In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Australia maintains $5.2b Aid Programme as Pacific takes priority
2. PACIFIC — Missile test crosses multiple Pacific EEZs
3. TONGA — Two by-elections to be held after Tonga MPs lose seats
4. COOKS — First U.S Ambassador to Cook Islands marks new era in ties
5. PACIFIC — Pacific families are caught between fossil fuel gamble and push for clean energy
6. GUAM — U.S lawmakers nix Air Force’s explosive waste disposal plan on Guam
7. AUST — World-view ‘gulf’ leaves closer China ties out of reach
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Bougainville President Toroama clears next step in Panguna mine redevelopment
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Up to 5000 students drop out – Fiji National University
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji PM says $8 minimum wage not viable amid economic pressures
11. PACNEWS BIZ — NZ supports PNG to strengthen trade negotiations skilss
12. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — A strengthening El Niño is drying Pacific gardens and water sources
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — Empowering the next generation of outbreak responders in the Western Pacific
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — Pacific dialogue concludes with call for action on women’s leadership and shared decision-making
PAC – AID: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Mon 10 Aug 2026
Australia maintains $5.2b Aid Programme as Pacific takes priority
CANBERRA, 10 AUGUST 2026 (PACNEWS) — Australia will invest $5.2 billion (US$2.67 billion) in official development assistance in 2026-27, with more than three-quarters directed to the Pacific and Southeast Asia as Canberra maintains its development programme despite shrinking aid budgets elsewhere.
Australian Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury Andrew Leigh said the Albanese Government would allocate $2.2 billion (US$1.55 billion) to the Pacific and $1.4 billion (US$980 million) to Southeast Asia.
“In 2026-27, the Albanese Government will invest $5.2 billion (US$2.67 billion) in official development assistance, an increase of $112 million on the previous year. More than three-quarters of that investment will benefit our region, including $2.2 billion (US$1.55 billion) for the Pacific and $1.4 billion (US$980 million) for Southeast Asia,” Leigh said.
Leigh made the remarks at the launch of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) State of the Sector Report 2026 last week.
He said Australia remained a reliable development partner at a time when aid budgets were declining in other countries.
“At a time when aid budgets are shrinking elsewhere, Australia remains a reliable and responsive partner. Our development program helps shape a region that is more peaceful and prosperous. It strengthens relationships founded on mutual respect for sovereignty,” he said.
The report highlights mounting pressures on Australian development organisations, including rising costs, declining donations and falling staffing levels.
Leigh said real public donations were around 20 per cent lower than in 2015, while the share of Australian adults donating to ACFID members fell from 8.3 per cent in 2016 to 5.7 per cent in 2023.
Across a comparable group of organisations, staffing also fell by about one-third between 2017 and 2022.
“These figures affect organisational resilience and the capacity to plan for the long term. They also shape how many communities’ organisations can reach,” Leigh said.
Despite the pressures, the report found strong performance in transparency, accountability, ethical standards and professional learning.
Leigh said audited financial reporting was universal among ACFID members, while participation in professional learning remained strong through 25 active communities of practice.
The sector is also becoming more representative, with women making up about 70 per cent of staff and increasing representation among chief executives and board directors.
Climate action was another area of progress, with 458 projects in 2023 including a climate action component, most focused on building resilience.
Leigh said the Pacific would have a major opportunity to influence global climate discussions in October when Fiji and Tuvalu host official Pacific Pre-COP events from 05 to 08 October.
“Fiji will host the preparatory meeting, while Tuvalu will host a leaders’ event. The gatherings will bring global leaders to the Pacific to see climate impacts and Pacific-led solutions first-hand. They will also help shape priorities ahead of COP31,” he said.
The report also establishes a new baseline for measuring locally led development.
Forty-three percent of responding ACFID members reported having an internal commitment or policy on locally led action or partnerships, while almost all organisations said they dedicated staff time to partner-led capacity building and institutional strengthening.
Leigh said locally led development was central to Australia’s development programme.
“Locally led development means listening early and sharing decisions. It means backing local institutions and recognising where knowledge sits. That approach builds capability close to the people affected and supports solutions grounded in local priorities,” he said.
He said Australian non-government organisations remained important partners for the government because of their ability to work quickly in fragile and hard-to-reach areas and maintain relationships over political and funding cycles.
“Your experience also improves policy. You help government understand regional challenges and shape responses. Through deep people-to-people links, you connect Australians with our region and give local partners a stronger voice in Canberra,” Leigh said.
ACFID members raised $750 million (US$529 million) from more than 793,000 Australians in 2023-24, according to the report.
Leigh said that support represented a significant constituency for international development, but the decline in donor participation showed the sector needed to strengthen public engagement.
“The strongest case for aid often begins with a truthful account of what cooperation achieves,” he said.
He said development organisations needed to combine evidence with stories showing the impact of aid and partnerships on communities.
“The sector has an opportunity to tell more of these stories while keeping the rigour that this report exemplifies. Evidence gives stories weight. Stories give evidence reach. Together, they can build durable public support,” Leigh said.
