In this bulletin:
1. FIJI — Banaban leaders accused of using proposed pinnacle extraction as “quick fix” for Banaban Trust Fund corruption crisis
2. PACIFIC — Palau President Whipps pushes Climate Mobility action at Berlin Forum
3. PNG — Row over Bougainville referendum. PM stands firm on three-quarter majority
4. PNG — PM Marape backs PNG parliament decision-making
5. NEW|CALE — Alcohol sales banned in New Caledonia as election approaches
6. PACIFIC — Pacific youth remain underrepresented in politics, forum hears
7. FIJI — Empower vanua to fight drugs, appeals Tui Nayau
8. AUST — U.S no longer viewed as Australia’s most important ally
9. FIJI — Fiji’s Ministry of Information gives feedback from review of PSB, CFL maps out two-year plan
10. FIJI — Australian expert urges support for Fiji’s laboratory staff
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Record visitors shield Cook Islands from global fuel crisis
12. PACNEWS BIZ — PNG’s first AI data centre to be launched soon
13. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji Revenue and Customs Service officers ehance detection skiills through NZ led clan lab awareness trainning
14. PACNEWS BIZ — China’s digital trade networks could ease Pacific firms’ access to regional markets, ABAC adviser says
15. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Conflicts command headlines…protecting peace, less so: The UN Peacebuilding Fund explained
16. PACNEWS DIGEST — The fuel crisis has hit the Pacific hard. The region is responding – but tough choices lie ahead
FIJI – TRUST FUND: RABI COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICES PACNEWS 2: Tue 23 Jun 2026
Banaban leaders accused of using proposed pinnacle extraction as “quick fix” for Banaban Trust Fund corruption crisis
RABI, 23 JUNE 2026 (RABI COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICES) — Concerns are mounting over plans to pursue pinnacle extraction on Banaba, with the Rabi District Council of Social Services (Rabi DCOSS) warning that the proposal is being used as a “quick fix” to address financial losses linked to the long-running mismanagement of the Banaban Trust Fund (BTF).
The Banaban Trust Fund scandal, which contributed to the dissolution of the Rabi Council of Leaders in Fiji in 2013, continues to cast a shadow over Banaban governance and financial accountability.
Critics now argue that rather than addressing the root causes of the crisis, current leaders are seeking to exploit Banaba’s remaining natural resources to cover losses arising from corruption and poor management.
Rabi Administrator Iakoba Karutake has reportedly stated that he has received a mandate from all four villages on Rabi Island to pursue pinnacle extraction on Banaba, the Banaban people’s ancestral homeland in Kiribati.
However, Rabi DCOSS member Tangiria Iareta has challenged both the legitimacy of the consultation process and the rationale behind the proposal.
“We question the process through which the Rabi Administrator claims to have obtained these mandates. The consultations appear to have been conducted as an afterthought, rather than through a transparent and informed decision-making process,” Iareta said.
Rae from the Banaban Human Rights Defenders’ Network stated that: “For the Rabi Administrator to frame pinnacle extraction as a solution to the current Banaban Trust Fund crisis is deeply concerning. It reflects an outdated, colonial-era mindset that treats resource extraction as the answer to governance failures. Such an approach is neither sustainable nor responsible.”
Rae argued that priority should instead be given to investigating and addressing the corruption and governance issues that contributed to the fund’s financial decline.
“Rather than looking to Banaba’s resources as a quick fix, leaders should focus on accountability, transparency, and addressing the corruption issues at the heart of the Banaban Trust Fund crisis.”
In fact, the people on Rabi Island are still waiting for the Rabi Administrator to comply with orders from the High Court from 31 December 2025.
As a “public office” under the law, the Rabi Administrator was ordered to supply documents including audit documentation for the Banaban Trust Fund by the end of January.
Despite the High Court ruling that these must be supplied in compliance with the right to access information (Section 25) under the Constitution, the Rabi Administrator is over four months late.
Further concerns have also been raised regarding the Rabi Administrator’s engagement with mining interests.
According to opponents of the proposal, multiple mining-related agreements have been signed since 2023 without the free, prior, and informed consent of Banaban landowners and community members. Several of these actions are currently being challenged
on Rabi.
The controversy has reignited debate over the future of Banaba, the rights of Banaban people to determine the use of their ancestral lands, and the need for greater transparency in decisions affecting the community’s environmental, cultural, and economic future…. PACNEWS
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: PACNEWS/PALAU GOVT PACNEWS 2: Tue 23 Jun 2026
Palau President Whipps pushes Climate Mobility action at Berlin Forum
BERLIN, 23 JUNE 2026 (PACNEWS/PALAU GOVT) — Palau’s President Surangel Whipps, Jr used the Berlin Climate Mobility Forum to call for action on climate mobility, telling global leaders that the issue is already affecting Pacific communities and requires practical solutions grounded in dignity and justice.
He delivered the opening remarks at the forum oalongside other heads of state, adding Palau’s voice to international efforts to advance cooperation on climate mobility and endorse shared Climate Mobility Principles.
The forum, co-hosted by the Global Centre for Climate Mobility and the Robert Bosch Stiftung, brought together governments, international organisations, financial institutions, civil society groups and frontline leaders.
“For Palau, climate mobility is not a future concern—it is a present reality,” President Whipps said.
