In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Pacific climate advocates condemn Australian coal project extension, call out climate hypocrisy
2. SOL — Solomon Islands DPM Sade dismisses political link to Australian Treaty update
3. FIJI — Fiji-Australia treaty will not silence climate concerns
4. PACIFIC — Cook Islands and Kiribati discuss ocean governance cooperation
5. HAWAII — Power out in wake of Hawaii hurricane, but warnings lifted
6. SAMOA — Three police employees terminated after positive drug tests
7. SAMOA — Samoa signs agreement for nearly US$3m in health equipment
8. VAN — TRBR launches new Broadcasting Code of Practice
9. PACIFIC — Pacific media urged to carry trusted weather and climate information to the last mile
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Vanuatu joins landmark international coastal connectivity project
11. PACNEWS BIZ — UnionPay International and SOCREDO deepen payment partnership in French Polynesia
12. PACNEWS BIZ — RNZAF aircrew join major multinational maritime exercise
13. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Staying in place: Building cultural security in a changing climate
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — One Va’a, One SPREP: Pacific unites to navigate the triple planetary crisis
15. PACNEWS DIGEST — Samoa validates and shares knowledge on mangroves areas carbon stock assessment
16. PACNEWS DIGEST — U.S Government advances self-reliant disaster resilience in Fiji
PAC – COAL PROJECT: 350.ORG PACNEWS 3: Wed 09 Sep 2026
Pacific climate advocates condemn Australian coal project extension, call out climate hypocrisy
SUVA, 09 SEPTEMBER 2026 (350.ORG) — Pacific and the Pacific Climate Warriors have condemned the Australian Government’s decision to expand the Saraji coal mine, extending operations by 30 years and emitting a further 120 million tonnes of climate pollution.
The extension was announced as Australian Prime Minister Albanese met with Pacific leaders who maintain that climate change is the “single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of Pacific people and communities.”
The open-cut Saraji coal mine, owned by the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA), will dig and export a further 55 million tonnes of coal between now and 2055, solidifying Australia’s position as the major fossil fuel polluter of the Pacific region, and the largest coal exporter in the world.
Fenton Lutunatabua, 350.org Pacific and Caribbean Programme Lead said: “It is infuriating. We just learned that the world would breach the 1.5°C limit by the end of the decade, and Australia has again used their geopolitical power to claim that the Pacific does not object to their fossil fuel expansions. We absolutely do object. News of a global overshoot should have lit the fire of urgency to phase out fossil fuels, instead we are watching an extra 55 million tonnes of coal be extracted, exported and burned at the cost of our survival.
We will always maintain that the lives of everyday Pacific people should take priority over the profits of coal and gas CEOs. BMA already announced record profits for the last financial year. Are we willing to risk the survival of small island states to further line their pockets?”
At the Pacific Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau, leaders underscored the urgency of ambitious global climate action consistent with the best available science. UNEP’s latest report confirms any long-lived, high-emission infrastructure would lock us into a trajectory that makes future emissions reductions extremely difficult and denies us a chance at returning to the 1.5°C limit.
Jacynta Fa’amau, 350.org Pacific Campaigner said: “Earlier this year, I stood at the foot of the Saraji mine and listened to the plight of First Nations custodians whose lands, streams and cultural heritage were plundered to make way for BMA’s coal expansion. These coal mines wreak havoc on people and the planet, both at the point of extraction in Australia, and at the point of climate impact in the Pacific. Our frustration at this extension is as much for our First Nations brothers and sisters, as it is for our own people.
BMA can absolutely afford to decarbonise their operations but insist on fuelling climate chaos with their coal expansion plans. That the Australian government is enabling them, while on the other hand claiming climate leadership at the Pacific Leaders Meeting, is baffling.”
The Saraji coal mine sits on Barada Barna/Wirdi traditional country and is one of 48 active coal mines in the Bowen Basin, in Central Queensland. BMA also has tentative plans to extend its Peak Downs mine in the Bowen Basin to the year 2119 – 70 years past the world’s net zero deadline…. PACNEWS
SOL – POLITICS: INDEPTH SOLOMONS PACNEWS 3: Wed 09 Sep 2026
Solomon Islands DPM Sade dismisses political link to Australian Treaty update
HONIARA, 09 SEPTEMBER 2026 (INDEPTH SOLOMONS) — Solomon Islands Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Francis Sade firmly rejected an ABC News report alleging that a message he received from the Australian High Commission was politically motivated, describing it as a routine update on the progress of treaty discussions.
Minister Matthew Wale used a text message from Australia’s High Commissioner to boost his political standing.
The report suggested that the federal government was rushing to finalise an in-principle treaty agreement worth over $980 million (US$707.92 million) in additional funding, timed around a recent leadership challenge against Wale.
According to a government statement, DPM Sade clarified that the message from High Commissioner Jeffrey Roach was nothing more than a routine briefing on the Community Partnerships Programme and ongoing treaty progress.
“This was simply an update regarding the progress of the treaty discussions, it was never intended for political expediency,” Deputy Prime Minister Sade said.
He explained these updates are sent regularly to keep leaders informed, not to play politics.
Addressing concerns over the timing and nature of the leak, DPM Sade also said that good news for the country should be a shared opening in Parliament, not used for political fighting.
He stated the country’s partnerships must focus on what is best for the Solomon Islands, not on political arguments…. PACNEWS
FIJI – DIPLOMACY: FBC NEWS PACNEWS 3: Wed 09 Sep 2026
Fiji-Australia treaty will not silence climate concerns
SUVA, 09 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FBC NEWS) — Fiji will remain free to question Australia on climate change and carbon emissions under the proposed Vuvale Union Treaty.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Permanent Secretary Dr Raijeli Taga stressed this to the told the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence this morning.