He said the sector would continue to face rising humanitarian needs, increasing climate pressures, narrowing civic space and limited resources.
“The task now is to use this evidence. Strengthen organisations before strain becomes fragility. Widen the circle of Australians who see themselves as participants in development. Move from local consultation towards local authority. Keep testing which partnerships produce lasting benefit,” Leigh said.
The report uses the example of women harvesting sea grapes on Boboe Island in Solomon Islands to demonstrate how local knowledge, environmental protection and economic opportunities can work together.
Leigh said the project, supported through Australia’s Climate Resilient by Nature initiative in partnership with WWF-Australia, reflected the type of development Australia wanted to support.
“Good development gives people greater power to shape their own future, supported by partners who respect their knowledge and back their ambition,” he said…. PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: FBC NEWS PACNEWS 3: Mon 10 Aug 2026
Missile test crosses multiple Pacific EEZs
SUVA, 10 AUGUST 2026 (FBC NEWS) — The Pacific Islands Forum says China’s ballistic missile test has raised regional concerns after the missile travelled over the exclusive economic zones of several Forum member countries.
The issue was raised during a media conference following the Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting last Friday, with questions over why the Forum has yet to issue a collective statement.
Forum Secretary General Baron Waqa said the missile’s trajectory over multiple Pacific countries is recognised as a serious regional issue.
“The importance, the seriousness of the test and how the trajectory that went, the missile went over several Forum member countries’ airspace. That is true.”
Waqa said individual Forum members have already issued strong statements on the missile test.
However, he said reaching a collective regional position has been more difficult because the Forum operates on consensus.
He said all members must agree before a statement can be issued.
“What we’re trying to do here is a combined voice. And that is very, very difficult.”
The missile test has highlighted concerns over the vulnerability of Pacific countries to military activity carried out beyond their borders but within the region.
Waqa said the Forum must balance those concerns with the individual positions of its 18 members.
He rejected suggestions that consensus allows one country to hijack the Forum’s position, saying the process is designed to ensure every member has a voice.
“We combine our voice, so it becomes louder. If we don’t all agree, then it’s no go.”
The Secretary General said discussions are continuing on how best to present a united Pacific position on the missile test.
He said the Forum is still working towards a collective statement that reflects the concerns of all member countries.
Meanwhile, Fiji’s vision of the Pacific as an Ocean of Peace is gaining strong backing from Australia amid growing geopolitical uncertainty.
Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong says Australia fully supports the initiative under its bilateral framework to safeguard peace, security and stability across the region.
Wong said that Pacific Island countries must work together as the region faces increasingly contested and uncertain times.
“PIF leaders, Pacific Island Forum leaders, then adopted it, and we have chosen to work within that framework for the alliance between Australia and Fiji. I describe this alliance; you know, alliances are the greatest act of trust between two countries. They are the greatest act of trust.”
Wong says the Australia-Fiji alliance is based on trust, mutual respect and a recognition that both countries matter to each other.
PIF Secretary-General Baron Waqa said Pacific leaders remain committed to maintaining peace and strengthening regionalism across the Pacific.
Australia hopes to discuss the Ocean of Peace vision with Pacific Islands Forum leaders and outline its commitments to the initiative…. PACNEWS
TONGA – BI – ELECTION: TALANOA’OTONGA PACNEWS 3: Mon 10 Aug 2026
Two by-elections to be held after Tonga MPs lose seats
SUVA, 10 AUGUST 2026 (TALANOA’OTONGA) — Tonga’s Electoral Commission is preparing for by-elections in Tongatapu 2 and Niua 17 after the seats were left vacant following court rulings against their former representatives.
Supervisor of Elections Samiuela Vao says his office expects writs for the two by-elections to be issued by King Tupou VI by the end of the week, allowing the electoral process to move forward.
The vacancies follow the removal of Sēmisi Sika, the former Tongatapu 2 People’s Representative, and Lata Tangimana, who represented Niua 17.
However, the circumstances surrounding the two cases differ. Tangimana was found by the Supreme Court to have engaged in electoral bribery after fish were distributed to voters ahead of the November 2025 general election. The Court of Appeal upheld that finding in July, leaving his election void.
Sika’s case was not a bribery conviction. His election was declared void over breaches of electoral expense rules, including failing to properly declare campaign expenditure and exceeding the legal spending limit.
The Court of Appeal dismissed his challenge in July.
The developments follow Tonga’s general election on 20 November 2025, when voters elected 17 People’s Representatives to the 26-member Legislative Assembly.
The two by-elections will determine who represents the constituencies for the remainder of the parliamentary term. Candidates will be subject to the electoral rules governing eligibility and campaign conduct.
The Electoral Commission is expected to provide further details on the timetable, nominations and polling once the writs are formally issued…. PACNEWS
COOKS – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Mon 10 Aug 2026
First U.S Ambassador to Cook Islands marks new era in ties
RAROTONGA, 10 AUGUST 2026 (PACNEWS) — The United States has formally accredited its first-ever ambassador to the Cook Islands, marking a new chapter in diplomatic relations between the two Pacific countries.
