In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — PSIDS need real finance for just transition: Tuvalu Minister for Climate Change Dr Talia
2. PACIFIC — Island-wide power outage on Saipan, Tinian; Guam remains in Condition 1
3. FIJI — Tongan King Tupou VI pays final respects to Ratu Epeli Nailatikau
4. PNG — PNG Oppositions backs soldiers who recently exposed corruption in PNGDF recruitment
5. PNG — Soft power ‘win’ for Beijing as Chinese medical ship treats 5,400 for free in PNG
6. VAN — Vanuatu MP Luo faces three-day court trial
7. UN — Youth shape the road to 2030, call for urgent action on sustainable development
8. PACIFIC — Pacific voices shine as PMN named finalist at New Zealand’s premier media awards 2026
9. PACIFIC — 531PI moves to FM after 35 years, securing future for Pacific voices in Tāmaki Makaurau
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji moves to shield essential services as NDRMO leads fuel crisis planning push in Suva
11. PACNEWS BIZ — GHD named the designer of record for Navy’s $120M hangar project on Guam
12. PACNEWS BIZ — Meth scare in rental vehicles in Fiji
13. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Solomon Islands on the edge, again
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — After midnight: what Fiji’s HIV crisis looks like from a mobile clinic
15. PACNEWS DIGEST — Cleaner, more reliable energy transforming lives in Nauru
PAC – FOSSIL FUEL TREATY MEET: VANUATU DAILY POST PACNEWS 3: Thu 16 Apr 2026
PSIDS need real finance for just transition: Tuvalu Minister for Climate Change Dr Talia
PORT VILA, 16 APRIL 2026 (VANUATU DAILY POST)—Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) need real finance when transitioning away from fossil fuels.
Tuvalu’s Minister for Climate Change, Dr Maina Talia, said this during a press conference at the PSIDS Ministerial Dialogue on Global Just Transition in Port Vila.
“When we talk about just transition, we are literally talking about real finance that is delivered without red tape and that supports communities,” he said.
While most PSIDS, including Vanuatu, have set ambitious 100 per cent renewable energy targets, they lack finance and face challenges in accessing it, which limits progress.
“We have made commitments to transition away from fossil fuels, but we lack the resources to make the transition ourselves,” said Palau’s Environment Minister Steven Victor.
“The technology is there, but we cannot access it because we lack finance. Even when we do, it is still very expensive due to economies of scale.”
International climate finance, provided by those most responsible for historical greenhouse gas emissions, is essential to help the Pacific build strong renewable energy sectors and move toward a fossil fuel free future.
Failing to act will increase the cost of transition and adaptation, Minister Victor said.
“Not keeping the 1.5°C target within reach means some of our islands may disappear, and the cost of adaptation will continue to rise,” he said.
Vanuatu and six other Pacific Island countries established the “Port Vila Call for a Just Transition to a Fossil Fuel Free Pacific”, urging Pacific and global leaders to phase out coal, oil, and gas and to support a Fossil Fuel Non Proliferation Treaty.
For the first time, world leaders will convene in Santa Marta, Colombia, at the end of this month for a conference on fossil fuel transition.
The Pacific region is consistently at the forefront of pushing for a fossil fuel treaty because it is a matter of survival. Pacific leaders hope that high emitting countries take accountability for their actions and help accelerate the transition.
“We are not asking the world for handouts. We are asking the world to help us save our Blue Pacific continent, which will save the future of humanity. It is the very resource that we rely on,” said Tuvalu’s minister.
‘Science has shown that there is no liveable future on this planet without a healthy ocean. We need those financial resources and technical capacity to help us achieve that, not only for us, but for the world.
‘When we go to Santa Marta, we will bring the same Pacific leadership we have shown in other climate forums, that together we can address this challenge.”
In the face of intensifying climate impacts, PSIDS have demonstrated consistent moral clarity, political resolve, and a willingness to advance approaches to global climate governance…..PACNEWS
PAC – TYPHOON DAMAGE: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 3: Thu 16 Apr 2026
Island-wide power outage on Saipan, Tinian; Guam remains in Condition 1
SAIPAN, 16 APRIL 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES)—Saipan and Tinian plunged into total darkness after Super Typhoon Sinlaku hit both islands with 145 mph winds as a Category 4 typhoon late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.
Internet connection in the CNMI remains spotty, and efforts to contact people on the ground are meeting limited success as gusty winds of up to 75 mph continue to batter the islands.
Parts of the western coast of Saipan, particularly in central Garapan, were inundated by storm surge. Videos shared widely on social media showed flooded roads and vehicles. People were shown wading through floodwaters.
Tycoon Condition 1 remains in effect in the CNMI.
As of today, Sinlaku is 95 miles away from Saipan and has weakened slightly to 125 miles per hour, according to the latest advisory from the National Weather Service.
Sinlaku is forecast to maintain this intensity through tonight, then weaken again on Thursday.
It continues to pull away from Tinian and Saipan at 6 mph and is forecast to begin moving through the northern CNMI just west of Alamagan, Pagan, and Agrihan, with little change in forward speed.
The NWS forecast calls for Sinlaku to gradually turn toward the north and then northeast starting Thursday.
Typhoon-force winds extend outward from the centre up to 75 miles. Tropical storm-force winds extend outward from the centre up to 275 miles. Strong winds and gusts continue to batter the region.
“It is important to remember that even though the winds are subsiding, stronger gusts are possible over the next few days, especially with any showers that do occur,” NWS said.
As Sinlaku continues to move away, winds are subsiding over Guam and may fall below tropical storm force this evening, as well as on Thursday morning for Rota and Thursday evening for Tinian and Saipan.
