In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Corruption in Tonga has shifted into Civil Service: PINA President Moala
2. PACIFIC — UNODC warns climate funds face corruption risks as Pacific climate finance grows
3. PACIFIC — Ocean story telling, collaboration at centre of Pacific Media Summit pre-workshop
4. PACIFIC — Men urged to stand alongside women in media
5. PACIFIC — ‘If you’re not at the table, you are on the menu’: Pacific youth demand climate voice
6. TONGA — New U.S public benefits rule could make green cards harder for some Tongans
7. UN— Solomon Islands PM Wale meets UN SG Guterres
8. AUST — Albanese launches bid for UN security council seat and names former Murdoch aide to top diplomatic post
9. TONGA — Three charged over alleged drug importation after Tonga Police seize methamphetamine
10. PACIFIC — New guide aims to help Tongan families build homes that can better withstand cyclones
11. FIJI — Emergency water operation launched for Batiki
12. PACNEWS BIZ — PNG can sell gold to India: Official
13. PACNEWS BIZ — Pacific Island countries and territories unite at the thirty-seventh Committee on Fisheries (COFI37)
14. PACNEWS BIZ — Labor tells Australian farmers upset about backpacker shortages to recruit Pacific islanders
15. PACNEWS DIGEST — Vanuatu signs the Declaration on Children, Youth, and Climate Action
16. PACNEWS DIGEST — Palau and the Pacific Community (SPC) shape health priorities for 2027–2031
PAC – PACIFIC MEDIA SUMMIT/ANTI CORRUPTION: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Mon 21 Sep 2026
Corruption in Tonga has shifted into Civil Service: PINA President Moala
By Pita Ligaiula in Savusavu
SAVUSAVU, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS)—Veteran Tongan journalist and Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) President Kalafi Moala says corruption in the Pacific is no longer confined to political leadership, with abuse of administrative systems increasingly occurring within the civil service.
Speaking at a pre-summit workshop on climate change and corruption for Pacific journalists in Savusavu, Kalafi said journalists needed to look beyond governments and political leaders to identify where corruption was occurring at the operational level.
“For years, we’ve been fighting corruption in government, and we’ve become critical of leadership at that level. And it’s still important for us to do that.
“But one of the changes that I have noticed is that that corruption basically has moved down so strongly,” he said.
Kalafi said reports and complaints emerging in Tonga highlighted corruption involving civil servants dealing with land administration.
He said the problem had become particularly concerning as climate change displaced people living on land to which they did not have formal ownership, while climate finance intended to assist affected communities could also be vulnerable to misuse.
“One of the key things…is that we’re finding out that corruption is not something that is just at the very top level,” Kalafi said.
Kalafi described an alleged practice in which land records involving deceased or overseas owners were identified and then manipulated to transfer ownership to others.
He also recounted his own experience after discovering that a piece of land he owned had been registered in the name of a relative.
Kalafi said he confronted officials and demanded that the land be returned to his name.
“The next day…my friend who did the evaluation said, hey, the land is back in your name,” he said.
Kalafi said he had since heard complaints from others about similar experiences.
“That’s an area of huge corruption in my country.
“It’s not happening necessarily at the top level. The minister or the government, they don’t know about it. But the workers at this level, they’re very involved,” he said.
Kalafi said the persistence of civil servants across successive governments could allow corrupt practices to become embedded within administrative systems.
“You see how government changes every four years. But these guys, they don’t change.
“The CEOs, the secretary, the surveyors, they’re there from year to year to year. And so they have worked out a system of corruption,” he said.
He said regional journalism networks such as the Pacific Anti-Corruption Journalist Network (PACJN) were important because journalists could share information and expose corruption occurring at different levels.
“The stories from our diverse and different areas have been a tremendous help in allowing us, while standing in a way fighting against corruption, to go into areas where the real corruption is happening,” Kalafi said.
Kalafi also linked the fight against corruption to the changing media environment, warning journalists that technology, including artificial intelligence, could not replace journalism fundamentals.
“Technology is changing all of that. But it failed not to replace the importance of thinking, the importance of doing journalism, integrity, the importance of asking the right questions, pursuing the right answers,” he said.
He said Pacific journalists also needed to work together as the region faced increasing geopolitical pressure.
In the Pacific, it has become an open ground for geopolitical forces. We need more to stand together.
“Togetherness is not an option. It’s something we must,” Kalafi said.
Kalafi said regional cooperation was essential to prevent external forces from exploiting divisions within Pacific societies.
“And so that we end up being fighting each other rather than fighting the forces of darkness or the forces of corruption that we need to be fighting in our society,” he said.
The workshop brought together Pacific journalists to examine the links between climate change, corruption, accountability and investigative journalism. …PACNEWS
PAC – PACIFIC MEDIA SUMMIT/ANTI CORRUPTION: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Mon 21 Sep 2026
UNODC warns climate funds face corruption risks as Pacific climate finance grows
By Pita Ligaiula in Savusavu
SAVUSAVU, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS)—The growing flow of climate and disaster finance into the Pacific must be matched by stronger accountability as complex funding systems and pressure for rapid responses create opportunities for corruption, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has warned.