Ambassador Jared Novelly presented his credentials to Sir Tom Marsters, the King’s Representative to the Cook Islands, formally establishing the first ambassadorial-level accreditation between the United States and the Cook Islands.
Novelly described the move as a formalisation of a relationship that has existed for years.
“The Pacific is where America lives. It is our shared neighbourhood. It is our home. We’ve shared a neighbourhood for a long time. We are not even new friends. We are just, finally, official,” said Ambassador Novelly.
The United States and Cook Islands have cooperated for years in areas including maritime security, science, health, ocean exploration and economic development.
Novelly also met with Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Jim Armistead and officials to discuss strengthening the bilateral partnership.
“Diplomacy in the Pacific isn’t about making the loudest speech.
“It’s about showing up often enough that people save you a seat,” said Ambassador Novelly.
The discussions covered regional cooperation, shared Pacific priorities and opportunities to expand collaboration in diplomacy, economic development, science and security.
The new Ambassadorial accreditation is expected to build on the longstanding relationship between the two countries, with both sides emphasising shared values, mutual respect and common interests in the Pacific…. PACNEWS
PAC – FOSSIL FUEL/CLEAN ENERGY: PMN PACNEWS 3: Mon 10 Aug 2026
Pacific families are caught between fossil fuel gamble and push for clean energy
WELLINGTON, 10 AUGUST 2026 (PMN) — For Pacific families already feeling the squeeze from higher power, petrol and grocery prices, New Zealand’s energy debate is becoming a choice between doubling down on fossil fuels or moving faster towards locally generated renewable power.
With less than 100 days until the election, New Zealand First is backing a $1 billion (US$589 million) survey to search for oil, gas and geothermal resources beneath Aotearoa’s offshore basins.
NZ First leader Winston Peters says the survey could uncover what he describes as “Norway-scale energy prospects”, with future royalties potentially helping create a sovereign wealth fund.
‘New Zealand could be back being an extraordinarily wealthier country again, with a huge sovereign fund like Norway … and be a greater international citizen in the blue continent or the Pacific,” Peters told Pacific Mornings.
But the Greens argue New Zealand should not be betting billions on finding more fossil fuels when households are already vulnerable to global energy shocks.
Green MP Teanau Tuiono says renewable energy and community-owned generation could bring down bills while making families less exposed to international fuel prices.
“The other way that you take pressure off the power grid is to really double down and make sure that solar panels become accessible for homes, for communities, for marae,” Tuiono told PMN.
“Because when you start to solarise our communities, which means those buildings draw less from the grid.”
The Greens’ Kiwi Power plan calls for greater investment in hydro, geothermal, wind and solar, alongside zero-interest loans to help households install rooftop solar.
Tuiono says reducing reliance on fossil fuels would also help protect families from price shocks overseas. That exposure is already being felt.
Wesley Tanuvasa, an ASB economist, says global fuel price rises can quickly spread through the economy, hitting Pacific households through transport, food and other everyday costs.
“You feel the pinch first at the petrol station,” he said on Pacific Mornings in May.
“We use a lot of diesel in terms of getting stuff across the country, transportation services and whatnot.
“It means those price pressures, especially for diesel, are really hurting industries… you get flow-on effects”
Official figures show the pressure is growing. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) says average household electricity bills rose 11.7 percent in the year to March 2026, largely because of higher network charges.
Renewable sources also produced 94.5 percent of New Zealand’s electricity while solar generation hit a record 373 gigawatt hours.
The question is also playing out across the wider Pacific.
Fiji’s Energy Fiji Ltd is seeking about US$230 million (NZ$390.23 million) in World Bank financing to expand solar generation and upgrade its electricity grid, as the country looks to reduce its reliance on imported fuel.
But the region’s vulnerability was laid bare by recent fuel supply concerns. Pacific Islands Forum leaders invoked the Biketawa Declaration to coordinate a regional response to fuel instability and rising prices.
Dr Saber Salem, an international relations expert at the University of Fiji, says Pacific countries need to use the current crisis to rethink their energy systems.
“Pacific governments must work to boost renewable energy, diversify economic activities, and enhance regional cooperation to build resilience against future global crises and economic shocks,” Salem said in a recent analysis.
For Pacific voters, the energy debate goes beyond what happens at the power socket.
It is about whether the region remains exposed to fuel prices set overseas or invests now in energy that can be generated closer to home.
And with election day approaching in Aotearoa and the region, the competing choices are becoming harder to ignore…. PACNEWS
GUAM – WASTE DISPOSAL: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 3: Mon 10 Aug 2026
U.S lawmakers nix Air Force’s explosive waste disposal plan on Guam
HAGATNA, 10 AUGUST 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) — The Department of the Air Force is mandated to follow the National Environmental Protection Act, according to four House Democrats who argue in support of Prutehi Guahan’s bid to stop open burning and open detonation at Andersen Air Force Base.
In an amicus brief, the U.S lawmakers asked the U.S Supreme Court to uphold an appeals court’s ruling, which faulted the Air Force for failing to evaluate alternative munition disposal technologies listed in the National Academies Report.
“Had the (Air Force) followed NEPA, the most cost-effective, gold-standard recommendations from the National Academies could have been put into practice,” states the amicus brief.
