In this bulletin:
1. ISRAEL — Naoero opens embassy in Jerusalem, drawing regional and international condemnation
2. PACIFIC — 11 years on, Pacific Meteorological leaders revisit Nuku’alofa declaration
3. PACIFIC — Regional cooperation vital as Pacific faces growing climate challenges
4. FIJI — Fiji may not need new Pacific roving ambassador: PM
5.UN — ‘The water comes up to our knees’: Climate hazards shut millions of children out of school in 2025
6. FIJI — PM Rabuka: Fijians ‘no longer need to fear speaking their minds’
7. FIJI — HIV cases climb in Fiji’s Northern division
8. KIRIBATI — NZDF helps Kiribati dispose of almost 300 Second World War munitions
9. PNG — Police, PNGDF still awaiting election-preparation funding
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Solomon Islands puts people at the heart of its fisheries sector
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Airline says night operations is next big goal for PNG aviation industry
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — New WASH Facility Supports Safer, Healthier Learning at Gifu Primary School
13. PACNEWS SPORT — Rotorua confirmed to Host 2026 Oceania 7s Cup
ISRAEL – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS/AFP/WIRES PACNEWS 3: Thu 10 Sep 2026
Naoero opens embassy in Jerusalem, drawing regional and international condemnation
JERUSALEM, 10 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS/AFP/WIRES)— Naoero has opened an embassy in Jerusalem, becoming the ninth country to establish its diplomatic mission in the city and drawing condemnation from Jordan and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Naoero’s Vice President and Foreign Minister Lionel Aingimea said the decision to open the embassy reflected the Pacific island nation’s longstanding relationship with Israel.
“We see opening an embassy here in Jerusalem not only as strengthening our ties with Israel, but also as a message to the world of where we stand.
“Our support for Israel has been unwavering. Naoero is historically one of Israel’s most reliable and consistent diplomatic allies at the United Nations,” Aingimea said at the inauguration ceremony on Monday.
Aingimea said the decision to establish the mission in Jerusalem followed discussions with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar in Fiji and was fully endorsed by Naoero’s Cabinet.
“Our motto is God first, and Israel always has a special place in our hearts,” he said.
Sa’ar described Naoero as one of Israel’s strongest supporters and said relations between Israel and Pacific island countries were advancing.
“Today two ancient peoples stand together in Jerusalem, proud of our identity, our heritage and our friendship,” Sa’ar said.
He also linked Naoero’s decision to restore its indigenous name, Naoero, with Israel’s own historical ties to the region.
“We, too, are the indigenous people of this land,” Sa’ar said, adding that Jews are called Jews because they are from Judea.
Naoero, with a population of about 12,000, is one of the world’s smallest countries.
The United States, Fiji, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay and Somaliland have also established diplomatic missions or offices in Jerusalem.
Most countries with diplomatic relations with Israel continue to maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv, arguing that the final status of Jerusalem should be determined through negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.
The United States moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump, a decision followed by several other countries.
Sa’ar said more countries were expected to follow Naoero, including Colombia, which has announced plans to relocate its embassy. The Democratic Republic of Congo has also said it intends to move its embassy to Jerusalem, while Argentine President Javier Milei has pledged to relocate Argentina’s embassy.
Naoero’s decision has been strongly criticised by Jordan.
Jordanian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Fouad Majali said the move was “unacceptable and a blatant violation of international law and international legitimacy resolutions”.
He said any measures aimed at changing the status or legal identity of Jerusalem were “null, void, and illegal”.
Majali said a lasting peace required the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state along the 04 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The OIC also condemned Naoero’s decision, saying it violated international law and United Nations resolutions concerning Jerusalem.
In a statement, the OIC General Secretariat said the move “contravenes the international position on the city’s legal and historical status”.
It said East Jerusalem was an integral part of the Palestinian territory occupied in 1967 and described decisions to establish diplomatic missions there as “null and void and illegal under international law and relevant United Nations resolutions”.
The OIC referred specifically to UN Security Council Resolutions 476 and 478 of 1980 and urged Naoero and other countries that had relocated, or planned to relocate, their embassies to Jerusalem to reverse those decisions.