The issue was raised by Deputy Chair, Rinesh Sharma who questioned whether Fiji’s closer relationship with Australia could affect its ability to speak out on issues such as climate change and Australia’s carbon emissions.
Sharma says Fiji must consider both the benefits and the possible costs of the agreement.
In response, the Ministry PS assured that Fiji’s sovereignty will remain protected under the treaty.
She says Fiji’s s foreign policy of “friends to all and enemies to none” will continue.
“Australia is a key bilateral partner in which we view the elevation to treaty level arrangement is a natural next step for the relationship. But to answer your question, Honorable Member, Chair, through you, Fiji is still open to question Australia as we base our partnership on Fiji’s sovereignty. Sovereignty is respected in this union, and Fiji will, if it permits, to question Australia on its emissions, on carbon emissions, Fiji is free to do that. And that is what the treaty is.”
Dr Taga says Australia is a close partner because of the two countries shared history, values and strong regional relationship…. PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: COOK ISLANDS GOVT PACNEWS 3: Wed 09 Sep 2026
Cook Islands and Kiribati discuss ocean governance cooperation
RAROTONGA, 09 SEPTEMBER 2026 (COOK ISLANDS GOVT) — Cook Islands Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Chere Arthur, met with Ribanataake Tiwau, Kiribati’s Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources Development, during his visit to Rarotonga.
Minister Tiwau and his delegation visited the Cook Islands to learn about the country’s experience in establishing governance arrangements for seabed minerals.
Discussions covered institutional and regulatory processes, scientific research and environmental protection. The meeting also provided an opportunity to exchange information on approaches to managing ocean resources and to consider areas for possible future cooperation, including knowledge sharing and institutional capacity-building.
Minister Tiwau acknowledged the Cook Islands’ experience in developing its seabed minerals governance arrangements. Both sides also recognised the value of Pacific countries sharing knowledge and experience on ocean issues affecting the region.
The visit builds on previous engagements between Cook Islands and Kiribati representatives at regional and international meetings and contributes to the broader bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Arthur was supported by Tatryanna Utanga, Foreign Service Officer within the Ministry’s Treaties, Multilateral and Oceans Division…. PACNEWS
HAWAII – HURRICANE: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS 3: Wed 09 Sep 2026
Power out in wake of Hawaii hurricane, but warnings lifted
HONOLULU, 09 SEPTEMBER 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC) — A reporter with Hawaii News Now has described a “wild” night as Hurricane Lowell passed by, with power out on Tuesday morning and some oceanfront houses destroyed.
The U.S National Weather Service has lifted all warnings related to the storm, although it said swells from Lowell will continue to generate life-threatening surf and rip current conditions during the next few days across many of the Hawaiian Islands.
There’s also still a threat of flash flooding.
Dillon Ancheta, a Kauai local, said they are breathing a sigh of relief now the worst has passed.
“Last night was a wild ride for our island,” he told RNZ Pacific on Tuesday morning local time (Wednesday NZT).
“The hardest-hit island was Kauai.
“We know that the south-facing and west-facing shores got hit really hard. We were hunkered down in the Kalapaki area, which is a little bit southeast, and we still have seen some damage here.
“We’re doing damage assessments right now, and power poles in our main town have come down. Some were snapped in half, and much of the island is without electricity and cell service.
“We’ve seen pictures of some oceanfront homes along the south-facing shores just completely destroyed.”
Ancheta said it’s unclear when power would be restored, as there is extensive damage to the grid.
He said the ocean was still very rocky and wild mid-morning.
“The ground is very saturated, so it won’t take much rain, if more rain comes down, to cause flooding, especially based off of the topography and geography of our land. Our island, Mount Waiʻaleʻale is in the centre of it, and all of the rain that collects there really just floods outward, like from the centre of a circle. And so low-lying areas should definitely remain vigilant in the coming days.
“The weather right now, it’s nice skies; the winds are still breezy, with some passing showers. Of course, it’s going to be focused on recovery here for our communities and also our team on the ground reporting.”
Ancheta said they have seen people out on the streets checking on each other.
“A lot of people have been making their way on small bikes, golf carts, cars even if they have gas and are driving around.
“The people of this island, they’re usually pretty happy, they’re kind, they know how to check on their neighbors, and so it’s a good feeling right now.
“Obviously, the communities that were hit harder, they’re a little bit more worried, but they can rest easy knowing that their neighbors will be taking care of them.”
In an update at 11am local time, the weather service said Hurricane Lowell was moving north at around 24 kilometres per hour.
“This general motion is forecast through today, taking the core of Lowell farther from Kauai County. Lowell is then forecast to turn toward the northwest and west and slow down on Wednesday and Thursday after passing the main Hawaiian Islands.”
It said the storm’s maximum sustained winds were down to around 120km/h, with higher gusts, and gradual weakening is forecast during the next few days…. PACNEWS
SAMOA – DRUG FIGHT: TALAMUA ONLINE PACNEWS 3: Wed 09 Sep 2026
Three police employees terminated after positive drug tests
APIA, 09 SEPTEMBER 2026 (TALAMUA ONLINE) — Samoa’s Acting Police Commissioner Leiataua Samuelu Afamasaga has confirmed the termination of three employees of the Ministry of Police after testing positive to illegal drugs.
The three terminated employees include two Correctional Officers at Tanumalala Prison and a civilian.
The civilian was tested twice at the Scientific Research Organisation Samoa (SROS) and tested positive to the use of marijuana and methamphetamine while the other two tested positive to consumption of marijuana.
All employees were suspended prior to the final decision. Leiataua emphasised the Police will not tolerate the involvement of any officers or employees with illegal drugs.