The brief was filed by Reps Jared Huffman, Julia Brownley, Debbie Dingell and Pablo Jose Hernandez, all members of the Natural Resources Committee at the U.S House of Representatives.
They pointed out that NEPA requires an environmental impact study, which is designed to minimize “environmentally controversial decisions.”
“The reason to nip bad ideas ‘in the bud’ is to prevent federal agencies, and in turn, American taxpayers, from wasting money on imprudent expenditures when better alternatives exist,” they argued.
“For the cost-saving benefits of NEPA to accrue, the EIS needs to occur at the earliest possible moment, before any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of federal resources have been made,” they added.
The proposed waste disposal site sits directly above the northern lens aquifer, Guam’s primary source of drinking water.
The Supreme Court is set in October to hear the Air Force’s appeal of the Ninth Circuit Court’s 2025 decision in favour of Prutehi Guahan’s lawsuit.
The Air Force plans to detonate 35,000 lbs. of bombs and burn other hazardous waste munitions each year in the open air at Tarague Beach, a restricted area within AAFB, which is a popular spot for swimming and snorkeling.
The Air Force argues that its waste disposal activities are adequately governed by hazardous waste permits under RCRA.
The congressional amicus brief, however, countered that “issuance of other environmental permits does not obviate the need for coordinated reviews under NEPA.”
In a separate amicus brief, Guam attorney Julian Aguon of Blue Ocean Law said NEPA is the only “structured opportunity” for the civilian community to participate in federal decisions affecting them.
“NEPA is a lifeline on Guam, where military decisions have profound consequences, but where the ordinary structures of federal accountability are absent,” Aguon said.
A coalition of organisations from U.S territories has filed a separate amicus brief supporting Prutehi Guahan and restating Aguon’s arguments.
They argued that U.S territories are denied the only tools they have for participation and accountability when federal agencies are allowed to avoid engaging with the public on matters that affect them.
The amicus brief, filed by advocacy group Right to Democracy and the Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP law firm, frames this dispute against the continued disenfranchisement of the 3.6 million Americans living in U.S territories.
They speculated that the supposed compliance with RCRA rules was a pretext to bypass the broader, early-stage public participation and environmental impact mandates demanded by NEPA.
The coalition warns that stripping NEPA protections in favor of a reactive RCRA permitting process would dismantle the primary legal mechanism through which island residents can influence federal agency decisions that directly impact their health, cultural heritage and natural environment.
Despite being subject to federal laws, administrative regulations and military say-so, territorial residents continue to live in what the brief describes as an “undemocratic framework that denies consent of the governed.”
“Viewed against this structural backdrop, where ‘consent of the governed’ is largely illusory, NEPA is not merely a procedural formality for communities in the territories,” the brief states,
They argue that NEPA and RCRA are complementary regulations, not redundancies, and have fundamental differences.
For one, NEPA requires federal agencies to evaluate environmental consequences and engage with the public while still in the planning stage. In contrast, public engagement under RCRA only happens after an agency has already decided where and how to operate.
NEPA also strictly requires an analysis and identification of alternative sites and methods if less hazardous options exist, the amicus said. RCA merely evaluates a pre-selected facility or location for technical compliance. It does not analyze whether Tarague Beach is an appropriate location in the first place.
In terms of cultural and ancestral significance, NEPA requires federal agencies to evaluate potential harm to cultural and historical sites, while RCRA does not entail a similar mandate.
Both Tarague Beach and the nearby Ritidian Point hold rich spiritual, historical and cultural significance for the indigenous CHamoru people, containing village sites and latte stone remnants…. PACNEWS
AUST – DIPLOMACY: AAP PACNEWS 3: Mon 10 Aug 2026
World-view ‘gulf’ leaves closer China ties out of reach
CANBERRA, 10 AUGUST 2026 (AAP) — Australia is unlikely ever to have a true partnership with China due to a mismatch of world views, rendering it pointless to pursue that goal, the nation’s former top diplomat to Beijing says.
But in an analysis for the Lowy Institute, Australia’s former ambassador to China Graham Fletcher noted several wildcards – such as Chinese military action in Taiwan – could still disrupt the “modest new normal’ of the relationship.
The change in government at the 2022 federal election acted as a circuit-breaker in increasingly fraught dealings between the nations, although they had still been marred by intimidatory military encounters involving Chinese forces, he said.
Beijing sparked widespread international condemnation over its launch of a ballistic missile into the South Pacific in July following the signing of a landmark mutual defence alliance between Australia and Fiji.
The Albanese government sought to stabilise relations with China after diplomatic tensions peaked during the COVID-19 pandemic under then-prime minister Scott Morrison’s leadership.
Beijing slapped $20 billion(U)S$14.12 billion in trade sanctions on Australian exports, measures that have slowly been wound back.
China is Australia’s largest trading partner and is the destination for about a third of the nation’s exports.
Fletcher said Beijing had not given up hope of drawing Australia closer into its orbit, while Canberra was more focused on consolidating its current relationship.