The organisation called instead for support for international efforts towards a two-state solution.
The status of Jerusalem remains one of the most contentious issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israel captured East Jerusalem and the West Bank during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and later annexed East Jerusalem, a move not recognised by most of the international community.
Palestinians claim the West Bank and Gaza Strip for an independent state, with East Jerusalem as its capital….PACNEWS
PAC – MET MEET: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 3: Thu 10 Sep 2026
11 years on, Pacific Meteorological leaders revisit Nuku’alofa declaration
NUKU’ALOFA, 10 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—The Pacific Meteorological Council (PMC) is meeting today in Tonga to revisit commitments first made more than a decade ago.
The meeting comes 11 years after Pacific ministers adopted the first Nuku’alofa Declaration in 2015, following efforts to bring meteorological directors and political leaders together to address challenges facing national meteorological services, making this years meeting especially important.
SPREP Director Climate Science and Information Salesa Nihmei said the PMC grew out of years of discussions among Pacific meteorological directors and ministers that had produced limited progress.
“Meteorological directors and ministers were meeting since 1993 and well into the 2000s,” Nihmei said.
“They would sit down and discuss their issues. And it went on like this for years until eventually some members became frustrated because nothing was moving.”
That frustration led to the establishment of the Pacific Meteorological Council in 2011.
Nihmei said the council was created to provide a platform where Pacific meteorological services could collectively identify their priorities while also bringing development partners and technical institutions into the discussion.
“When we started the Council in 2011, from 54, and we’ve slowly grown in numbers and in 2023 we recorded over 240 people.”
The council’s role has also included making its activities more visible to potential donors and partners, with the aim of ensuring that organisations involved in development and technical support understand the challenges facing Pacific meteorological services.
The push to engage political leaders became more prominent from 2013, when meteorological directors sought greater understanding of the sector within governments.
Nihmei said meteorological services are often housed within large government ministries whose primary responsibilities lie elsewhere, such as transport and infrastructure.
In response, ministers were brought together in 2015, resulting in the first Nuku’alofa Declaration.
Nihmei said today’s meeting therefore represents more than another regional gathering: it provides an opportunity to return to commitments made 11 years ago and assess what has happened since….PACNEWS
PAC – MET MEET: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 3: Thu 10 Sep 2026
Regional cooperation vital as Pacific faces growing climate challenges
NUKU’ALOFA, 10 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—Regional cooperation will be more important than ever in 2026 as demands for weather and climate services continue to grow while resources become increasingly constrained.
Director of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) Regional Coordination Office, Ishaam Abader, made the statement during the opening of the 8th Pacific Meteorological Council (PMC) meeting in Nuku’alofa, Tonga.
Abader said the meeting came at an important time for both the Pacific region and the global hydro-meteorological community.
“The Pacific region remains on the front line of climate variability and change,” he said.
“Extreme weather, tropical cyclones, coastal flooding, drought and sea level rise continues to pose significant challenges to Pacific communities, economies and ecosystems.”
Abader said the work of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services had therefore never been more important.
He said this year’s theme, “Weather Ready for a Secure and Sustainable Pacific,” captured the challenge facing the region.
“The Pacific Island Meteorological Strategy 2027–2036 would provide an important pathway towards achieving that goal and a framework for implementing key WMO and regional association priorities at regional and national levels.
“These priorities include Early Warnings for All, strengthening the Global Pacific Observing Network, advancing initiatives, enhancing hydrological services, accelerating digital transformation, building capacity and preparing members to benefit from emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence.”
Abader said the PMC had a critical role in advancing these priorities through regional coordination, collective leadership and shared expertise.
He said strong engagement at regional and national levels would help ensure Pacific priorities were reflected in international decision-making, while avoiding duplication of effort and maximizing limited resources.
“The free exchange of data, knowledge, and expertise remains the foundation of our collective success.”
Abader said continued investment in observations, forecasting, climate monitoring and hydrological services was necessary as demands increased and resources became more constrained.
