In this bulletin:
1. TONGA — Tonga drought declarations expand as El Niño brings very dry outlook
2. PNG — On another scale’: PNG province unprepared for El Niño impacts, governor warns
3. NAOERO — Families globally are increasingly looking for resilience options; some are finding a solution in the Pacific
4. PNG — Do your duty, don’t bow to PNG politicians: Icac says
5. FIJI — Fijian doctor calls for a unified regional response, Mothers must be at heart of HIV prevention, says advocate
6. SOL — Solomon Islands Opposition leader Sogavare meets UN Joint Mission on development priorities
7. NZ — ‘Language and culture are fading’: Young Fijians in Aotearoa fight to hold on to identity
8. JAPAN — Japan condemns U.S sanctions on ICC president as attack on judicial independence
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Winston Peters points to Cook Islands as Pacific aviation model amid airline crisis
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Tuitui Moana departs Fiji on final voyage home
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Decision on $20b Papua LNG project due by year-end
12. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Who controls the Pacific’s communications?
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — Papua New Guinea to host Fifth Cleaner Pacific Roundtable
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — Standing Tall – Our Journey has Begun
TONGA – WEATHER WATCH: TALANOAOTONGA PACNEWS 2: Thu 20 Aug 2026
Tonga drought declarations expand as El Niño brings very dry outlook
NUKU’ALOFA, 20 AUGUST 2026 (TALANOAOTONGA) — The Tonga Meteorological Service has expanded meteorological drought declarations across Tonga as a strong to very strong El Niño is forecast to bring prolonged dry conditions over the coming months.
In its latest Meteorological Drought Outlook, issued Wednesday, the Service said drought declarations are in place for Ha’apai, Tongatapu and ‘Eua, while Niuatoputapu is under a Drought Warning and Vava’u and Niuafo’ou remain under Drought Alert.
The outlook follows significantly below-average rainfall. July was classified as dry across Tonga, with seriously dry conditions recorded in Tongatapu and ‘Eua. Over the past three months, dry conditions affected all island groups, with seriously dry conditions in Ha’apai, Tongatapu and ‘Eua.
The Service forecasts very dry conditions across Tonga in August, with an 80–100 percent chance of very dry conditions nation-wide over August to October.
The outlook shows the situation could worsen in the north. Niuafo’ou is forecast to move from Drought Alert to Drought Warning by the end of August and Drought Declaration by September.
Niuatoputapu is forecast to reach Drought Declaration by August, while Vava’u could reach that level by October. Ha’apai, Tongatapu and ‘Eua are expected to remain under drought declaration throughout the period.
The Service warns that prolonged drought could reduce household water supplies, deplete groundwater, increase pressure on agriculture and livestock, and affect food production and household incomes.
Health, education and essential services may also face increased pressure, particularly in outer islands.
The Meteorological Service says the current El Niño could rank among the strongest observed since 1950, although forecast confidence varies between island groups…. PACNEWS
PNG – WEATHER WATCH: RNZ PACIFIC/ POST COURIER/THE NATIONAL PACNEWS 2: Thu 20 Aug 2026
On another scale’: PNG province unprepared for El Niño impacts, governor warns
PORT MORESBY, 20 AUGUST 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC/ POST COURIER/THE NATIONAL) — The governor of Papua New Guinea’s Western Highlands Province says his province is unprepared to deal with the severe impacts of the El Niño weather event being experienced across the country.
During an El Niño event, warmer ocean waters affect rainfall and wind patterns, often bringing drier-than-usual conditions and a higher risk of drought to the western Pacific.
Western Highlands governor Wai Rapa is warning that the PNG government does not have the finances or the resources to manage the situation.
Rapa told the Post-Courier there has been no communication from the national government.
He said the current dry season is “on another scale” and compared to previous dry seasons.
Rapa told the newspaper that the river from which the province’s capital city gets its water supply has also dried up.
“We haven’t got the resource to put up with the dry season,” Rapa said.
“We Highlanders look after animals especially pigs and this dry season will greatly affect our animals. When we go deep into the dry season, we will face a lot of challenges,” he added.
The concerns raised by Rapa come despite the national government saying preparations for the dry season are underway.
In late-June, PNG Prime Minister James Marape instructed all provinces and districts to prepare for the possibility of a severe dry season linked to El Niño.
A statement from Marape’s office on 22 June said: “The Prime Minister said Cabinet was examining appropriate Financial and Administrative arrangements to support Provincial and District Governments to prepare for, mitigate and respond to Disaster situations arising from prolonged dry conditions.”
Marape also urged Papua New Guineans to remain calm, saying: “This is a time for preparedness, not panic.”
Meanwhile, dead fish found floating in a pond at Kaviananga village in Middle Fly, Western, are a result of the extreme heat, according to a ward member.
Thom Andibu said the ponds were at Labiombo Lagoon in Obo where villagers usually fished.
“The pictures on social media of dead fish found in ponds are in Obo and not the Fly River,” he said.
“These ponds are in Obo, Kaviananga, about four kilometres away from the lagoon.
“Villagers usually get their fish at these ponds which are as big as rugby fields.
“When the ponds begin to dry up due to the heat, the fish die and float to the top.
“The pond has no outlet and so water is trapped in and all the swamp fish die in there.”
“The pool does not have sea weeds, waterlilies or patches of grass for fish to hide and cool off from the extensive heat of the sun.”
Andibu said the ponds usually held water, even during the dry seasons, but not this dry season, and this was affecting fishing in the area.