Speaking at a Pre-Pacific Media Summit workshop on Climate Change and Corruption for Pacific journalist in Savusavu, UNODC Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser and Head of Office Marie Pegie Cauchois said climate finance was essential for vulnerable communities but could be exposed to risks including conflicts of interest, nepotism, favouritism and lack of transparency.
“The Pacific is at the frontline of climate change. We have cyclones, droughts, sea-level rise, and this year with El Niño we have it even worse.
“This is bringing a lot of money. And money is good because it is required for the communities that really need to be responding with resilience to those issues,” Cauchois said.
Cauchois said the complexity of climate and disaster funds, combined with the need to respond quickly to emergencies, could increase corruption risks.
“Often the problem is that those climate funds or disaster funds are complex. And under the complexity or the need to be really rapid in response, there are so many corruption risks,” she said.
She said corruption could ultimately divert resources away from the communities that need them most and undermine years of development and resilience-building.
“At the end of the day, who is the most affected? It’s the communities.
“The communities are the most vulnerable that are really needing this money,” Cauchois said.
Cauchois said diverted funds could also undermine the resilience of Pacific communities and reduce the impact of development programmes.
“By having those monies diverted or going in the wrong pockets, then it really has an impact,” she said.
She said the United Nations Convention against Corruption provided a framework for Pacific countries to strengthen accountability, noting that Pacific countries are signatories to the convention.
Cauchois said the convention also provided space for journalists and civil society to demand greater accountability from governments.
She highlighted a resolution adopted last year at the Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption focusing on small island developing states.
Cauchois said the Pacific’s vulnerability to climate change was a key issue during negotiations on the resolution, helping secure recognition of the particular challenges facing small island states.
She said this recognition created further space for journalists and civil society to push for accountability around climate finance and other resources.
Cauchois urged Pacific journalists to use their role as watchdogs and investigators to scrutinise how climate and disaster funds are managed.
“You also have this role as investigative journalists, and in general, as watchdogs and investigators, and also the bridge between communities and decision makers,” she said.
She said journalists were critical in bringing the experiences of communities to decision makers, particularly people who were not normally heard in policy discussions.
“Through your work, their voices are heard, their problems are heard, and also sometimes the solution is there.
“It’s about amplifying the community voices and holding the solutions accountable by pushing for those voices to be heard,” she said
Cauchois said UNODC had been working with the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) and the Pacific Anti-Corruption Journalists Network since 2019.
She said a strategic partnership signed earlier this year would strengthen collaboration and support independent journalism, with a small grants project also expected to be launched during the week.
The workshop brings together Pacific journalists to examine the links between climate change, climate finance, corruption and integrity ahead of wider regional discussions on climate action.
Cauchois said the roundtable was timely as the region prepares for upcoming climate negotiations and continues to deal with increasing climate-related risks.
The workshop is part of activities ahead of the Pacific Media Summit and is focused on strengthening journalists’ understanding of corruption risks associated with climate finance and disaster response….PACNEWS
PAC – PACIFIC MEDIA SUMMIT: PACNEWS/FMA PACNEWS 3: Mon 21 Sep 2026
Ocean story telling, collaboration at centre of Pacific Media Summit pre-workshop
SAVUSAVU, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS/FMA) — Pacific journalists are being urged to use storytelling to share practical ocean solutions and experiences across the region as the 8th Pacific Media Summit gets underway in Savusavu.
The Waitt Institute is hosting a Pre-Summit Workshop focused on the challenges, solutions and opportunities for collaboration around the ocean.
The first day features a talanoa on the Blue Pacific Ocean, bringing together journalists and ocean stakeholders to discuss the role of storytelling, regional collaboration and shared experiences.
Dr Joeli Veitayaki said Pacific communities need information not only about the challenges facing the ocean, but also about how communities can respond and live with those challenges.
“How do we mobilise these little actions taking place in different parts of the region to share with others so that they may not have to start from ground zero?”
The workshop brings together representatives from Fiji’s Ministry of Information, Blue Prosperity Fiji and the Waitt Institute, along with journalists from Fiji, Tonga, Wallis and Futuna, and Solomon Islands.
The discussions are aimed at strengthening collaboration and ensuring experiences and practical solutions from across the Pacific are shared more widely…..PACNEWS
PAC – PACIFIC MEDIA SUMMIT: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 3: Mon 21 Sep 2026
Men urged to stand alongside women in media
SAVUSAVU, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FIJI SUN) —Male journalism allyship is not about men speaking on behalf of women, but about men recognising their role and responsibility in creating a conducive environment for women to thrive in the media industry.
Balance of Power executive director Mereani Rokotuibau made this remark Monday during the opening of the two-day national training of women auditors on the Kacivaka tool being held in Savusavu.
The programme is co-facilitated by the Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) and Women in Media (WIM), with financial support from the Australia-Fijian Governance Partnership (AFGP) community engagement fund.
Rokotuibau acknowledged the four male journalists for making the most of the opportunity to attend the PINA pre-summit workshop.
The journalists were from three media organisations: Fiji Sun, Fijian Broadcasting Corporation (FBC) and Island Business.
She said creating environments where women media representatives and leaders could speak for themselves, lead and exercise their full potential depended on the collaboration of male journalists.
Rokotuibau said women media personnel cannot change Government and leadership systems on their own and required male journalists and leaders to intervene and support.