“Because without them, there can be no effective early warning systems, no climate-informed decision-making, and no resilient development, Abader said…PACNEWS
FIJI – DIPLOMACY: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 3: Thu 10 Sep 2026
Fiji may not need new Pacific roving ambassador: PM
SUVA, 10 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—Fiji Government has yet to identify a new roving ambassador for the Pacific, with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka saying there may be no need to appoint one.
William Toganivalu’s three-year term as roving ambassador ended last month.
Toganivalu, a Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) candidate, is a regional security and risk management adviser.
SODELPA leader and Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro said the delay in recommending and appointing a new roving ambassador was an internal matter.
He said a roving ambassador would eventually be appointed.
However, Rabuka said Fiji already had an ambassador based in Wellington who also covered the Pacific.
“If there was a need for a roving ambassador, there is one based in Wellington. He is also roving in the Pacific. There may be no need for one,” Rabuka said….PACNEWS
UN – CLIMATE CHANGE: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS 3: Thu 10 Sep 2026
‘The water comes up to our knees’: Climate hazards shut millions of children out of school in 2025
PORT MORESBY/GENEVA, 10 SEPTEMBER 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE)—When the creek beside Taudibura Garo’s school in Papua New Guinea floods, the water doesn’t stop at the gate.
It rises through the pit toilets – making the school unsafe – sending the 16-year-old and her classmates home without being able to finish.
She is one of an estimated 171 million students worldwide whose schooling was disrupted by climate hazards in 2025, according to a new UNICEF report released Wednesday: that’s roughly one in ten students, from pre-school through to the end of high school.
Storms were the most common cause of disruptions – affecting 109 million students – followed by floods and heatwaves.
They led to suspended classes, damaged schools, a shift to remote learning, shortened instructional time, reduced school attendance and increased risk of dropping out for millions.
Taudibura and her classmates in Papua New Guinea face even more extreme weather this year. The stronger-than-ever El Niño climate pattern is expected to increase the risk of extreme weather in the coming months.
“Usually, the water comes up to our knees and floods the pit toilets, then it becomes unhealthy for us to stay at school, and we miss the lessons we are supposed to learn,” she explained.
While students across all income levels were impacted by disruptions, three-quarters affected live in low and lower-middle-income countries, according to UNICEF, as education systems there often lack the resources needed to safeguard learning during climate-related emergencies.
For example, in Pakistan – one of the most affected countries in the study – severe monsoon floods in August delayed the return to school for over 28 million students, making it one of the largest climate-related education disruptions recorded in 2025.
Similarly, in Egypt, a powerful Khamsin (wind and dust) storm prompted a nationwide suspension of classes for one day in April, also affecting more than 28 million students.
Girls are more likely than boys to drop out when climate hazards disrupt or close schools, the report finds.
When schools and sanitation facilities are damaged, and families are displaced and lose income, girls tend to be given additional caregiving and water-collection responsibilities.
These pressures can also increase the risk of being forced into child marriage, which makes it very difficult for girls to return to school once they reopen.
“For millions of children, climate hazards do more than disrupt lessons, they destroy schools, uproot families, and push the most vulnerable children, especially girls, out of the classroom for good,” stressed UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
Unless clear action is taken to help them, students who experienced climate-related school disruptions in 2025 could cumulatively lose at least US$200 billion in lifetime earnings, according to the report.
At a macro scale, learning losses and higher school dropout rates can reduce workforce productivity, slow economic growth, and make it harder for countries to reduce poverty.
UNICEF is now calling on governments worldwide to invest more heavily in climate-resilient educational systems and infrastructure “to protect education for children today and for future generations,” in Russell’s words. …PACNEWS
FIJI – MEDIA FREEDOM: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 3: Thu 10 Sep 2026
PM Rabuka: Fijians ‘no longer need to fear speaking their minds’
SUVA, 10 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says Fijians “no longer need to fear speaking their minds” as the country prepares for debate on the new Constitution.
In a statement, Rabuka said people were now “free to express their views, debate the issues that matter to them, and say what they believe without looking over their shoulder.”
He said the Government could have retained the Media Industry Development Act (MIDA) when it came into power, which “politically” might have made life easier.