“Also, with this dry season, the ground is cracking,” he said.
“Where there was mud before, it’s all cracks now.”
Attempts to get comments from Middle Fly disaster office were unsuccessful…. PACNEWS
NAOERO – CITIZENSHIP PROGRAMME: NAEORO GOVT PACNEWS 2: Thu 20 Aug 2026
Families globally are increasingly looking for resilience options; some are finding a solution in the Pacific
YAREN, 20 AUGUST 2026 (NAOERO GOVT) —- With a recent report highlighting that wealthy families across the globe are looking to build greater resilience and more options for the future, a citizenship by investment programme in the Pacific focused on economic and climate resilience is tapping into their increased desire to invest into programmes that make a difference.
Edward Clark, CEO of the Naoero Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Programme, said he isn’t surprised that the 2026 UBS Global Family Office Report, based on 307 family offices across more than 30 markets, found 60 percent plan to change their strategic asset allocation over the next 12 months, and are increasingly focused on “building resilience for a wider range of potential outcomes.”
“The current global instability continues to bring increased enquiries from families wanting to protect against government decisions, compulsory conscription and other factors that could challenge their future,” he said.
“The Naoero citizenship option offers families a way to diversify geographically, while contributing to a nation working to build greater economic and climate resilience.”
He said the programme is helping families strengthen their future without having to move or change where they live, while contributing to the resilience of a country highly vulnerable to climate change.
Naoero’s economic progress provides a strong foundation for that investment, with recent independent analysis from Professor Stephen Howes, Director of the Development Policy Centre at The Australian National University, finding its national income grew by an average 4.9 percent per person between 2009 and 2024.
Between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, employment in Naoero increased from 47 percent to 64 percent of the population and unemployment fell from 23 percent to just 5 percent.
“If any other boom worldwide has delivered similarly stunning results in such a short period, I am not aware of it,” Professor Howes said in his research.
Clark said the tightly-controlled and highly regulated programme meant that both families and Naoero can benefit from the same investment.
“Citizenship by investment in Naoero creates what I believe is the most unique opportunity in the world to join the priorities of families looking to build greater resilience and options for the future, with those of a nation actively working towards greater economic and climate resilience for its people,” he said…. PACNEWS
PNG – ANTI CORRUPTION: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS 2: Thu 20 Aug 2026
Do your duty, don’t bow to PNG politicians: ICAC says
PORT MORESBY, 20 AUGUST 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — The Papua New Guinea Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has warned public servants who are “briefcase-carriers” and scared of politicians that they will be held to account.
ICAC acting deputy commissioner (prevention and corporate) Thomas Eluh said: “Most of you are briefcase carriers and are scared of your politicians.
“You must stand by what is right because you are paid to say ‘no’ to things that are wrong.
“Even when under pressure from politicians to sign a contract or approve a project, you must follow the right process.
“Because if you get caught, you will be charged – not the politicians.”
Eluh sounded the warning during a Southern Region ICAC commissioner’s breakfast in Port Moresby.
He warned provincial and district administrations not to fold under pressure from their MPs but to comply with the law in their line of work, regardless of undue influence.
“With anything that happens in the province, the buck stops with the provincial administrators, and in the districts, the district administrators,” Eluh said.
He told them that the National Procurement Act and Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) were the principal legislations to follow when planning to implement development projects at the sub-national level.
“Corruption is not confined to Waigani,” Eluh said.
“It reaches into procurement, payroll, project management, grants, trust accounts, and development funds – from the national level to the most rural local level government (LLG).
“Every Kina that moves through your province, district, or LLG is a test of leadership, accountability, and integrity.
“Whether these funds become roads, classrooms, aid-posts, or services – or disappear through mismanagement – depends entirely on how you apply the National Procurement Act, PFMA, Section 32 controls and Form 11 processes.”
Meanwhile, a weak oversight of public funds by provincial and district administrations has affected the country’s international reputation.
ICAC Acting commissioner Don Sawong said that Papua New Guinea’s ranking of 26 out of 100 in the 2025 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) was linked to the weak control of public funds.
The CPI, published annually by Transparency International, ranks 182 countries by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, with the rankings given on a scale of zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).
The CPI captures cases of bribery, diversion of public funds, nepotism, as well as the strength of anti-corruption laws and legal protection for whistleblowers, journalists and investigators, when ranking countries.
Sawong said: “Papua New Guinea’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index score was 26 out of 100, down from 31 in 2024. Whatever one thinks of perception-based measures, the message is important. Public confidence in the integrity of public administration remains a critical concern. They are often connected to weaknesses in systems, controls, oversight, decision-making and institutional culture.
“We cannot have an honest conversation about integrity without acknowledging the seriousness of the corruption challenge facing Papua New Guinea.”
Icac acting deputy commissioner (prevention and corporate) Thomas Eluh said the country’s international reputation was also affected by being put on the grey-list by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
He said this would lead to more scrutiny on public funds, especially the Government allocation of K1.18 billion (US$260 million) for service improvement programme funds to districts and provinces last year.
“Provincial leaders now manage more money than at any point in our history, and the world is watching how we handle it,” Eluh said.
“PNG’s placement on the FATF grey list means global scrutiny of provincial and district spending has intensified.