“We need men who are willing to listen, men who are willing to grow the muscle to question the systems and the status quo that advantage some and exclude others,” she explained.
The patriarchal system of civil service reforms and service delivery could be challenged if male journalists question government institutions.
“Men who are willing to use their influence to share their power to create space for women,” Rokotuibau said.
“Men who are willing to stand alongside women, not in front of them and not instead of them”.
FCOSS executive director, Vani Catanasiga shared similar sentiments and said the inclusion of the male allyship framework remains highly valued.
Catanasiga added that male journalists could contribute to enhancing equitable and accountable spaces for women journalists and leaders without gender bias…..PACNEWS
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: PMN PACNEWS 3: Mon 21 Sep 2026
‘If you’re not at the table, you are on the menu’: Pacific youth demand climate voice
AUCKLAND, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PMN)—More than 80 rangatahi from across Aotearoa are putting their experiences of climate change into a youth statement they want decision-makers to hear before the next global climate summit.
The young people came together in Auckland for Aotearoa Youth Conference of the Parties (COP) 2026, organised by Save the Children and its Generation Hope ambassadors.
The statement is now being drafted and is expected to be taken to a pre-COP event in Fiji before being presented at COP31 in Türkiye later this year.
Save the Children ambassadors Betty and Ollie told Pacific Mornings the goal was to make sure young people, who will live with the long-term effects of climate decisions, have a real voice in those decisions.
“Children are disproportionately affected by climate change, and the other issues which face the rest of the world,” Ollie says.
He says young people are aware of the problems facing their communities but are often missing from the rooms where decisions are made.
“The youth have education, they’re aware of the issues, but they just don’t have the voice to make a meaningful change.”
Four workshops at the Youth COP focused on youth leadership and governance, water, food, and loss and damage.
Betty says the sessions brought together young people’s knowledge and lived experiences, including experiences from the Pacific.
“We basically engaged in different conversations during those workshops, and in that we eventually gathered all of that information and gathered all of those lived experiences of other people and put them into what is a youth statement.”
The Pacific was a key part of those conversations, with representatives from Pacific nations involved in the workshops and speakers from countries including Vanuatu sharing their experiences.
The Aotearoa youth push comes as Pacific young people are also building their own regional climate agenda ahead of COP31.
More than 100 young people from across the Pacific have taken part in a series of talanoa dialogues, with a regional youth climate statement now being used to inform engagement with decision-makers ahead of the Fiji-led Pre-COP and COP31.
Fiji has also said young Pacific people will have a direct role in its COP31 preparations, with youth representatives expected to be part of the country’s official delegation rather than simply attending as observers.
A large proportion of the rangatahi attending were also of Pacific descent, according to Ollie.
For Betty, giving young people a place at the table is about more than simply being heard.
“A lot of the time decisions about climate action don’t really involve our perspective,” she says. “And more often than not, young people are just asking to be listened to, to have our ideas and our experiences and have a genuine voice at the table.”
Ollie says one comment from a rangatahi at the event captured that frustration.
“As one of the Rangitsahi at the event said, if you’re not at the table, you are on the menu.”
The message is also being echoed by Pacific climate leaders. Fiji’s Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Dr Sivendra Michael, told nearly 70 Pacific youth climate leaders at a July talanoa in Suva: “If young people are not at the table, how can they be part of the decisions that will shape their future?”
Ollie says young people are already experiencing the effects of decisions made by governments and organisations. “We’re here, we’re educated, we want to make a change.”
The Ambassadors say the statement will also reflect the links between climate change and everyday issues in Aotearoa.
Betty says climate policy cannot be treated as an issue that only matters during elections.
“It is connected to everything in Aotearoa, cost of living, jobs, infrastructure, and just our whole entire future is basically inherited from what will happen and what decisions will be taken for climate.”
The statement is still being drafted and is expected to be more complete within the next week or so, before being taken to the pre-COP event in Fiji towards the end of the year.
For Betty, there is still reason for young people to have hope, even as climate pressures grow.
“I feel like it’s really important to have a sense of hope in these kinds of situations.”
Ollie says the next generation is ready to take on the responsibility of creating change.
“There are still incredible rangatahi out there who will soon inherit these positions and who do want to make a change.”
The final youth statement is expected to be shared publicly before being taken to COP31, where the young people hope their concerns will reach governments and other decision-makers.
COP31 will be held from 09 to 20 November in Antalya, Türkiye….PACNEWS
TONGA – DIPLOMACY/IMMIGRATION: KANIVA TONGA NEWS PACNEWS 3: Mon 21 Sep 2026
New U.S public benefits rule could make green cards harder for some Tongans
NUKU’ALOFA, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (KANIVA TONGA NEWS)—Tongans seeking permanent residence in the United States could face tougher scrutiny over their use of government benefits under a new immigration rule that took effect on 18 September.
The latest change comes four months after another Trump administration immigration announcement initially raised concerns that many foreigners already in the United States could be required to return to their home countries to complete their Green Card applications.
The Department of Homeland Security later clarified that most applicants who legitimately qualify for adjustment of status would still be able to seek permanent residence from within the U.S, with applications continuing to be assessed individually.
The May announcement nevertheless highlighted the Trump administration’s increased emphasis on the discretionary nature of adjustment of status, the process that allows eligible immigrants already in the United States to apply for permanent residence without leaving the country.