He highlighted the impacts of sea-level rise, king tides, coral bleaching, extreme heat and changing rainfall patterns on Pacific communities, livelihoods, culture and water security.
“Palau’s position is that people should have the right to remain in their islands, maintain their culture and stay connected to their ancestral lands, while also having access to safe, orderly and dignified pathways for mobility when necessary”.
The government said the forum’s focus on local adaptation finance, community-led solutions and the protection of rights reflect the urgency facing climate-vulnerable communities.
“Palau stands ready to work with partners to turn principles into action and ensure climate mobility responses are grounded in resilience, solidarity, and hope—for communities facing climate impacts today and tomorrow.”
On the margins of the forum, President Whipps held a bilateral meeting with Ottilie Bälz, Senior Vice President for Global Issues at the Robert Bosch Stiftung.
The discussion focused on climate mobility challenges, including coastal erosion, preserving cultural identity, strengthening community resilience and working through local networks to ensure funding reaches communities directly.
Both sides also emphasised the importance of international cooperation that advances justice, human dignity and meaningful support for climate-vulnerable communities.
President Whipps also met with International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Director General Amy Pope to discuss the organisation’s ongoing work in Palau, including disaster resilience, post-disaster support and Palau’s key priorities.
Separately, in Brussels, President Whipps met with Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission.
The bilateral meeting focused on strengthening the partnership between Palau and the European Union and continuing cooperation on issues including climate change, climate financing and EU support for Palau.
President Whipps also met with Maxime Prévot, Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation.
The discussions focused on expanding collaboration between Palau and Belgium, strengthening ties between the two countries and supporting climate action and community resilience initiatives.
Other areas discussed included production, tourism and the Pacific Resilient Facility (PRF), a funding mechanism that supports Pacific countries…. PACNEWS
PNG – INDEPENDENCE STRUGGLE: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS 2: Tue 23 Jun 2026
Row over Bougainville referendum. PM stands firm on three-quarter majority
PORT MORESBY, 23 JUNE 2026 (THE NATIONAL) —The ratification of the 2019 Bougainville referendum has triggered dispute between the Papua New Guinea Government and Bougainville leaders over whether a three-quarter parliamentary majority is required for approval.
Prime Minister James Marape says the three-quarter absolute majority – 89 MPs in the 118-member Parliament – required to ratify the referendum results is consistent with the Constitution.
“Breaking up a country is the most serious decision any parliament can make,” he said in a statement last Thursday.
“It is only proper that a super majority befitting a constitutional change should determine such a matter.
“No individual leader, no government and no region can unilaterally make that decision.
“It must be made collectively through Parliament in accordance with the Constitution.”
But Bougainville House of Representatives Speaker Simon Pentanu said the voting threshold was never agreed upon with Speaker of Parliament Job Pomat, as outlined under the Melanesian Agreement.
“We were unanimous in agreeing to the procedures relating to the tabling of the referendum result, the tabling of the post-referendum consultation report, and the procedure for debate once the statement is made by the Minister for Bougainville Affairs.
“However, we did not reach agreement on the voting majority on the motion to be put to Parliament.”
On 09 June, Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) Vice-President and Attorney-General Ezekiel Masatt said the voting threshold was “unilaterally crafted”.
Masatt, who is also the ABG Minister for the Bougainville Independence Mission, said: “A constitutional amendment requires a two-third majority.
“They just made it harder with a three-quarter majority.”
Last Thursday, Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama said the Parliament’s decision to endorse the voting majority breaches the Melanesian Agreement and undermines the Bougainville Peace Agreement (BPA).
Toroama said: “The decision by Parliament on 09 June 2026, to adopt a draft sessional order on the results of the Bougainville Referendum, without the required consent of the Speaker of the Bougainville House of Representatives, amounts to a breach of the Melanesian Agreement and runs contrary to the principles of respect, good faith and partnership that underpin the BPA.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Marape said he would continue to engage constructively with Bougainville leaders while maintaining the Government’s position that the constitutional process must be respected.
“I will ask them to agree on a date for Parliament to consider the referendum outcome,” he said.
“I have previously proposed 30 Aug this year, subject to the agreement of the ABG,” Marape said…. PACNEWS
PNG – POLITICS/INDEPENDENCE STUGGLE: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS 2: Tue 23 Jun 2026
PM Marape backs PNG parliament decision-making
PORT MORESBY, 23 JUNE 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — Papua New Guinea’s Parliament is the final decision-making authority to ratify the 2019 Bougainville referendum results, says Prime Minster James Marape.
“If Parliament votes yes, we believe Section 342(1) provides a pathway for a negotiated transition period of up to 15 years during which powers can progressively be drawn down from the Government to Bougainville,” he said in a statement last Thursday.
“If Parliament votes no, the referendum result should not be extinguished. It should remain alive while Bougainville is given the same 15-year period to satisfy agreed conditions and demonstrate readiness for nationhood.
“Whether Parliament ultimately votes yes or no is a matter for Parliament itself.
“No one can predetermine the outcome or pre-empt the collective wisdom of the House.”
Marape, also the Pangu Pati leader, outlined the position adopted by his party should Parliament vote in favour of independence.
He said such a transition would include the transfer of additional powers and responsibilities and would be subject to agreed conditions.