In a video he shared on Facebook, Guam Lieutenant Governor Josh Tenorio said the island witnessed a storm surge along the western coast and at the port.
He said the Department of Public Works is working to clear access to the port to make sure that the supply lines for all the people of Guam and the island are clear going south.
Although Guam dodged the most destructive winds of Sinlaku, it still sustained significant damage, with much of the island experiencing an extensive power outage and spotty water service.
Tenorio said DPW is coordinating with Guam’s village mayors to clear debris from roads and ensure people can safely travel once the Condition of Readiness 4 is declared, when it would already be safe to go outside.
Tenorio started doing a damage assessment mid-morning Wednesday. He said that many of DPW’s mitigation efforts were effective and that there was no major flooding across the island.
“Keep your ears open for all the updates. We’re working and supporting the utility agency so they can get all of our lifelines back up, and we’re going to continue to go out there and help people,” he said.
The Guam public is being advised to prepare for the possibility of a Condition of Readiness 4 declaration, which signifies the end of a destructive threat and a return to normal activities.
An advisory from Adelup said that Gov. Lourdes Leon Guerrero is scheduled to make a final decision early Thursday morning on whether to declare COR 4.
It will depend on a final assessment of island-wide safety, including clear roads and manageable weather conditions.
If a COR 4 is declared, all Guam government agencies will resume normal operations and schedules.
Public schools will remain closed on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Private schools will make their own determination whether individual campuses are safe.
Motorists are being advised to exercise extreme caution, as debris, standing water, and downed utility lines may still be present. “Do not attempt to drive through flooded areas,” the advisory warns.
In a video she posted on social media, CNMI Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds of the CNMI cautioned that even as Sinlaku is pulling away to the northwest, “don’t let that fool you because typhoon-force winds still extend up to 75 miles from the centre, which means we are still in dangerous conditions.”
Citing an NWS advisory, King-Hinds said that tropical storm force winds, which is 39 to 73 mph, will last through Thursday morning and afternoon.
“Bottom line, the worst part is passing, but it is still dangerous and still threatening to life and property,” she said.
King-Hinds assured that she is in touch with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other federal partners in Washington, D.C. to make sure the CNMI gets the help it needs.
“They’re tracking this closely. They’re engaged, and help is on the way,” she said.
King-Hinds said that help will arrive as soon as airplanes are able to land at the Saipan International Airport. …PACNEWS
FIJI – KING: FIJI GOVT/FIJI SUN PACNEWS 3: Thu 16 Apr 2026
Tongan King Tupou VI pays final respects to Ratu Epeli Nailatikau
SUVA, 16 APRIL 2026 (FIJI GOVT/FIJI SUN) — In a moment of quiet reverence at the State House this morning, His Majesty King Tupou VI paid his respects to the late former Fiji President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, who is lying in state.
Accompanied by members of his family including Her Royal Highness, Princess Salote Mafilao Pilolevu, the visit was marked by deep emotion, as grieving relatives gathered in solemn silence.
His Majesty stood in quiet tribute before the casket, sharing in the nation’s grief before meeting with Ratu Kamisese Vuna Nailatikau and Adi Litia Cakobau.
Though brief, the King’s visit carried profound significance—honouring a statesman whose lifelong service left an enduring legacy in Fiji and across the Pacific.
The moment was further deepened by the historic royal and family ties between Fiji and Tonga, with links tracing back to King George Tupou II—reflecting the strong and enduring bonds between the two island nations.
Through his paternal grandmother, Adi Litia Cakobau, Ratu Epeli was the grandson of King George Tupou II of Tonga.
This dynastic link made him a vital father figure within the Tongan Royal Family, a role emphasiSed as recently as July 2024 when Princess Salote Mafileʻo Pilolevu Tuita hosted a birthday dinner for the family’s last surviving uncle.
Ratu Epeli, who served as President from 2015 to 2021, had a long career in public service. He was a former Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, later served as Speaker of Parliament, and represented Fiji overseas as a diplomat, strengthening regional ties across the Pacific.
His death marks the passing of a senior statesman whose service spanned the military, Government and regional diplomacy.
Tears flowed freely in Suva this morning as the funeral procession of former President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau made its way through the capital to State House.
His casket, draped in the Fiji flag, was carried on a gun carriage that moved slowly along the streets.
A vehicle carrying his immediate family followed — his wife, Adi Koila Nailatikau, and their children, Adi Litia and Ratu Kamisese Nailatikau.
Crowds lined the route from early morning. Some bowed their heads in silence, while others watched through tears as the cortege passed.
Ratu Epeli, who served as Fiji’s President from 2015 to 2021, was widely regarded as a unifying national figure. Before his presidency, he held senior roles in Government and the military, including as Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and later as Speaker of Parliament.
He also represented Fiji on the international stage as a diplomat, contributing to regional and global engagements over several decades.
His passing marks the end of a long career in public service that spanned leadership in the military, Government and diplomacy…..PACNEWS
PNG – DEFENCE/ANTI CORRUPTION: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS 3: Thu 16 Apr 2026
PNG Oppositions backs soldiers who recently exposed corruption in PNGDF recruitment
PORT MORESBY, 16 APRIL 2026 (THE NATIONAL)–The Papua New Guinea Opposition has come together to show their support of the soldiers who recently exposed corruption in the recruitment process within the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF).
Opposition Leader James Nomane said that the country’s national security should not be compromised, adding that those who blew the whistle in the recruitment process should be protected.
“Papua New Guinea deserves a defence force that is professional, political neutral, and trusted. It will never become that under this leadership,” Nomane said.
Nomane said legal action under the Whistleblowers Act should be taken by those soldiers who have been suspended.
Deputy Opposition Leader Keith Iduhu argued that certain legal breaches could be seen in the recent dilemma that has unfolded.