This week’s change concerns a separate immigration requirement known as the “public charge” test, used to determine whether certain immigrants seeking admission to the United States or permanent residence are likely to become primarily dependent on government assistance.
The Trump administration has rescinded the narrower 2022 public-charge regulation introduced under former President Joe Biden, restoring broader discretion to immigration officers when assessing applicants.
Under the new rule, immigration officers may consider whether an applicant receives means-tested government benefits, including Medicaid, when deciding whether the person is likely to become dependent on public assistance.
However, receiving such benefits does not automatically disqualify someone from obtaining a Green Card. Officers must look at the applicant’s overall circumstances, including their age, health, family situation, income and other financial resources, employment, education and skills.
This means the use of public benefits is only one factor in the decision. Immigration authorities will weigh it together with the other factors before determining whether an applicant is likely to become what US immigration law describes as a “public charge”.
The new rule applies to relevant benefits received or applied for on or after September 18. Benefits received before the rule took effect are not considered under the expanded approach.
The new immigration rule is already facing major legal challenges from state and local governments.
A coalition of 22 states and the District of Columbia has sued the Trump administration seeking to block the public-charge rule, while New York City is leading a separate challenge involving cities and counties including Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Santa Clara County and King County.
The challengers argue that the policy gives immigration officers excessively broad discretion and could discourage immigrant families from using healthcare, food, housing and other public assistance for which they are legally eligible.
The Trump administration says the change restores immigration officers’ ability to consider all relevant circumstances and promotes self-reliance among immigrants.
The public-charge requirement does not apply equally to every immigrant. Humanitarian categories including asylum seekers are among those not affected, while the consequences for other applicants depend on their immigration pathway and individual circumstances.
For Tongan families in the United States, the latest rule therefore introduces another consideration for those seeking permanent residence, particularly applicants who receive or apply for means-tested government assistance….PACNEWS
UN – DIPLOMACY: SOL GOVT PACNEWS 3: Mon 21 Sep 2026
Solomon Islands PM Wale meets UN SG Guterres
NEW YORK, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (SOL GOVT)—Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has met with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres at the UN Secretariat in New York, raising key climate and development priorities for Solomon Islands and the Pacific.
The Prime Minister highlighted the urgent need for greater climate finance, stronger adaptation support and meaningful funding for loss and damage.
He stressed that climate change is an immediate and existential challenge for Pacific island states.
Prime Minister Wale also raised the high cost of development and access to concessional finance for Small Island Developing States, including the need to recognise vulnerability through the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI).
The Prime Minister Wale highlighted Solomon Islands’ impending graduation from Least Developed Country status and the need to ensure this does not reduce access to essential development and resilience financing.
He expressed appreciation for United Nations support through the Peacebuilding Fund, which will contribute to strengthening institutional resilience and capacity in Solomon Islands.
Secretary-General Guterres reaffirmed the United Nations’ strong commitment to Small Island Developing States, with particular concern for the Pacific.
The UN Secretary General also reaffirmed the importance of continued international support for Solomon Islands and the region.
The 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly begins on Monday in New York, with Prime Minister Wale expected to address the General Assembly on Friday.
The Prime Minister will also hold a series of bilateral meetings and engagements on the margins of the UN General Assembly…PACNEWS
AUST – DIPLOMACY: THE GUARDIAN PACNEWS 3: Mon 21 Sep 2026
Albanese launches bid for UN security council seat and names former Murdoch aide to top diplomatic post
NEW YORK, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (THE GUARDIAN)—Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese launched a formal bid for Australia to serve a two-year term on the UN security council in 2029 and 2030.
Albanese also unveiled former News Corp head of broadcasting Siobhan McKenna as Australia’s next consul general to New York.
A vote for the UN council spot won’t be held until mid 2028, but lobbying efforts will intensify during the prime minister’s visit to New York for the UN general assembly.
The prime minister said Australia’s role on the council would be able to benefit ordinary citizens.
“Engagement with the world matters. It matters because it makes a difference to the cost of living, to inflation, to Australians’ way of life,” he told reporters in New York on Monday.
“That is why we can’t afford to not be engaged with the world, because it has a direct impact on the quality of life of Australians on a day-to-day basis.
“We have an opportunity through this potential seat on the UN security council to play a key role in shaping the global issues that really matter to Australians.”
Australia has served on the security council five times since the UN was established after the second world war.
The most recent stint was in 2013 and 2014, where Australia was able to lead a response to the Russian downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.
Albanese said the role Australia played during that period was evidence of what a spot on the council could achieve.
“We do need to stand up to the Middle East conflict. I think there is a role for middle powers to engage, and Australia has done that as we’ve engaged with the war in Ukraine in the coalition of the willing,” he said.
Two countries are elected to the security council from the Western Europe and Others group, which includes Australia.
So far, only Australia and Finland have put their hands up for a spot on the council, but other countries from the bloc could still launch bids.
Even if the two countries run unopposed, Australia would still need support from two-thirds of the 193 UN member states to be successful.
Of the 15 members on the security council, China, France, the U.S, UK and Russia are permanent members, while the remainder serve two-year terms.
The prime minister said he was optimistic of getting support from Pacific nations, as well as south-east Asian countries in the Asean pact.
