Press Release – Pacific Islands Forum

The Forum Secretary-General, Tuiloma Neroni Slade, has welcomed the announcement by Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama that the Public Emergency Regulation (PER) will be lifted on 7 January 2012. He said this is an important development and a step in … Read more »

Press Release – Pacific Islands Forum

The first-ever regional meeting focusing on addressing the issue of criminal deportees was held in Suva, Fiji this week, organized by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Centre with support … Read more »

Press Release – Pacific Islands Forum

Samoa has told the 4th High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness underway in Busan, Republic of Korea that country leadership is one fundamental foundation upon which to build the effectiveness of external sources of climate change finance. Read more »

Press Release – Pacific Islands Forum

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) as a programme of the African Union, have called for stronger recognition of the vital role of regional platforms and organizations in enhancing … Read more »

Press Release – Pacific Islands Forum

Pacific island countries have been urged to make use of the opportunity of the 4th High Level Forum (HLF4) on Aid Effectiveness being held in the Republic of Korea’s second largest city Busan to make strong representation on the steady yet positive … Read more »

Oil being pumped off the stricken container ship Rena, grounded on the Astrolabe reef in the Bay of Plenty. Photo: Maritime NZ

WITH the Rena still precariously balanced on New Zealand’s Astrolabe Reef – an environmental catastrophe that has hit the Bay of Plenty coastline – it doesn’t take much imagination to envisage the sort of damage that could be done to fragile Pacific ecosystems in the wake of a similar disaster. Special report by Kim Austin for Pacific Scoop.

Although there has been much talk about the problem of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the Pacific over recent months, anti-landmine campaigners are worried the New Zealand government may be looking to downgrade its aid commitment to the region.

This, combined with pressure from the US government on the handful of Pacific nations yet to sign the Mine Ban Treaty, is causing concern for NGOs working in the Pacific.

At the recent Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in Auckland, a talk was given about the UXO problem that still plagues vast areas of the Pacific, especially in the North West. Read more »

Former Pacific Chief Trade Adviser Dr Chris Noonan ... criticism over Australia and New Zealand's approach to Pacific trade. Photo: Pacnews

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Victoria Young

A former chief trade adviser has likened New Zealand’s approach to trade talks between countries in the Pacific to a one-night stand.

“If we try and negotiate everything at once we could be negotiating for possibly a decade. If we focused on one bit or a couple of bits at a time that is the difference between relationship and a one night stand,” says Dr Chris Noonan.

The PACER (Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations) Plus agreement has been stalled as Pacific Island countries await a new chief trade adviser to protect their interests from perceived “big brothers” Australia and New Zealand. Read more »

Press Release – Pacific Islands Forum

Tuvalu will access US $4million from the Pacific Environment Community (PEC) Fund to set up desalination plants and solar-power generation for the small island nation in crisis. Read more »

Flashback to Nuku'alofa 2006 ... Pacific-wide fear of rioting, fuelled by jobless youth. Photo: SMH

THE 42nd Pacific Islands Forum came and went, but Pacific youth advocates are pleading with leaders to wake up to the increasing number of young people involved in crime and violence in the Pacific.

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Christopher Chang

At 3:30pm on 16 November 2006, the first stone was thrown in Nuku’alofa, Tonga. Within three hours, rioters had tipped over cars and looted shops.

The Pacifica Royale hotel and ANZ Bank crackled under the blaze of fire. Eight people were killed.

The rioters were of all ages, but most were young males. It is a situation that Pacific youth advocates are still fearful of, five years on. Read more »

Press Release – Pacific Islands Forum

The challenges and a new direction for including persons with disabilities in the Pacific region’s education system will be discussed at a meeting of Pacific Islands Forum Directors of Education in Nadi, Fiji, 19 – 21 October. Read more »