“Those conditions would include Bougainville generating sufficient internal revenue to sustain at least 70 percent of its annual budget based on a rolling five-year average, maintaining peace and stability, ensuring gun-related violence, armed factions and warlordism are no longer prevalent, and meeting other conditions agreed by both governments,” he said.
Marape said that upon successful completion of the transition period and fulfilment of agreed conditions, Parliament could then consider amendments to Section 2 of the Constitution and other consequential amendments necessary to give full effect to independence.
He said if Parliament votes against independence, the referendum result should remain alive rather than being discarded as Section 342(1) of the Constitution provides for both governments to continue to “walk together and work together”.
Marape added that the constitutional process governing Bougainville’s future was well understood by the international community, which include the United Nations, United Nations Security Council, Pacific Islands Forum, Melanesian Spearhead Group and the Commonwealth…. PACNEWS
NEW|CALE – ELECTION/POLITICS: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS 2: Tue 23 Jun 2026
Alcohol sales banned in New Caledonia as election approaches
NOUMEA, 23 JUNE 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC) — The French High commission in New Caledonia has banned all alcohol sales until 28 June, the provincial elections day.
The ban enforcement started on Monday and will last until Sunday at midnight, local time.
The ban concerns the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages.
The measure is supposed to “prevent public unrest”, amongst other reasons.
The High Commission said New Caledonia is experiencing a tense economic and social situation, as well as “delinquency” especially in the capital Nouméa and its greater area.
It also said law enforcement agencies, police and gendarmerie, are “regularly targeted by stone-throwing”.
Similar measures were taken during the May 2024 violent unrest.
It was also enforced several times at perceived ‘sensitive” periods, such as the anniversary of the riots, on 13 May, or the symbolic date of 24 September which marks the anniversary of New Caledonia’s becoming a French colony in 1853.
Political parties in New Caledonia are now in full campaign mode.
Islands Business veteran journalist Nic Maclellan told Pacific Waves the key concerns for voters are the ones that face every country.
“There’s a lot of concern about the current state of public services, particularly around health and public transport, both of which have suffered since the 2024 crisis,” he said.
“A major concern is frustration amongst young people about the cost of living, about access to housing, particularly about access to jobs.”
He said the fuel crisis is not as front of mind as in other countries, but still a factor.
“Certainly, the cost of living is pretty stark here, and fuel has gone up. It has affected key industries like tourism.
“Key sectors like nickel – nickel smelting and nickel mining – tourism, and others are affected by global energy costs. But front of mind is, as I say, about the cost of public services, which have been very much disrupted by the crisis in 2024 and in many cases haven’t recovered to the full level.”
The pro-France united list brings together Les Loyalistes, Rassemblement-LR, and Génération NC; while the pro-independence FLNKS (Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front, including Union Calédonienne) is one of the main components of the pro-independence movement.
And this year a UNI (Union Nationale pour l’Indépendance) movement is also running separately after its two main pillars, PALIKA (Kanak Liberation Party) and UPM (Union Progressiste en Mélanésie) broke away from FLNKS in August 2024…. PACNEWS
PAC – DEMOCRACY: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 2: Tue 23 Jun 2026
Pacific youth remain underrepresented in politics, forum hears
NADI, 23 JUNE 2026 (FIJI SUN) —Young people make up a significant share of the Pacific population, yet many remain excluded from political and governance structures because of cultural, economic and social barriers.
Opening the Youth and Democracy Forum in Denarau, Dialogue Fiji executive director Nilesh Lal said youth participation remained one of the Pacific’s greatest democratic challenges.
Research across the region showed many young people felt excluded from decision-making because of cultural hierarchies, age-based barriers, economic constraints, gender inequality and limited leadership opportunities, he said.
“Yet, despite this demographic reality, young people remain significantly underrepresented in formal political and governance structures,” Lal said.
He said the two-day forum aimed to deepen participants’ understanding of democratic governance and political systems in the Pacific while exploring the relationship between culture, tradition and democracy.
“We also want to identify the barriers that prevent young people from participating fully in decision-making processes and discuss practical solutions for overcoming these barriers,” he said.
Participants from Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands and other Pacific nations are attending the forum to discuss democracy, governance, political participation, leadership, social media and advocacy.
Lal said discussions would also focus on the role of political parties, social media, civic engagement and digital advocacy in shaping public life.
Despite challenges, including weak political party structures in some countries and declining trust in institutions, democracy continued to enjoy strong support across the Pacific, he said.
“Democracy is not perfect, but it remains the best system of government humanity has developed so far,” Lal said.
“It provides ordinary people with a safe opportunity to influence political decisions, hold leaders accountable, peacefully change governments and protect fundamental rights and freedoms.”
Lal urged participants to engage actively and help build a stronger network of future democratic leaders across the region.
“The future of democracy in the Pacific will not be determined solely by governments, political parties or institutions,” he said.
“It will be shaped by the choices, actions and leadership of young people.”
He also thanked Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka for supporting youth participation in democratic processes.
“Your presence sends a very strong signal that young people matter and that investing in the next generation of leaders is a national and regional priority,” Lal said…. PACNEWS
FIJI – DRUGS FIGHT: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 2: Tue 23 Jun 2026
Empower vanua to fight drugs, appeals Tui Nayau
SUVA, 23 JUNE 2026 (FIJI SUN) — The Tui Nayau, Ratu Tevita Lutunauga Kapaiwai Uluilakeba Mara wants traditional leaders in and communities in Fiji to be given greater powers and resources to help protect coastal communities from drug trafficking.