“That means every kina must be traceable, defensible, transparent and compliant,” he said…. PACNEWS
FIJI – HIV/AIDS/HEALTH: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 2: Thu 20 Aug 2026
Fijian doctor calls for a unified regional response, Mothers must be at heart of HIV prevention, says advocate
NADI, 20 AUGUST 2026 (FIJI TIMES) — Pacific Island nations must unite and share vital public health strategies to effectively combat the region’s rapidly growing HIV epidemic, health leaders heard in Nadi.
Speaking at the 2026 Pacific HIV Symposium this week, Interim Lead for the SRH and HIV unit Dr Jason Michell called for a unified regional response to the public health crisis.
Dr Michell said no single government or organisation could address the challenge in isolation, emphasizing that enduring responses are built through collaboration.
“When Fiji declared a national HIV outbreak last year, we did not have all the answers, and the truth is, we still don’t.
“But we have learned something true about every country here. No government, no ministry or community can solve HIV alone.”
While Fiji faces a rapidly growing epidemic and Papua New Guinea continues to face enormous challenges, Dr Mitchell said epidemiology was changing across the entire region.
The two-day symposium was established out of necessity and hope, aiming to create a platform where islands can benefit from shared knowledge on prevention, treatment, and stigma reduction.
“If one island discovers a better way of preventing HIV, keep people on treatment or reduce stigma, every island should benefit from that knowledge.
“That is the purpose of these two days, not simply to exchange presentations and share data, but to build a stronger Pacific response together.”
Dr Michell urged participants to approach the summit with openness, focusing on practical frontline solutions for clinicians, peer workers, and policymakers.
“I ask all of us to make this a place of honesty, for learning, not blaming, for reflection, not criticism, and for preparedness, not panic.
“Share your successes but also share the failures openly.”
Meanwhile, eliminating vertical transmission of HIV requires healthcare systems to focus as much on the mother’s holistic wellbeing as they do on the baby’s safety, says prominent advocate Rebecca Kubunavanua.
Speaking at the 2026 Pacific HIV Symposium, Kubunavanua emphasised that clinical tools alone cannot achieve long-term success without addressing the human element of healthcare.
“Success is not simply an HIV-negative baby, but success is a healthy baby, a healthy and supportive mother, and a woman who feels respected throughout the journey,” she said.
A woman living with HIV herself, Kubunavanua highlighted how the complex pregnancy cascade often fails mothers after delivery.
While early antenatal care, early diagnosis, and antiretroviral therapy (ART) drastically reduce transmission risks, systemic barriers such as fear of disclosure, financial pressures, transport challenges, and social stigma frequently cause women to drop out of continuous care.
Kubunavanua said health services must actively integrate peer support into formal clinical pathways to bridge the gap between diagnosis and everyday life.
Community-led support provides the essential trust, emotional backup, and guidance that clinical settings often lack.
“Instead of asking why she didn’t comply, perhaps we should ask what happened that made it difficult for her to stay connected to care and how can we help.”
To strengthen national healthcare frameworks, Kubunavanua outlined five priority actions: making antenatal contacts safe spaces, embedding peer support into clinical pathways, measuring the full care cascade, protecting confidentiality, and maintaining robust postnatal support.
She stressed that policies must directly involve women living with HIV…. PACNEWS
SOL – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Thu 20 Aug 2026
Solomon Islands Opposition leader Sogavare meets UN Joint Mission on development priorities
HONIARA, 20 AUGUST 2026 (PACNEWS) — Solomon Islands Opposition leader Manasseh Sogavare has called for development partnerships in Solomon Islands to be aligned with national priorities and deliver measurable, sustainable benefits to communities.
Sogavare made the remarks when he met members of the United Nations Joint Mission, led by UN Resident Coordinator Dirk Wagener, at the Sir Paul Tovua Complex, National Parliament, on Tuesday.
The meeting was attended by senior representatives of the United Nations Development Programme, UNFPA, UNICEF, World Food Programme and UN Women.
Sogavare acknowledged the UN’s longstanding contribution to peace, development, democratic governance and human security in Solomon Islands, and welcomed the Joint Mission approach.
Discussions covered climate resilience, health and population, education, women, youth and children, and broader sustainable development challenges.
Sogavare stressed the importance of ensuring development assistance is guided by the needs of Solomon Islanders and strengthens national institutions and local capacity.
He said building the skills and capacity of Solomon Islanders was critical to ensuring development gains continue beyond individual projects and external funding.
Provincial and rural development was also a major focus of the meeting.
Sogavare noted that most Solomon Islanders live outside Honiara, where many communities continue to face limited access to healthcare, education, clean water, sanitation, transport, communications and economic opportunities.
He highlighted customary land ownership as one of the challenges affecting rural development and investment.
Most land in Solomon Islands is under customary ownership, which can make it difficult for the Government and development partners to secure land for development projects.
Sogavare said this could leave land idle despite the need to create more economic opportunities in rural communities.
He also noted that difficulties in accessing suitable land and reaching agreements with landowners can affect efforts to attract investment.
Sogavare said extractive industries such as logging can become an attractive option for rural landowners because they can provide quicker financial returns.
He said the broader challenge was to find sustainable ways to unlock the economic potential of customary land while respecting the rights and ownership of landowning tribes and communities.
The Opposition Leader also called for development assistance to reach beyond central government institutions and Honiara-based programmes, including provincial governments, wards and communities.
He highlighted the importance of transparency and clear information on where development programmes and resources are being delivered across provinces and sectors.