The Ministry is currently spearheading the year long public awareness anti-drugs campaign with the theme: Say No to Illegal Drugs, Say Yes to Hope…. PACNEWS
SAMOA – HEALTH: SAMOA OBSERVER PACNEWS 3: Wed 09 Sep 2026
Samoa signs agreement for nearly US$3m in health equipment
APIA, 09 SEPTEMBER 2026 (SAMOA OBSERVER) — Samoa’s Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt, as Acting Minister of Health, signed an agreement Monday for the procurement of medical equipment and supplies worth nearly US$3 million.
The procurement is part of the Systems Strengthening for Effective Coverage of New Vaccines in the Pacific project, funded by the Asian Development Bank.
The project covers Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, aiming to strengthen health systems and improve vaccination efforts in the four countries.
It is focused on introducing three vaccines that are expected to help reduce pneumonia and diarrhoea among children, the incidence of cervical cancer and outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.
It also aims to improve access to primary health services.
The project includes the procurement of essential medical equipment, supplies and specialised trucks worth US$2,965,497.
The equipment and supplies will strengthen the health system, improve preparedness and response to disease outbreaks and help maintain the vaccine cold chain, particularly in rural and remote areas.
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) was selected to carry out the procurement.
The government said the decision was based on Samoa’s previous engagement with UNOPS under the World Bank COVID-19 project during a period of persistent global supply chain disruptions.
The Government of Samoa, through the Ministry of Health, signed an agreement with UNOPS in June 2026.
Negotiations between the two parties are ongoing.
The project is expected to be completed by 30 April 2027…. PACNEWS
VAN – MEDIA: VANUATU DAILY POST PACNEWS 3: Wed 09 Sep 2026
TRBR launches new Broadcasting Code of Practice
PORT MORESBY, 09 SEPTEMBER 026 (VANUATU DAILY POST) — Vanuatu’s broadcasters now have clearer standards to follow under a revised Code of Practice covering fairness, privacy, programme content and other broadcasting practices.
The Telecommunications, Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulator (TRBR) launched the updated Code of Practice for Broadcasting and Media Services last week, with Regulator Jesse Benjamin saying the revised framework responds to changes in technology and the evolving media environment.
Benjamin said Vanuatu had previously operated under a similar broadcasting code, but the rapid development of technology, increased access to information and the emergence of new platforms meant the regulations needed to be regularly reviewed and improved.
He said the broadcasting environment was constantly changing and the regulator needed to ensure its rules remained relevant and up to date.
“The Code of Practice is there to guide reporters and broadcasters, including radio and television, on how they can approach news and ensure that what they report is fair and accurate,” Benjamin said.
He explained that the Code also addresses the type of content delivered to the public, including whether certain material is appropriate for children and other audiences.
Broadcasters are expected to consider the potential impact of their content and ensure material being transmitted is appropriate for public consumption.
The Code also takes into consideration the changing media environment, particularly the growth of social media. While it applies broadly to broadcasting and media services, developments in social media have become increasingly relevant to discussions around content standards.
Benjamin encouraged journalists, broadcasters and media organisations to familiarise themselves with the Code and comply with the standards and requirements that apply to broadcasting in Vanuatu.
He said the latest Code does not necessarily introduce major changes to the existing framework.
Instead, the latest review focused largely on strengthening and improving existing provisions, including the language, clarity and overall quality of the document.
He described the Code primarily as a guide to assist broadcasters in making appropriate decisions when producing and transmitting programmes.
Benjamin said TRBR has a broadcasting officer and would continue monitoring broadcasting activities to ensure broadcasters understand and follow the applicable rules.
Where issues arise, the regulator will assess them and determine the appropriate way to address them.
The Code also takes into consideration Vanuatu’s multilingual environment. The country’s official languages are Bislama, English and French, while other languages, including Chinese, are increasingly being taught and used in different settings.
Benjamin explained, however, that the Code is not primarily concerned with the language used by broadcasters but rather with the nature and content of material delivered to audiences.
The Code establishes what TRBR describes as a “Community Standard”, intended to reflect the norms and expectations of the ni-Vanuatu community while allowing for reasonable diversity within a modern, tolerant and democratic society.
It provides additional clarification through supplementary principles, illustrations and examples, giving broadcasters a framework for understanding how the standards should be applied.
According to the Code, broadcasting standards should ultimately reflect arrangements that are acceptable to the community of Vanuatu as a whole, rather than simply reflecting the views of the regulator or the broadcasting industry.
The document also recognises that community standards can develop and change over time. While expectations surrounding some issues may evolve, other areas, particularly fairness, basic morality and ethics, may remain relatively consistent.
For this reason, the Code states that it should be reviewed periodically to ensure it remains adequate and relevant as broadcasting practices develop, broadcasters gain experience and new issues emerge.
TRBR also intends to undertake public consultation from time to time, particularly when significant changes or additions to the Code are being considered.
The regulator plans to establish a TRBR Broadcasting Community Advisory Group, bringing together representatives from different sections of the community and the broadcasting industry. The group will provide an avenue for the regulator to receive broader community views on broadcasting and media issues.
TRBR also intends to develop programmes for engaging directly with local communities on broadcasting and media matters. The approach is designed to encourage two-way communication, allowing TRBR staff to explain broadcasting policies and their rationale while communities provide feedback on their concerns and expectations.
The Code recognises the important role broadcasting plays in the daily lives of people in Vanuatu. Radio and television remain major sources of news, information and entertainment, while radio can become particularly important during national disasters and emergencies when communities rely on it for potentially life-saving information.
Although the Internet has become an increasingly important source of news and information, the Code notes that it has not yet matched the widespread reach and impact of television and radio broadcasting in Vanuatu.
Because of the influence and reach of broadcasting, radio and television stations have a primary responsibility to ensure that the material they transmit reflects community values and standards.