“But it would not have been right for Fiji or the legacy we wanted to leave behind,” he said.
MIDA was repealed in 2023, a move credited by media groups and press freedom watchdogs with contributing to Fiji’s rise in the World Press Freedom Index.
Rabuka urged Fijians to “use this freedom responsibly” and to disagree “without bullying, humiliating, or deliberately hurting one another.”
Minister for Information and Climate Change Lynda Tabuya, speaking outside the Prime Minister’s Office after Cabinet, said Rabuka’s message was linked to the coming release of the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) report.
She said Rabuka, the only Cabinet member to have gone through a constitutional review process before, understood how the public and media could respond.
“He is encouraging all Fijians to have a say,” Tabuya said.
She urged people to “rely only on reliable information” and to “fact check everything” as debate over the constitutional review develops.
On criticism of Government, she said: “We welcome it… if it is constructive and helpful.”….PACNEWS
FIJI – HEALTH/HIV AIDS: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 3: Thu 10 Sep 2026
HIV cases climb in Fiji’s Northern division
SUVA, 10 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—A total of 53 confirmed HIV cases were recorded at the Labasa Divisional Hospital medical laboratory between January to August this year.
Labasa Divisional Hospital medical laboratory scientist and Miss Friendly North 2026 Isabella Raidriwa said there had been a significant increase in HIV infections in communities.
“There has been a great increase in HIV infections in our communities. This is alongside the destructive impact of illicit drugs such as methamphetamine, which is also known as ice,” she said.
Raidriwa said 60 percent of people living with HIV were young people.
She urged young people to speak openly about sexual health and help break the stigma surrounding HIV.
“I would like to encourage our youth to break the stigma and silence on sexual health.”
She said the rise in HIV infections was a concern and highlighted the need for greater awareness among young people.
“Young people should be encouraged to seek accurate information about sexual health and understand the importance of making informed decisions,” Raidriwa said…. PACNEWS
KIRIBATI – UXO DISPOSAL: NZDF PACNEWS 3: Thu 10 Sep 2026
NZDF helps Kiribati dispose of almost 300 Second World War munitions
TARAWA, 10 SEPTEMBER 2026 (NZDF)—Residents and workers in one of Kiribati’s most densely populated communities are now safer after a joint Kiribati-New Zealand operation to safely dispose of hundreds of Second World War-era unexploded ordnance (UXO) items in Betio, Kiribati.
Supported by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, a Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130J and crew, personnel from the New Zealand Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Squadron, New Zealand Army 2nd Engineer Regiment Zodiac operators, and medical personnel deployed recently to Kiribati to carry out the task.
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) team worked alongside members of the Kiribati Police Service for a week to maintain a cordon and move approximately 300 items by road from Bonnyman’s Bunker and then by small boat to an isolated and uninhabited sandbar for safe disposal.
Six of the items were eight-inch shells weighing 120kg each, with 9.7kg of that being explosives.
Some of the UXO items were in such a severely degraded condition that they had to be detonated inside the bunker, requiring 7000 nearby residents to be evacuated.
EOD operators placed numerous sandbags inside the bunker to prevent widespread damage, and the heavy construction of the bunker meant the majority of the blast and fragmentation was contained.
NZDF Senior National Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Wright, said the operation was a great example of New Zealand working with Pacific partners to safely dispose of dangerous items left behind after the Second World War.
“This has been a real team effort. We would like to acknowledge the leadership of the Government of Kiribati, the support and assistance of the Kiribati Police Service, and the Betio community, which enabled us to successfully carry out the operation.”
The NZDF and Kiribati Police Service will continue to cooperate closely on EOD issues, including building Kiribati’s EOD expertise to safely identify and secure any future items discovered.
This deployment builds on a successful run of NZDF UXO disposal operations throughout the Pacific, with recent operations in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Naoero (formerly Nauru)….PACNEWS
PNG – ELECTION FUNDING: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS 3: Thu 10 Sep 2026
Police, PNGDF still awaiting election-preparation funding
PORT MORESBY, 10 SEPTEMBER 2026 (THE NATONAL)—Police and the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) told the special parliamentary committee on general elections that they have not received funding to prepare for next year’s elections.