The meeting provided an opportunity for Sogavare and the UN Joint Mission to exchange views on Solomon Islands’ development challenges and the need for coordinated cooperation that strengthens local capacity and delivers lasting benefits to communities nationwide…. PACNEWS
NZ – LANGUAGE/CULTURE: PMN PACNEWS 2: Thu 20 Aug 2026
‘Language and culture are fading’: Young Fijians in Aotearoa fight to hold on to identity
HAMILTON, 20 AUGUST 2026 (PMN) — For young Fijians growing up in Aotearoa New Zealand, keeping their language and culture alive can feel like a daily battle.
That was one of the strongest messages to come out of the Aotearoa Fijian Youth Symposium in Hamilton over the weekend, where participants shared openly about the pressure to fit into New Zealand life while staying connected to who they are.
Merelita Momo, from Hamilton, says knowing the language, culture and traditional protocols is becoming a major challenge for her generation.
“I think one of the challenges that is very distinct amongst all of them is just knowing the language, the culture and the protocols,’ Momo said.
She says social media and peer pressure can make that harder.
“Especially when we live in a country that is so diverse… we’re trying to uphold the upbringing that we have – trying to maintain our language, our mother tongue, and our dialects, and so forth,” Momo said.
“As well as also trying to not have that peer pressure, especially when we live in a world where social media is so active.”
For Torika Ravudi, from Rotorua, the concern is even more direct.
“The biggest challenge we identified is our language and culture fading,” she said. “We are always being mocked for not knowing our language.”
The Aotearoa Fijian Youth Symposium is the first of two multi-day leadership and community events aimed at connecting, empowering, and supporting young Fijians in Aotearoa. Photo/Fiji Society Hamilton Youth
Viliame Naliva, the keynote speaker, told the young people that identity goes much deeper than simply being able to name their village or province.
“Chief among these challenges is that of identity, the sense of belonging,” Naliva said.
“Identifying as Fijians and knowing what that actually means… [is] what it really means to be a Fijian deep inside your whole being. It is not enough just knowing the name of your village and the province that you come from.”
Naliva, a lecturer at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology in Tauranga, says young Fijians are trying to hold on to their identity while living in an environment where they are often a minority.
“I have seen a lot of our young people here doing Fijian meke, singing Fijian songs, wearing Fijian costumes, wearing clothes such as Sulu vaka Taga and Sulu i Ra – these all help in developing young people to face the challenge of identity,’ he told the youth.
“But always remember that you are struggling with this challenge in a hostile environment, that is, an environment which makes it difficult to develop and confirm your identity as a Fijian.”
Naliva says it can be tempting for young people to let go of their Fijian identity.
“It is much easier to just give up and to just go with the flow, forget about my Fijian identity, ” he says.
“There are many of your brothers and sisters here in New Zealand who no longer do things in the Fijian way and no longer identify as Fijians because it is just not easy.”
For Momo, the answer is to pass on what she learns.
“I hope to apply whatever is being taught here… and teach it to the ones that are coming after me,” Momo said.
“Especially the younger age groups, and those who are reaching high school, and coming into uni, and coming into working, into jobs… making sure that I teach them what I’m learning over here.”
Judith Kacivi, from Hawke’s Bay, says the symposium gives young people space to share those experiences.
“It’s a good opportunity for us to come together and talk about issues we face as young people and also learn all we can in the context of culture,” she says.
“We will take back the knowledge gained from this symposium to our youth group so they can also learn from it.”
The Aotearoa Fijian Youth Symposium is the first of two multi-day leadership and community events aimed at connecting, empowering, and supporting young Fijians in Aotearoa.
It is hosted by the Aotearoa Viti Rugby Development Trust, Waikato Fijian Community, and the Fiji Society in Hamilton Youth…. PACNEWS
JAPAN – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Thu 20 Aug 2026
Japan condemns U.S sanctions on ICC president as attack on judicial independence
TOKYO, 20 AUGUST 2026 (PACNEWS) — Japan has criticised the United States’ decision to sanction International Criminal Court (ICC) President Tomoko Akane, saying the move is “very unfortunate” and reaffirming its support for the court and the rule of law.
In a statement issued by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Toshihiro Kitamura, Japan said Akane had been additionally designated for U.S sanctions.
“Japan has consistently supported the ICC, which is a permanent international criminal court, in its efforts to prosecute and punish the most serious crimes of concern to the international community and to uphold the rule of law. From this standpoint, the announced measures are very unfortunate.”
Japan said it would continue to support the international rule of law while maintaining dialogue with countries involved.
“Japan will remain committed to strengthening the rule of law in the international community, while maintaining communication with related countries.”
The ICC strongly rejected the U.S sanctions, describing them as an attack on the independence of the court.
“These sanctions are a flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution,” the ICC said in a statement.
“Such measures targeting judges, prosecutors and staff … undermine the rule of law,” it added.
The United States sanctioned Akane, who is from Japan, and ICC trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal on Tuesday.
Washington has accused the ICC of being a “corrupt and fatally politicised” body and has previously imposed sanctions on several ICC officials.
U.S Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the sanctioned individuals had been involved in efforts by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain or prosecute officials from governments that had not consented to ICC jurisdiction.
The latest U.S action comes amid tensions over ICC investigations involving Israel, a close U.S ally.
The ICC issued arrest warrants in 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leaders over alleged crimes against humanity.
The United States has rejected the ICC’s jurisdiction over U.S nationals and has not ratified the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the court.
The ICC was established in 2002 to prosecute individuals accused of the gravest international crimes and serves as a court of last resort when national legal systems are unable or unwilling to provide accountability.