In a statement titled Empower the Vanua, Ratu Tevita argued that coastal communities were best placed to protect their own waters but lacked the legal backing and resources to do so.
“We do not need more navy bases or police patrol boats. We need traditional guardians who are resourced, backed by law, and trusted to act.”
He called for the restoration of customary and village by-laws removed by the previous government.
“The traditional structures are intact and ready; give them back their legal standing, funding and resources to work.”
Ratu Tevita also urged authorities to provide communities with equipment, support and drug-testing kits to help identify suspicious packages.
He called on Government to restore village by-laws, provide equipment and drug testing kits to communities, and redirect resources towards frontline maritime villages.
“Equip and support our communities on the ground — the gear, the constabulary support, and drug test kits so that finds can be verified at once and dealt with without delay, before anything disappears into the wrong hands.”
He criticised what he described as an overreliance on conferences and discussions while communities continued to confront the issue on the ground.
He also called for an immediate ban on unregistered and uninspected foreign vessels operating within Fiji’s maritime zones.
The Lau chief warned that continued inaction could have serious long-term consequences for young people living in affected communities.
“As a chief with responsibilities to my people, I am issuing a direct warning: if Government continues to neglect our communities in the face of this crisis, the day will come when our own youth realise the true worth of these finds,” he said.
“Through that gross negligence, we will have bred an entirely new generation of drug dealers. The window to act is now, and it is closing.”
He called for a “whole-of-society response” involving Government, traditional leaders and communities working together to confront the growing threat…. PACNEWS
AUST – DIPLOMACY: AAP PACNEWS 2: Tue 23 Jun 2026
U.S no longer viewed as Australia’s most important ally
CANBERRA, 23 JUNE 2026 (AAP) — Australians have nominated the nation’s relationship with China as more important than its partnership with the U.S, as trust in Donald Trump hits a record low.
Some 51 percent of respondents to the 2026 Lowy Institute Poll said Australia’s partnership with Beijing is more vital than the bond with Washington, marking an eight-point rise from the previous year.
Confidence in the U.S president to do the right thing in global affairs stands at 21 percent, the lowest level for any American leader in the survey’s 22-year history.
Six in 10 Australians say they have “no confidence at all” in Trump.
But support for the U.S alliance has endured and, despite experiencing a drop, almost three in four people say the relationship is important for the nation’s security.
Only 20 percent of respondents said they had confidence in Chinese President Xi Jinping to do the right thing.
However, he recorded a modest four-point rise in trust since 2025.
Two-thirds of people say they support Australia’s acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS partnership.
A growing number of Australians (39 percent) are in favour of obtaining nuclear weapons in the future, representing a three-point increase since people were last polled on this question in 2022.
A record number of Australians said they feel unsafe in the world, and were growing anxious about societal change, report author and research fellow Charles Lyons-Jones said.
“The largest single movement on any societal question in the poll’s 22-year history is on cultural diversity,” he said.
“The proportion of Australians who say that cultural diversity has been good for the country has fallen 17 points over the past two years, a shift without precedent in our polling.””
But almost three quarters of Australians still view cultural diversity as entirely or mostly positive.
Support for democracy remains strong with 73 percent of respondents answering it is preferable to any other system of government.
More than half of people (55 percent) say the total number of migrants coming to Australia is “too high”.
Lowy Institute executive director Michael Fullilove said the liberal international order had been “replaced by something illiberal, nationalistic, and disorderly”
More people said China (39 percent) has the most influence in the Pacific compared to Australia (33 percent)…. PACNEWS
FIJI – PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCAST: FIJI GOVT PACNEWS 2: Tue 23 Jun 2026
Fiji’s Ministry of Information gives feedback from review of PSB, CFL maps out two-year plan
SUVA, 23 JUNE 2026 (FIJI GOVT) — Moving from awareness to action is the strategy Communications Fiji Limited (CFL) plans to pursue in the second year of its Public Service Broadcast (PSB) Grant-funded campaigns.
Providing an update to Minister for Information, Environment and Climate Change, Lynda Tabuya, on Monday, CFL highlighted the impact of its first year of PSB grant, which reached audiences nationwide through radio, digital and community engagement platforms.
In its first year, CFL’s Public Service Broadcast campaigns reached 85 percent of Fiji’s population and generated more than 2.29 million impressions.
The campaigns also recorded over 1.13 million video views and more than 79,000 engagements across its platforms.
Through the PSB programme, CFL delivered awareness aimed at starting difficult conversations, educating the public, addressing stigma, promoting prevention and reporting, and encouraging positive behavioural change on issues of national importance.
Building on these achievements, CFL outlined its plans for the second year of the grant, focusing on cultivating a culture of civic pride that translates into public mobilisation and motivation, sustained behavioural change, stronger community accountability, greater youth engagement and participation, and community-led initiatives such as clean-up campaigns, neighbourhood watch programmes and road safety efforts.
Minister Tabuya informed CFL on feedback from the PSB grant review report by the Poverty Monitoring Unit.
