Opinion: Penny Wong dives deep into the audacity of the Oceanic Pacific
Nurturing relationships is paramount to break down unequal power dynamics – especially in working for women rights. By ‘Ofa-ki-Levuka (‘Ofa) Guttenbeil-Likiliki From the 1990s to the early 2000s, Oceanic writer
Pacific Elders call halt to seabed mining
Pacific Elders’ Voice (PEV) calls for a halt in seabed mining until “proper regulatory instruments can be put in place,” and recommends a regional expert body be created to provide expert advice to Pacific Island
France, the oceans and seabed mining
Pacific leaders have joined a major oceans summit hosted by the French government in the port city of Brest, addressing climate change, illegal fishing, ocean acidification and plastics pollution.
Cook Islands opens seabed minerals exploration
Companies interested in conducting seabed minerals exploration work in Cook Islands have until December to put in their Expressions of Interest. This was announced by Prime Minister Mark Brown in an elaborate ceremony
Fiji calls for sea-bed mining moratorium as Nautilus restructures
By Nic Maclellan in Funafuti, Tuvalu Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has again called for a 10-year moratorium on sea-bed mining, at a time that many Pacific island nations are preparing for new frontiers of
Bad behaviour: The need for regional cooperation
Mid-last year, reports started surfacing that Deep Sea Mining Finance (DSMF) was extracting seabed minerals in Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) exclusive economic zone (EEZ), unbeknownst to government and without permission
PACNEWS THREE, 2 APRIL 2026
In this bulletin: 1. PACIFIC — Pacific Leaders’ 2050 Plan gains ground but gaps remain, Forum report shows2. TONGA — Lopsided deal: Legal analysis raises concerns over Tonga’s deep-sea mining
PACNEWS ONE, 27 MARCH 2026
In this bulletin: 1. SOL — New Solomon Islands Opposition Coalition seeks Court ruling on Political deadlock2. NZ/TUVALU — Tuvalu, NZ deepen ties as PM Teo calls for cautious approach to deep sea mining3.
PACNEWS TWO, 26 MARCH 2026
In this bulletin: 1. PACIFIC — Think tank report says U.S military treats Guam as a ‘disposable asset’2. PACIFIC — Pasifika Communities University flags funding challenge, pushes community model to
PACNEWS ONE, 25 MARCH 2026
In this bulletin: 1. PACIFIC — WCPFC report shows record Pacific tuna catch, warns of climate change risks2. TONGA — Tonga PM welcomes U.S deal to explore deep-sea minerals amid environmental concerns3.
PACNEWS ONE, 23 MARCH 2026
In this bulletin: 1. SOL — Solomon Islands PM Manele reshuffles Cabinet, insists ‘no crisis’ as government hold firm2. FIJI — Fiji and Australia launch major Climate adaptation initiative to strengthen