Israel, Russia and China are also not members of the ICC…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PAC – AVIATION: PMN PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 20 Aug 2026
Winston Peters points to Cook Islands as Pacific aviation model amid airline crisis
WELLINGTON, 20 AUGUST 2026 (PMN) — New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters says the Cook Islands’ airline experience shows what can be achieved in the Pacific despite the region’s difficult operating environment.
Speaking on Pacific Mornings, Peters says regional aviation is critical to Pacific economies, particularly tourism-dependent countries.
“Well, we do have a view that it’s necessary, and it’s particularly critical when you’ve got tourism industries dependent upon it.”
That pressure is being felt by Pacific carriers themselves. Solomon Airlines commercial manager John Wopereis said last month that the airline was having to balance its commercial pressures with its role in keeping communities connected.
Wopereis described the carrier’s services as a “lifeline” for communities and said: “There’s only so many ways we can respond when we’re relying on government as well, it’s quite a big challenge for us.”
Peters says New Zealand previously provided financial support to keep flights to the Cook Islands operating, helping the route grow to about 175,000 annually.
“I was providing them by three million a year to make sure the flights went to the Cook Islands, and they’ve gone from there to now having 175,000 a year coming.”
He says the Cook Islands’ success also shows the value of Pacific people playing a strong role in their national airline.
“But then again, see, in the Cook Islands, they’ve got one of the most efficient airlines in the world, started by a guy called Ewan Smith.
“You’ve got all these Cook Island boys, they’re all in the business, and every pilot is a Cook Islander. It’s a staggering successful story.”
Peters says the Cook Islands experience is something other Pacific countries could learn from.
“But that’s the kind of story we want to see over and over again in the Pacific. It can be done, and that’s why we see that. It’s inspiring.”
Solomon Airlines has also been expanding its regional links, launching a Honiara-Port Moresby service in July and signing an interline agreement with Philippine Airlines to improve connections between the Solomon Islands and Asia.
But the push to strengthen regional connectivity comes as airlines face rising costs and fuel pressures.
PMN News reported in April that Pacific airlines were already facing a major fuel shock, with Air Rarotonga managing director Sir Ewan Smith warning that some carriers were in a “perilous financial state”.
David Tohi, Secretary-General Association of South Pacific Airlines, said the region’s airlines faced “small markets, high costs, infrastructure and resourcing challenges, lack of access to capital, and not a lot of margins for error”.
The pressure is being felt across the region with Air Vanuatu going into liquidation and Solomon Airlines facing financial strain.
A proposed new carrier, One Pacific Airways, is also looking at partnering with Nauru Airlines to strengthen connections across Micronesia.
Peters also confirmed Aotearoa has already provided emergency financial support to Pacific countries affected by the fuel crisis, including the rising cost of jet fuel.
“Yes, we’ve made significant payments already to help out in the Pacific.”
New Zealand is not the only country providing financial support. Australia announced UD$30m (NZ$36.21m) in additional budget support for Fiji in May to help the country manage rising fuel prices and support its role as a regional fuel hub.
Peters would not say which countries had received the money, saying he did not want to name them until they did so themselves.
Peters says New Zealand has also discussed a possible U.S tanker deployment if additional fuel supplies are needed.
“We sought to get the backup in case things got desperate. So far, so good. Fingers crossed.”
The Pacific Islands Forum has also backed a more coordinated regional response.
Forum Deputy Secretary-General Esala Nayasi says PIF’s new mechanism could help countries work together to secure fuel supplies and strengthen the region’s response to future fuel shocks…. PACNEWS
FIJI/COOKS – SHIPPING: PACNEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 20 Aug 2026
Tuitui Moana departs Fiji on final voyage home
SUVA, 20 AUGUST 2026 (PACNEWS) — The Cook Islands vessel Tuitui Moana has departed Princess Wharf in Suva, beginning the final leg of its delivery voyage home to Rarotonga.
The vessel spent five days in Suva after travelling from China through the Philippines and Papua New Guinea with its 13-member crew.
Tuitui Moana was purpose-built in China through a partnership between the Cook Islands and Chinese governments and is expected to arrive in Rarotonga early next week.
The vessel’s arrival is expected to have a significant impact on the Pa Enua, particularly by improving the reliability of shipping between the islands.
Reliable shipping will support the movement of people and essential supplies, strengthen livelihoods and improve connectivity across the Cook Islands.
The Cook Islands High Commission in Fiji acknowledged Finance Secretary Garth Henderson and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management team for leading the project through to delivery.
The High Commission also supported the vessel and crew during their stay in Suva, including assisting with their arrival and local procurement.
High Commissioner Michael Henry and Deputy High Commissioner Antonina Browne also toured the vessel and met with the captain and crew.
The High Commission was at Princess Wharf for a final farewell as Tuitui Moana departed Fiji.
The vessel is now continuing its journey home to the Cook Islands, with the captain and crew expected to reach Rarotonga early next week…. PACNEWS
PNG – LNG: AAP PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 20 Aug 2026
Decision on $20b Papua LNG project due by year-end
PORT MORESBY, 20 AUGUST 2026 (AAP) — A final decision on a long-delayed $20 billion (US$14.25 billion) gas project in Papua New Guinea will be made by the end of the year, one of the companies involved in the massive venture says.
Oil and gas group Santos has partnered with multinational energy giants TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil on the Papua LNG project to develop two onshore gas fields, 360km northwest of the capital Port Moresby.