Under the Telecommunications, Radiocommunications and Broadcasting (Amendment) Act 2009, TRBR is required to establish a code for broadcasting and media services covering programme standards, sponsorship, product placement in television programmes, fairness and privacy.
The new framework is known as the Vanuatu Code of Practice for Broadcasting and Media Services.
Licensed broadcasters are required under their TRBR licences to observe the relevant standards and fairness requirements contained within the Code. International broadcasters operating through agreements with Vanuatu-licensed broadcasters are also required to comply with the Code.
Where TRBR determines that a licensed broadcaster has breached the Code, the regulator may publish a report outlining its findings and explaining the nature of the breach.
The Code is structured around principles, meanings and rules, fairness, privacy and specific practices that broadcasters are expected to follow. The principles are intended to help broadcasters understand the objectives of the standards and apply the rules in their daily operations.
The Code also acknowledges that it cannot anticipate every situation that may arise in broadcasting. However, it provides principles designed to help broadcasters make appropriate and ethical decisions when dealing with circumstances not specifically addressed in the document.
Broadcasters remain free to develop programmes and content on a wide range of issues, but they are responsible for ensuring that their material complies with the laws of Vanuatu and the requirements of the Code of Practice.
TRBR can provide guidance on the interpretation of the Code, although such guidance does not prevent the regulator from exercising its discretion when assessing complaints or potential breaches following transmission.
Benjamin said continued awareness and cooperation from broadcasters would be essential to ensuring the Code achieves its purpose and supports responsible, fair and appropriate broadcasting across Vanuatu…. PACNEWS
PAC – MEDIA: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 3: Wed 09 Sep 2026
Pacific media urged to carry trusted weather and climate information to the last mile
NUKU’ALOFA, 09 SEPTEMBER 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) — “Pacific journalists must help carry weather and climate information from National Meteorological Services and regional agencies to the most remote communities”
SPREP Climate Science and Information Director Salesa Nihmei said during the Media Master Class, adding, “When a cyclone is approaching, when a drought is affecting our communities, when flood threatens our homes, when an El Niño event such as this one affecting us now changes rainfall patterns, people need to know the information, and they need to know it from sources that they trust.”
He said weather and climate affect food security, health, livelihoods, national economies and the safety and security of Pacific people.
“This is where your partnership with the National Meteorological Services and also regional agencies such as SPREP and SPC and the media is important,” he said.
Nihmei said journalists could help ensure that science, observations, forecasts and warnings reached communities that government-funded meteorological services could not reach directly.
“The journalist can be your ears, they can be your eyes, and they can be your mouth,” he said.
“Because the budgets that the government gives to the MET services is not able to reach the most remote communities in our Pacific Island countries. You play that role.”
Nihmei said meteorological services had the science, observations, forecasts and warnings, while the media could turn that information into stories and messages that made sense to communities and reached “the last mile”.
“For many years, SPREP has recognised that strengthening weather and climate services is only one part of the equation,” she said. “Good science must be communicated effectively.”
SPREP had invested in strengthening the communications capabilities of Pacific MET services and building the capacity of Pacific journalists to understand and report weather and climate issues, she said.
The agency had worked with the World Meteorological Organisation, the Pacific Community, the Pacific Islands News Association, the Pacific Environment Journalist Network, the Pacific Media Network, Pasifika TV and others to strengthen connections between climate scientists, meteorologists and the media.
Nihmei said SPREP’s first media capacity-building activity was held during the second Pacific Meteorological Council meeting in 2013 in Nadi, funded by the Government of Australia. The media training has been held as part of every PMC since then.
“It has been a decade-long commitment by SPREP in building capacity and our Pacific journalists and also our Pacific MET staff to ensure that weather and climate information are communicated effectively and accurately,” she said.
He thanked the Governments of Australia and New Zealand, and SPC through the COSPAC project, for supporting the Pacific Media Mana class at the edges of PMC8 in Tonga.
Nihmei urged journalists and meteorological communications officers attending the training to use the class to build skills and relationships.
“This week and next week we are inviting you to be part of our canoe,” he said. “We are inviting you to be part of our community so that you can tell our stories to communities, to development partners, and you can tell it well.”
He said journalists should report the role of National Meteorological Services in protecting air travel, including the safety of flights when people land and take off.
“Not many people know that,” he said.
“That is an agenda that will be discussed this week and we need for you to tell the story because we need investments in this area.”
“We need meteorologists,” he said.
Nihmei also urged journalists to invite meteorologists, including those who were shy, onto radio programmes and talkback shows, and to ask questions when they did not understand forecasts.
She urged meteorological communications officers to make themselves available to journalists and help them understand the science behind weather and climate information.
“A strong relationship between our Pacific media and the national meteorological services will mean more secure and sustainable weather in the Pacific,” she said…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
VAN – COASTAL PROJECT: VANUATU DAILY POST PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 09 Sep 2026
Vanuatu joins landmark international coastal connectivity project
PORT VILA, 09 SEPTEMBER 2026 (VANUATU DAILY POST) — Vanuatu is proud to be among twenty international partners participating in a major new European Union (EU)-funded research initiative known as m-CONNECT, a four-year project that seeks to strengthen the understanding, management, and protection of coral reefs, mangrove forests, and seagrass meadows across the tropical world.
Vanuatu Fisheries Department (VFD) confirmed this, stating that the project officially commenced in September 2026 and is funded through the EU’s Horizon Europe Programme, with a budget of EUR6 million.
Known in full as Management of Coastal Networks Nurtured through Ecosystem Assessment, Collaboration and Technology (m-CONNECT), the project will investigate the ecological, social, and economic connections between coastal ecosystems that scientists collectively describe as the “Tropical Triad” of coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass meadows. These habitats are closely linked and provide essential ecosystem services, including fisheries productivity, biodiversity conservation, shoreline protection, carbon storage, and climate resilience.
