Pacific Islands
Faster access to climate finance
Saturday 12 August 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy, Environment, Fiji, National, Pacific Islands, Regional
Prime Minister Mark Brown highlighted the implementation of the redesigned Pacific Resilience Facility, which will help to ease climate financing for Pacific Island countries.
Cook Islands co-chair alongside Tonga to develop implementation plan for massive 2050 Strategy
Friday 14 July 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy, Fiji, National, Pacific Islands, Regional, Tonga
Cook Islands High Commissioner to Fiji, Jim Armistead, has shared with the Pacific Islands Forum how the Cook Islands as co-chair along with Tonga is developing the implementation plan for the 2050 Strategy.
Decision paves way for treated radioactive water long-term release plan into the Pacific Ocean
Wednesday 12 July 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Economy, National, Pacific Islands, Regional
Pacific Islands Forum Chair and Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Mark Brown has received the comprehensive International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report on the Safety Review of the ALPS-Treated Water at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan.
Climate crisis an 'existential threat', says Commonwealth head
Tuesday 11 July 2023 | Written by RNZ | Published in Pacific Islands, Regional
Many small island states live in fear of natural disasters, as unprecedented storms become more frequent, says Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland, RNZ reports.
Politics, a chapter ‘well and truly closed’: Puna
Wednesday 5 July 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in National, Pacific Islands, Politics, Regional
Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Henry Puna says he has no plans to return to local politics.
Puna reiterates support to Cook Islands
Monday 3 July 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy, National, Pacific Islands, Regional
The Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum has reiterated support to the Cook Islands as host of the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting in November.
Former Prime Minister’s visit part of the Pacific Islands Forum meeting preparations
Friday 30 June 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in Economy, National, Pacific Islands, Regional
The Cook Islands’ preparations to host the 52nd annual Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting ramped up this week with an official visit from Forum Secretary-General Henry Puna.
PIFS Secretary-General home on first official visit
Tuesday 27 June 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in 52nd Pacific Islands Forum 2023, Economy, National, Pacific Islands, Regional
Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), Henry Puna, received a warm welcome home on Monday, on his first official visit to the Cook Islands since becoming the Secretary-General in 2021.
Former Pacific leaders want UN action, clean up shipping industry
Tuesday 27 June 2023 | Written by RNZ | Published in Pacific Islands, Regional
A group of former Pacific leaders want the UN agency mandated to regulate international shipping "to take meaningful strides" to end the industry's reliance on dirty fossil fuels.
What happened to me must never happen again – Puna
Tuesday 13 June 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Features, Pacific Islands, Regional, Weekend
Former Cook Islands prime minister and Manihiki MP Henry Puna has spoken out about his ‘controversial’ appointment and impending exit as the Pacific Islands Forum secretary general at a recent event in Apia, Samoa.
Sustainability of Pacific fisheries is compromised by the impacts of climate change
Friday 2 June 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Pacific Islands, Regional
Forum Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says the sustainability of Pacific fisheries is compromised by the impacts of climate change, marine pollution and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
Global Expedition will allow Pacific people to tell their stories
Friday 2 June 2023 | Written by RNZ | Published in Pacific Islands, Regional
National Geographic's Pristine Seas initiative has launched The Global Expedition to support conservation efforts in the remote tropical Pacific.
Sextortion issue in the Pacific, survey reveals
Friday 2 June 2023 | Written by RNZ | Published in Pacific Islands, Regional
Preliminary findings of a yet-to-be released Transparency International survey has found sextortion - demanding sexual favours in return for public services - is a major issue in parts of the Pacific.
Cook Islands will be ready to host Forum Leaders meeting in November: PM Brown
Wednesday 31 May 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in 52nd Pacific Islands Forum 2023, Fiji, National, Pacific Islands, Regional
Cook Islands Prime Minister and Pacific Forum Chair Mark Brown says preparations are well underway for the upcoming Forum Leaders meeting in November.
Pacific Summit to discuss Japan’s plan to release nuke waste water into the Pacific
Tuesday 30 May 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Pacific Islands, Regional
Concerns raised by Pacific Leaders about Japan’s plan to discharge over a million tonnes of contaminated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean, over the next four years will feature prominently on the agenda of the inaugural Korea – Pacific Leaders’ Summit.
All eyes on Japan
Tuesday 30 May 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Art, Features, Pacific Islands, Regional, Weekend
There’s one thing glaringly obvious when I land in Tokyo - it’s big and it’s fast. Overwhelming at first, as the bus carrying me to my accommodation makes a two- hour journey through the massive metropolis. Al Williams was in Hiroshima, Japan to cover the G7 Summit and gives his account of a journey made possible by the Embassy of Japan in New Zealand.
Iam Tongi becomes first Pacific Islander to win American Idol
Tuesday 23 May 2023 | Written by RNZ | Published in Pacific Islands, Regional
Teenage sensation Iam Tongi has won American Idol.
Ukraine top agenda at G7 Summit
Thursday 18 May 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, National, Pacific Islands, Regional
Cook Islands and the wider Pacific could benefit from the talks on Indo- Pacific, economic resilience and economic security, gender, food, health, climate, development and digitalisation at the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan this weekend.
Biden cans historic visit to PNG for Pacific summit
Wednesday 17 May 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Pacific Islands, Regional
US President Joe Biden has scrapped plans for a historic visit to Papua New Guinea for the US-Pacific Summit next week. He has also canned a visit to Australia for a gathering with fellow leaders of the Quad partnership, which includes India and Japan.
Pacific leaders head to London for coronation
Friday 5 May 2023 | Written by RNZ | Published in Pacific Islands, Regional
Many Pacific leaders or their representatives will be attending the coronation of King Charles III in London this weekend.