Police Commissioner David Manning told the inquiry that police have been spending from the operations recurrent budget to progress their plans.
“We have not received any substantial funding for the elections. We have initiated contact with Treasury on the additional funding in the supplementary budget to ensure that we both understand the urgency of the matter,” Manning said.
Police submitted a budget of K442millon (US$98 million) to Treasury last month.
“The funds that will be released or should be released between now and the end of the year, we can’t lawfully spend that money.
“If we’re talking about reserving the warrants, if it’s about tendering goods and services provisions, that in itself is a more than two months process,” he said.
Manning said they could spend money if they did away with the requirements under the Public Finance Management Act but would rather not.
“It’s something we wouldn’t distract ourselves with. We’ve not received any funding as yet,” he said.
He said by now they should be preparing their units, preparing tenders, securing service providers and start paying them in advance.
“Because when we talk about hiring vehicles or accommodation, fuel, air charters, we’re competing with the rest of the country,” he said.
Manning said the success of the 2022 elections was based on a significant pre-election financial resourcing but that’s not the case now.
“At this point in time there’s very little support,” Manning said.
“Information gaps from the Electoral Commission were identified in which we had a two-day workshop to better align ourselves and see how best we can support their plans,” he said…..PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
SOL – FISHERIES: SPC PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 10 Sep 2026
Solomon Islands puts people at the heart of its fisheries sector
HONIARA, 10 SEPTEMBER 2026 (SPC)—Solomon Islands Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) has launched its Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Strategy 2026–2030, marking a significant step towards a more inclusive and equitable fisheries sector.
Endorsed in April 2026, the five-year strategy sets out how MFMR will mainstream gender equality, disability inclusion and social inclusion across its policies, programmes, services and decision-making.
Launching the strategy, Director of Fisheries Edward Honiwala said women, youth and marginalised groups have long made important contributions across fisheries value chains, but their roles and voices have not always been recognised.
“Together we can build a fisheries sector that uplifts every voice, values every contribution and leaves no one behind.”
Honiwala said the new strategy replaces a gender mainstreaming strategy developed more than a decade ago, which focused largely on inshore fisheries. The new framework takes a broader, holistic approach covering all key areas of MFMR’s work and the wider fisheries sector.
A particular focus is ensuring persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups have equal opportunities to participate in fisheries management, development and decision-making.
“Solomon Islands is among the few Pacific countries with a fisheries-specific GEDSI strategy,” Honiwala said, describing its launch as an important milestone.
The strategy includes clear objectives, targets, indicators, and an implementation plan, providing a practical framework for moving GEDSI commitments into action across MFMR.
Its development was informed by consultations with communities and stakeholders, ensuring diverse perspectives helped shape the strategy.
The strategy was developed with technical assistance from the Pacific Community (SPC) through the Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP) Programme, with support continuing under PEUMP II, funded by the European Union (EU). Gender equality and social inclusion are cross-cutting principles across all EU programmes in the region, helping ensure that no one is left behind and that support reaches communities more effectively and delivers lasting, equitable outcomes.
WorldFish also provided guidance through the Pathways project, funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
Honiwala acknowledged the support of government ministries, partners, donors and GEDSI experts and called for continued support as MFMR moves into implementation over the next five years.
The launch coincided with a three-day GEDSI training for MFMR staff held from 31 August to 2 September 2026 at the Heritage Park Hotel in Honiara.
The training is an early step towards putting the strategy into practice, equipping staff with practical tools to consider how fisheries policies, programmes and decisions affect different groups.
Following the launch, MFMR will focus on implementing the strategy across its divisions, with clear responsibilities, timelines and regular monitoring of progress.
The strategy reinforces a simple principle: everyone should have the opportunity to participate in, contribute to and benefit from Solomon Islands’ fisheries sector…..PACNEWS
PNG – AIRLINE: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 10 Sep 2026
Airline says night operations is next big goal for PNG aviation industry
PORT MORESBY, 10 SEPTEMBER 2026 (THE NATIONAL)—Air Niugini chief executive officer Alan Milne says night operations is the next big thing for the aviation industry and hopes all players can work together to make it happen.