“But this relationship is unlikely ever to become genuinely close – like the relaxed, intimate fellowship Australia enjoys with like-minded partners elsewhere in its region and beyond,” he said.
“The gulf in terms of diverging world views and national security agendas is simply too wide.
“It would be pointless for Canberra to pursue such a goal; it recognises this and is realistic.”
The “mismatch” of world views made the relationship vulnerable to disruption, with key risks including another round of serious disagreements or the cataclysm of a conflict, including the use of force against Taiwan.
“An upheaval or conflict is always a possibility, though not in my opinion a strong one at present,” the former diplomat said.
China considers Taiwan, a self-governed democracy, part of its territory.
Australia would be on firmer ground when facing China if policies had cross-party support and politicians did not “seek to exploit difficulties for domestic advantage”, Fletcher said.
“Bipartisanship produces policy consistency and limits China’s ability to play games within the Australian system,” he said.
Fletcher was Australia’s ambassador to China from 2019 to 2023 and led the negotiating team in 2014 that helped seal a free-trade agreement between the nations…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
BOUG – MINING: ABG GOVT PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 10 Aug 2026
Bougainville President Toroama clears next step in Panguna mine redevelopment
BUKA, 10 AUGUST 2026 (ABG GOVT) — The Autonomous Bougainville Government has formally cleared preparatory works and feasibility studies for the redevelopment of the Panguna mine, marking a major step towards reopening the long-closed mine.
President and Minister for Mining and Petroleum Ishmael Toroama issued the LSML-01 Preparatory Works and Feasibility Commencement Certificate to Bougainville Minerals Limited (BML) in the presence of its preferred approved development partner, Lloyds Panguna Metals & Energy Limited (LPMEL).
The certificate was issued under the special redevelopment pathway established by the Bougainville Mining (Amendment) Act 2026.
It authorises BML, through LPMEL, to undertake an approved programme of preparatory works and feasibility activities covering technical, engineering, environmental, social and economic assessments required to plan the future redevelopment of the Panguna mine.
The certificate does not authorise mine construction or commercial production.
Those activities will require separate statutory approvals and subsequent commencement certificates.
Toroama said the certificate demonstrated the ABG’s commitment to responsible resource development under Bougainville’s own laws.
“The issuance of this Commencement Certificate today marks the beginning of a new chapter for Bougainville. It reflects our confidence in our own laws, our institutions and our ability to responsibly manage our natural resources. The redevelopment of Panguna will proceed one step at a time—guided by transparency, accountability, respect for our landowners and communities, and a shared commitment to ensuring that our mineral wealth creates lasting opportunities and prosperity for all Bougainvilleans,” President Toroama said.
The Panguna mine has remained at the centre of Bougainville’s political, economic and social history since its closure during the Bougainville conflict.
The latest certificate allows the project to move into detailed preparatory and feasibility work before any decision is made on construction or commercial mining…. PACNEWS
FIJI – EDUCATION: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 10 Aug 2026
Up to 5000 students drop out – Fiji National University
SUVA, 10 AUGUST 2026 (FIJI TIMES) — Up to 5000 Fiji National University (FNU) students were forced to drop out of their studies because they could not afford to pay their university fees.
FNU vice-chancellor Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba said FNU is facing a $10million (US$5 million) annual student debt crisis.
She said most of the outstanding debt was owed by private students.
“This is what was known in higher education as attrition,” she said.
She said the financial crisis affecting students went beyond unpaid fees, with about 10,000 students also going hungry because they could not afford basic food.
“When they are hungry, they can’t finish their studies and can’t come to school.”
She said students who struggled to afford food also faced difficulties meeting other essential costs, including transportation to and from classes. “If somebody is hungry, they can’t buy their basic food. They can’t catch the bus.”
Professor Nabobo- Baba said the situation showed the need to support students not only to enter university but to complete their studies.
She said the FNU Foundation was established through the support and generosity of individuals and organisations to help address the financial challenges faced by students.
“It helps address a gap in society and works towards creating a more equal playing field in education.”
She said education was a powerful tool for a developing country and students needed support to remain in education, complete their qualifications and succeed.
The Foundation, she said, was part of efforts to ensure financial hardship did not become a barrier for students seeking to build a better future through education…. PACNEWS
FIJI – MINIMUM WAGE: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 10 Aug 2026
Fiji PM says $8 minimum wage not viable amid economic pressures
SUVA, 10 AUGUST 2026 (FIJI SUN) — Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says the Government is not in a position to increase Fiji’s minimum wage from $5 to $8(US$250- US$4) an hour, describing the proposal as “unsustainable” amid economic pressures.
His comments follow calls by the Fiji Trades Union Congress (FTUC) for a $3(US$1.15)-an-hour increase.
Rabuka said the proposal was difficult to consider given the uncertainty surrounding the fuel crisis and other economic challenges.
“There is a wish to increase the minimum wage, but Government will not be able to consider this now,” he said.
“Minimum wage increase is unsustainable at present because of the forces bearing down on our economy.”
The FTUC called for an $8 (US$4)-an-hour living wage during its 51st Biennial Delegates Conference in Nadi and has launched a national campaign urging the Government to adopt the proposal.