She acknowledged CFL’s efforts in raising awareness and educating the public on critical issues affecting individuals, families and communities across Fiji.
Looking ahead, Tabuya informed CFL that following the review, the Ministry intends to adopt a more strategic and proactive approach to determining future PSB-funded content.
Under the proposed framework, media organisations will be invited to submit quarterly proposals aligned with government communication priorities.
She stressed that the process would not be a competition among media organisations but an opportunity for each broadcaster to leverage its unique strengths and demonstrate how it can effectively deliver important public information to its audience.
The Minister also encouraged broadcasters to share insights from their audiences and identify emerging issues affecting communities that may require greater public awareness and engagement…. PACNEWS
FIJI – HEALTH PROFFESIONALS: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 2: Tue 23 Jun 2026
Linchpin of healthcare: Australian expert urges support for Fiji’s laboratory staff
SUVA, 23 JUNE 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) — A leading Australian medical scientist has described Fiji’s laboratory professionals as highly skilled and resourceful even as they grapple with under-resourcing and an exodus of trained staff to wealthier nations.
Dr Donna Rudd, chair of the Australian Institute of Medical and Clinical Scientists’ Tropical Commission and an academic at James Cook University, is attending the three-day Fiji Institute of Medical Laboratory Science conference at FNU Nasinu.
She described the gathering as a vital opportunity for Pacific nations to share solutions to common challenges.
“Medical and laboratory science is quite a small profession, so we need to support each other,” Rudd said.
“When we get together, we find that our interests and our problems are very much shared.”
Rudd, who also serves as editor of the Australian Journal of Medical Science, said Fijian laboratory scientists are “very clever” and “very resourceful” despite working in environments with fewer resources than their Australian counterparts. Laboratories are often overlooked by policymakers who prioritise spending on doctors and nurses.
“They’ll spend money getting a fancy doctor, but they won’t spend money in the laboratory,” she said.
“But the fancy doctor can’t make their diagnosis without the skills of the laboratory staff.”
She described laboratories as the linchpin of healthcare systems, essential not only for diagnostics but also for prognostics and ongoing patient monitoring.
Her comments come as Fiji’s medical laboratory sector faces significant staff shortages, with many experienced scientists migrating abroad. Rudd acknowledged that Australia bore some responsibility for the brain drain.
“I feel a little bit responsible for them,” she said, referring to recruitment of Fijian-trained scientists.
She noted that degrees from Fiji National University are accredited by the Australian Institute of Science, making graduates highly employable overseas.
This year’s conference, themed “Partnerships in the Pacific,” is the first time the Fijian institute and the Australian Institute’s Tropical Division have worked together. Rudd said the partnership was sparked by a small haematology workshop last year and has now grown into a major regional event involving New Zealand colleagues.
She brought several Australian students to Fiji under the New Colombo Plan, a scholarship programme funded by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The students benefit enormously from observing how Fijian laboratories operate with creativity and ingenuity, Rudd said.
“When they go into the workplace, it’s very different,” she said.
“There’s a shared understanding and knowledge there, which is really useful for both our students to see — and to see the value of their profession within other countries.”
During the Seminar, Rudd will present research on novel markers for detecting kidney damage in pregnant women and neonates, drawing on a major study conducted at Townsville University Hospital.
Pacific laboratory networks must be strengthened to cope with emerging health challenges, and that conferences like this one are essential for building long-term educational and professional relationships, Rudd said
“Our relationships and ongoing friendships and educational relationships go on for a long time,” she said. “Lifelong learning opportunities — that’s what we want to create.”
The conference continues over the weekend, with presentations from experts across Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
COOKS – TOURISM INDUSTRY: PMN PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 23 Jun 2026
Record visitors shield Cook Islands from global fuel crisis
RAROTONGA, 23 JUNE 2026 (PMN) — Cook Islands Prime minister Mark Brown says the country has managed to avoid a five percent Gross Domestic Product shrinkage that has not happened due to the island nation hitting record tourist numbers.
The country’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Management recently warned of the worst-case risk scenario to the country’s GDP and potential rise in inflation.
This comes amid an escalating conflict in the Middle East and subsequent disruptions to global oil supplies, such as the closure of the critical Strait of Hormuz, which drive up crude oil and diesel prices globally.
Speaking on Pacific Mornings, Prime Minister Mark Brown dismisses fears of an economic collapse.
“That was in a report and a worst-case scenario assessment. We haven’t seen any of that, despite the fact that there have been a couple of flights cancelled where New Zealand has consolidated those particular passengers,” Brown says.
“We’re still seeing growth in numbers. So, it was a scenario that was put forward, but the reality is that hasn’t occurred. In fact, we are seeing record numbers again coming through this year.”
According to the Cook Islands Visitor Economy Factsheet, the total calendar year arrivals for 2025 peaked at 187,018 visitors. This represents a 10 percent growth over the 170,525 arrivals in 2024.
Brown says they are “really happy” with their performance in regard to economics, where this year, Global agency S&P Global, upgraded the Cook Islands’ long-term international credit rating from ‘B+’ to ‘BB-‘ with a stable outlook, signalling greater confidence to international investors.
This rating acts as a financial report card that measures a government’s ability to pay back its debt and handle economic shocks.
“That’s been driven by the record tourist arrivals that we have coming into the country, and it’s continued on despite the fuel crisis issues that affected other destinations.