Papua LNG would be the country’s second operational LNG project.
The first went into production in 2014 and has provided some economic benefits, although predictions that it would double PNG’s gross national product proved vastly overstated.
TotalEnergies has been engaging with the community about the Papua LNG project through a development forum, which is the last major stage in the governmental approval process, Santos chief executive Kevin Gallagher told an earnings briefing on Wednesday.
“There was a stall after a few weeks when it first got up and going. There were some challenges … those challenges were resolved, and the forum went back to operational two or three weeks back,” he said.
“Our understanding is it’s going to plan. All the feedback is very positive.”
The forum should conclude around the end of September, and a final investment decision should be made on whether to move forward with the project in the fourth quarter, Gallagher said.
Papua LNG would develop the Elk-Antelope gas fields, which hold more than one billion barrels of oil equivalent.
The gas field was first discovered in 2006, but its development has been bogged down by various controversies.
Nearly 30 major commercial banks and export credit agencies have ruled out financing the project due to environmental, climate and human rights concerns.
Santos said more than 60 percent of the financing for Papua LNG was in place.
The Adelaide-based company has also been moving forward with two other oil projects, its Barossa project in the Timor Sea and its Pikka project in Alaska.
The Barossa project, located 285km north-northwest of Darwin, went into operation in October and has produced enough gas to load 12 LNG cargoes since the start of 2026, while Pikka shipped its first cargo of oil last week.
Santos produced 45.6 million barrels of oil or oil equivalent in the six months to 30 June, up three percent from a year ago.
The company on Wednesday reported a first-half net profit of US$355 million (AUD$501 million), down 19 percent from the same time a year ago.
The result was driven by a lift in revenue to US$2.6 billion (AUD$3.7 billion), leaving Santos to pay its shareholders an interim dividend of 11.6 U.S cents per share.
Gallagher also rejected suggestions Australia had a gas supply crisis, saying the federal government’s own figures showed the current supply was adequate through to 2029.
‘That does not mean there will be a gas shortage. It just means we have to invest in developing new gas supply sources now,” he said.
“What we need is confidence to invest and bring that resource to market reliably and competitively when Australia needs it. Policy settings need to support that investment, not discourage it,” said Gallagher…. 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
Who controls the Pacific’s communications?
By Sue Ahearn
MELBOURNE, 20 AUGUST 2026 (DEVPOLICY.ORG) — The Pacific has a communications problem that extends well beyond social media.
The region covers almost one-third of the Earth’s surface, with small populations scattered across vast distances. Individually, Pacific Island countries have limited global economic and political influence. For these countries, reliable communications are both critical and difficult to control.
At both ends of the system through which information travels, Pacific countries are increasingly dependent on infrastructure and technology controlled elsewhere. Under the ocean, submarine cables carry almost all international digital traffic. At the other end, global technology companies increasingly determine what information people see — through social media algorithms, search engines and artificial intelligence.
These are usually treated as separate issues. They should not be. Together they raise a larger question about Pacific sovereignty: who controls the infrastructure that carries the region’s information, and who controls whether that information reaches its audience?
A recent Australian National University National Security College report, Connected & Protected: Building Australia’s Submarine Cable Resilience, launched on 11 August 2026, highlights the first part of the problem.
Submarine cables are critical infrastructure. Australia relies on them for about 99 percent of its international data traffic, while Pacific Island countries can be even more vulnerable because they have fewer alternative routes when a cable fails.
Cables can be damaged by earthquakes, underwater landslides, anchors and fishing activity, or deliberately disrupted or sabotaged. In countries with limited redundancy, a failure can affect government services, banking, commerce, media and emergency communications.
Tonga experienced the consequences of cable failure dramatically after the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption and tsunami in January 2022. The eruption severed Tonga’s international submarine cable, leaving the country largely cut off from the outside world. Telephone and internet connections were severely disrupted for weeks. In the immediate aftermath, many families overseas could not establish whether relatives had survived.
Satellites provide an important back-up. Starlink and OneWeb are spreading across the Pacific and can provide connectivity when cables fail, particularly during disasters. But satellites cannot manage the enormous volume of data carried by submarine cables. They provide redundancy but cannot substitute for cables.
Starlink’s rapid expansion has also raised questions about technological dependence. Researcher Seohee Park has discussed its expansion in the Pacific in the context of “technocolonialism”, where reliance on externally controlled technology can create new forms of dependency.
Ownership of Pacific cable infrastructure is complex. Australia has invested heavily in expanding connectivity, but public funding does not necessarily mean Australian ownership — or private ownership.
The Coral Sea Cable System, linking Australia with Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, was largely funded by Australia and is jointly owned by the Australian government and state-owned entities in PNG and Solomon Islands. More recent Australian investments are connecting Pacific countries into cable networks being developed by Google and other private operators.
At a forum in Melbourne on 10 August, one of the ANU report’s authors, David Brewster, said, “They are all privately owned, and increasingly, they are being owned by U.S tech companies such as Meta or Google or Amazon.”
Brewster also highlighted limits on regional capacity to repair cables when they fail. He said Australia has no capability to repair damaged submarine cables quickly, while the vast Pacific region has just one repair ship, based in Fiji.
For the Pacific, the issue is therefore not simply whether there are enough cables, or whether they are protected. It is also about who owns, operates and controls the interconnected infrastructure on which the region depends.