Former FTUC president and current Labasa Chamber of Commerce and Industries member Satish Kumar echoed the Prime Minister’s concerns, warning that a sharp increase in the minimum wage could force businesses to reduce staff.
“The proposal to increase the minimum wage rate from $5 to $8 (US$250- US$4) is unsustainable and will lead to worker culling to ensure businesses remain financially afloat,” Kumar said.
He said the ongoing global fuel crisis had affected both employers and workers, with businesses also facing higher operating and freight costs.
While acknowledging the financial pressures on workers, Kumar said employers were also struggling to manage rising expenses.
He warned that increasing the hourly living wage could result in job losses.
“I don’t want that to happen because every worker has to satisfy their needs of their families and without employment it will become hard,” he said.
Rabuka said wage increases could instead be determined by employers based on employee performance.
“Productivity of wage earners plays a vital role in determining any wage increases,” he said…. PACNEWS
PNG – TRADE: EMTV PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 10 Aug 2026
NZ supports PNG to strengthen trade negotiations skilss
PORT MORESBY, 10 AUGUST 2026 (EMTV) — The New Zealand High Commission has supported Papua New Guinea’s efforts to strengthen its trade negotiation capabilities through a workshop held in Port Moresby from 04–7 August.
The workshop was led by Papua New Guinea’s National Trade Office and brought together officials from a range of departments and agencies involved in trade policy and international negotiations.
Building on earlier capacity building activities, the workshop focused on developing practical skills and knowledge to support PNG’s engagement in international trade discussions.
To deliver the programme, the National Trade Office welcomed back experienced New Zealand trade consultant Dr Tracey Epps.
She shared insights from New Zealand’s free trade agreements and broader international trade negotiations.
Participants explored technical areas of trade negotiations, exchanged experiences, and discussed approaches to advancing national interests in free trade agreements.
The initiative forms part of the New Zealand-Papua New Guinea Economic Plan of Action, announced by the Prime Ministers of both countries in 2025.
The Plan aims to deepen economic cooperation and strengthen engagement on international trade issues.
New Zealand High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, Georgina Roberts, said New Zealand is proud to partner with PNG to strengthen trade policy and negotiation capabilities.
“Effective participation in international trade negotiations is increasingly important, and we are pleased to have the opportunity to share New Zealand’s experience,” she said.
“The workshop reflects the growing economic partnership between New Zealand and Papua New Guinea and our shared commitment to a rules-based multilateral trading system that supports sustainable economic growth and prosperity across the Pacific…. 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
A strengthening El Niño is drying Pacific gardens and water sources
By Natasha Begum & Tadulala Koroi
SUVA, 10 AUGUST 2026 (SPC) — In food gardens across the Pacific, a strengthening El Niño is already making itself felt. Rainfall is decreasing, soil moisture is falling, and crops are slowing well before the point in the season most farmers would expect.
The event that meteorologists flagged earlier this year is now firming. The latest forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology, Australia, indicates that a strong to very strong El Niño event is developing, driven by significant warming in the central tropical Pacific.
The event is expected to peak in late spring or summer at levels comparable to, or possibly exceeding, the strongest El Niño events observed since 1950 (BOM fortnightly update 28 July 2026).
In the first blog of this series, we looked at how meteorological services across the region are tracking the developing El Niño and turning forecasts into practical guidance for governments and communities. As the event strengthens, one sector sits directly on the frontline of its impacts: agriculture.
Agriculture is central to the way of life of Pacific communities: a source of food, income, culture and security. When rainfall shifts and drought sets in, effects ripple far beyond the farm, reaching household nutrition, water security, livelihoods and community wellbeing.
Pacific countries do not need to imagine what a severe El Niño could mean for agriculture.
During the 2015–2016 El Niño, Papua New Guinea faced one of the worst climate-related agricultural crises in its history. The government estimated that around 700,000 people were living in areas where food production was severely affected, and that roughly 480,000 of them faced critical food shortages. Across the country as a whole, close to a third of the population felt the effects of drought, frost, and related impacts
In countries such as Fiji, Solomon Islands, Samoa and Vanuatu, El Niño often brings prolonged spells of below-average rainfall and drought. Less rain lowers soil moisture, slows crop growth and can cause significant declines in production.
“Drought conditions contribute to soil degradation by reducing vegetation cover [and] exposing soils to erosion when heavy rainfall eventually occurs,” said Dr Rohit Lal, Soil Scientist at the Pacific Community (SPC).
Higher temperatures and drier conditions can also raise pest and disease pressure on crops, reducing yields further.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) notes that El Niño related climate hazards pose significant risks to food security, and that small-scale food producers tend to feel the most immediate impacts, particularly where farming depends heavily on rainfall.
El Niño affects much of the region, but its impacts are not uniform.
For low-lying atoll nations such as Kiribati, Tuvalu and the outer islands of Palau, the challenge takes a different form. Sandy soils hold water poorly, freshwater lenses shrink during droughts, and saltwater intrusion can contaminate groundwater and damage crops.