Iduhu said the PNGDF, established under Section 188 of the Constitution, was an independent institution that should be free from external influence.
He added that Prime Minister James Marape had sidelined Nipa-Kutubu MP Dr Billy Joseph from his ministerial portfolio without adhering to the proper process.
“The law is very clear and we can see that it has not been followed,” Iduhu said.
“The former minister (Dr Billy) must be decommissioned and not sidelined.
“Sections 145 and 146 of the Constitution make it very clear on that.”
He said that the Defence Council, established under Section 7 of the Defence Act, needed to also be free from political interference.
“Marape now sits on the Defence Council as the Defence Minister, along with the Defence Secretary PNGDF commander,” Iduhu said.
“For him to make another statement after ordered the discharges and court martials, shows that there has been some sort of interference being done in the process.
“This must stop now and an independent investigation must be conducted.”
East Sepik Governor Allan Bird said General Election 2027 (GE27) may turn out to be one of the worst in the country if no proper preparations were done this year.
Bird, also the Special Parliamentary Committee General Election 2022 chairman, said urgent action from all stakeholders, particularly the security forces, would ensure that people go to the polls safely next year.
He said the recent saga with the PNGDF needed to be properly addressed as less than 12 months remain before the issue of writs for GE27.
“We cannot have tribalism in the defence force going into the election next year,” Bird said.
“The police and the PNGDF must resist political interference in the execution of their statutory roles.
“Their primary duty is to the Constitution, and second to the Government.”
He called for a commission of inquiry to be conducted into the recruitment process of the PNGDF over the years.
Wabag MP Dr Lino Tom raised concerns about the increasing rate of corruption being practiced in State institutions.
“Contentious corruption has eroded public trust in the Government and now in the defence force.
“The videos and pictures we have seen of the recent recruitment are scandalous and shows clear evidence of corruption,” he said….PACNEWS
PNG – DIPLOMACY: RADIO FREE ASIA PACNEWS 3: Thu 16 Apr 2026
Soft power ‘win’ for Beijing as Chinese medical ship treats 5,400 for free in PNG
PORT MORESBY, 16 APRIL 2206 (RADIO FREE ASIA)—Thousands of sick, disabled and otherwise unwell queued at Wharf T over the past week, hoping to board a Chinese hospital ship to receive free medical care.
Some who were lucky enough to be taken in told Radio Free Asia that it was “a miracle” to receive medical services that are not available in local hospitals on board the Silk Road Ark, a type 920 hospital ship run by China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy, in town for only seven days.
After seeing its last patients Tuesday and holding a farewell ceremony on deck with PNG’s Prime Minister James Marape, the ship departed Wednesday, having completed a 220-day humanitarian mission, where it visited around a dozen countries in Latin America and the South Pacific.
“My daughter Margaret is a sick child,” Kimberly Yanogen, a PNG resident, told RFA Tuesday. “I would have paid 1,000 kina (US$230) or more if I took her to the public hospital or private clinics here.”
She said the doctor performed a physical checkup on her daughter and advised her how to deal with her condition.
“I am so happy to be given this advice free of charge,” she said. “I would like to say thank you to the Chinese government for sending this ship here. They have made our access to service and our lives easier,” she said.
For the Papua New Guinea port call, the final tally was 5,493 patients seen, 339 surgeries performed, China’s ambassador to PNG Yang Xiaoguang reported during a speech at the ceremony.
“This is a visit that deepens friendship,” he said. “As a Chinese saying goes, ‘more exchanges will bring families and friends closer together.’”
Humanitarian visits by the Silk Road Ark and other Chinese hospital ships, that often include services like surgeries, are very effective soft power diplomacy for Beijing, Graeme Smith, Associate Professor at the Department of Pacific Affairs at The Australian National University, told RFA.
“It’s interesting in that it is something that China can do that probably the U.S. and Australia can’t do because of their appetite for risk, he said, noting that complications after surgery could arise and the hospital ship will not be around for post-operative care.
”So if you’re in a country where the immediate medical care is not really there to provide that kind of support then you are opening yourself up to liabilities that I think Australia and the U.S. wouldn’t be willing to take on,” he said.
The U.S. Navy also sends hospital ships on goodwill missions, and they do perform surgery, but a visit of the USNS comfort to Trinidad in August last year performed two “critical surgeries” among 46 procedures, compared to the 339 of the Silk Road Ark’s Port Moresby port call.
Smith recalled his encounter with the Peace Ark, another Chinese medical ship that visited Vanuatu as part of a previous mission.
“It’s not just the soft power of being able to offer these services but also the soft power of ‘we will train up people from your country to become doctors,’ and to be fair I don’t think America in particular does enough of that, or Australia,” he said. “It is an easy win.”
Missions carried out by Chinese hospital ships in the Pacific however “risk undermining health sovereignty by reinforcing dependence on external providers,” Malika Knapp, a fourth-year student at the Australian National University wrote in an article published by the Australian Institute of International Affairs in March.
“Medical assistance and defence objectives are closely intertwined, with free treatment serving to normalize a foreign military presence while advancing China’s geopolitical aims,” Knapp wrote. “But from a health systems perspective, the benefits are immediate but fleeting.”
On Tuesday, the final day that the Silk Road Ark was performing medical services, residents at a local marketplace told RFA that people have even slept at the wharf overnight to try to get on the ship.
“I want to take my husband for an eye check on the China ship,” a resident identified only by her given name Grace, told RFA. “I hear all the medical services are free and; there are lots of people waiting in lines so long, but people are sleeping outside the gate to be early enough to get a pass in.”
Some waited long hours to be seen, but told RFA that they left the wharf empty handed.
