for these economies, a smaller population at home is a richer population.
Prasad argues that without migration Pacific economies would be more viable. But, of the Pacific island economies, only Nauru has managed to make it to high-income status without migration, and that is because of its extraordinary regional processing centre arrangement with Australia. Would middle-income countries such as Tonga and Samoa be more viable (richer) without migration? These small island economies are so isolated that they cannot industrialise and their potential to export services is limited as well. Stop or limit their peoples’ ability to live and work overseas and you reduce not increase their viability.
Cook Islands, Niue and Palau not only are high-income countries, but they all have stable populations. They are viable. The question we should be considering is not whether Pacific economies can be viable with migration, but whether they can be without. I would suggest that Nauru is the exception that proves the rule.
Prasad’s other purported negative feedback mechanism from migration to growth is that without migration there would be more pressure for reform and therefore better governance. It is very hard to know what might improve governance where it is weak, but if less migration was one way to do it, then we would expect to see better governance in places without much migration, such as Nauru and Solomon Islands. We don’t. The basic problem with politics in the Pacific is that it is clientelistic. More or less migration is not going to change that.
Some of Prasad’s lines sound compelling but do not survive closer scrutiny. No country has ever got rich from remittances, argues Prasad. Fair enough, but, as I’ve argued above, some Pacific countries have nevertheless got rich through migration. And, even if that wasn’t true, so what? No country has ever got rich from agriculture (at least not since the era of decolonisation). Does that mean agriculture should be discouraged or deplored, or that we would write it off as a development strategy? Of course not.
A final problem with Prasad’s paper is that it has very little guidance for Pacific countries as to what their migration policy should be. An implication of his analysis is that Pacific countries should limit migration opportunities for their citizens. But Prasad avoids this conclusion by falsely claiming that states cannot stop people leaving. But Pacific governments could, simply by not signing up to (or by withdrawing from) the various New Zealand, American and Australian arrangements that provide out-migration opportunities for their citizens.
Does anyone really think a Pacific country would be better off by not taking part in Australia’s PALM or PEV or New Zealand’s RSE and PAC/SQ? I don’t, and I’m yet to meet a Pacific leader who does. In fact, there are a growing number of Pacific leaders calling for freer movement of people across the Pacific.
There is no doubt migration does pose some serious challenges. I recently drew attention to the significant depopulation occurring because of migration in FSM and RMI. Pacific governments should focus on training, on making inward migration easier, and on making it more attractive for residents to stay. Of course, as Prasad says, they should improve governance. But they should not attempt to limit outward migration. Because a Pacific with more migration opportunities is clearly better off than one with fewer…. PACNEWS
Stephen Howes is Director of the Development Policy Centre and Professor of Economics at the Crawford School of Public Policy at The Australian National University.