“We’ve been able to build in our economic resilience framework around making sure that the economy continues to grow.”
This financial turnaround is highlighted by a massive drop in national debt, with net general government debt plunging from a peak of 37.6 percent in fiscal 2022 down to 16.4 percent in fiscal 2025.
“Some restructuring that took place there. It gives us more room in the budget that we’re debating right now to be able to implement and fund new initiatives going forward. So overall, I’m really pleased with how the economy is tracking.”
With an election approaching before the end of September, Brown intends to campaign on this strong economic record.
He says a thriving economy is the only way the government can afford to fund its current budget commitments and welfare increases.
He also says that robust national performance is essential to ensure no one is left behind. To protect the country’s economic status against the very global energy shocks driving the worst-case GDP warnings, the Cook Islands is actively building bilateral fuel resilience.
“If a tanker doesn’t come in for whatever reason, we need fuel urgently. Where can we get it from? So, these are the resilience issues that we’re looking to build.
“That’s purely on a bilateral basis between us and American Sāmoa. So, we can help ourselves there. You might do something with Tahiti to the East, again, another big fuel depot is over there.
“[We’ll] see if we can reach an agreement that if we do get into trouble, can we get a small supply over here to help us out.”
Brown says individual self-reliance is essential because decades of regional discussions aimed at consolidating fuel volumes or lowering prices have historically proven difficult…. PACNEWS
PNG – ARTIFICIAL INTELIGENCE: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 23 Jun 2026
PNG’s first AI data centre to be launched soon
PORT MORESBY, 23 JUNE 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — Papua New Guinea is set to launch its first sovereign artificial intelligence (AI) cloud platform, a move aimed at keeping critical national data within the country and strengthening digital security and technological independence.
The AI data centre, known as “Kumul Infinity”, is expected to become operational within months, according to Datec general manager for innovation, technology and strategy, John Pulu.
Pulu said the project was developed in response to growing concerns over where government, business and national data were currently stored and processed in an increasingly digital world.
“Data sovereignty has been the core driving force behind a lot of government decisions,” he said.
Pulu said the platform would enable organisations to store data and run AI workloads within Papua New Guinea under local laws and regulations, reducing reliance on overseas cloud providers.
Developed in partnership with Telikom PNG and UK-based CloudSigma, the facility will provide infrastructure, software and AI services while allowing customers to build and operate their own AI models locally.
Pulu said the data centre would be equipped with advanced Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs) to power AI applications and high-performance computing services for government agencies and private businesses.
He described the initiative as PNG’s first sovereign AI cloud, noting that while data centres already exist in the country, none currently provide comparable AI capability and sovereign control.
The project comes amid growing concerns globally over the security and ownership of data stored offshore.
Pulu warned that data uploaded to foreign platforms could be used to train artificial intelligence systems outside PNG’s control.
“If you do not control the data that you hold for your organisation, others may learn from it,” he said.
Pulu added that local hosting would support government compliance requirements, strengthen cybersecurity and improve resilience against disruptions to international networks and data infrastructure.
He said the initiative would help position PNG to participate more actively in the global digital economy while ensuring national data remains protected.
“Protect the data, secure the future,” he said.
Datec is also set to open its new retail showroom next month in Lae…. PACNEWS
FIJI – BORDER SECURITY: FRCS PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 23 Jun 2026
Fiji Revenue and Customs Service officers ehance detection skiills through NZ led clan lab awareness trainning
SUVA, 23 JUNE 2026 (FRCS) — Frontline officers of the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) have strengthened their capabilities in identifying illicit drug manufacturing activities following a specialised Clan Lab Awareness training programme delivered by New Zealand Customs Service, in partnership with the New Zealand Police and supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).
The initiative forms part of ongoing regional cooperation to combat transnational organized crime, particularly the growing threat of methamphetamine production and trafficking across the Pacific.
Designed specifically for frontline border personnel, the awareness sessions focused on equipping officers with the knowledge and practical skills needed to detect indicators of clandestine laboratories (“clan labs”) and related criminal activity. The training highlighted how seemingly ordinary environments, such as warehouse facilities inspected during routine cargo examinations, could potentially be used for illicit drug production.
Participants were guided through the identification of everyday items and imported goods that may be associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine.
This included recognising chemicals, equipment, and materials that, while legitimate in isolation, could signal suspicious activity when found in certain combinations or quantities.
The sessions also explored the various pathways through which illicit substances and precursor materials are smuggled into the country. Officers received targeted insights into risks across cargo shipments, mail streams, unaccompanied baggage, freight consignments, and passenger movements.
A key component of the training examined concealment techniques used by criminal networks, with real-life examples demonstrating how methamphetamine can be hidden in unconventional ways.
Visual case studies formed an important part of the programme, including examples from New Zealand. Officers reviewed images and scenarios involving substances concealed in picture frames, impregnated fabrics, and other atypical items.
These practical illustrations were aimed at sharpening officers’ ability to identify anomalies and apply risk-based judgement during inspections.
Delivered through interactive presentations and supported by a question-and-answer session, the workshop provided an engaging and informative platform for knowledge exchange. The content underscored the importance of vigilance and informed decision-making at the border, particularly as drug trafficking methods continue to evolve.