Milne said during the Port Moresby chamber of commerce and Industry business breakfast.
“Aviation is not an airline operating on its own, it is an infrastructure that works together, airports are profit driven, in overseas, it is big but we in PNG are a small industry and we can work together in aviation overall,” he said.
Milne said conversation continues with Civil Aviation Safety Authority, National Airports Corporation and others as well.
“We are discussing what’s next, and we have the Civil Aviation Development Improvement Programme, which is good, but night time operations, so that means satellite based approached system and runway lights. We do have those conversations,” he said.
Milne said it would be great to have Airbus A220 and B737 into Mt Hagen, “it is important we work together”.
He hoped Nadzab Tomodachi International could be operational at nights and services international flights as well.
“Right now, if planes fly from Singapore to Port Moresby and can’t land, and can’t go to Lae, the next option is Cairns,” he said.
“For Nadzab Tomodachi International, there needs to be airports lights, weather forecast machines, ones we got the capabilities, 24/7 power, night capability, airport staffs, we can achieve all these.”
Milne added that Air Niugini, as a flag carrier and national airline, was looking at options to be the official carrier of PNG Chiefs and offer day flights for PNG Chiefs games in 2028….PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
New WASH Facility Supports Safer, Healthier Learning at Gifu Primary School
HONIARA, 10 SEPTEMBER 2026 (UNDP)—Students at Gifu Primary School in the remote Barana highlands of Guadalcanal now have access to a new water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facility, easing pressure on the school’s ageing and inadequate toilets.
The facility was funded by the European Union (EU) through the Provincial Governments and Service Delivery (PGSD) project, implemented by UN Development Programme in partnership with local governments across Solomon Islands. It is the fifth project completed by the Guadalcanal Provincial Government under PGSD’s sector grant support.
UNDP Pacific Office Resident Representative Munkhtuya Altangerel formally handed over the facility alongside Guadalcanal Province Premier Willie Atu.
In her remarks, Altangerel emphasised that the project represented more than an investment in physical infrastructure.
“We invest in healthier lives, safer learning and greater dignity,” she said, underscoring the facility’s long-term impact would depend on sustained community ownership and responsible maintenance.
“Its lasting impact depends on shared community ownership and responsible care, demonstrating what government, communities and partners can achieve together.”
Premier Atu reaffirmed the Guadalcanal Provincial Government’s commitment to using development grants responsibly, while acknowledging support from UNDP, the EU and the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening (MPGIS) in advancing services across education, health, infrastructure and livelihoods.
Addressing teachers and school administrators, Atu noted that modest investments can have meaningful impact when they respond to genuine local needs.
“Across schools and health centres, WASH facilities have already improved safety, dignity and daily life,” he said. “Let it stand as a symbol of care for our children, respect for their dignity, and our collective promise to protect their health and support their education.”
For Head Teacher Gibson Rabea, the most important improvements are the practical ones: better access to water, improved sanitation, and facilities that respond more directly to the needs of the school’s more than 260 students.
“This facility will greatly alleviate the pressure on the run-down toilets the school has now,” Rabea said.
One student representative also thanked the development partners and assured them that they would take responsibility for caring for the new facility. She also encouraged continued support for schools across Solomon Islands.
The Gifu initiative forms part of the wider PGSD programme, which aims to strengthen provincial governance and improve access to essential services.
cross three grant cycles, more than SBD$24 million (US$3 million) has been allocated to 76 projects across all nine provinces, including 61 education projects and 15 health projects. The projects are reported to have reached 51,628 beneficiaries, including 27,278 women and girls.
Guadalcanal Province has received more than SBD$4 million (US$500, 292) in PGSD funding over the past three years, including support for WASH infrastructure.