“I am so worried and disappointed,” said Sherina, who had visited with her husband hoping to remove a lump. They were told to instead visit Port Moresby General Hospital, or PMGH.
Enno Awoi, a diabetic, and her husband, who has been immobile since 2003 when he suffered a stroke, waited in line since 1 am on Tuesday. She was given medicine to manage her condition, and they referred her husband’s case back to PMGH.
For Junior Pule, who has high blood pressure, filling out the intake forms was so difficult that he asked RFA for assistance.
But residents who assisted with the Silk Road Ark’s visit told RFA they were glad they were able to help.
“It was a good experience for me,” Ayisha Gizoria, a dentistry student in her final year at the University of Papua New Guinea, who volunteered at the pre-boarding triage station, told RFA. “As volunteers we come and do the job for free. We don’t get paid. We do it because we have the heart and empathy to help the sick people around us.”
Ronald Jack, who served as a security guard, said he was happy to witness thousands of the country’s ill come for medical help. He told RFA he wanted to thank the Chinese government.
Though there were many positive reviews on social media, some on wrote that it was “not heartwarming” to see families queuing overnight for basic medical services provided by a foreign entity, adding that it exposed the fact that their own government could not provide these services.
Giving free medical services is “pretty effective, the caveat being that it’s sugar-hit effective,” Smith said. “So they’re there for five days and then you don’t see them for a couple more years.”
But regardless of the mission’s ineffectiveness in terms of long-term health outcomes, Smith said it was “money well spent in terms of building goodwill.”…PACNEWS
VAN – COURTS: VANUATU DAILY POST PACNEWS 3: Thu 16 Apr 2026
Vanuatu MP Luo faces three-day court trial
PORT VILA, 16 APRIL 2026 (VANUATU DAIULY POST)–Vanuatu Member of Parliament for Efate Rural, Jesse Luo, also known as Luo Xiang Jian, is scheduled to face a three-day trial before the Supreme Court of Vanuatu from 13 to 15 July, as proceedings continue over allegations of perjury and breaches of the Leadership Code.
The prosecution has previously entered a nolle prosequi in relation to several counts, effectively discontinuing some of the original charges on 09 October 2025.
As a result, the case has been narrowed to the remaining allegations, including perjury and breach of leadership obligations under Article 66 of the Constitution.
Court records show that MP Luo entered fresh pleas on March 30 and has maintained a not guilty position on the remaining charges. The Supreme Court has since confirmed that the matter will proceed to trial on the scheduled date.
At an earlier stage of the proceedings, Luo had initially pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including obtaining a valuable thing by deception, making false statements, perjury, and breaching leadership obligations. Several of these charges, including counts three and four, were later discontinued by the prosecution.
The allegations stem from probate proceedings in 2022 (Case No. 835 of 2022) concerning the estate of Luo’s late wife, Wendy Lai Chang Himford. In those proceedings, Luo had obtained leave from the Supreme Court of Vanuatu to issue a Notice of Letter of Administration or Probate, in which he stated that his daughter, Magdelen Luo, was a beneficiary of the estate.
That assertion was later challenged, prompting judicial scrutiny. In a ruling, Supreme Court Deputy Master Aurelie Tamseul found that false information had been provided under oath, particularly regarding the claimed biological or legal relationship between the child and the deceased.
The court held that providing false evidence under oath undermines the integrity of judicial proceedings and may constitute perjury, emphasising the seriousness of such conduct within the justice system.
Following that ruling, a formal complaint was lodged with the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Vanuatu Police Force in August 2024, which ultimately led to the current criminal proceedings before the Supreme Court…PACNEWS
UN – YOUTHS: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS 3: Thu 16 Apr 2026
Youth shape the road to 2030, call for urgent action on sustainable development
NEW YORK, 16 APRIL 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE)—As we confront increasingly complex and interconnected crises – from climate change to the AI revolution – the leadership and voices of young people have never been more vital, says the UN.
Young leaders, innovators and advocates from around the world are gathering at UN Headquarters in New York until Thursday for the 2026 Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum.
The event aims to advance innovative solutions to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Held under the theme Innovate, Unite and Transform: Youth Shaping the Road to 2030, the forum reaffirms young people as essential partners in building a sustainable, inclusive and resilient future.
Acknowledging that it is rare to see a full room with such positive energy, General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock thanked participants for bringing “sunshine” into the halls of the UN.
Emphasising that young people must be included now, not just in the future, she told the audience they were there to do more than talk: “it’s a test of whether we are truly ready to act.”
She shared three messages with delegates, ministers and young leaders: “First, to delegates and Permanent Representatives in New York: follow through, no excuses. (…) Second, to Ministers and representatives from capital: the discussions here must move beyond this chamber. (…) And last, to young people: keep pushing boundaries. Keep questioning. Keep leading.”
Baerbock also urged participants to seize the opportunity to engage with policymakers and remain authentic: “Let nobody tell you that you have to dress like diplomats in a dark suit or speak like a diplomat to be taken seriously. Because we need your voices precisely because you are uniquely you.”
Opening the forum, ECOSOC President Lok Bahadur Thapa highlighted the challenges facing young people today, including geopolitical tensions, climate change, economic uncertainty, widening inequalities, technological disruption and digital divides.
“Amid these challenges, young people stand not only as those most affected, but also as indispensable agents of change.
Across communities and sectors, young people are not only advancing solutions but actively shaping a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient future for all,” Thapa said.
Stressing the importance of youth leadership, he added that hope, solidarity and innovation are “already alive in every region of the world.”
Calling for truly inclusive progress, Thapa underscored the need to “ensure that all young people, regardless of geography, gender, ability, or socioeconomic background, have equitable access to opportunity, voice, and influence”.