The impacts are also deeply social. In most Pacific communities, women manage household food gardens and are often responsible for collecting water for domestic use. When crops fail and water sources recede, the added burden frequently falls on women and girls, who spend more time securing food and water while continuing to care for their families.
Yet Pacific communities have never faced climate variability without knowledge or experience. Farmers draw on generations of traditional knowledge from planting hardy traditional cultivars to preserving surplus breadfruit, taro, cassava and other root crops for the leaner months.
In many areas, surplus breadfruit, taro, cassava and other root crops are preserved during productive periods. These practices remain as relevant today as they were for previous generations.
That traditional knowledge is increasingly complemented by scientific approaches to climate adaptation and resilient agriculture.
Alongside adaptation measures that improve soil health such as composting, mulching, cover crops and green manures, water management practices like rainwater harvesting, bucket irrigation and wicking beds can help communities use water more efficiently, particularly in atoll environments.
El Niño may begin in the ocean, but its most immediate effects are felt in gardens, farms and water sources. Meteorologists have issued the warning, and governments are using outlooks to inform preparedness efforts. Farmers now have a window of opportunity to strengthen resilience before the impacts deepen.
In Papua New Guinea, the Department of Agriculture and Livestock is leading a coordinated national to protect food security and support vulnerable communities through early interventions, irrigation systems, planting material multiplication, and nationwide awareness campaigns.
Similarly in Tonga, the Meteorological Service declared El Niño in June and issued drought warnings across the island groups, encouraging households to store water ahead of the dry season.
“There is no downside to these ‘no regrets’ strategies. Farmers benefit from these practices no matter what the weather conditions, but they are especially critical during extreme events like a severe El Niño,” said Karen Mapusua, Director of the SPC’s Land Resources Division.
These national responses draw on guidance shared with member countries through the monthly Ocean and Climate Outlook Forum (OCOF) designed to help national meteorological services across the Pacific with their outlook and forecast. It is a platform provided by the Climate and Oceans Support Program in the Pacific (COSPPac), led by Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and its partners at the Pacific Community (SPC) and Bureau of Meteorology, Australia.
SPC’s Land Resources Division promotes a range of practical measures that build resilience regardless of the weather. The communities that prepare early, combining traditional knowledge, scientific advice and practical adaptation will be best placed to weather whatever the coming months bring.
Next in the series
As El Niño reshapes weather across the Pacific, its effects are also being felt beneath the ocean’s surface, altering the distribution of fish stocks and putting pressure on coastal ecosystems. The next blog looks at what that means for fisheries, aquaculture and the communities whose livelihoods depend on the sea.
This story was developed with contributions from Dr Rohit Lal, Soil Scientist and Lydia Nenai, Climate Change Specialist at the SPC Land Resources Division, and Dr Moleni Tu’uholoaki, Ocean Science Officer at COSPPac, GEM Division, whose technical expertise and perspectives helped shape this content…. PACNEWS
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Empowering the next generation of outbreak responders in the Western Pacific
MANILA, 10 AUGUST 2026 (WHO) — From 27 to 31 July 2026, the World Health Organisation (WHO) led 24 participants from 18 countries across the Western Pacific Region through a health emergency scenario exercise to strengthen their readiness to deploy and operate as a single international response team.
This five-day Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) Outbreak Response Scenario Programme was delivered in collaboration with regional partners including the University of Newcastle and the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre’s Public Health Operations in Emergencies for National Strengthening in the Indo-Pacific (PHOENIX) programme.
GOARN’s reach is reflected in the diversity of its membership, which includes Australia, Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Tonga, the United States of American, Vanuatu and Viet Nam. Its scenario-based programme prepares outbreak responders and builds their confidence in working as part of a multidisciplinary and multinational team ready to take action when a health emergency occurs.
Workforce readiness is the bedrock of emergency response
“It is one thing to lead a response among familiar colleagues in a familiar system. It is another to do it alongside people who bring different backgrounds, different institutional norms and different ways of solving problems – all while a simulated outbreak keeps evolving around them,” said Dr Sharon Salmon, Technical Officer for the Health Emergencies Programme in the WHO Western Pacific region.
“That gap is exactly what the GOARN capacity strengthening and health emergency workforce development programme is designed to close.”
This GOARN programme is one expression of a much larger commitment WHO is leading globally: the Global Health Emergency Corps (GHEC) initiative. Launched in 2023 and anchored in WHO’s broader health emergency preparedness architecture, GHEC enhances global workforce capacities and the coordination mechanisms that connect them. ‘Surge’ comprises one of three layers of the GHEC workforce pyramid that WHO aims to strengthen through GHEC. GOARN training programmes are a channel that WHO leverages to build regional surge capacities across the Western Pacific.
The underlying message driving the programme is straightforward: investing in people is what really strengthens response and ultimately, what saves lives.
Five days… one unfolding emergency
Rather than static lessons, participants in the GOARN programme worked through an emergency scenario that shifted and escalated over the course of the week, forcing teams to continually reassess, realign and respond as new information and complications emerged.
Participants had the opportunity to experience first hand the operational and technical challenges of an international outbreak response, build practical problem-solving skills under realistic time and resource pressures, and strengthen professional networks with colleagues from across the Region.