Traditionally, coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass habitats have been studied and managed separately. However, growing scientific evidence shows that the health and productivity of one ecosystem often depend on its connection with the others. Many fish and marine species, for example, depend on all three habitats at different stages of their life cycle. m-CONNECT aims to better understand these linkages and translate this knowledge into more effective coastal management solutions.
The project is coordinated by the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) in Germany and brings together government agencies, universities, research institutions, private-sector organisations, and civil society partners from Europe, Melanesia, and Island Southeast Asia. Vanuatu’s participation is led by the VFD under the Ministry of Fisheries, Oceans and Maritime Affairs (MFOMA).
The Vanuatu consortium team is headed by June Brian Molitaviti, Manager of the Research and Aquaculture Division of the VFD, who will coordinate national contributions to the project and facilitate collaboration among stakeholders, researchers, communities, and project partners. Through her leadership, Vanuatu will contribute valuable expertise and local knowledge towards understanding and strengthening the connections between the country’s coral reefs, mangrove ecosystems, and seagrass meadows.
A key feature of m-CONNECT is its commitment to working closely with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. The project will support the co-development of science-based guidance for coastal conservation, restoration, and sustainable management while recognising and integrating traditional knowledge and community perspectives. This collaborative approach seeks to strengthen resilience in coastal communities and improve long-term environmental and socio-economic outcomes.
The importance of the project for Vanuatu was highlighted in the project’s official launch statement by Samson Vilvil Fare, Director General (DG) of the MFOMA, who noted that Vanuatu is pleased to participate in an initiative that will generate practical knowledge and tools to support effective coastal management, enhance sustainable use of marine resources, and strengthen community resilience.
Over the next four years, project partners will employ innovative methods and technologies, including environmental DNA analysis and mathematical modelling, to assess ecosystem connectivity and evaluate its significance for biodiversity, fisheries, carbon sequestration, and climate adaptation. The project will also explore opportunities to improve stakeholder collaboration and support integrated policies and management strategies across participating countries.
For Vanuatu, where many communities rely directly on healthy coastal ecosystems for food security, livelihoods, and cultural wellbeing, the project presents an important opportunity to strengthen scientific knowledge and inform future marine resource management. By combining international expertise with local knowledge and experience, m-CONNECT seeks to support a more connected and resilient future for coastal ecosystems and the communities that depend upon them…. PACNEWS
F/POLY – DEVELOPMENT: UNIONPAY PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 09 Sep 2026
UnionPay International and SOCREDO deepen payment partnership in French Polynesia
PAPEETE, 09 SEPTEMBER 2026 (UNIONPAY) — UnionPay International and SOCREDO have taken a further step in their long-standing partnership, exploring by signing a new agreement to support the continued expansion of UnionPay card issuance in French Polynesia. The two sides also discussed opportunities to deepen cooperation across cross-border payments and digital payment services.
SOCREDO became the first financial institution in French Polynesia to issue UnionPay cards in 2017. Since then, the partnership has grown from card issuance to supporting local and international payment needs. SOCREDO-issued UnionPay cards can be used across the local POS and ATM network in French Polynesia, while overseas transactions are processed through UnionPay’s global network.
The latest discussions focused on making UnionPay cards more useful for local customers, particularly when travelling overseas. The two organisations explored opportunities to scale up UnionPay card issuance in French Polynesia, while encouraging greater use of UnionPay cards in top destinations such as France, the United States and New Zealand. They also discussed providing cardholders with clearer information on UnionPay acceptance and relevant offers when travelling abroad.
Digital payments and product enhancements were another key focus. The two sides will pursue further upgrades to SOCREDO’s SOCPAY wallet by integrating UnionPay QR code and HCE payment capabilities, as well as enhancements to UnionPay card offerings, cardholder benefits and payment functionality. The discussions also included potential support for pre-authorisation to better serve payment needs in areas such as hotels, car rentals and online purchases.
Together, these areas of cooperation are intended to give customers in French Polynesia greater choice in how they pay locally and overseas, while extending UnionPay services into a broader range of everyday, travel and digital payment scenarios.
As part of the visit, Min Shao, Vice President of UnionPay International South Pacific, and Anastasia Vaiani Moulin, Chief Operating Officer of SOCREDO, signed a new card issuance agreement on behalf of the two organisations. Qunsong Xie, Deputy Chairman of UnionPay International, and Regis Teraiefa Chang, CEO of SOCREDO, attended the signing.
The new agreement and broader discussions build on nearly a decade of UnionPay card issuance in French Polynesia and mark a further expansion of the partnership from card issuance towards broader payment services for local customers…. PACNEWS
PAC – MARITIME: NZDF PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 09 Sep 2026
RNZAF aircrew join major multinational maritime exercise
HAGATNA, 09 SEPTEMBER 2026 (NZDF) — A Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-8A Poseidon aircraft and crew are taking part in a multinational warfare exercise around the island of Guam, honing their ability to work with other nations and cope with the Western Pacific heat and humidity.
About 35 personnel, including communications operators, maintainers, exercise control personnel, and intelligence specialists are involved in the eight-day exercise, Pacific Vanguard, that started this week.
They are joined by about 2500 personnel from Australia, Canada and the United States, with Japan and South Korea leading the event.
While most of the assets in the exercise will be ships and submarines, the No. 5 Squadron Poseidon aircrew will fly alongside a United States Navy P-8A aircraft.
Detachment Commander Wing Commander Mark Chadwick said the exercise was broken up into a number of phases, where task groups conduct maritime warfare operations, including scenarios targeting surface and sub-surface threats.
“Towards the end of the exercise will be the execution of the warfare phase that involves a scenario that will run for about 36 hours.”