According to the UN, there are 1.2 billion young people aged 15 to 24 years, accounting for 16 per cent of the population. By 2030 – the target date for the SDGs that make up the 2030 Agenda – the number of youth is projected to have grown by seven per cent, to nearly 1.3 billion.
Echoing calls for greater inclusion, Mr. Jaewon Choi – leader of the DMUN Foundation, a youth-led, non-governmental organisation that empowers youths to be active stakeholders – and keynote speaker of the event, warned that many young people remain excluded from the very systems meant to serve them.
“Every 4.4 seconds, a young person dies… from malnutrition, from preventable disease, from violence, from natural disasters, and from the tragedy of being excluded from every system that was mandated to protect them,” he said.
Stressing the urgency of action, he added: “We are the ones who will, and are already, inheriting the consequences of every decision that is formed or avoided. We deserve the fundamental right to be part of making these decisions.”
Call to action
Discussions at the Forum will focus on clean water (SDG 6), energy (SDG 7), infrastructure (SDG 9), sustainable cities (SDG 11), and partnerships (SDG 17), the latter to be explored further at the 2026 High-level Political Forum in July…..PACNEWS
PAC – MEDIA: PMN PACNEWS 3: Thu 16 Apr 2026
Pacific voices shine as PMN named finalist at New Zealand’s premier media awards 2026
AUCKLAND, 16 APRIL 2026 (PMN)—Pacific journalists and storytellers feature strongly across this year’s Voyager Media Awards, with finalists recognised for leadership, reporting, and Pacific-focused storytelling.
Pacific media voices are among the finalists announced for the 2026 Voyager Media Awards, including the former head of news at Pacific Media Network (PMN).
Samson Samasoni, who was acting head of news at PMN during 2025, has been named a finalist in the Editorial Leader of the Year category.
Samasoni has worked extensively in journalism and communications for more than 30 years with experience across the Pacific region and the Middle East.
Since 2023, he has helped shape the development of the newsroom strategy and has served as Executive Producer of PMN’s flagship news programme Pacific Mornings on 531pi.
He is also co-Executive Producer of PMN’s Saturday morning sports show Pacific Huddle.
Veteran TVNZ journalist Barbara Dreaver, a multiple Voyager Award winner, is also a finalist in the News Journalist of the Year category and Best Specialist Reporting.
Dreaver’s colleague, Indira Stewart, also a multiple award winner, has been shortlisted for the Le Mana Pacific Award, alongside Ann-Tauilo Motuga of TVNZ, and Mark Papalii from RNZ.
In 2025, Stewart won Best Current Affairs (Short) for Children of Prisoners, which focuses on teenagers dealing with the impact of having a parent in jail. It was a back-to-back win for Stewart in the Le Mana Pacific Award category.
The Voyager Media Awards run by the News Publishers’ Association recognise excellence in New Zealand journalism across print, digital, audio, video and photography.
The winners will be announced on 22 May 2026….PACNEWS
PAC – BROADCASTER: PMN PACNEWS 3: Thu 16 Apr 2026
531PI moves to FM after 35 years, securing future for Pacific voices in Tāmaki Makaurau
AUCKLAND, 16 APRIL 2026 (PMN)—After 35 years on the AM band, 531PI has officially moved to 102.2FM in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, a major moment for Pacific Media Network (PMN) and the communities it serves.
The change, confirmed on Thursday, marks a new chapter for one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most recognised Pacific broadcasters as the network adapts to a changing media landscape.
“It’s a big day for PMN but also more importantly, the listeners as well,” Chief Executive Don Mann told Pacific Mornings.
The move comes as Radio New Zealand (RNZ) steps away from owning transmission towers, which ends AM broadcasting infrastructure that stations like 531PI have relied on for decades.
That shift forced PMN to find a new path and led to months of work with government agencies to secure its future on the airwaves.
Mann said the organisation began discussions with then Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti to access an unused FM frequency in Auckland.
“We spoke to him about, yes, whilst we can go streaming, if we end AM and go streaming, the reality is that our older audience, it’ll be the end of Pacific radio traditional transmission,” Mann said.
The proposal was eventually backed by Reti and Broadcasting Minister Paul Goldsmith and taken to Cabinet where it was approved late last year, clearing the way for 531PI to move to 102.2FM.
“It’s a remarkable thing to be involved with and a remarkable thing to watch,” Mann said.
Despite the frequency change, the station’s identity remains the same. “It’s 531. It’s not changing,” he said. “That’s a testament to what this organisation has been able to do over the 35 years.”
While AM broadcasting will end in the coming days, Mann is confident listeners will follow the station to FM and digital platforms.
“The message will find its way. It’s not going to be perfect but hey, it’s what it is. It’s a big jump.”
Beyond radio, PMN continues to grow its presence across streaming, social media, and video, reaching Pacific audiences both in Aotearoa and overseas.
“The reality is 531 today, we’re found in many different forms, in all forms of media, by anyone, anywhere in the world,” Mann said.
But the moment is also about recognising the people behind the station’s legacy.
“There’s a lot of people, blood, sweat and tears, to build this network over 35 years,” he said.
For Pacific communities, the move to FM is more than a technical change – it is about protecting a trusted voice for the future.
“At the end of the day… if we can keep this place going, keep it stable, keep it relevant, make sure that our audiences trust us and they can find us, that’s all we can ask for,” Mann said. “And that’s what today’s about.”…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
FIJI – IRAN CRISIS/FUEL PRICE: FIJI GOVT PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 16 Apr 2026
Fiji moves to shield essential services as NDRMO leads fuel crisis Planning push in Suva
SUVA, 16 APRIL 2026 (FIJI GOVT) — Fiji’s The Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, through the National Disaster Risk Management Office (NDRMO)is leading a coordinated national effort to strengthen preparedness for potential fuel shortages, bringing together government agencies and partners at the Fiji Cluster System Fuel Crisis Contingency Planning Workshop in Suva.