Part of the campaign will seek to leverage Australia’s role in the Pacific and action on climate change in the region.
The campaign, called “we listen, we partner, we protect”, will also focus on aiming to boost the voices of middle powers and smaller nations in the UN.
Action taken by Australia to be the first country in the world to ban people under 16 from using social media will be at the forefront of the campaign, as well as recent efforts to place guardrails on the expanding use of AI.
McKenna is now the chair of Australia Post and has also had a role as chair of the NBN.
She will take up the role later in the year.
“Siobhan is someone who will bring a great deal of financial and economic capacity to the role,” Albanese said….PACNEWS
TONGA – DRUGS FIGHT: KANIVA TONGA NEWS PACNEWS 3: Mon 21 Sep 2026
Three charged over alleged drug importation after Tonga Police seize methamphetamine
NUKU’ALOFA, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (KANIVA TONGA NEWS)—Tonga Police have arrested and charged three people following an operation investigating the alleged importation of illicit drugs into the Kingdom.
Police said the accused are a 36-year-old woman from Halaleva and two men, aged 68 and 45, both from Vaini.
All three have been charged with conspiracy to import illicit drugs, according to a Police media release issued on Monday, 21 September.
The 36-year-old woman is also facing two additional charges, although Police did not specify in the statement what those charges were.
During the operation, officers allegedly seized approximately 200 grams of methamphetamine, together with a number of electronic devices.
Police did not disclose where or when the alleged methamphetamine was intercepted, its estimated street value, or the country from which authorities believe it originated.
The arrests are the latest development in Tonga’s continuing efforts to combat the trafficking and distribution of methamphetamine and other illicit drugs.
Police said the investigation remains ongoing, indicating that further inquiries are being carried out.
No further details about the three accused or when they are expected to appear in court were provided in the statement….PACNEWS
TONGA – RESILIENT HOME: KANIVA TONGA NEWS PACNEWS 3: Mon 21 Sep 2026
New guide aims to help Tongan families build homes that can better withstand cyclones
NUKU’ALOFA, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (KANIVA TONGA NEWS) —A new booklet, Building a Resilient Home in Tonga: A simple guide to building safer, stronger houses for our families and future, has been developed to help homeowners make better decisions when building or improving their houses.
The guide was developed by Habitat for Humanity New Zealand in coordination with the Government of Tonga and a working group bringing together local and international expertise.
It comes as Tonga continues to face significant risks from tropical cyclones, earthquakes, heavy rain, flooding and rising sea levels.
A key aim is to encourage families to strengthen their homes before disasters strike, rather than addressing structural weaknesses only after houses have been damaged.
Written in plain language and supported by diagrams and checklists, the booklet provides practical information for people who may have limited technical knowledge of construction.
It includes advice on selecting a competent building contractor, estimating likely construction costs and navigating Tonga’s building permit process.
One of its major areas of focus is cyclone-resistant construction, including visual, step-by-step guidance on roof-to-post vertical and wrapped strapping connections designed to strengthen houses against extreme winds.
The booklet also addresses building design suitable for Tonga’s hot and humid climate, including cross-ventilation, louvre windows and wide roof overhangs.
Families are also given information on health and utility requirements involving the Ministry of Health, Energy Commission and Tonga Power Limited.
Homeowner checklists cover preparations for the cyclone season, including inspections of roof structures, subfloors and external carports, as well as safety assessments following a cyclone.
The resource is intended not only for individual homeowners but also for communities and people working across Tonga’s housing sector.
A media soft launch was scheduled for Friday, September 18, at the Live and Learn Office in Havelu, where community leaders, media representatives and housing-sector stakeholders were invited to preview the booklet and hear how it would be distributed to communities.
The initiative places greater emphasis on building resilience into homes from the beginning, potentially reducing the risks to Tongan families and their properties when future cyclones and other natural disasters strike….PACNEWS
FIJI – WEATHER WATCH/EL NINO: FIJI GOVT PACNEWS 3: Mon 21 Sep 2026
Emergency water operation launched for Batiki
SUVA, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FIJI GOVT) — Batiki Island communities in facing critical water shortages are receiving emergency water supplies, with a Fiji Government team travelling to the island to support affected residents and assess alternative water sources.
The Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Risk Management, through the Divisional Commissioner Eastern Office, is working with the Ministry of Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport and the Water Authority of Fiji to deliver emergency water supplies to the island.
The MLC Vatulawa departed Narayan Jetty Sunday and arrived in Batiki today.
The team will distribute emergency water and assess alternative water sources on the island, where communities rely largely on rainwater harvesting.
Priority will be given to the school and health centre once the operation begins.
A second phase of the operation is planned for 22 September, following the team’s return to Levuka to replenish water supplies.
The Government is also preparing wider water supply operations for drought-affected maritime communities in the Northern and Western divisions.
The Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Risk Management and the Ministry of Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport will coordinate support for affected communities as water shortages continue.
The Government will continue monitoring the impacts of El Niño and work with relevant agencies to ensure a coordinated response and timely assistance to affected communities…PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PNG – EXPORTS: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 21 Sep 2026
PNG can sell gold to India: Official
PORT MORESBY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (THE NATIONAL)—India has a potential market for gold from Papua New Guinea, says PNG-India Business Council president Mahadevan Shankar.