“We had to learn to trust one another, solve problems together and function as a single team – in a very short span of time,” shared Dr Darius Beh from the National Centre for Infectious Diseases in Singapore, describing the value of the training. “Perhaps the biggest takeaway for me was that you can learn from every person in the room, and those professional relationships may become just as important as the technical skills when responding to a real event.”
Dr Janin Nouhin, Deputy Head of Virology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, concurred: “This training taught me that successful deployments require more than technical expertise – they demand teamwork, adaptability, respect for the cultural and social realities of the communities we serve, and meaningful communications that build trust and collaboration across diverse stakeholders.”
These are the same core competencies GOARN relies on when real teams deploy – coordination, collaboration and rapid, evidence-based decision-making in complex emergency settings.
Towards a more prepared region
Beyond technical skills, the programme is also deliberately designed to foster something less tangible but equally critical: regional connection. By strengthening capacity together, participants forge the networks and working relationships that make a coordinated response possible when a real crisis crosses borders. The capacity strengthening programme forms part of a broader regional initiative to ensure that countries across the Western Pacific are better connected, better prepared, and better able to respond collectively in times of crisis.
“Effective outbreak response relies on more than technical knowledge. Responders must be able to build trust quickly, communicate across cultures and disciplines, and make sound decisions under pressure. PHOENIX values the opportunity to work alongside WHO and regional partners to strengthen these practical capabilities and the relationships that support a coordinated regional response,” said Dr Chatu Yapa, PHOENIX Public Health Advisor.
Associate Professor Tambri Housen of the University of Newcastle noted that it was the first time the GOARN Outbreak Response Scenario Programme had been co-led by WHO and partners. “With the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific and the University of Newcastle delivering the GOARN programme together, we enable it to be rolled out across the Western Pacific, building sustainability and scalability into outbreak preparedness.”
This work is supported by the Australian Government through the Partnerships for a Health Region initiative and implemented by the PHOENIX programme. Australian government investments, in partnership with WHO, have strengthened the foundations of regional health security, enabling earlier detection of outbreaks and timely emergency responses…. PACNEWS
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Pacific dialogue concludes with call for action on women’s leadership and shared decision-making
NADI, 10 AUGUST 2026 (SPC) — The Policy Dialogue on Shared Decision-Making and Women’s Leadership in the Pacific concluded with a renewed commitment from regional leaders, policymakers, researchers, civil society organisations and development partners to strengthen women’s leadership and create more inclusive decision-making systems across the Pacific.
Over two days, (23 July – 24 July 2026) participants explored practical solutions to advance women’s participation in leadership, strengthen governance systems and identify actions that will help shape the upcoming Regional Conference on Shared Decision-Making and Women’s Leadership in the Pacific.
In her keynote address, Former Prime Minister of Samoa, Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa highlighted the importance of inclusive leadership in addressing the significant challenges facing Pacific countries.
“These challenges demand leadership that is inclusive, representative and capable of drawing upon the strengths of all our Pacific peoples.”
Mataʻafa noted that women continue to play vital leadership roles throughout Pacific communities, businesses, organisations and governments, and stressed the importance of creating stronger pathways for women to progress into national, regional and international leadership positions.
“The Pacific must intentionally create pathways that enable women to move from community leadership into national, regional and international leadership roles.”
Opening the dialogue, Mereseini Rakuita, Principal Strategic Lead, Pacific Women and Girls at the Pacific Community (SPC), described the gathering as, “an opportunity to bring together diverse experiences and expertise from across the region to identify practical solutions and drive meaningful change”.
Throughout the dialogue, participants discussed leadership pathways, policy and institutional reform, regional accountability mechanisms, male allyship, and strategies to support women leaders at every stage of their leadership journey.
Closing the event, Dr Manu Tupou-Roosen, Head of School for Ecology and Resilience Development at the Pasifika Communities University (PCU) emphasised that the success of the dialogue would not be measured by the quality of the discussions alone, but by the actions taken afterwards.
“Let us leave here committed to implementation. Let us build the leadership pathways we have envisioned. Let us strengthen the institutions we know must change. Let us map and invest in the systems that enable women to lead and thrive.”
The recommendations and insights emerging from the dialogue will help inform the upcoming Regional Conference on Shared Decision-Making and Women’s Leadership in the Pacific, early next year (2027) and contribute to longer-term regional efforts to strengthen women’s leadership across the Blue Pacific.
Dr Tupou-Roosen shared a Tongan proverb that reflected the spirit of collaboration demonstrated throughout the dialogue:
“Pikipiki hama kae vaevae manava” – Bind the outriggers together so that we may share the journey and its burdens.
She encouraged participants to build on the momentum generated over the two days.
“Over these two days, we have bound together our ideas, our experiences and our aspirations for a stronger Pacific. Now we must continue the journey together.”
This Policy Dialogue has benefited from the technical expertise, research insights and strategic advice of regional and international partners including Pacific Islands Forum, Pasifika Community University, UN Women, Balance of Power and the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership – ANU…. PACNEWS