The two-day workshop, held in Suva this week, convenes Fiji Cluster Leads and Co-Leads to collaboratively develop an inter-cluster contingency plan aimed at safeguarding essential services and protecting vulnerable communities during fuel disruptions.
The workshop comes amid a global fuel crisis driven by geopolitical tensions, which has disrupted crude oil supply chains worldwide. In response, the Fiji Government has activated emergency provisions under the Fuel and Power Emergency Act and established coordinated oversight mechanisms to manage fuel allocation and national response.
Recognising the broader humanitarian implications of fuel shortages, the Ministry has activated the Fiji Humanitarian Cluster System to support whole-of-government planning and ensure continuity of critical services. The contingency planning process is being guided by the NDRMO, which is mandated with strengthening preparedness and response coordination across sectors.
Opening the workshop today, Acting Permanent Secretary for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Mitieli Cama highlighted the urgency of proactive planning and collaboration.
“This workshop reflects our commitment to staying ahead of emerging risks. Fuel is a lifeline for our economy and essential services; from health and water supply to transportation and food security. By working together across clusters, we are ensuring that Fiji is prepared to respond decisively and protect our most vulnerable communities in times of disruption,” said Acting PS Cama.
He emphasised that strong coordination, clear roles, and timely information-sharing would be critical to maintaining public confidence and stability during any fuel crisis.
Participants are working to develop and validate draft contingency plans for each cluster, including agreed response priorities, coordination mechanisms, and operational roles. The workshop also introduces standardised situation reporting tools and 5W tracking (who does what, where, when, and for whom) to enhance real-time coordination during emergencies.
By the end of the workshop, Fiji’s humanitarian system is expected to be better equipped with a unified, practical framework to manage the impacts of fuel shortages, ensuring continuity of life-saving services and resilience across communities….PACNEWS
GUAM – DEFENCE: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 16 Apr 2026
GHD named the designer of record for Navy’s $120M hangar project on Guam
SUVA, 16 APRIL 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES)—GHD is the designer of record for a US$120 million contract to design and build a hangar for the U.S Navy’s Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.
The project, which is a component of the US$15 billion Pacific Deterrence Initiative’s multiple award construction contract, directly supports force readiness and enhances mission capability in one of the Navy’s most strategically important theatres.
GHD is partnering with ECC as the design-build contractor and the architect, Giuliani Associate Architects.
The new facility will replace outdated infrastructure with a modern main hangar, essential ancillary facilities and critical site infrastructure enhancements designed to support current and future operational demands in the Indo-Pacific region. Work began in October 2025 and is scheduled for completion in November 2028.
The new hangar will be engineered to meet Guam’s stringent environmental demands, including resistance to typhoons with wind speeds up to 200 miles per hour, seismic activity and corrosive coastal conditions.
“This project reflects our deep commitment to supporting critical defence infrastructure in the Pacific,” said Tony Petroccitto, U.S Navy Key Client Leader at GHD.
“We’re designing facilities that will ensure mission continuity and operational resilience for decades to come in a challenging and strategically vital environment.”
GHD’s scope includes selective demolition of existing structures; per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances remediation; quality assurance and quality control; interior design; all engineering services for the construction of the facility and supporting infrastructure, including an aircraft wash facility, hazardous materials storage, access roads, security fencing and utilities.
The design leverages existing concrete slabs and substructure where practicable to maximise cost-efficiency and sustainability….PACNEWS
FIJI – DRUGS FIGHT: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 16 Apr 2026
Meth scare in rental vehicles in Fiji
SUVA, 16 APRIL 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Rental car owners in Fiji are discovering white substances believed to be methamphetamine in vehicles returned by customers.
How the illicit substance ends up in the vehicles is unknown. Police have yet to confirm any such report.
Fiji Rental Car Association treasurer Ahmed Faruk said: “We have found substances left in the car… it looks like white powder.”
He said the substance may have been left behind by users, dropped accidentally or hidden and forgotten.
The discovery has raised concern among rental operators, who are not trained to identify drugs or handle such situations.
“We are not qualified to screen who is involved and who is not,” Faruk said.
In many cases, the substances were discarded instead of being reported to authorities.
He warned the issue could have serious consequences for businesses and those who discover the substances.
Faruk said customers under the influence of drugs or alcohol often showed little regard for safety or property.
“They don’t care if they wreck the vehicle,” he said.
“They can endanger anyone, even their own lives.”
The financial risks are significant.
High-end rental vehicles, including Land Cruisers valued at up to $300,000 (US$150,000), are particularly vulnerable.
“A single packet of white drugs could mean total loss for a small operator. If one goes down a hill… that’s it for him,” Mr Faruk said.
Compounding the issue is the looming increase in fuel prices.
Faruk said rising diesel and unleaded fuel costs would further strain the industry, potentially leading to more abandoned vehicles and unpaid rentals.
“It’s going to have a lot of negative effects,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Faruk emphasised the need for collaboration.
He said stronger partnerships between industry players and authorities could help find solutions.
“We’ll share the burden… and come out triumphant,” he said.
The association is calling for clearer guidance and support from authorities on how to handle such findings safely and properly……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
Solomon Islands on the edge, again
A court has ordered parliament to convene with a no-confidence motion in the air. The PM is appealing. Here’s what happens next.
By Connor Graham
HONIARA, 16 APRIL 2026 (THE INTERPRETER)—In the 48 years since Solomon Islands gained independence, only twice has a prime minister survived a full parliamentary term. No incumbent PM has ever been re-elected, and several governments have been toppled by no-confidence votes.