Guam is entering the wet season, so the conditions are warm and humid, Wing Commander Chadwick said.
“We’re getting daily rainfall and that, combined with the heat, is a challenge for the maintenance team who work outside. It’s important we ensure they don’t get into any heat-stress situations.
The multinational aspect of the exercise would throw up some challenges for the aircrew, he said.
“We will need to ensure clear communication and understanding is established to provide coherent and safe coordination among the different participating nations.
“Achieving coherence across multinational operations doesn’t happen by chance. It requires consistent engagement with our partners. We need to have a seamless understanding of how each other operates if we ever need to do it in a conflict situation.”
The exercise is due to finish on 10 September…. 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
Staying in place: Building cultural security in a changing climate
By Claudia Fry and Selai Maramanisoso
SUVA, 09 SEPTEMBER 2026 (TODA PEACE INSTITUTE) — As the Pacific prepares to host pre-COP31, the region has a unique opportunity to advance dialogue on peace and security through a Pacific-led climate-peace nexus. Here, the concept of cultural security is gaining prominence, referring to the maintenance and restoration of interrelated elements of cultural identity, social cohesion, and people–place relationships in the face of profound environmental and societal change. This builds on longstanding advocacy from Pacific scholars, activists, and community leaders calling for the centring of Indigenous and local relational knowledge, philosophies, and cultural practices in climate policy.
Yet, due to issues like institutionalised colonialism and lack of understanding of the value of Indigenous and local systems, references to culture and Indigenous knowledge in climate policy often remain tokenistic, reducing complex knowledge and governance systems into frameworks shaped by Western donor-centric worldviews, formulated outside the Pacific region.
Communities choosing to stay on their ancestral lands rather than engaging in climate-related planned relocation offer an important perspective—one that recentres cultural security as fundamental to climate security.
Here, we highlight how cultural security is about more than protecting culture from the impacts of climate change—it is about engaging with the ways that longstanding cultural systems are central to the processes through which communities build peace and security in a changing climate.
Drawing on our work as researchers and practitioners in Fiji, we share knowledge and experiences from two iTaukei (Indigenous Fijian) communities who are drawing on their culture to adapt in place. We demonstrate how the Vanua—which within iTaukei communities encompasses people, land, sea, spirituality, ethics, governance, kinship, and ancestors (Tuwere, 2002; Yee et al., 2022) —underpins these strategies. A cultural security approach therefore shifts the focus from community vulnerabilities and dependencies to shared strengths, gifts, and lived knowledges.
We highlight three key elements of cultural security grounded in the Vanua—traditional healing and spirituality; traditional governance structures; and kinship and storytelling—to show how these work together to build resilience in a changing climate.
Traditional healing and reconciliation practices foster peace and security
Climate adaptation policy, and particularly planned relocation, tends to focus on practical aspects of moving and decision-making, overlooking processes of emotional healing as central to the wellbeing of people, land, and sea. Within Indigenous Fijian iTaukei cosmology, all life is understood as relational and interconnected. Healing oneself is therefore inseparable from healing the environment.
Through the Vakabula Vanua project, the Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) has worked alongside community members in Waikalou, Serea, in the province of Naitasiri, to revive ancestral practices of emotional healing and cleansing called Tolo as part of broader efforts to adapt in place. At the beginning of the project, community members shared that breadfruit trees along the eroding riverbanks were no longer bearing fruit, threatening local food security.
Responding to this and guided by iTaukei relational philosophy, the community undertook the process of Tolo to strengthen kinship ties. As the project concludes, community members describe their breadfruit trees as once again bearing fruit, reflecting that the restoration of kin relations extend beyond people to also include the land, fostering abundance and strengthening food security.
A similar understanding emerges in Qoma island in the province of Tailevu, where community members are choosing to remain on their ancestral lands instead of relocating, despite increasing climate risk. Community members describe that staying in place allows them to maintain and restore relations with their qoliqoli (fishing grounds). As one elder explains: “It depends on how we live on land. If everything is respected and followed, we can feel it when we go out to sea. Our fishing grounds will be plentiful.” Here, processes of healing relations within the Vanua is part and parcel of building climate security across interconnected land-sea worlds.
These experiences highlight an opportunity for climate security policy to focus efforts on cultural processes for healing and reconciliation. Such processes have the potential to strengthen relations across interconnected social, environmental, and spiritual worlds, fostering not only relational harmony but food security and social cohesion.
Traditional governance roles guide climate security
Traditional governance structures have guided island communities for hundreds and even thousands of years yet are often sidelined in State-centric policies. This represents not only an injustice arising from ongoing colonialities within climate governance, but a missed opportunity.
Through the Vakabula Vanua project, Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) worked with community members to reconnect traditional roles and responsibilities with climate resilience. Each role carries specific responsibilities responding to climate resilience: the gonedau (fisherfolk) care for marine ecosystems; the bati (warriors) safeguard land; sauturaga (king maker) resolve disputes; carpenters provide skills for rebuilding homes after disaster or during relocation; Turaga (chiefs) guide community decision-making, and bete (food priests) looks after food security. Reaffirming these roles strengthened people’s self-identity and enabled the community to organise and respond autonomously to the challenges of climate change.
Community members on Qoma island similarly describe their resilience as embedded within their social structures, maintained under the leadership of Tui Nabulebulewa. For example, rather than waiting for external support, the community draws on strong traditions of solesolevaki (collective work) to enact in-situ adaptation and on soli ni vanua (community fundraising) to build their cyclone proof village hall. In the absence of formal funding for communities choosing to remain, these traditional channels play a critical role.
This reaffirms what Pacific scholars, activists, and leaders have long said: solutions and strategies already exist within communities, embedded within longstanding governance systems. Climate security policy can build from the traditional roles, responsibilities and related knowledges of communities and with that also strengthen cultural identity and reinforce the authority of Indigenous knowledge holders.
