Australia

“This relationship is based on common values, shared aspirations respect and friendship and our shared interest in the peace and prosperity of our Home Pacific”

The Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison’s historic and first official visit to Vanuatu reinforces the importance of this relationship for both countries, following on from the Prime Minister of Vanuatu’s official visit to Australia in June last year.

The bitter drink, which has mild sedative and euphoric properties, is culturally important in Pacific communities but has had import restrictions in Australia for many years.

Mr Morrison agreed to the proposal after a meeting with Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai in Port Vila on Wednesday.

"We have agreed that we will be working to put a pilot program together to ease some of the limitations on importation of kava into Australia," Mr Morrison said after the meeting.

"That is for personal use, I should stress."

The animals, also known as spectacled fruit bats, were unable to survive in temperatures which exceeded 42C.

In the city of Cairns, locals saw bats toppling from trees into backyards, swimming pools and other locations.

Wildlife rescuers found surviving animals clumped together, usually on branches closer to the ground.

"It was totally depressing," one rescuer, David White, told the BBC.

Last week, researchers from Western Sydney University finalised their conclusion that about 23,000 spectacled flying foxes died in the event on 26 and 27 November.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is visiting both countries this week in an historic act he says is aimed at reflecting the depth of his government's commitment to the region.

It's the first bilateral visit of an Australian leader to either country.

But Amnesty International said it is a chance for Vanuatu and Fiji to raise the "regional humanitarian crisis triggered by Australia's indefinite detention of refugees and people seeking asylum".

Ralph Regenvanu's comments come ahead of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison's visit this week.

The Daily Post reported that Australian officials explicitly asked for a treaty during Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai's visit to Canberra last year.

However, Ralph Regenvanu said they hadn't responded positively yet.

Mr Reganvanu said there would be no prospect of a change in Vanuatu's 'Non-Aligned' status.

The foreign minister later clarified that this stance was not aimed specifically at Australia.

Two men deported from Australia landed in Christchurch in the past two months, stepping foot on New Zealand soil for the first time.

One man, Fofoa I Vaoese Toese Pei, was born in Samoa. He isn't fully aware of how he qualifies as a New Zealand citizen.

The other, Arona Pere, was born in the Cook Islands, and has been sent to New Zealand because of the New Zealand citizenship that comes with that.

They are part of a growing list of people being deported from Australia to New Zealand.

Mr Toese Pei moved to Australia from Samoa when he was 10-years-old.

Announced yesterday, it will include significant infrastructure upgrades for the Vanuatu Mobile Force and Police Maritime Wing and enhanced training and leadership opportunities for all three arms of the Vanuatu Police Force.

A statement from the Australian Prime Minister's office said this underscored Australia's commitment to working with Pacific partners to build a more strategically secure, economically stable and politically sovereign region.

An Australian Defence Advisor will be based in Vanuatu to support the initiative, it said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and foreign minister Marise Payne say the current cap of 2-thousand places will be lifted, although the new limit is not a given.

Talks to allow Papua New Guinea to join the scheme have also been confirmed.

Australia will also establish a new Pacific office within its foreign ministry.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison unveiled a new foreign policy strategy for the Pacific region, including increased military cooperation.

But Defence Minister Christopher Pyne told Fairfax Media this strategy also includes a new vessel to operate semi-permanently in the south west Pacific.

He said the ship could assist with preparation for and response to natural disasters and other resilience support.

Australia will also strengthen its links with police forces in the Pacific.

The assistant minister for international development and the Pacific, Anne Ruston, said under Australia's pledge to step up its relationship with Pacific nations it recognised that labour mobility was a key issue for them.

This was reflected in the 40 percent annual growth of the seasonal worker scheme, while a new Pacific labour scheme would also bring in 2000 workers over the next year, she said.