The latest chapter in Solomon Islands’ tumultuous political history occurred this week. High Court Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer ruled on Tuesday that Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele had acted unconstitutionally by refusing to convene parliament to face a no-confidence motion backed by an opposing coalition of 28 of 50 MPs. Palmer ordered compliance within three days and ruled that the governor-general holds residual powers to convene parliament should the PM refuse. Manele announced he will appeal the decision.
For now, the ruling answers a previously unresolved question in Solomon Islands: what happens when a prime minister refuses to comply with the constitution’s accountability mechanisms? The High Court’s answer will likely now be tested in the Court of Appeal, and on the floor of parliament. As the three-day deadline for parliament to convene looms, several more questions persist.
Does Manele’s appeal suspend the court order?
Almost certainly not automatically. In Solomon Islands, following inherited English common law, filing a notice of appeal does not stay a High Court order. The appellant must apply separately for a suspension and persuade a court to grant it. No stay application has been reported. Without one, failure to convene parliament by 17 April could constitute contempt of court by Manele.
Will the Governor-General act if Manele defies the order?
Unclear. This is where the ruling breaks new ground. Palmer’s invocation of “residual powers” for the governor-general directly contradicts a 1998 Court of Appeal precedent that held the governor-general must not intervene in parliamentary political processes. Governor-General David Tiva Kapu already cited that precedent in March when he refused an earlier call from the opposition to force parliament to convene. If Manele does not convene parliament by 17 April, the governor-general could step in, though the appeal gives him a plausible reason to wait – perhaps what Manele is counting on.
A cabinet with varying views on Beijing would represent a different calculation from the current configuration that pairs Manele with Sogavare, one of Beijing’s most reliable allies in Pacific politics.
Can the 28-seat opposition coalition hold?
Coalition arithmetic in Solomon Islands has a habit of shifting at the last moment. That vulnerability gives the opposition every motivation to expedite proceedings. Manele has survived two previous no-confidence attempts by flipping opposition MPs at the last moment via calculated ministerial appointments and recruiting crossbenchers. He also controls vital constituency development funds – the money MPs can distribute in their electorates – with the allocation and timing historically leveraged for political gain in Solomon Islands. With 28 of 50 MPs currently part of the opposition coalition, and the threshold for passing a no-confidence motion a simple majority, Manele needs only three defectors. The opposition coalition has held for a month, but it is yet to be tested on the floor of parliament.
What changes if the government falls?
Not so long ago, Solomon Islands’ dealings with China dominated headlines in Australia. A change in government would not deliver the stark international realignment some in Canberra might hope for – but it would not be inconsequential. The most likely PM candidate from the opposition is Peter Shanel Agovaka, who served as Manele’s foreign minister until March this year. As recently as May 2025, Agovaka stated that Solomon Islands “stands firmly with China”. His defection was driven by internal cabinet grievances, not foreign policy. Yet the opposition also includes MPs such as Matthew Wale, who opposed the 2022 China security pact. A cabinet including Wale and others with varying views on Beijing would represent a different calculation from the current configuration that pairs Manele with Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, the architect of the China pact and one of Beijing’s most reliable allies in Pacific politics….PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
After midnight: what Fiji’s HIV crisis looks like from a mobile clinic
By Uate Tamanikaiyaroi
SUVA, 16 APRIL 2026 (DEVPOLICY.ORG)—After midnight in Suva, a van parks near a settlement. The lights come on. A team steps out. People approach — some cautiously, some with urgency, some because a peer educator they trust has spent weeks building the relationship that makes this moment possible. Within two hours, the Moonlight Clinic has tested dozens of people for HIV, linked a reactive case to care, and distributed condoms, counselling and information that most of these individuals have never before been offered in a setting that felt safe.
This is Medical Services Pacific’s Moonlight Program. And it is quietly demonstrating something that health systems across the Pacific need to learn from.
Fiji is facing a public health crisis. New HIV cases rose by 281% between 2023 and 2024, reaching 1,583 diagnoses in a single year. Young people aged 15 to 29 account for 60% of new infections, and 93% of those diagnosed in the first half of 2025 were iTaukei Fijians. These numbers are not abstract. Behind them are communities — sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender individuals, people who inject drugs — failed by health systems that were not designed for them and which have, in many cases, actively turned them away.
Medical Services Pacific (MSP) is an implementing partner of International Planned Parenthood Federation under Voices of Resilience — IPPF’s $1 million (US$500,000) Pacific-wide HIV programme funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The Fiji sub-grant of $125,000 (US$62,500) supports exactly the kind of work the Moonlight Programme represents: mobile, targeted outreach to key populations who cannot be reached through conventional health facilities. Between December 2025 and March 2026, MSP conducted 1,464 HIV and STI tests through its Moonlight Program across three divisions. The reactive case rate was 8.9 percent. Nearly one in ten people tested positive. For the vast majority of those people, it was the first time they had been tested.
That reactive rate deserves to be read carefully. It is not evidence of a poorly targeted program. It is evidence of a precisely targeted one. Conventional health facilities test general populations and find general prevalence rates. The Moonlight Clinic goes where HIV is concentrated — to the places, the hours and the people that the health system has systematically failed to reach — and finds the epidemic where it actually lives.
What makes this approach work is not medical technology. Rapid HIV tests have been available for years. What makes it work is the deliberate, painstaking construction of trust. MSP’s outreach teams include peer educators connected to SAN Fiji, which supports sex workers, and Rainbow Pride Foundation Fiji, which works with LGBTQI+ communities. These partners do not merely refer clients — they are the reason clients come at all. In communities where HIV testing has historically meant exposure to stigma, discrimination or worse, a peer educator’s presence signals something the health system alone cannot: this is safe. You will be treated with dignity. Come.
