Samoa citizenship bill passes first NZ Parliament hurdle, helped by Act and NZ First

Act and New Zealand First have shocked Parliament last night by supporting a bill to select committee that would provide entitlement to New Zealand citizenship for a group of people born in the then Western Samoa whose

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Fiji Business Briefs: RBF on Fiji’s outlook, Aviation school to expand

RBF says inflation, job vacancies up The Reserve Bank of Fiji says indications are Fiji’s economy will grow in 2024. In a recent statement, RBF Governor, Ariff Ali said while consumption spending was positive—due to

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Opinion: Squaring a vicious circle: political party laws in Vanuatu

Vanuatu will witness a referendum on two constitutional amendments designed to strengthen the party system on 29 May 2024. The proposed reforms, passed by parliament in December 2023, seek to tie MPs to political

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Movers and Shakers

The Pacific Community (SPC) has appointed Elsie Fukofuka as its Regional Director, Polynesia, stationed at its regional office in Nuku’alofa, Tonga. Tuvalu’s new Prime Minister, Feleti Teo has named key ministerial

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Fiji Business Briefs: Chequing-out, Pacific Green growth, Movers and Shakers

Bank cheques phase out While the phasing out of cheques by Fiji’s banks is inevitable, indications from the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) are that there is still flexibility around the timeline. RBF Governor Arrif Ali

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Fiji Business Briefs: McDonald’s expansion, hotel room demand, reporting season

McDonald’s Fiji expands back-end operations Vuvale Restaurants (Fiji) Ltd, the parent company of McDonald’s Fiji, has announced a $25 million investment of a new retail and supermarket complex

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CNMI to lose 50 percent of workforce in 7 years, Senate president tells U.S. official

“In seven years, the CNMI stands to lose 50 percent of its entire employed labour force,” Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero told U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular and International

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Tuvalu PM announces new Cabinet

Tuvalu’s newly-elected Prime Minister, Feleti Teo has named his Cabinet lineup. Governor General Tofiga Vaevalu Falani, in the exercise of authority granted by sections 63, 64, and 68 of Tuvalu’s

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ANZ anticipates Fiji population growth as overseas migration slows

Fiji is poised to witness an increase in labour force expansion and economic activity, starting in 2025, due to changes in trends in international migration, says the ANZ Bank. A new report from ANZ Research projects a

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Clashes between pro-independence protesters, police as three French ministers visit New Caledonia

Militants and protesters clashed with police in downtown Nouméa on Wednesday as New Caledonia plays host to three French government ministers this week.  The crowd – an estimated 2,000 according to

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Fiji Business Briefs: Visa pilot, Rosie goes electric, more hotels, FHL results

Fiji to pilot outsourcing of some passport and visa services Fiji’s Cabinet has given green light for the piloting of outsourcing of some passport and visa services. The initiative will establish application centres

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Solomon Islands Caretaker PM calls on Australia for a more serious dialogue on reciprocal visa waiver

Solomon Islands caretaker Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has re-emphasised Solomon Islands’ call to Australia for a serious and genuine dialogue on a visa reciprocal arrangement beyond the Pacific Engagement

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