For Gifu Primary School, the new facility provides a practical improvement to daily school life: safer sanitation, more reliable water access and greater dignity for students….PACNEWS
For more information or media inquiries please contact: Mozammel Haque | Project Manager, UNDP Solomon Islands Office | mozammel.haque@undp.org
PACNEWS SPORT
PAC – RUGBY: OCEANIA RUGBY PACNEWS SPORT: Thu 10 Sep 2026
Rotorua confirmed to Host 2026 Oceania 7s Cup
ROTORUA, 10 SEPTEMBER 2026 (OCEANIA RUGBY) —Oceania Rugby and New Zealand Rugby today confirmed that Rotorua International Stadium will host the 2026 Oceania Rugby 7s Cup on Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November.
Across the two days, fans will see a non-stop schedule of matches, with places on the line for Oceania’s qualification spots to the HSBC SVNS 3 series.
Richard Sapias, President of Oceania Rugby, stated “This is a golden era for rugby in our region, and it’s encouraging to see the continued support of the Australian Government through PacificAus Sports and its Rugby World Cup 2027 and 2029 legacy investment, Impact Beyond Pasifika. This support for the Oceania 7s will provide a valuable platform to deliver high performance, media and communications education and training to participating Pacific teams and their staff, while supporting the region’s continued strength in sevens rugby ahead of Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032.”
New Zealand Rugby (NZR) Sevens High-Performance lead Hannah Porter said: “We’re pleased to have the Oceania Rugby 7s Cup here in New Zealand and the opportunity for our players to get some valuable game time against international opposition as we look toward the 2026/27 HSBC SVNS Series. I know our players are looking forward to playing in front of whanau, friends and home fans in Rotorua.”
Eight teams will contest the Men’s Cup — Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands and Niue — with five of those unions, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands and Niue, also competing for Oceania’s SVNS 3 qualification places. The women’s competition runs across two sections: the Oceania 7s Women’s Cup, doubling as the SVNS 3 qualifier, features Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Niue and Solomon Islands, while a six-team International Women’s Invitational brings Fiji, New Zealand and Australia together with France, Japan and the United States.
Saturday’s play runs from 9:00am and is entirely pool matches across all three competitions, setting the seedings for Sunday, when pool play gives way to knockout football — quarter-finals and semi-finals in the Men’s Cup, and semi-finals in both women’s competitions — building to a finals session that closes out the tournament with the Women’s International Invitational, Women’s Cup and Men’s Cup finals played back-to-back into the evening.
Frank Puletua, General Manager of Oceania Rugby, underscored the strength of the field “This is one of the most competitive Oceania 7s Cup fields we’ve assembled, with SVNS qualification on the line for five Member Unions in both the men’s and women’s competitions. We want to thank RotoruaNZ and the wider Rotorua team for hosting this year’s tournament — their support helps us keep pushing rugby forward across our region, and gives our players and fans a world-class stage to decide it.”
Over the two-day tournament, the Cup and the second-tier Oceania 7s Challenge will continue to operate as connected competitions, with promotion and relegation between them providing a transparent, merit-based pathway for Member Unions to progress.
Mike Rogers, Chief Executive Officer of Bay of Plenty Rugby Union, said “Bay of Plenty Rugby is proud to support Rotorua in hosting the Oceania Rugby 7s Cup. Events of this calibre benefit rugby right across our region, from grassroots clubs through to our high-performance pathway, and we’re looking forward to welcoming teams and fans to Rotorua International Stadium.””
Sam Hulton, Head of Commercial at RotoruaNZ, said: “Rotorua is thrilled to be hosting the Oceania 7’s Cup 2026, the only international sevens tournament taking place in Aotearoa. Welcoming teams from across Oceania and around the world is a fantastic opportunity to showcase Rotorua as a leading host of international sporting events and to share our unique culture, experiences and hospitality with visitors. We know events like this deliver real benefits for our community while reinforcing Rotorua’s reputation as a vibrant destination for major events, sport and tourism.”
Hosting the tournament reinforces Rotorua’s position as a leading destination for major international sporting events, and offers visitors more than the action on the field — combining international sport with world-renowned Māori culture, geothermal landscapes and adventure experiences, within easy reach of Auckland, Waikato and the wider Bay of Plenty.
The 2026 Oceania 7s Cup is part of Oceania Rugby’s broader commitment to a performance and pathway-based competition structure across the region, connecting grassroots and Member Union rugby to the SVNS series and the international stage….PACNEWS