The Clan Lab Awareness workshop was conducted at the request of Fiji, reflecting the country’s proactive approach to strengthening border protection measures.
It also builds on the strong and longstanding partnership between New Zealand Customs and FRCS. In recent years, this collaboration has included capacity-building initiatives such as intelligence-gathering workshops and the Pacific Leadership Programme delivered in both Nadi and Suva.
New Zealand Customs reaffirmed its commitment to supporting FRCS and acknowledged the value of the close working relationship between the two agencies. Through continued cooperation and shared expertise, both countries aim to enhance regional resilience against organised crime and safeguard the Pacific’s borders.
FRCS expressed its sincere appreciation to New Zealand Customs, the New Zealand Police, and the Government of New Zealand for their continued support and partnership.
FRCS acknowledged the significant value of not only the Clan Lab Awareness initiative, but also the broader range of capacity-building programmes delivered in recent years, which have played a critical role in strengthening Fiji’s border security capabilities and advancing regional collaboration…. PACNEWS
PAC – DIGITAL TRADE: CHINA ECONOMIC NET PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 23 Jun 2026
China’s digital trade networks could ease Pacific firms’ access to regional markets, ABAC adviser says
BEIJING, 23 JUNE 2026 (CHINA ECONOMIC NET) — China’s digital supply chains could give small businesses in Pacific island nations better access to regional trade, an adviser to the APEC Business Advisory Council said on Sunday, on the sidelines of the APEC CEO China Forum in Beijing.
Brett O’Riley, New Zealand’s representative on the council, known as ABAC, said one challenge for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum was widening access to major supply chains for groups currently underrepresented in regional trade, including women entrepreneurs, part-time business owners and small firms in smaller economies.
ABAC advises APEC leaders on trade and investment policy on behalf of the region’s business community.
O’Riley cited Tonga, the Cook Islands and Samoa as examples of Pacific economies that need improved supply chain access, saying New Zealand had a particular responsibility toward the region.
He said the issue for such economies extends beyond procurement to market access for their own exports.
“Sometimes they are only selling very small quantities of their products” O’Riley said. “The ability to plug into digital supply chains like we see in China can make a huge difference for those small economies and a huge difference for those small businesses.”
His comments came as business leaders and officials met in Beijing this week for the APEC CEO China Forum, with supply chains and digital trade among the main topics on the agenda.
O’Riley said wider access to digital trade platforms could also draw more young entrepreneurs into business across the region.
China holds the rotating APEC chair this year, an arrangement the host government has used to promote a broader agenda of openness and connectivity…. 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
Conflicts command headlines…protecting peace, less so: The UN Peacebuilding Fund explained
By Daniel Dickinson
NEW YORK, 23 JUNE 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) — Wars regularly make headlines. Preventing them rarely does.
Yet for the past 20 years, the UN Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) has quietly been helping countries to avoid violence, recover from conflict and build more peaceful futures for their citizens.
Today, it’s the UN’s main vehicle for investing in peace before crises spiral out of control.
As the UN marks its first ever peacebuilding week, here’s what you need to know about the innovative Fund.
Described as a “financial instrument of first resort”, think of the Peacebuilding Fund as the UN’s emergency peace fund.
Created by UN Member States in 2005, it provides rapid financing to countries facing the risk of conflict or trying to recover from it. Unlike traditional aid programmes that can take years to get off the ground, the Fund is designed to move quickly when a window for peace opens.
Its guiding principles have remained the same for two decades: it has to be fast, flexible and it must accelerate change and be nationally owned.
Who does it support?
The Fund works through governments, local communities, civil society organisations, women’s groups, youth networks and alongside more than 20 UN agencies.
Its reach is global. Over the last two decades, it has supported peacebuilding efforts in more than 75 countries and territories, from Sierra Leone and Colombia to Papua New Guinea, Kyrgyzstan and Haiti.
Ultimately, its beneficiaries are ordinary people: communities rebuilding after war, young people seeking opportunities instead of violence, women mediating disputes and families hoping for a more stable future.
Securing peace
The Fund backs projects that help societies move away from conflict and towards peace.
That can mean:
*Supporting peace agreements and political transitions
*Bringing divided communities together through dialogue and reconciliation
*Restoring essential services and local institutions
*Creating jobs and economic opportunities in communities recovering from violence
*Supporting women and young people to take leadership roles in peacebuilding
In short, it invests in the building blocks that make peace last.
Why is it important?
Peacebuilding works to avoid the escalation of local conflicts.
By helping countries address tensions early, the Fund aims to prevent violence before lives are lost and communities are displaced.
The Fund also fills a unique gap in the UN system. It can take risks, move quickly and support initiatives that other donors may be unable or unwilling to fund.
As UN Member States have recognised, peace is not just about ending wars, it is about inclusive societies.
What success has it had?
The Fund’s work stretches across every region of the world.
In Sierra Leone, it contributed to peaceful elections and strengthen institutions after a devastating civil war while supporting young people.
In Papua New Guinea, it supported preparations for the historic Bougainville referendum, allowing voters to participate peacefully in a decision about their political future.
Along the Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border, it helped communities transform disputes over land and water into cooperation and shared development.
In Guatemala, it supported indigenous women seeking justice for wartime sexual violence, helping secure a landmark conviction recognised internationally.