In any case, securing the physical network addresses only half the problem.
Pacific news organisations have become heavily reliant on Facebook and Google to reach audiences. Changes to Meta’s algorithms have reduced the visibility of news content on Facebook. For small Pacific publishers, that can threaten their ability to reach the communities they serve.
Now search is changing as well. An Axios analysis published on 31 July reported a sharp decline in Google Search traffic to publishers as AI changes how people find information. According to data cited by Axios, Google Search referrals to publishers had fallen 34 percent in a year.
Small publishers have been hit hardest. Over two years, they lost 60 percent of Google Search referrals, compared with 47 percent for medium-sized publishers and 22 percent for large publishers.
That should set alarm bells ringing across the Pacific. Most Pacific news organisations are small publishers operating on narrow margins in small advertising markets.
AI creates a further problem. Systems can extract and synthesise information without users ever visiting the site of the organisation that produced it. Pacific newsrooms could find themselves producing journalism that helps global technology companies answer questions about the Pacific while receiving neither the audience nor necessarily the revenue generated by their work.
There are now three critical layers to the Pacific information system: the cables that carry information, the platforms that distribute it and the AI systems increasingly mediating it. Pacific countries exercise limited control over all three.
This matters particularly in a region highly exposed to natural disasters. During cyclones, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis, reliable information can be a matter of life and death. Emergency warnings are of little value if communications infrastructure fails. Communities are also vulnerable if trusted local information cannot reach them because distribution depends on opaque commercial algorithms.
Pacific governments are beginning to recognise elements of this challenge. At last week’s Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting, ministers noted that, for the first time, all Forum members are now connected to undersea telecommunications cables.
They also supported Pacific Digital and Artificial Intelligence Technology Principles and development of an AI Governance Framework, as well as a Pacific regional approach to safer digital spaces involving shared policy principles and engagement with digital platforms.
Individual Pacific states and media organisations have little bargaining power when dealing with companies worth trillions of dollars. Collectively, however, the Pacific has greater weight.
The region has a strong tradition of collective action where individual island states have limited international leverage. Communications sovereignty should become another such issue.
That could include regional work on cable redundancy and emergency communications, clearer responsibility for critical digital infrastructure, stronger arrangements with private cable operators and a coordinated approach to technology and AI companies over the distribution and use of Pacific journalism.
There is a danger this becomes caught up in geopolitical competition. Cable projects and digital infrastructure increasingly attract strategic interest from China, the United States, Australia and other powers. Pacific governments should resist allowing that competition to define the debate.
The central question is not which external power or technology company the Pacific should align with. It is whether Pacific countries retain sufficient control and resilience to communicate with their own populations and ensure Pacific information remains visible.
The Pacific cannot own every cable, search engine, social network or AI system on which it depends. But it can decide that access to reliable Pacific information is critical infrastructure — and act collectively to protect it.
The alternative is a communications system in which others increasingly control both the pipes carrying Pacific information and the algorithms deciding whether anyone sees it…. PACNEWS
Sue Ahearn is a journalist, founder/co-editor of The Pacific Newsroom and co-convenor of the Australia Asia Pacific Media Initiative, an industry expert group.
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Papua New Guinea to host Fifth Cleaner Pacific Roundtable
PORT MORESBY, 20 AUGUST 2026 (SPREP) — Papua New Guinea will host the 5th Cleaner Pacific Roundtable (CPRT) in Port Moresby from 15-20 February 2027.
To be guided by the theme: “Innovate, Invest, implement: Delivering a Cleaner Pacific 2050. Accelerating partnerships and action for a cleaner Pacific”, the CPRT will bring together governments, regional organisations, development partners, the private sector and other stakeholders to advance practical solutions for a cleaner and healthier Pacific region.
The event will be held at the Sheraton Hotel in Port Moresby.
The Roundtable is expected to attract between 500 and 600 delegates, making it one of the region’s major environment and waste management gatherings. Preparations are being led through close collaboration between Papua New Guinea’s Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), with national and regional partners working together to ensure a successful event.
Director of Waste Management and Pollution Control, SPREP, Anthony Talouli, said the announcement of PNG as host for next year’s Roundtable is exciting.
“SPREP is very pleased that PNG is going to be the host of the 5th CPRT with the theme of “Innovate, Invest, implement: Delivering a Cleaner Pacific 2050. Accelerating partnerships and action for a cleaner Pacific”,” he said.
“We look forward to working the national organising committee under the leadership of CEPA and thank Managing Director Jude Tukuliya and his team for their support and work.”
The preparation process is being supported by key technical and coordinating personnel from both organisations. The SPREP team includes Talouli, Susana Telakau, Solid Waste Management Adviser; and Sainimili Bulai, Technical Officer for the GEF Islands Project.
The CEPA team includes Brendan Trawen, Acting Director of CEPA, and Ann-Patricia Torea, National Project Coordinator for CEPA.
Preparatory discussions for the 5th CPRT were held on 4 August 2026, followed by a meeting with the Internal Committee on 5 August 2026, as part of the ongoing planning and coordination process for the event.
The 5th CPRT will provide an important platform for the Pacific to strengthen regional cooperation, showcase innovation, mobilise investment and accelerate implementation of solutions that respond to pressing environmental challenges, including waste management, plastic pollution, sustainable financing and emerging waste streams. The event will also support regional discussions around the Clean Pacific 2050 direction and the development of the CP2050 Roadmap, which will help guide long-term action across the Pacific.