Kinship and storytelling enable food security, land access and climate mobilities.
In Fiji, access to land is traditionally governed through kinship systems sustained by oral histories passed down across generations. Instead of relocating, community members on Qoma island manage climate impacts by travelling regularly to land elsewhere to plant their crops. They can access this land through agreements established by their forefathers, held alive through storytelling. At sea, their role as gonedau (fisherfolk) provides access to large fishing grounds through local governance arrangements known locally as Kana Veicurumaki (buffet table), promoting the sharing of marine resources as fishing grounds are degrading. Rather than relocating, these culturally grounded mobilities across lands and reefs allow community members to strengthen their resilience, reinforce kin relations, and with that stay in place.
As another example, through the Vakabula Vanua project, FCOSS worked with Waikalou, Serea to strengthen preparedness for future climate impacts through identifying customary pathways to land access for those without mataqali (clan) land available for future relocation. Specifically, the community draws on Cara sala—an iTaukei process of tracing kinship between communities to identify land access. Although the community has chosen to remain in place, identifying land through this process provides a culturally grounded approach to planning for future scenarios and securing alternative land should relocation ever become necessary.
Rather than imposing climate mobility frameworks from the outside, these kinship agreements and related mobilities demonstrate an opportunity for climate mobility policy, as a key element of climate security, to build from already long-established Indigenous ways of knowing and doing mobilities.
Cultural security is foundational to climate security
As the Pacific prepares to shape global thinking on climate security at COP31 and beyond, we provide practical insights on how culture underpins climate security in two Fijian communities.
The experiences of Qoma and Waikalou, Serea demonstrate that cultural security is not simply something to be protected. It offers tangible strategies to build security whilst navigating uncertain futures. Traditional healing and spirituality, traditional governance structures, and kinship and storytelling practices, are just a few examples of cultural practices and systems that enable the communities to build security whilst navigating uncertain futures.
This highlights an opportunity for climate security frameworks to focus efforts on supporting, strengthening and sustaining the social and cultural structures of communities who face increasingly severe climate impacts, positioning cultural security as central to climate security…. PACNEWS
Claudia Fry is a PhD researcher with University of Exeter, based in Suva, Fiji, focused on just adaptation and climate (im)mobilities governance and a researcher with Toda Peace Institute, working on culturally grounded approaches to peacebuilding in climate displacement.
Selai Maramanisoso is the Project Officer for community-led relocation in Cogea that is currently ongoing in Cogea village, Wainunu, located in Bua Province in the northern part of Fiji. Born and raised in Fiji, Selai brings a deep-rooted understanding of Fijian culture and traditions to her work, advocating strongly for the integration of Indigenous knowledge and cultural values in all aspects of relocation and climate resilience.
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
One Va’a, One SPREP: Pacific unites to navigate the triple planetary crisis
NOUMEA, 09 SEPTEMBER 2026 (SPREP) — With the outrigger canoe, or va’a, as its unifying symbol, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) convened a side event Monday afternoon alongside the 11th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation (PCNC11).
Framed around the region’s response to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, the session brought together representatives from SPREP Member countries for a panel discussion to inform future directions for SPREP and partners.
The dialogue navigated shared achievements and persistent challenges at the national level in addressing the interconnected nature of these crises, while also outlining SPREP’s strategic approach to supporting coordinated, Pacific‑led action.
“The va’a only moves forward when every paddle strokes are in unison” said Sefanaia Nawadra, Director General of SPREP.
“One Va’a, One SPREP’ is our commitment to navigating the triple planetary crisis as one region, weaving together science and traditional knowledge, strengthening coordination across our programmes internally and with our members and staying agile as new challenges and opportunities arise” he added.
The triple planetary crisis is rapidly and permanently changing the region’s environment, eroding livelihoods and cultures that have been sustained for thousands of years by the Pacific’s rich and unique biodiversity.
Shared wins and challenges in the dialogue ranged across the front lines of the crisis: invasive species, blue carbon and marine ecosystems, protected areas, threatened and migratory species, nature‑based adaptation, marine pollution and the youth and community‑led initiatives increasingly carrying the region’s hopes.
Representing Samoa, Vatapuia Maiava of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, shared “Through initiatives like the Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS), we are changing mindsets about what nature conservation means for our people. When we eradicate feral pigs and rats from offshore islands, seabird colonies recover, more nutrients flow onto our reefs and fish stocks increase. In other words, we conserve nature for our people and our people see the benefits in their livelihoods and their future.”
While considerable efforts are underway at the national level, significant challenges persist and remain strikingly similar across the region.
“In Palau, one of the critical gaps we need to tackle to improve our collective response to biodiversity loss is the lack of data collection,” said Jevon Sato of Palau’s Bureau of Environment.
“In Solomon Islands, we face persistent challenges in coordinating with partners to ensure coherency and efficiency. Further, we would like to see more of the funding reach our frontline communities to support their work on conservation. What we need now is greater investment in empowering local communities, because when communities lead, conservation delivers real benefits for people and nature,” said Veira Talilotu of Solomon Islands.
Today’s voyage, however, is one of response. At the centre of the event sits the direction of SPREP’s next ten-year Strategic Plan and its aligned Biodiversity Conservation Business Plan, “Scaling Nature‑First Investment Across the Blue Pacific”.
Both are instruments designed to translate member priorities into action. Informed by the recently adopted regional State of Environment and Conservation 2025 Report, these plans are geared to deliver on biodiversity commitments, the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and the Pacific Islands Framework for Nature Conservation and Protected Areas.