And in countries including the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo, it has helped former combatants return to civilian life, supported women mediators and strengthened community resilience.
Investing in women
One of the Peacebuilding Fund’s biggest investments isn’t in governments, it’s in people.
Over the years, the Fund has become one of the UN’s largest financiers of women-led peacebuilding initiatives, backing mediators, negotiators, community leaders and grassroots organisations working on the front lines of conflict prevention.
From brokering local peace agreements to supporting survivors seeking justice, thousands of women have played a direct role in building peace through Fund-backed projects worldwide.
The Fund in numbers
More than:
* 75 countries and territories supported
*US$2 billion invested
*1,150 peacebuilding projects funded
* 120 recipient organisations and funding mechanisms supported
Demand for PBF support has been increasing not just because there is more conflict, but more countries want to do more prevention and to avoid conflict.
The bottom line
For 20 years, the Peacebuilding Fund has operated on the simple premise that investing in people to build peace is cheaper, smarter and more humane than responding after a conflict erupts.
Its work may not always make headlines, but for millions of people living in fragile settings, it can make the difference between a return to violence and a chance for a more peaceful future…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
The fuel crisis has hit the Pacific hard. The region is responding – but tough choices lie ahead
By Hugo Temby, Joel Nilon
CANBERRA, 23 JUNE 2026 (THE CONVERSATION) — The past five years have not been easy for the people of the Pacific. COVID restrictions disrupted tourism and upended supply chains, while global fuel shocks raised prices and hit island economies hard.
The region relies on expensive imports of fossil fuels, as domestic sources are largely lacking. Some nations spend up to 25 percent of their GDP on securing fuel, even before this year’s price spikes.
In recent months, authorities in the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu announced emergency measures to conserve fuel. Fiji’s main energy provider has warned electricity rationing is now a possibility, and the Samoan government is considering school closures to save fuel.
News of a peace deal between the United States and Iran has been welcomed. But even if the deal holds, it’s unlikely to lead to quick relief.
In May, the region’s leaders took a rare collective step by invoking the Biketawa Declaration by consensus. It means governments are united in their response to the ongoing fuel crisis.
Why is this significant?
Pacific leaders formalised this declaration in 2000 at the Biketawa Islet in Kiribati as a way to collectively respond to major regional challenges such as conflict.
The declaration paved the way for the long-running Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (2003–17) during a period of conflict, and the Pacific Regional Assistance Mission to Nauru (2006–09) during an economic crisis.
Over time, it has been drawn on to manage the region’s security more broadly, including environmental and social threats.
Most recently, the declaration enabled a regional response to the COVID pandemic, allowing transport of vaccines and other medical equipment to Pacific countries during lockdown periods.
This year’s fuel crisis has affected the entire region. As Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Baron Waqa recently warned, the region is “highly exposed to external shocks”. He said the fuel crisis is beginning to intersect across Pacific economies, with direct implications on essential services, connectivity, economic resilience and the livelihoods of our people
The first step has been to establish a regional response mechanism to the fuel crisis, encouraging better coordination between nations.
An unequal crisis
The fuel crisis poses a bigger challenge to Pacific Island countries than many other nations. Almost all the region’s fuel is imported from a handful of East Asian countries, where it is refined. These countries were in turn highly reliant on oil from the Middle East – 80% of the crude oil processed in refineries was transported via the Strait of Hormuz.
The full impact of the Iran war has not yet washed through. Tankers in transit before the Hormuz closure have continued to make deliveries, while support from donors such as Australia has helped some countries manage what has, so far, mostly been a price shock.
Nations such as Fiji had healthy fuel reserves before this year’s fuel crisis.
But others had very little buffer, from about a month’s supply (Tonga, Cook Islands and Tuvalu) to even less (Kiribati).
Maintaining fuel storage facilities in difficult environmental conditions is an ongoing challenge for many nations.
What now?
It’s an uncertain time for the Pacific. The Iran peace deal — if it holds — may mean more oil products can flow. But damage to energy infrastructure will take time to repair. Insurance premiums and food prices may stay high for some time.
Pacific foreign ministers have left open the possibility of more direct measures if fuel security isn’t assured. These haven’t been determined, but joint purchases of fuel could be on the table if political and practical challenges can be overcome.
Australia has indicated its priority is to monitor the situation in the Pacific and engage with Pacific partners. In a recent round of “fuel diplomacy” in Asian markets, Australia called for continued attention to the Pacific’s unique energy security needs.
But difficult choices lie ahead.
Access to affordable, reliable energy is one of the world’s sustainable development goals, and Pacific communities deserve no less.
The region and its partners will need to find a way to respond to the immediate crisis without worsening the longer-term and much larger threat posed by climate change.
Before this year’s crisis, many leaders were focused on reducing fossil fuel imports and boosting energy self-reliance through renewables. The goal was to be the first region to run on 100% renewables.
Fuel security is the most pressing problem today. But the broader goal is still clear. Pacific energy ministers recently reaffirmed the goal of a 100% renewable energy future and agreed to accelerate the rollout.
The world’s continued reliance on fossil fuels created the conditions for both crises. Only reducing the world’s reliance on fossil fuels will solve them…. PACNEWS
Hugo Temby, is Research fellow, Australian National University
Joel Nilon is Senior Pacific Fellow, Australian National University