The proposed programme includes a series of technical and partnership meetings ahead of the main roundtable, followed by plenary sessions focused on innovation, implementation and investment. The agenda also includes a Plastic Dialogue, exhibition booths, a traditional welcome ceremony, the formal handover of the CPRT chairmanship, and a field trip. These activities are intended to create space for practical dialogue, partnerships and action across government, community, donor and private sector stakeholders.
Planning discussions to date have confirmed strong readiness for the event, including the establishment of a national coordinating structure, early programme development, stakeholder outreach and logistical planning. The Roundtable is also expected to highlight Papua New Guinea’s leadership role in regional environmental action and provide opportunities to showcase local innovation, partnership and commitment to a cleaner Pacific future…. 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
Standing Tall – Our Journey has Begun
Our Story from Women Deliver 2026
By John Whippy and Walter Koroa – Young Pasifika Wayfinders
SUVA, 20 AUGUST 2026 (UNICEF PACIFIC) — Three months ago, we were sitting on an airplane heading to Melbourne, Australia feeling nervous, excited and honestly, overwhelmed. It was our first time in Australia, and we kept hearing that nearly 6,000 people would be at the Women Deliver conference. For two boys from Fiji and Solomon Islands, that number felt huge.
When the plane landed, everything suddenly became real. The cold air hit us first, a sharp reminder that we were far from our warm tropical home. Then came the hotel, which was a massive 41‑floor building that made us feel tiny the moment we walked in. We barely had time to settle before heading straight to the Melbourne Convention Centre to register. It was only a ten-minute walk, but everything around us felt big, fast, and new. We were travelling with our co‑chair, Michelle Muller from UNICEF, and when we reached the registration desk, the staff handed us a tote bag and an ID with our names printed on it.
The Girls Pre‑Conference
The next morning, we woke up early because we didn’t want to miss the Girls Pre‑Conference and it was actually the first time Women Deliver hosted a pre-conference for girls to be able to share their issues and ideas. The hot shower felt like a blessing because the cold weather was something we were still adjusting to. Breakfast at the hotel was good, but the fruits tasted so different from the tropical sweetness we were used to back home.
Walking into the Convention Centre again, we realised just how massive it was – three floors, escalators on both ends and rooms big enough to hold hundreds. When we entered the Girls Pre‑Conference room it was already almost full and we met UNICEF delegates from all over the world, which was incredible.
Then suddenly, the former Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, walked in. Everyone rushed to take photos and yes, we did too with our friends Sabina, Pacific Girl Reference Group Representative, and Dianne, Papua New Guinea Youth Representative. The session was powerful where girls spoke with so much courage and one quote stayed with us:
“Participation is not representation, and representation is not power.”
For us, this quote really meant a lot. From a Pacific context, young people are usually called in high level meetings not to be heard but as tokenistic representation.
We heard that quote again and again throughout the week. Trudeau also said something that stuck with us: “Stand up tall.” We took those words to heart, believing at the time that he meant to stand tall and be confident.
After the Girls Pre‑Conference, we rushed to John’s panel discussion, where he spoke about how boys can support girls in climate leadership. For us, that message was personal because accountability is part of our code of conduct in the Young Pasifika Wayfinders and this accountability includes male allyship.
Youth Pre‑Conference
The next day was the Youth Pre‑Conference. All the young people gathered, and we heard powerful reflections especially about how colonial harm erased language and culture across generations. One of the young delegates said:
“Our presence is asked, but our power is missing.” This felt painfully true. In the Pacific, young people are called in meetings to raise their concern or issues, but we feel that no substantial actions have been delivered from it.
During the conference, we spoke in a few different sessions about gender equality, climate change, and allyship.
At one panel, we talked about how boys can challenge harmful stereotypes and support girls to lead, especially in climate action.
At another session, we shared a Pacific perspective on what allyship really looks like.
Every evening after the day ended, we facilitated a Talanoa session with the UNICEF delegates. Talanoa is a traditional Pacific concept of inclusive, open dialogue. We talked about our key takeaways, what challenged us, what inspired us, and what we wanted to carry forward. Those conversations grounded us, and they reminded us why we were there.
Out of all six days, the Cultural Night was our favourite. Samoan and Cook Island dancers filled the room with energy and joy. Seeing Pacific Island people dancing, singing, and wearing traditional clothes made us feel like home had followed us to Melbourne.
Now, three months later, the lessons from Women Deliver still feel clear:
*Climate change and gender inequality are deeply connected.
*Gender equality isn’t just about girls, as it benefits everyone.
*Boys and men have a role in ending violence.
* Young people should be seen as leaders not decorations.
*Real allyship means working with people not speaking for them.
Since coming home, the conversations haven’t stopped. At the 2026 Pacific Islands Forum Women Leaders Meeting, John shared insights on the Young Pasifika Wayfinders regional initiative and highlighted Seek the Ways, a platform supporting adolescent boys across the Pacific. Decisions should reflect what young people are actually going through, not just what others assume. Having experienced the conversations and activities during Women Deliver, Walter has started to show what a ‘good ally’ is for girls in his community and raised a lot of awareness on the importance of the Seek the Ways website to boys.
The challenges we saw and reflected on at Women Deliver are still here. Back in Melbourne, “stand up tall” sounded like confidence, but now we understand it differently.
Not boys on one side and girls on the other but all of us shoulder to shoulder because a future without violence and inequality will not just happen, we must build it.
Our journey has begun…. PACNEWS
