‘At the dawn of a new day’
FLNKS Congress calls for “full sovereignty” AS New Caledonia’s FLNKS independence movement met in congress last month near the northern town of Poum, the theme highlighted the importance of the coming year: “Yet
Politics
The new Aussie assertiveness
A diplomatic spat between Beijing and Canberra has highlighted the Turnbull government’s new assertiveness in the Pacific islands as it pushes back against the growing regional influence of “nontraditional”
Fiji Supreme Court to hear election office appeal
By Anish Chand In this election year, the Fijian Supreme Court is set to hand down a judgement that will clearly define the role of the Supervisor of the Elections when it comes to following directives of the
Budget is PM Hou’s priority
Former banker promises cuts in government spending Two months in the hottest seat of Solomon Islands politics, Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela is already geared up to steering his country to a new direction with the
Turnbull reshuffles Cabinet
Canberra, Australia – Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull revealed a new cabinet line-up on the eve of 2018 by announcing a reshuffle that saw five new cabinet members and the axing of infrastructure minister, Darren
Stage set for 2018 Fiji vote
Personalities will clash as Fijians prepare to go to the ballot THE personality of Fiji’s Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama ensured that his Fiji First party won an outright majority in the 2014 polls, but that could
Former banker aims to unite Fiji
ONE of Fiji’s newest political parties has not ruled out contesting Fiji’s general elections due to be held in 2018 in coalition with other parties that are opposed to the ruling Fiji First Party of Prime Minister
Pohiva storms back
Tongan Parliament votes VETERAN politician and long-time democracy fighter Samiuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva has his job cut out for him after he was re-elected as Tonga’s Prime Minister with a 14-12 vote in the Tongan
Social media way to campaign in Fiji
WITH less than a year left for Fiji’s 2018 general election, registered political parties are whole-heartedly embracing a new weapon to take their message to voters – the social media platforms of Facebook, Twitter
Independence movement prepares for referendum
Remembrance Day, November 11. French soldiers, sailors and police stand in ranks near Noumea’s war memorial at Bir Hakiem, to remember the fallen. Across town, at Ko We Kara, members of the Union Calédonienne Party
Manus under siege
Asylum seekers fight for survival at former refugee centre “THE situation in Manus is critical. We are thirsty and have been waiting for rain in past few days. We have some water we’re rationing but it’s not
It’s PM Hou, but Sogavare stays
2003 Islands Business Magazine’s ‘Pacific Man of the Year’ Rick Hou has taken the helm as the new Prime Minister of Solomon Islands with barely a year to go before the next election is due in early 2019. He
Taking NZ in 80 days
Labour stuns electorate IT took Jacinta Ardern just 80 days from taking over as leader of a political party to becoming New Zealand’s youngest prime minister. When she replaced Andrew Little as leader of the Labour
Tonga 86 in hot race for seats Favourites: Mr Pohiva still has some
TONGA goes to the poll on November 16 to elect their 17 People’s Representatives in the Legislative Assembly. That is 12 months earlier than planned, after His Majesty King Tupou VI dissolved parliament in September
Crisis in the kingdom
TONGA’s political events in the past three weeks took the region by surprise. First it was His Majesty King Tupou VI who did the unprecedented and disssolved Parliament, with it also sending Prime Minister ‘Akilisi
Brother Kanaky
MSG seals deal with Independence group ahead of referendum THE Melanesian Spearhead Group will take a lead role in a political referendum in New Caledonia next year. MSG Director General, Ambassador Amenatave
The decreed legacy of Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum
THE Attorney General and Minister for the Economy Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum is probably the most influential Minister this country has ever had. His influence is everywhere, in the Decrees, the Constitution, the Electoral
O’Neill wins bizzare elections
PAPUA New Guinea’s Prime Minister Peter O’Neill recorded history by being elected into office for a second year term on July 2. He defeated a determined coalition of parties known as ‘The Alliance’ in a vote 60
A question of identity
Implications of the draft Rotuma Bills OPPOSITION to the draft Rotuma Bills was not to detract the question of unity but it was a matter of identity, explained the adviser to the Council of Rotuma, Dr John Fatiaki in an
Call to end Fiji black list
A FIJIAN opposition party has called for the lifting of travel bans on all individuals – including former Fiji citizens.National Federation Party President, Roko Tupou Draunidalo, said Prime Minister, Frank
Business as usual?
Pacific challenges for new French President FRANCE Has a new Presiden after mainstream parties fell by the wayside during last month’s presidential elections. Incoming President Emmanuel Macron saw off a strong
The middle road
Looking for a Fiji for all WHEN Tupou Draunidalo chose to leave the Opposition National Federation Party earlier this year, political commentators wondered about the wisdom of such a move. For there are many who believe
Out of the shadows to join a family calling
IT’S just days after New Year and while chaos reigned on the mainland as news spread of an underwater earthquake, the then President of the National Federation Party, parliamentarian Tupou Draunidalo, was sitting