“In 2014, a (chief executive officer) of the biggest refinery in India offered to import gold from PNG but nothing eventuated since,” he said.
Shankar said India imported between 700 and 800 metric tonnes of gold a year but there is no PNG-India gold export pipeline.
He said that PNG produced around 75 metric tonnes of gold but did not export to India.
He said that households in India on average owned around 24,000 ounces of gold jewellery.
And with the population of India and their appetite for gold products, it is a “unique” market opportunity for PNG.
“What I am staying is that India is 1.4 billion population, it is part of BRICS, the largest market in the world, fourth largest economic (going third largest in 2027), so why is PNG not going to India?” he said.
On energy, he said India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited had signed a memorandum of understanding to invest in the PNG LNG (liquefied natural gas) project in 2015, but nothing progressed.
“Now this same company is partnering TotalEnergies in Mozambique in a project worth around US$25 billion (about K107.5 billion) to US$30 billion (about K129 billion),” he said.
Shankar suggests that PNG and India extend cooperation in trade, energy security, investments, medicine and sciences, education, tourism and culture, and people-to-people exchanges.
He said that the business council was established to facilitate discussions and take PNG to India so that India could boost bilateral trade from US$600 million (about K2.5 billion) to US$20 billion (about K86 billion) in the next decade.
“It’s not impossible,” he said.
“Mind you, India has a 1.4 billion population – a unique market opportunity close to PNG by proximity.”
Shankar added that PNG’s agricultural exports to India was also underutilised. Last year, the first turmeric export to India was only 13 metric tonnes.
PNG coffee (Robusta) is currently exported to India via European brands, and not directly.
And while India is the world’s second largest palm oil importer and largest gold importer, there are no Indian refineries in PNG…PACNEWS
PAC – FISHERIES: SPC PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 21 Sep 2026
Pacific Island countries and territories unite at the thirty-seventh Committee on Fisheries (COFI37)
ROME, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (SPC)—Pacific Island countries and territories have reinforced their collective leadership in sustainable fisheries management at the 37th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Committee on Fisheries (COFI37) at FAO Headquarters in Rome Italy, calling for stronger international recognition and support for Pacific-led strategies, regional cooperation and the unique needs of Small Island Developing States and Territories (SIDS).
Representatives of Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and the Pacific Community (SPC), and Members from the Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Marshall Islands, Vanuatu, Palau, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia had a high profile at COFI137, including through New Zealand representative Adam Berry, who ably chaired the meeting.
Their collective voices highlighted the Pacific’s strong record of regional cooperation, science-based fisheries management and effective monitoring and compliance systems. The region’s experience demonstrates that coordinated action, supported by science and effective governance, can sustain valuable tuna fisheries while delivering lasting economic, social and food-security benefits for Pacific communities.
Pacific region leadership was on display throughout the week. FFA was awarded the Margarita Lizárraga Medal in recognition of its contribution to sustainable fisheries management, an achievement reflecting decades of collective effort and cooperation across the FFA membership.
Pacific representatives also featured prominently in high-level panels and side events throughout COFI37, including the panel marking the 10th anniversary of the Port State Measures Agreement and events on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) and fisheries, World Trade Organisation (WTO), climate change and youth, helping bring Pacific experiences, achievements and priorities to the forefront of global fisheries discussions.
The Pacific called for international support to strengthen existing regional systems and initiatives, including fisheries science, data, monitoring, compliance, enforcement, traceability and capacity development. Support for SIDS should be practical, country-driven and delivered through established regional institutions, ensuring that international assistance complements rather than duplicates existing Pacific arrangements.
Climate change was highlighted as one of the most significant threats to Pacific fisheries and aquaculture, with changing tuna distributions and growing pressures on coastal fisheries posing risks to food security, livelihoods, government revenue and economic development. Pacific region representatives called for increased financial and technical support for climate adaptation and mitigation, including improved data and monitoring, resilient fisheries management and support for communities on the front line of climate impacts.
The Pacific region also emphasised the importance of coherent international fisheries governance. New and emerging international commitments and measures should complement existing regional and subregional fisheries arrangements, respect the mandates of regional fisheries management organisations and avoid creating unnecessary or duplicative reporting and compliance burdens for small administrations.
Strong regional cooperation was further highlighted as essential to combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Pacific initiatives in regional surveillance, electronic reporting and electronic monitoring, information-sharing and electronic Port State Measures demonstrate the value of collective approaches to protecting fisheries resources. The Pacific called for continued international support to strengthen these systems, build national capacity and improve the ability to identify and respond to emerging IUU risks.
The Pacific message at COFI37 was clear: international support must build on Pacific leadership and strengthen the regional systems already delivering results. Sustaining healthy fisheries requires continued investment in science, people, technology and resilient communities, while ensuring that Pacific Island countries and territories retain and increase the long-term economic, social and food-security benefits of their fisheries resources.