The session closed with a look to the voyage ahead, a strengthened collaborative effort to implement the Framework for Nature Conservation and Protected Areas, firmer governance to keep nature conservation member‑led, and a business plan built to unlock lasting investment for the Blue Pacific.
Looking ahead, SPREP will continue to work with members and partners to operationalise its strategic directions through targeted projects, improved data and monitoring systems, and enhanced support for Pacific-led conservation. In doing so, SPREP aims to ensure that the va’a continues to move forward powered by united paddles, shared purpose and a clear course toward a resilient Blue Pacific…. PACNEWS
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Samoa validates and shares knowledge on mangroves areas carbon stock assessment
APIA, 09 SEPTEMBER 2026 (SPREP) — Samoa has taken one more critical step in the “Ground Truthing of Mangrove Areas in Samoa for Carbon Stock Management and Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) Improvement for the Samoa Climate Adaptation, Resilience and Enhancement of Samoa (CARES) Platform” project.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), in partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), through the Regional Pacific NDC Hub, has completed validation workshops and knowledge sharing sessions in Savai’i and Upolu, marking a significant milestone in the project.
On 2-3 September in Savaii and Upolu respectively, the validation workshops provided an opportunity for MNRE, village representatives, community members, technical experts, and development partners to review and validate the preliminary findings from recent field assessments undertaken across selected mangrove ecosystems in Samoa.
Building on earlier community consultations and field surveys carried out in Upolu and Savai’i, participants reviewed the assessment methodology, preliminary results, and recommendations relating to mangrove extent, ecosystem condition, biomass, and carbon storage capacity. The validation process enabled stakeholders to verify the findings, provide local insights, and ensure that the results accurately reflect conditions on the ground.
Assistant Chief Executive Officer for Division Conservation and Environment from MNRE, Su’emalo Talie Foliga, acknowledged the importance of bringing together scientific assessments and community knowledge to strengthen Samoa’s climate and environmental management efforts.
“Validation is a critical step in ensuring that the findings are robust, credible, and reflective of local realities,” he said.
“The information generated through this project will support evidence-based decision-making for mangrove conservation, climate reporting, and the implementation of Samoa’s climate commitments and targets in our NDCs.”
Strengthening knowledge of Samoa’s mangrove carbon stocks will contribute to improved greenhouse gas inventories, climate reporting processes, and the implementation of nature-based solutions under Samoa’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
A key component of both validation workshops was a dedicated Knowledge Sharing Session delivered by SPREP’s Knowledge Management Team. The session highlighted the importance of documenting project experiences, lessons learned, and local knowledge to support effective communication, learning, and informed decision-making.
Participants explored practical approaches to strengthening knowledge management practices, improving information sharing among stakeholders, and ensuring that project outcomes remain accessible and useful beyond the completion of the assessment. The discussions reinforced the value of combining scientific information with community experiences to enhance environmental planning and climate action.
The assessment is being undertaken with technical support from consultant Sabrina Virly, Professor Norman Duke, whose team presented the project’s progress and preliminary findings during the workshops. Feedback received from participants will be incorporated into the final report, ensuring that the assessment reflects both scientific evidence and stakeholder input.
MNRE, SPREP, the Regional Pacific NDC Hub, participating communities, and project partners expressed their appreciation for the active engagement of all stakeholders throughout the consultations, field assessments, and validation workshops.
The collaborative process demonstrates Samoa’s commitment to protecting and sustainably managing its mangrove ecosystems as a valuable natural asset for climate resilience and sustainable development…. PACNEWS
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
U.S Government advances self-reliant disaster resilience in Fiji
SUVA, 09 SEPTEMBER 2026 (U.S GOVT) — The United States is supporting the installation of a pilot landslide monitoring station in Fiji. This pilot effort marks a significant step forward in the country’s disaster early warning capabilities and reflects the America First principle that U.S foreign assistance should build partner-nation capacity, not create dependency.
The station is a modified version of monitoring equipment developed by the United States Geological Service (USGS) installed in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria, adapted to meet Fiji’s unique geological and environmental conditions. This initiative is carried out through the USGS-DOS Landslide Disaster Assistance Team (LDAT), supported by foreign assistance funding from the U.S Department of State. By repurposing proven American technology and expertise developed at home, this partnership delivers a cost-effective, high-impact solution that maximises the value of every U.S taxpayer dollar invested abroad.
The solar- and battery-operated station features a suite of above- and below-ground sensors, including a rain gauge, soil moisture sensors, and pore-water pressure sensors, along with other instruments that track air, water, and soil conditions. Unlike some USGS monitoring systems, this pilot station will not feed data to a public-facing website at this time, reflecting its role as an initial, in-country technical pilot.
USGS-DOS LDAT provides critical situational awareness, assessments, and products to the U.S government to inform rapid humanitarian response decisions — helping safeguard American lives, personnel, and interests in the Pacific while advancing regional stability. USGS-DOS LDAT works with in-country and technical counterparts around the world before, during, and after disasters, offering life-saving landslide expertise, end-to-end early warning systems, equipment installation and maintenance, and hazard assessment support.
In Fiji, USGS-DOS LDAT is providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources, building local capacity to collect critical landslide-related data. This includes training Fijian personnel to identify hazardous areas and to install and maintain monitoring equipment themselves – skills that will allow Fijian technical counterparts to sustain, operate, and expand this capability independently over time, without continued reliance on U.S resources.
This pilot station also reflects the United States’ strategic interest in a secure, stable, and resilient Indo-Pacific. A Fiji capable of independently anticipating and managing its own natural disaster risks is a stronger, more capable partner to the United States. As Fiji and its neighbors face increasing risks from extreme weather and geological hazards, this partnership reinforces the enduring relationship between the United States and Fiji in building safer, more self-sufficient, and resilient communities – an approach that serves American interests and empowers Fiji…. PACNEWS