The programme’s data tells the story across demographics. Of those tested, 41 percent were under 25 years old. In a country where 60% of new HIV infections are in this age group, that proportion matters. The service is also reaching a balanced gender mix — 48 percent male, 47 percent female, 5 percent other gender — which suggests it is genuinely serving the diversity of key populations rather than defaulting to the most easily accessible group.
But the most important number in MSP’s March 2026 data may be the smallest: 44. That is the number of clients referred to the Ministry of Health for HIV management and antiretroviral therapy initiation in the quarter. 44 people who tested reactive were not left with a result and a pamphlet, but accompanied — literally, in some cases — through a referral pathway to ongoing care. In harm reduction programming, the distance between a positive test result and treatment initiation is where people are most likely to be lost. MSP’s programme is designed to close that gap.
This is what effective DFAT-funded health programming looks like in practice. It is not a clinic building or a training workshop. It is a van, a team of trusted community workers, an evening schedule designed around the lives of people who cannot access daytime services, and a set of relationships built over months and years with civil society partners who hold the keys to community trust. MSP’s ground-level work sits within a larger architecture: the Voices of Resilience programme, which combines sub-grants for service delivery with a regional mass media campaign — the FOR THEM campaign — to drive awareness, normalise testing and reduce stigma at scale across the Pacific. The clinical encounter in the Moonlight van and the social media post that reaches a young person in their feed are two parts of the same response.
There are lessons here for Pacific health programming more broadly. The first is that reach and access are not the same thing. A facility can be technically available to a population while remaining functionally inaccessible due to stigma, operating hours, cost or the simple absence of the relationships that make people willing to walk through the door. Programs that cannot measure their own inaccessibility cannot address it.
The second lesson is that peer-led outreach is not a supplementary component of HIV prevention — it is the infrastructure on which clinical effectiveness depends. MSP’s 8.9 percent reactive rate would be impossible to achieve without SAN Fiji and Rainbow Pride Foundation Fiji. The health system needs to resource these partnerships as core programme investments, not as optional extras.
The third is that the Moonlight model is not unique to HIV. Its logic — meeting people where they are, at times that work for them, through trusted community intermediaries — applies equally to immunisation, maternal health, mental health and reproductive health services across the Pacific. The question is whether health systems and their funders are willing to design for the populations they are not currently reaching, rather than continuing to optimise for those they already serve.
44 people started treatment. 130 reactive cases were identified and linked to care. A young woman, tested for the first time after watching MSP’s van from across the street for six weeks, received her result and learned there was a path forward. A group of young men told their friends: go and get tested. The van is safe. They went.
That is what the data looks like as a story. And it is the story that needs to be told, clearly and repeatedly, to the policymakers, donors and health system leaders who decide what Pacific healthcare looks like after midnight….PACNEWS
Uate V. Tamanikaiyaroi is Architect of Cooperation at the International Planned Parenthood Federation Sub-Regional Office for the Pacific, where he serves as Fiji Country Focal Point and leads the Pacific SRHR and Humanitarian Hub.
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Cleaner, more reliable energy transforming lives in Nauru
YAREN, 16 APRIL 2026 (UNDP)— Across Nauru, access to cleaner and more reliable energy enabled by energy policies, capacity building, and e-mobility solutions is opening new possibilities for families and communities.
These changes are supporting a more secure and resilient future where communities are better equipped to thrive.
These gains are the result of the Supporting Mainstreamed Achievement of Roadmap Targets on Energy in Nauru (SMARTEN) project, which marked a key milestone with its final project board meeting last month.
Implemented by the Government of Nauru through the Department of Climate Change and National Resilience (DCCNR), with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funding from the Global Environment Facility, the five-year project has helped the country take practical steps toward a cleaner and more secure energy system.
Over its implementation, SMARTEN supported the introduction of renewable energy and energy-efficient solutions suited to Nauru’s context. These efforts are helping reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels, lower energy costs over time, and strengthen energy security for communities.
The project also contributed to strengthening national policies and planning frameworks, laying the groundwork for scaling up clean energy investments in the years ahead.
UNDP Pacific Office Deputy Resident Representative for the North Pacific, Gulbahor Nematova, highlighted the importance of national leadership in achieving these results:
“Strong national leadership and ownership were central to the project’s success. The commitment of the Government of Nauru, particularly the DCCNR, shows how national priorities can be translated into tangible results that benefit people and communities.”
A key achievement of the project was the delivery of three demonstration initiatives showcasing renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies tailored to Nauru’s needs. These practical examples provide a foundation for expanding similar solutions nationwide.
In parallel, the project supported the development and review of key national energy policies, which are now awaiting parliamentary adoption. These policies will help guide future investments and accelerate Nauru’s transition to sustainable energy.
Secretary Reagan Moses reflected on the value of collaboration throughout the project:
“As we close, we do so with a clear sense of the progress we have made together and the real value this work has created. While the journey has not been without challenges, strong coordination, open communication and shared commitment have allowed us to stay on track. The experience and lessons from this project put us in a strong position to deliver future initiatives that benefit our communities.”
Implemented from 2021 to 2026, the SMARTEN project has supported Nauru in advancing practical, locally driven energy solutions that contribute to sustainable development and climate action.
Looking ahead, the progress achieved through SMARTEN offers a strong foundation for the future. With continued national leadership and partnerships, Nauru is well positioned to expand clean energy solutions that improve daily life, strengthen resilience, and create new opportunities for communities across the country….PACNEWS
For more information please contact: Nicholas Turner | Communications, Advocacy and Partnerships Specialist | nicholas.turner@undp.org