The Pacific Island countries and territories represented at COFI37 reaffirmed their commitment to working collectively through FFA, SPC and other regional and international partners to advance sustainable, climate-resilient fisheries and ensure that the benefits of the Pacific’s fisheries continue to support present and future generations….PACNEWS
PAC – AGRICULTURE: THE NIGHTLY PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 21 Sep 2026
Labor tells Australian farmers upset about backpacker shortages to recruit Pacific islanders
CANBERRA, 21 SEPTEMBER 2025 (THE NIGHTLY) —Australian farmers worried about recruiting enough backpackers to pick their fruit and harvest other crops under an immigration crackdown should hire unskilled and semi-skilled labourers from the Pacific islands and Timor-Leste, an Albanese Government minister said
Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth said she did not accept warnings from agricultural groups that the changes announced could trigger a labour shortage in country areas and drive up food prices.
She said farmers worried about losing access to working holidaymakers — typically European backpackers who will have to enter a lottery to extend their stays — should apply for a little-known federal program known as PALM, for the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme.
“I don’t accept the premise of what’s being put forward,” Rishworth told the ABC. “We have taken a responsible approach to migration; a sustainable approach to migration.
“Backpackers in their second and third year will have to work in regional areas. There is also a number of other places that people can get agricultural workers, and I’d point to the PALM scheme.”
She was unable to say whether the government has undertaken modelling to determine what the effect would be on wages.
Nationals MP Michael McCormack said the agriculture sector was “desperately worried” by Labor’s cuts which could “cripple” regional Australia. “There will be fruit that’s just left to rot on the vine, on the trees, and falling to the ground,” he told News24.
The Coalition wants to reduce net overseas migration more than the government.
The suggestion farmers hire short-term workers from nine Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste appeared to be at odds with the government’s intention to cut the large number of temporary migrants, also known as guest workers.
Burke told the Nine newspapers this week he was “very worried about” the number of temporary migrants, who have exceeded 3 million, or 16 percent of the workforce.
Despite promising to prioritise agriculture and fisheries for skilled-worker visas, the government is coming under huge pressure from the farming lobby over last Thursday’s changes.
National Farmers’ Federation President Hamish McIntyre said farmers were furious the government had slowed processing of Working Holiday Maker visas from a few days to three months.
“This is a low blow for farmers and the businesses that produce Australia’s food and fibre,” he said.
“Working Holiday Makers fill about one in seven farm jobs making them central to getting food and fibre produced, harvested, packed and into supermarkets.”
The PALM scheme requires employers to cover the travel costs of workers from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Nauru and Timor-Leste. The workers, who can stay for nine months or four years, depending on the type of visa, pay back their relocation costs out of their wages.
After a promising start, interest in the scheme has stalled. There were 32,365 workers using the visas last November, about 2000 fewer than a year earlier, according to Stephen Howes, a professor at the Australian National University.
The high cost of the visas made them impractical for farms with short harvests, including wheat and other grains, NSW Farmers’ Federation president Rebecca Reardon told The Nightly.
“It takes a very long time to access the program, whereas working-holidaymakers we can typically get them in a quick timeframe,” she said.
“We’ve already got farms that are six weeks away from the harvest. With he slowdown we’re seeing in processing, those workers they had lined up to come to and harvest are not going to be available.”
Speaking on ABC’s 7.30, Burke said Australia needed a migration system that eases housing pressure, delivers workers where they’re needed, clamps down on visa abuse and overstayers, and keeps refugee numbers unchanged.
He rejected claims that the Prime Minister watered down his plan after his initial press club address was cancelled and claimed his measures had existed in similar form since February.
Burke acknowledged the concerns about the agricultural workforce but argued the PALM scheme was underused and could meet labour shortages.
“They’re right to be concerned about agricultural workforce. And as I said before, there is no part of the economy where you can have an impact on immigration without having some tension there,” he said.
“But I’d say this for the agriculture sector, the government has a Pacific worker programme called the PALM Visa. It’s really important to us as a government, and it’s been really effective in our relationship with the Pacific. That area is still underutilised.”
Burke rejected comparisons to U.S-style ICE enforcement.
Deputy Opposition Leader Jane Hume accused Labor of trying to “have it both ways” with its proposed changes to further reduce migration in a fiery exchange with Health Minister Mark Butler on Sunrise.
“You can’t have it both ways,” Senator Hume said. “ Tony Burke said that any lower number would crush the economy. But he also said in the same breath that he needed the legislative powers in order to make it lower, and that the Coalition wasn’t willing to help.”
Butler said Labor’s plan would strike a balance between reducing migration and meeting critical workforce shortages.
“Our advice is the plan that Tony (Burke) laid out yesterday will get us to the numbers we set out in the budget, which we think are the right balance,” the Labor frontbencher said.
Shadow resources minister Susan McDonald warned regional employers could struggle to keep businesses running and get crops to market under Labor’s new working holiday visa arrangements.
She claimed the Albanese government “completely bungled immigration from day one”.
“They created this mess and true to form, their solution makes no sense and will create more problems,” she said.
Shadow Home Affairs Minister Jonno Duniam said the Coalition was scheduled to release their immigration policy before parliament returns for its October sitting.
“I expect we’ll have our policy out before we return to Parliament in three weeks’ time. We’re in the final stages of pulling the details together,” the Liberal Senator said.
“We’re going to get it right. We will be fully modeled, fully costed, and we’ll be able to defend a policy that actually makes sense and is good for our country.
