Pacific Trade officials convene to tackle regional challenges and promote sustainability

Tongan Minister for Internal Affairs, Distaquaine Tu’ihalamaka Wednesday addressed the opening of the Forum Trade Officials Meeting with a clear call for collective action in the face of ongoing global and regional challenges. “It is a great...

Nauru sells citizenship for climate change efforts

SYDNEY, Australia — Pacific microstate Nauru is selling citizenship to fund its retreat from rising seas, President David Adeang told AFP, opening a contentious "golden passport" scheme as other climate financing runs dry. The low-lying island...

Youth vote guide relaunched ahead of polls

Tonga’s youth-led Take The Lead (TTL) has introduced a new digital Tonga Youth Vote Handbook, backed by island-wide outreach. The relaunched guide gives first-time voters clear, accessible tools on how to register, vote and engage politically....

Kiribati minister has a change of heart about special seats for women in parliament

Miss Micronesia, Minister Tangariki Reete and Minister Ruth Cross Kwansing. Photo: Supplied/ Cross Kwansing Warning: This article discusses violence against women. Kiribati's Minister for Women, who came into politics last year believing women...

Sophie Siers elected new chair of Hawke’s Bay Regional Council

Siers thanked former chair Hinewai Ormsby for her hard work and dedication, especially after the cyclone, and also on partnerships with Māori in the region. Ormsby was first elected chair in 2022, becoming the youngest regional council chair in...

Young Tongan swimmers gear up for 2025 Fiji Grand Prix

Ten swimmers representing Tonga are set to make a splash today at the 2025 Fiji Long Course Grand Prix #2 at the Aquatic Centre in Suva. The team aims to secure qualifications for several upcoming competitions, including the Fiji Age Nationals,...

Nauru to sell golden passports for $105,000 to fund climate relocation effort 

Nauru, a small island nation in the Pacific Ocean, moves to sell its golden passports to foreign nationals for $105,000 each as part of a controversial effort to fund its relocation due to rising sea levels caused by climate change. According to...

Climate ‘flashpoint’ looms for Trump’s China-centric focus on Pacific: U.S analyst

Growing U.S security and diplomatic ties with Pacific Island nations are unlikely to slow even if American foreign policy undergoes a major shake-up during Donald Trump’s second term, say former White House advisers and analysts. Following decades...

10 Least-visited countries in 2025: Offbeat travel destinations for crowd-free getaways

Travel News As global travel surges again in November 2025, finding destinations untouched by overtourism is becoming harder. Yet, some corners of the world remain blissfully calm, places where you can experience raw beauty, authentic cultures,...

Tonga ready for historic Pacific Championships final after ‘sacrifice’

“It’s the economy,” Kimberlyn King-Hinds said when asked what her top priority will be once she is sworn in as the CNMI’s new delegate to the U.S Congress in January 2025. King-Hinds, a Republican, garnered 4,931 votes to defeat her opponents...

Pacific news in brief for 28 October

Angau Memorial Hospital (file image) Photo: RNZI Papua New Guinea Power outages in Papua New Guinea is affecting Angau Memorial General Hospital in Lae, Morobe province, the regional hospital's chief executive says. The National newspaper reports...

Enhancing Access to Climate Finance in the Pacific: strengthening  regional capacity for Green Climate Fund projects

The Climate Finance Unit at the Pacific Community (SPC) supports Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in accessing and managing climate finance from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Adaptation Fund, and other funding mechanisms. SPC and the...

Pacific Islands focus: diplomatic relations, environmental disasters and concerns about cancer

Introduction by Croakey: As we monitor Tropical Cyclone Alfred – expected to make landfall in south-east Queensland late on Thursday or early Friday – Fiji recovers from storm damage after category two Tropical Cyclone Rae passed the Lao Island...

Will it be enough? Facing climate crisis, Nauru sells citizenship in ‘golden passports’ for survival

SYDNEY, Feb 26 — Pacific microstate Nauru is selling citizenship to fund its retreat from rising seas, President David Adeang told AFP, opening a contentious “golden passport” scheme as other climate financing runs dry. The low-lying island nation...

Pacific islands to push for enhanced resource mobilisation at resumed biodiversity...

Pacific Islands will be sitting at the global negotiations table this week, calling for increased funding and support to conserve and protect our Pacific biodiversity. Following the suspension of the Sixteenth Conference of the Parties to the...

Pacific islands to push for enhanced resource mobilisation at resumed biodiversity conference

Pacific Islands will be sitting at the global negotiations table this week, calling for increased funding and support to conserve and protect our Pacific biodiversity. Following the suspension of the Sixteenth Conference of the Parties to the...

Pacific nations set benchmarks for sustainability

Pacific leaders tackle the overfishing crisis with new commitments at the Honiara Summit 2025. With 37.7 per cent of global fish stocks overfished, leaders and experts push for stricter regulations, stronger enforcement, and enhanced scientific...

Nauru sells citizenship to fund climate change mitigation

Pacific microstate Nauru is selling citizenship to fund its retreat from rising seas, President David Adeang told AFP, opening a contentious "golden passport" scheme as other climate financing runs dry. The low-lying island nation of around 13,000...

Pacific must get deep-sea mining decisions right, says Tonga Minister

Tonga’s Minister of Lands, Survey, Planning, and Natural Resources, Dr ‘Uhilamoelangi Fasi, has called for a responsible and collaborative approach to deep-sea mining (DSM), warning that decisions made today will shape the future of the Pacific....

Insurance, a climate disaster risk strategy

Laitia Fifita, Director of the Tonga Meteorological Service (TMS), emphasized the importance of a robust disaster risk strategy during his speech at the Workshop on Climate and Disaster Risk Finance in the Pacific 2025 in Nadi this week. Fifita...