“Unlike One Nation who’ve had four policies in four weeks and still can’t give us the details, no one’s been out to explain it,” Duniam said…PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Vanuatu signs the Declaration on Children, Youth, and Climate Action
PORT VILA, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (UNICEF PACIFIC) — The Government of Vanuatu signed the Declaration on Children, Youth, and Climate Action, joining more than 75 countries and territories worldwide in committing to place the rights, needs, and voices of children and young people at the centre of climate policies and action.
“The Government of Vanuatu recognises that children and young people are an integral part of the national climate actions and policies, which is why their voices have to be placed at the forefront of national adaptation plans, locally-led resilience projects, and landmark international legal actions,” said the Minister of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology, Geo-Hazards, Energy, Environment and Disaster Management, Ralph Regenvanu, as he signed the Declaration during Vanuatu’s annual Conference of Youth.
As one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, Vanuatu’s children are already experiencing the impacts of climate change. Nearly half of Vanuatu’s population is under the age of 18. Between 2008 and 2020, an estimated average of 5,700 children were displaced each year due to weather-related disasters, while approximately 58,000 children required humanitarian assistance following Tropical Cyclones Judy and Kevin in 2023. Nearly 90 per cent of schools are exposed to drought risk, and more than one-third face recurrent flooding.
The Declaration is the first global commitment focused on putting children and young people at the centre of climate action. It supports governments to better consider children’s needs and voices in climate policies and decisions. UNICEF is working with governments, including Vanuatu, to help turn these commitments into real action for children.
“From stronger cyclones to water shortages to rising sea levels, children and youth in Vanuatu are living with the impacts today. That is why it is so important that young people have a say in the decisions that will affect their future,” said UNICEF Pacific’s Representative, Hamish Young. “UNICEF commends the Government of Vanuatu for taking this important step, and for recognising the value of young voices.”
Following the signing ceremony, young people participating in the Conference of Youth presented a petition to Ralph Regenvanu, calling for stronger youth participation in climate decision-making processes. The petition reflects growing momentum among young people across Vanuatu to help shape solutions to the climate challenges affecting their communities.
“It is important for young people to have a voice in climate and decision-making because it will help other youth to see the importance of climate change and its impact on our country and communities,” said 19-year-old, Brenda Jimmy, from Lelepa Island, Efate. “Please listen to young people and make our future a priority.”
The signing of the Declaration, together with the voices and priorities emerging from the Conference of Youth, builds on Vanuatu’s longstanding leadership on climate justice as well as its efforts to protect future generations….PACNEWS
For media queries, please contact: Royson Willie | Ministry of Climate Change | wroyson@vanuatu.gov.vu
Zubnah Khan | UNICEF Pacific | + 679 9988 137| zukhan@unicef.org
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Palau and the Pacific Community (SPC) shape health priorities for 2027–2031
KOROR, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (SPC)—The Republic of Palau’s Ministry of Health and Human Services (MHHS), with support from the Pacific Community (SPC), brought together government leaders, health professionals and key stakeholders from 09–11 September 2026 to shape the country’s health priorities and strategic direction for the next five years.
The MHHS Strategic Planning Workshop was opened by Raynold Oilouch, Vice President and Minister of Health and Human Services, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to strengthening Palau’s health system and improving the health and wellbeing of its people.
The three-day consultation marked an important milestone in the development of the MHHS Strategic Plan 2027–2031, which will provide overarching direction for the Ministry and guide health priorities, programmes and investments over the coming five years.
Participants reflected on Palau’s health journey, achievements and lessons learned; examined current and emerging health challenges; and considered how the health system needs to evolve to meet the changing needs of the population. Through a series of participatory discussions and group exercises, they helped shape a shared vision for the future of health in Palau. They identified strategic priorities, objectives and key areas for action, building on existing strengths and achievements while ensuring the health system remains responsive, resilient and sustainable.
The planning process also drew on futures and foresight approaches, encouraging participants to look beyond immediate pressures and consider the longer-term trends, uncertainties and opportunities that may shape health and wellbeing in Palau. Palauan knowledge and wisdom, including traditional knowledge, collective stewardship, navigation, adaptation, and care for people and place, were recognised as important foundations for a strategic plan that is future-ready while remaining grounded in Palauan identity and values.
SPC supported the strategic planning process through its Public Health Division (PHD) and Strategy, Performance and Learning (SPL) Unit. The SPC team supporting the consultation included Dr Si Thu Win Tin, Deputy Director; Dr Amerita Ravuvu, Principal Adviser; Dr Karen Hammad, Nursing Adviser; and Valery Wichman, Lead Strategy and Innovation.
Working closely with MHHS, SPC is providing technical support to ensure that Palau’s priorities and aspirations shape the new Strategic Plan and provides a practical framework for strengthening the health system over the next five years. The collaborative approach places MHHS and national stakeholders at the centre of the planning process, with SPC providing technical and strategic support.
With the workshop complete, SPC will consolidate the outcomes and prepare a draft MHHS Strategic Plan 2027–2031. The draft Strategic Plan will then undergo review and validation by MHHS and relevant stakeholders before being finalised and progressed through the appropriate national endorsement process.
The development of the new Strategic Plan reflects the strong partnership between Palau and SPC and a shared commitment to strengthening the health system and improving the health and wellbeing of all people in Palau. SPC will continue to work alongside MHHS as the Plan moves from development to implementation, helping translate its strategic priorities into practical actions and results for the people of Palau…PACNEWS
